Year: 1870

-" Lean on me, mother dear


You are not strong enough TO bear me-
Ernest"


Yes am, mother; and if were man
| would carry you, instead Of letting you |
walk"


at will do me good to walk, thank you,
my boy


"Wel, lean as heavily on my shoulders
as you can. | shall be glad when | am tall |
enough for you to take my ARM and Err
nest Strengthened himself proudly, and looked |
as much like a man as he possibly could.


Mrs. Fletcher had been i'll. For several
weeks she had not left her bed, and the
house had to be kept quite still, for fear ofl
her being disturbed. The doctor came to
see her every day, aud for long time he al
ways went away with a very grave face, for /
she seemed to get worse instead of better.
But at length, when Ernest had feared and
prayed, and waited for a long time, change
took place, and the doctors face looked
brighter, aud he told the nurse that he
thought Mrs. Fletcher would recover now, i'll
great care was taken. She soon told Ernest
for she knew that he loved his mother. and
and he was so glad and thankful that he
could not say so often enough
Mrs. Fletcher had no daughters, and only
one SON 1t would have been very sad in
deed if he had been bad boy But he was
too fond of his mother for that he loved
her so well that for her sake he tried to do
right always; and though that was not the
best motive he could have had, it was one
which all boys should feel.


Ernest waited upon his mother as quietly
and tenderly as a girl could have done it. He
brought her fresh spring flowers, primroses
and violets, and every thing he could find
With his own pocket money he bought her
some oranges and grapes, and any nice thing
he iancied she would like As soon as she
was well enough to listen, he bought a book
and sat by her bedside reading it to her /;
and when she was tired he sat quite still,
and did not disturb her When he had


learned any fresh pieces to sing, he sang to
his mother and if anything happened that
he thought she would like to hear, he always
told her.


The boys wondered that Ernest did not come
out to play more frequently, but he was quite
happy to stay with his dear mother.


" You are the best mother in all the
world" he said and would rather not
leave you


But the very happiest time was when Mrs.
f. was well enough to take a short walk. As
she was still very feeble and weak she asked
Ernest to 90 with her, and it was then that
he said, " Lean on me mother"


They did not walk far but Ernest thought
good deal. 1t was so nice to feel his dear
mother leaning upon him, that he thanked
God who had spared her, and he made a res
olution which he intended to keep. 1t was
that, whatever else he failed in, and he would
do his best in all respects, he would neyor
be any other than kind and loving to his
mother.


She noticed how quiet he was, and spoke
to him presently.


What are you thinking Of Ernest "


q" am thinking that should like to be
mothers staff as long as | live" he said


If you remain as you are now, my son,
" think you will be-" said his mother. al
hope that God will spare you to become
good man, and to live an upright life, so that
your mother may never have to weep over
your wrong-doing.'


81 hope so too, mother" said Ernest,
thoughtfully


This was when he was about ten years old. |


When he was twelve his father died 1t is |
sad thing to lose ones father, and Ernest |
felt it so. But think it is sadder still for
some boys when the mother dies. Ernest had
his mother left and as he stood by his fathers
grave he thanked God for that.


Dear mother, she has only me left now" |
he said to himself Il will be all can to
her will try to make up as much as poss-
bic for my fathers loss"


When he went home he found his mother
weeping bitterly.


Ernest went to her, and put his arms around
her, and lifted her head on his shoulder.


"Dear mother, don't cry" he said. Lean
on me. will try to be good sou to you
always"


And his words comforted his mother, and |
made her sorrow the easier to bear Be-
sides, he kept his word. He took his mother
out when she wished to 60 he stayed at
home with her when she preferred doing so.
He saved her as many steps as he could he
almost knew what she wanted before she
asked for it, because he watched her so anx-
iously.


She used to say, sometimes, 80, Ernest, do
not know what should do without my son."


When he was fourteen years old, another
trouble happened to his mother, Nearly all
the money that she had was lost. She had
given it to some one to take care of for her.
and through some carelessness the money
was wasted She was very much distressed
about it.


do not know what is to become of US
the money that is left is not enough to keep us,
and | cannot see what we are to do" And
again Ernest said "Lean on me- mother
dear"


He left school directly, though he had hoped
to stay several years longer, and then 60 to
college


That idea, however, was given up at once,
and Ernest tried to get a situation His
teachers all recommended him. and Ernest
had so many friends to speak good words for
him that he had no difficulty. He became a
clerk in an office. At first, of course, he did
not receive much money, but only fortnight
passed before the gentleman who employed
him said " He is 80 diligent and clever that
he can do a mans work, and, therefore, be
shall have a mans salary"


Think Of that He was able to provide
his mother with the comforts which she had
been used to- and even more. God prospered
Ernest Fletcher because he feared Him, and
always put his mother first. Once he had a
large sum Of money offered him IL he would
90 abroad. He thought he would very well
ike to do so but his mother said she did not
wish him to go, and Ernest gave it up direct
y. But he lost nothing by it. Whatever
ne did was successful and even when he was
quite young man he was able to buy a car
riage for his mother to ride in. He was a
very good man, and when his mother grew
quite old she died blessing him. As for Err
nest, he lived great many years, end won
he respect and love Of all who knew him.
DO you know whyf There was one command
ment which he never forgot Honor thy