Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-26

40, there is nothing the matter with her, {"
replied Mrs. Hall; but in spite Of her words
her heart beat little anxiously at the
thought, 81 think sometimes she likes to
bother me, and ts-day il has been nothing
but mother mother till am so tired of it
I almost wish might never hear the name
again."
"Do not say so, my dear, it makes me
tremble to think Of what might be. This
would be u sad home if even one of those
merry voices should never say mother again"
Mrs. Hall started; she had not thought Of
such thing, and the serious construction
that her husband had given to her hasty
words shocked her She was an alIectionate
mother, and really loved her children, al
though she failed to enter into their childish
feelings with that appreciative sympathy that
they needed, and often administered impa-
tient reproof and even correction, without
stopping to determine whether it was mer-
tied.
1t was generally understood by the chill
dren, that TO "bother mother" was the most
serious ofense they could commit.
She was often quoted rs a model wife and
mother and, indeed, she was, so far as mere
externals were concerned. No household
was better clothed or fed, no home more Or
derby than hers, but she quite forgot, in her
anxiety1o see her children dressed with neat
ness and taste, that the little ones had moral
natures that needed more careful training,
affections that should be cultivated, not dwarf
ed, and cravings for sympathy that should
meet an earnest return. Her husbands
words had startled her. and after sewing a
few moments uneasily, she took mp lamp
and went to look at Mary. The child was
sleeping unquietly, with the tears still cling
ing to her flushed cheeks, and a grieved ex-
preston about her mouth. The mothers
heart smote her as she looked at the little
helpless form before her, and she bent down
and softly kissed the dimpled check, where
she fancied she could still see the traces of
her hasty blow. As she did so she started
at its burning touch, and uttered a cry of
fear that brought her husband instantly to
her side. 1t was easy to see that Mary was
in high fever, and after a few soothing
words to his wife, Mr. Hall fastened to call
the family physician, who decided at once
that 1t was case OF scarlet fever.
"Have your other children ever had the |
fever, Mrs. Hall?'' he inquired
-" Not one of them" was the despairing
reply.
"Then would advise you to send the old |
er ones Immediately away; they may pos
sibly escape the Infection and it may be bet |
ter to have the house quiet"
The next morning Fred and Willie were |
sent away several miles to the house of a rel |
alive, and the house seemed strangely, aw- |
fully still to their sad mother, who bent anx- |
iously over the unconscious Mary, listening |
to her deliriOus rawlings when the fever was |
high, OF shiyering sObs and means when it /
abated. Little Charley was closely watched /
to see if the fever had tainted his blood, and
for several days they hoped he would escape,
but he awoke one morning with the crimson
staining his pure cheek, and before night the
fever erept and glOwed in every vein. It is
very pitiful to see a child suffer, especially an
infant that knows nothing Of the nature of
pain, and looks so pleadingly to those in trust
for relief wondering much that the mothers
love, which never failed before, should be so
pOwerless now. There was a love that was
stronger yet, that did not fail, and after many
days and nights of painful watching both
children were pronounced out of danger On
the night that Mary's fever turned, Mrs. Hall
sat by her bedside, almost holding her breath
lest she should disturb the deep sleep into
which she had fallen, and looking on the
pale, wasted face of her child, she thought
of all the course of sickness. She thought
too, of her own impatient words but few
weeks before, and remembered that during
her delirium Mary had not once spoken her
name
There was slight movement in the bed,
and childs voice called very family, imam
ma
Was there ever such music to that moth
er's ears, ever such blessed tears as filled her
eyes as she murmured, "Thank God l have
heard the name once more !"
The sights and sounds of the sick-room
slowly passed away, and the house rang again
with childish voices; but the mother had
learned solemn lesson, and the hasty wish
that had been so nearly granted was warn
ing memory whenever she was TEMPTED to
impatient words or thoughts.