Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-07-22
From Moore's Rural New Yorker.
The TWO HOMES.
= a STORY FOR MOTHERS.

Z. STOKY FOR MOTHERS.
"Mother," said girl Ct ten years,
~ have done all the work YOU gave me
). nov may Willie and / go to Mr..
Gray's 2"
II d. wish you would keep out the
way and stop tcasing,'' replied the
mother, as she gave her daughter
push which sent her yeling against
chair.
"Why, mamma" said Willie-a
bright, sturdy little fellow of FIVE years,
who had been busily engaged for the
last hour. trying to make wooden
knife for his sister-''why, mamma,
you promised we might 50 to-day, and
a.oS if you don't let US, it will be tell
ing wrong story" .
.'Well, do go alomg-stay an hour,
and l hope shall have some peace
while you are gone"
"Hurrah shouted Willie, jumping
up. Where's my cap? Mamma,
CIn teaCl IL.
.'pll warrant it; always something
to hinder me ; here, take your cap and
go" said the mother; and with the
same impatient step and frowning brow
which had been seen all Tat dav, she
passed again to her work.
But let US follow the children as they
leave the house. Sarah walks along
with sad and fearful face hers is q
peculiarly sensitive nature, and the
harsh reproof SO often given is sure to
cast q shadow on her heart-and as
Willie slances up into her face, rebel
hous thoughts arise, and his eyes Hash
indignant as he says in a comforting
tone, Il wouldn't feel bad if mamma
does scold. | shall be big man pref
ty soon, and then I'll talk right back
to her just as she does to US, aud when
! get rich enough Pm going to buy a
horse and carriage, and you and pa
may ride with me, but mamma shan't.
cause she amt good. Maybe she'll
grow Old sometime, and come to live
with me, just as grandma Ices at our
house, and then if she talks so to us.
I'll just shut her up in, the dark
wouldu t you?'' =
Little does that mother think she is
sowing seed into those young hearts
which sh.ll spring up and yield San
hundred fold" Of bitterness and sor-
r0w.
Ten years have Aown-let US again.
visit that dwelling. Where is now the
gentle Sarah, whom every one thought
50 sweet tempered? She is there but
how changed. In former Years the
angry reproof would Only cause food
of tears, but as day after day, year af-
ter year, the harsh words fell upon her
ear, angry and resentful feelings began
to surge up, until her very nature be-
came changed, and she learned to throw
back the bitter retort. Sadly darken-
ed must be the soul Of that mother who
thus Wounds and clushes the heart Of
the sensitive, until hatred takes the
place OF love, and the Evil Genius pre-
sides where dice heavenly angels loved
to linger. :.
But We miss the brave little Willie.
Where can our pet have flown? In the
days Of yore his laughing eyes ard
sunny smiles we're always the first to
greet us; now We list in vain for his
coming footstep. lie is a wanderer-
exiled by his mothers frowDs and irri-
tableness from an otherwise pleasant
home.
Oh, mother how great an iuau-.
ence thy words, thy totes Of voice pos
sess ! Are they harsh and yitupera-
tive! Are those tender blossoms en-
trusted to your care made to feel they
arc only trouble and a burden Then
murmur not, if, when the frosts ofag
have whitenel your locks, when your
steps are slow and feeble, and all the
helplessness Of second childhood is
upon you, you are treatelin like man
ncr. Observation-Disclosures it may be
you will 80 down in sorrow to your
grave.
: But let US turn, kind reader, to Q |
3lcasanter scene. Go with me to the |
louse Of MIR. c.. The mother, a |
pleasant looking lady, is busily engag-
ID with her morning duties. Hardly
lave We entered ere the sound Of little |
feet is heard, and Charles rushes in. |
'Mdmma," said he, 'George Lane has
Just the prettiest new sled that / ever
saw-it is painted all over, and his
name is in large letters on the side,
and he wants I should go home with
him and ride on it--may I go?''
"Yes, my son." is the pleasant re-
ply, eff you will be back in half an
hour shall want you then to do an
errand for me. Here, let me tie your
scarf around your neck; You will be a
good boy and play pleasantly with
George" and imprinting kiss upon
his rosy lips, she turns again to her
work. : ,s- use ,-as
But where is little Allie-the pet Of
the household! The mother rcmem-
bers that she has not seen her for some
time "The little rogue is in some
mischief, l presume, else she would not
be so quiet; I must find herr After
looking in various places, she softly
opens the parlor door, and there sits
her ''little one," with pussy by her
side, and in her hand beautiful steel
engraving which she had corn from one
of the books that adorned the centre
table. We watch vi b interest To note