Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-05-16

| hON S<t4fs"
The following beautiful waif which
we find anoat in the newspaper sea
we publish, being confident tha. it will
well repay peresal by all, and by
our lady friends ia particular: :
"He has black eyes, with long lash.
es, red checks, and hair almost black,
and curly. lie wore crimson plaid
jacket, with full trousers buttoned on
had a habit of whistling, aud liked 10
ask questions; was accompanied by a
small black dog. 1t is a long time
since he disappeared. / have a very
pleasant house and much company.
Everything has such an orderly put
away look-nothing under foot-no
dirt. But my eyes are aching for the
sight of whittlings and cut paper on
the floor; Of tumbled down card
houses; of w0cn..s- rattle and sheen,
OF pop-guns, bows and arrows, whips,
tops, go-carts, blocks and trumpery.
~ want 10 see boats a-rigging and
kites a.making. want to see crum-
bles on the carpets, and paste spilled
on the kitchen table. | want to see
the chairs and tables turned the wrong
way about. l want TO SEQ candy
making and cornpopping, and to find
jack knives and fish hooks among my
muslins. Yet these things .nsed TO fret
me once. They say how quiet you
are here. All one may here settle
his brain and be at peace. But my
ears are aching for the pattering of
little feet; for hearty shout; for a
shrill whistle; for a ira Ia la; for the
crack Of little whips; for the noise of
drums, ffes and tin trumpets. Yet
these things made me nervous once.
"They say: "Ah you have leasure;
nothing to disturb you. What heaps
Of sewing you have time for But
long TO be disturbed. / want to be
coaxed for piece of new cloth for
jibs or mainsails, and then TO hem the
same. l want 10 make little flags, and
bags to hold marbles. / want to be
followed by little feet all over the
house teased for bit of dough for a
cake, or to bake pie in sancer.
Yet they say, "Ah J you are not tied
at home. How delightful to be at
liberty for concerts, lectures and par
ties. No confinement for you" But
| 7ant confinement | want to listen
for the school-bel mornings, to give
the last hasty wash and brush, and
then watch from the window nimble
feet bounding away TO school. l want
frequent rends to mend, and 10 replace
lost buttons. i want TO obliterate
mud stains, and paints Of all colors
want to be sitting by little crib of
evenings, when weary little feet are
at rest, and prattling voices are hush
ed, that mother may sing stories.
They don't know their happiness then,
these mothers ! didn't. All these
things called confinement once.
"a manly figure stands before me
now. He is taller than |, has thick
whiskers, wears a frock coat, bos-
omed shirt aud a cravat. He has Just
come form college. He brings Latin
and Greek in his countenance, and
dust Of the old philosophers from the
sitting room. lie calls me Mother"
but | am unwilling to own him. He
AYERS that he is my boy, and says that
he can prove il. He brings his little
boat TO show the red stripes on the
sail (t was the end of a piece and
the name on the stern-Lucy Low,
little girl of our neighbors, who, be-
cause of her long curls and pretty
round face, was the chosen favorite Of
my boy.
"The curls were long since cut OF,
and she has grown up tall, hand
some girl. How his face reddens as
he shows me the name on the boat.
Oh / see it as plain as if il were
written in book. My little boy is
lost, and my big boy, in long, white
night gown, lying in his crib, with me
sitting by, holding his forehead, watch
ing his eyelids droops, and listening
to his doep breathing.
at | only had my little boy again,
how patient would be How much
| would bear and how little | would
scold 7 | can never have him back but
there are still many mothers who have
not yet lost their little boy. / Won
der if they know they are living their
very best day; that now is the time
really to enjoy their children | think
if had been more to my little boy |
might be more to my grown up SON"