Year: 1870

Lean on me, mother dear"


You are not strong enough to bear
me, Ernest"


Eyes am, mother; and if were a |
man would carry you, instead of letting |
you walk"


ut will do me COED to walk, thank !
you, my boy"
as you can. | shall be glad when | am
tall enough for you to take my arm :"
and Ernest Strengthened himself proudly,
and looked as much like man as he DOS.
sibly 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
of her being disturbed. The doctor came
to see her every day, and for long time
he always 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
long time, change took place, and the
doctors face looked brighter, and he told
the nurse that he thought Mrs. Fletcher
would recover now, if great care was
taken. She soon told Ernest, for she
knew that he loved his mother, 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 indeed 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, 1t was one which all boys
should feel


Ernest waited upon his mother as
quietly and tenderly as girl could have
done it. He brought her fresh spring
| flowers, primroses and violets, and every
thing he could find. With his own pock
ct money he bought her some oranges and
grapes, and any nice thing he fancied she
would like. AS soon as she was well
enough to listen, he brought 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 mis-
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 l would rather not
leave you"


But the very happest 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 go 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 50 nice to
feel his dear mother leaning upon him,
that he thanked God who had spared her,
and he made a resolution which he in
tended to keep. 1t was that, whatever
else he failed in, and he would do his best
in all respects, he would never 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?"


al am thinking that / should Ike 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


81 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 80. 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. II will be all
l can to her. I will try to make up as
much as possible for my fathers loss"


When he went home he found his
mother on the sofa, 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. l VIII try TO be good son
to you always"


And his words comforted his mother
and made her sorrow the easier to beNr
Besides, he kept his word. He took his
mother out when she wished to go; ht
STAYED at home with her when she pre-
ferred doing so. He saved her as many
steps as he could he almost knew what
she wanted before she asked for it, be
cause he watched her so anxiously.
She used to say, sometimes, 40, Ernest
do not know what should do withou
my son."


When he was fourteen years old, an
other trouble happened to his mother
! Nearly all the money that she had wa
lost. She had given it to some one to TAXI
/ care of for her, and through some care
, lessness the money was wasted. She wa
! very much distressed about it.
81 do not know what is to become o
/ us the money that is left is not enougl
!. TO keep US, and cannot see what we ar
/ to do" And again Ernest said, "Leal
!. on me, mother dear;"


4 He left school directly, though he ha


hoped to stay several years longer, an
: then go to college.


| The idea, however, was given up q
9 once, and Ernest tried to get situation
}. His teachers all recommended him, an
8 Ernest had so many friends to speak goo
/. words for him that he had no difficulty
/ He became clerk in an office. Al mrs
Il of course, he did not receive much money
n but only fortnight passed before th
g gentleman who employed him said ID
q Is so diligent and clever that he can do
& mans work, and, therefore, he shall haV
g a mans salary"


% Think of that He was able to provid
d his mother with the comforts which sh
had been used to, and even more. Go
o prospered Ernest Fletcher because
i feared Him. and always put his motht
o Arst. Once he had large sum of none
/. offered him If he would go abroad. ii
&c thought he would very well like to do sc
bat Lis mother said she did not. wish hi