Poet ry > From Your Mother

"From Your Mother"
Or, A Mother's Eternal Wish



by Mrs. E.J. C---
May, 1880

A volume of the book, entitled,

"Young People's Illustrated Bible History," --New Window
once bought at an auction,
had a beautiful poem, written in script, inside of the front cover,
which was signed:
"--from your mother."
Discover the sensitive testimony connected with the poem, the book, a mother, and her son.


[Page One, poem inside of the front cover]

e patient-- life is very brief,

It passes quickly by,

And if it prove a troubled scene,

Beneath a stormy sky,

It is but a shaded night,

That brings a morn of radiance bright.



Be hopeful. Cheerful faith will bring

A loving joy to thee.

And make thy life a hymn of praise

From doubt and murmurs free.

Whilst like the sunbeams thou will bless

And bring to others happiness.



Be earnest. An immortal soul

Should be a worker true.

Employ thy talents for thy God,

And ever keep in view

The judgment scene, the last great,

When heaven & earth shall pass us.



Be prayerful ask and thou shalt have

Strength equal to the day.

Prayer clasps the hand that guides thee.

Ask largely and thy God will be

A Kingly giver unto thee.


--from your Mother

(Bold emphasis by WStS)





[Page Two, the Flyleaf]

Mr. James M. C--- May 22 1882


Bert H. C---
Pleasant Plains
Osbourne Co. Kansas

Bought May 1880 by Mrs. E. J. C---
Presented to B. H. C---

Knowledge is Power

(Bold emphasis by WStS)





[Page Three, presentation page]

A Sacred Token
To
Bert H. C---
From his
Father & Mother

(Bold emphasis by WStS)





[Page Four, blank page in front of book]

Births

Bert H. C--- Born Oct 3 1866
Olive L. C--- " " 18 1871
Angie L. C--- " Jan 16th "74
Alice J. C--- " April 14 "78


Deaths

Olive C--- died March 13th 1873
Bert H. C--- died May 20th 1882

(Bold emphasis by WStS)





My Deductions

According to the dates listed, Bert C--- was a mere 16 years old when his vaporous life on this Earth ended. "For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away" (James 4:14). Because of the content of the poem which the mother authored and inscribed in the front of the volume, perhaps Bert had a physical condition from which he had suffered, or had been his cross since birth, that forewarned of a shortened life. "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people... and I will be sanctified in you" (Ezekiel 20:41). If so, perhaps Bert's mother bought the book to help prepare her son for his death on this Earth and his life in Heaven with the Divine Author of the Book of Books. "Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an Offering and a Sacrifice to God for a Sweetsmelling Savour" (Ephesians 5:2). If her purpose was accomplished, the Bible story book must have been a comfort to the boy, which "maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge" (2Corinthians 2:14), and most assuredly prepared the Holy Ground upon which they now stand-- reunited together forever in Heaven with their Saviour.

With the last names matching, James was probably a cousin, since he was not listed with the siblings of Bert. And since the book was written to the "young," include title James was probably a youth. This book must have had sentimental value to the mother, perhaps because it had been a favorite of her then departed son, because just two days after her son's death, the book was given to James.

"2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 to the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 3:1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? 2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: 3 forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. 4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward" (2Corinthians 2:14-17; 3:1-4).

As the Gospel Story of the Sweetsmelling Sacrifice has spread throughout the world, and continues to do so, let His Name be magnified forever more. "I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries... and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen" (Ezekiel 20:41).

--Katie Stewart


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