Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1873-10-31

Ah HeI CHIIuTcH are auSclb, VI
course, she knows no children like
them. Tom can already spell words
Of two syllables, and the little fel-
low is only five years old next 3lst
Of July. Polly puts such curious
questions that her papa is often puz-
zled to answer them. 1t was but
yesterday she asked him, "Why he
had such wbiskers, and mamma had
none?" and Mr.. Smith really didn't
know what to say.
Thank goodness! she has given
them all good education, and there
isn't one that can turn around and
reproach her with q moments me-
glect. She loves them all dearly,
and never ceases to think of them.
1t does her heart good to see them
happy, and she cannot understand
how mothers can part with
their children, and put them
out to nurse, where they never see
them.
No wonder their children don't
love them. Now, she has nursed
every one of her family and is none
the worse for it, pray? She has no
patience with such fine ladies. They
don't deserve having children.
Why, look at baby! The little
thing knows her, and understands
every word she says. II it cries
though it is the quietest child in the
world-shc has only to say, "Be
quiet baby!" and it goes to sleep
directly. No, those who don't be-
have as mothers will never be loved
rs mothers, and it's her opinion
that when children turn out bad, it is
because they have never had the
comforts Of home. Ingratitude
never grows up in a child's heart,
unless it has first been sown there
by the hand of the parent. Why,
she has never had a moments un-
easiness with any of her children,
and she has ten Of them, and why
not? because affection begets af.
fcction, and she is positive that
they would not do single thing to
make their mother miserable. It's
true that Ned is ga little 'rickety;"
but boys will be boys, and the lad
is too good at heart ever to do
wrong. But if the worst should
happen-not that she fears 1.-THE
boy would never forget his happy
inf ncy, and that's blessing! The
thoughts of happy childhood
have brought back many a prodigal
son, and she knows well enough
that Ned would never wander far
without feeling that chain round
his heart gently pulling him toward
home. But it's all nonsense! The
boys all right, if Mr.. Smith wouldn't
be so harsh to him!
Thus the model mother defends
her children. Their defects are
beauties in her eyes; their very
faults are dear to her. They can do
no wrong. If any breakage takes
place it wasn't the chlld's fault; she
tells you she's only to blame. She
stays the fathers arm when his
anger is about to fall, and stops his
voice when his paternal passion is
rising. Ii any of the boys have
gone to the theatre she sits up to
let them in. When questioned the
next morning as to the hour they
came home she has forgotten all
about it. All she recollects is that
young Tom ate tremendous sup
per. She supplies them with
money; and if her good nature is
laughed at she asks you, pray, to
inform her "when lads should en-
Joy themselves, if not when they
are young?" She is continually
sending presents to Eliza, who,
poor thing! "did not marry SO well
as her sister," She is not afraid of
taking her daughters out with her
for fear of their age leading to a
confession of her own; nor does she
dress like young lady of sixteen,
in order to look younger than they.
10 tell the truth, she carries her
family everywhere. Such is the
"model mother" Whether she is
the best or worst kind of mother
is the point in dispute.