Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-08-20
BY REQUEST.
What is Home without a Mother
Composed by Miss NJ. J. N, OF the Female Insti-
tute, Clinton, N. G.

| These two words arc closely connected
| together. Around them cluster the dearest
affections and the sweetest memories -
Home and Mother At tho sonnd OF these
words how many hearts are tonched. rs
association brings mp the tender recollec-
tions of the songs, tho joys, and beauties
of Homo sweet Home" They are
linked together in our thoughts, they are
Joined together in our hearts. Who can
think of Home without a Mother? After
years of absence, what memories does the
old Home call to mind; and what emotions
swell up in the Mothers heart-the Mother
who has reared SO many beautiful flowers
around the hearthstone. whom she hopes
to guide spotless to q home beyond the
skies Can we make Homo happy without
Il kind and loving Mother Can We in
struct and teach ourselves, SO as to rear
the tender thOughts-pour fresh lnstruc-
| ton over our minds-fashiOn our tastes
enlighten our understanding and direct
thought into its proper channels In
poetry and language there is no lnstruc
tor better than tho Mother. She sOws in
our minds tho seeds of piety and goodness
She waters us with the dew of heavenly
instrnctiOn, and she seeks to destroy evory
weed of evil as soon as it appears. When
| sickness and distress at last come she sub
| She gives our yonng minds subjects for
thought. She is over active and ever
busy. A celebrated artist once said, My
mother S kiss made me a paintor." how
| many thousands might say, 'Aly mother 's
kiss made mo q Christian or an iniidel q
| usefnl or useless member OF society p
| The heart thrills with pleasure when that
dear name, mother, is mentioned. What
| feelings, wild and strange. rush through
| the heart and start tho tear drop. Oh !!
| " hO never knew a mothers love and have
never heard her voice, like ri"uiet music,
Oh felt her lipe IN rapture meet. 1t IL the
mother that constitutes the centre OF every
| nome. She teaches and guides us through
| life and she seeks to lead It's lii the paths
| of goodness. And it is the mother that
| pulIrs the healing balm into tho Wo.inti5 of
those around her. And it is the mother
that lifts the little hantls and teaches the
little tongues to lisp their frat prayer -
| Oh what Is homo without mother 1t
| Is u home of sorrow and desnlatlon. When
our feot are weary with wandering and or
| hearts sick with dlsappOlntments, re
| tuIn to Onr homes with aching hearts for
we know that that familiar face is not there
| to greet us, and no kind hands are stIetche,l
out to welcome us. When the angel of
Death nvershadOWs the household. re
lentleesly fnatchiDg from onr embrace
tho mother, it is no wonder ali the joys of
home are blightod and every hope seems
forsaking the heart. 1t is then We fully
realize the fathomless depths of a mothers
love It is then we realize her ever ready
and heartfelt sympathy in all our joys aud
childran's sorrows. 1t is then We feel the
strong tendrils of affection around the
heart SO closely. that the golden threads Of
life itself seem breaking, then We can ne
longor have this care ami sympathy. Truly
there is no home like the home frightened
by mothers presence.