The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1875-07-17
AN APPEAL TO YOUNG MOTHERS

| few threads more to weave when th
pattern will be completed and the MAJ
ter will fold it up and lay it away. It
an imperfect piece, full of broke
threads and wrong colors. 1 do nc
like to look upon it; I would like
take it all out and weave it over agair
But no, it must go just as it is. But
will try to add few good threads an
right colors that the finishing up ma
be better and as the garment ia folde,
up may they appear upon the outside
and, meeting the gaze of those jus
weaving their piece, teach them what t.
put in their pattern.
Mothers, young mothers, listen to my
story, and learn a lesson therefrom
You do get go out of patience with tina
boy OF yours. He is never quiet
whistling, singing, stamping, some kline
cannot bear it, your nerves are so weak
SO you send him away, out of doors
anywhere that you may not be SO an
noyed. Don't do it any more.
Come with me to yonder cemetery
lies my boy, Earnest Clinton, aged
his grave and will tell you about him
He was beautiful babe. How I did
love the precious blue-eyed one! How
cunningly he would twine those little
arms around my neck, and press his
little cheek against mine +! Every mo-
ment of his little baby-life was a Joy and
comfort t. me. Soon the little feet began
to toddle round and he would run to
mamma for safety. Then the childish
prattle came, and how sweetly he would
lisp my pane, and, looking in my eyes,
say :" owe 'ou, mamma
o Earnest, my precioas boy, come
back again and be once more babe on
mothers knee Let mother try again
But the little fellow kept on growing,
and soon arrived to the dignity of his
first pair of pants. How proudly he
strutted round and called himself
mammals man." But l cannot follow
him along step by step. He soon be-
came the school boy; and how used to
get ont of patience with him as he came
rushing in from school. SO noisy and
boisterous. would scold him. and try
to keep him quiet by seating him in a
char. 4 fter awhile he would not come
directly from school, but would play by
the way. Mother had SO much to do
she did not take much heed of her boys
seeking pleasure away from home.
When he was little fellow I always
went with him when he went to bed.
read to him from the Bible, kneIt by
him while he said his evening prayer,
talked kindly to him about any wrong
he had done through the day. How
tender his little heart was at those
times, all ready to receive impressions
for good. And how he used to enjoy
those bedtime talks. But as he grew
older, when bedtime came would feel
tired, or be busy, and would send him
away alone. He felt badly at first. and
would kiss me over and over again be-
fore going but after awhile he would
go without saying anything, or even
Kissing me. did not then think much
about the change; my mind was oc-
,upied with work, which seemed more
important than anything else.
Thus he gradually dIifted away from
ne. When he was naughty would get
Ill out of patience with him, instead of
Kindly and firmly reproving him. I
would dread vacation time, and permit
him to go from home to play could
lot stop to amuse and interest him at
home, and it was such relief to have
him away. M
But why need I go on? The loving,
iffectionate boy was weaned from his
mother, and every year found him farther
way. Rumors began to come to the
,ars of his father and myself Of his be-
ng wild. We talked with him he felt
cry badly and promised to do better
But, alas the chain of love which
hould have bound him to his home and
mother had been severed and other
hains, woven by wicked companions,
I,a1l
lin fast. We sent him away to school.
wrote many letters to him. I tried to
ret my influence over him back again,
mt it was too late. He ran away from
chool, and for five years we heard
lothing from him. Mothers, just
imagine those five long, weary years,
With no knowledge whatever of my only
oni
One evening we sat before the fire
alking of our absent boy. The storm
aged without, and the tempest in our
wn hearts could not be sti1led. l
bought I heard timid knock at the
DOR. 1 went, and there stood my
ong-lost Earnest. But what change !! |
Vas it possible that this was my blue
yed, curly haired baby-my robust, |
uddy- checked son? A pale, emaciated |
Dung man stood before me.
Earnest, my boy" cried, sis this |
on?
4" Yes, dear mother, it is Earnest;
lay I come in? I have come home to |
ie."
We did everything we could for him,
ut could not save him. Those five
ears of dissipation had ruined his |
ealth, and he only lived a few months.
Mother" he would often say, " I |
m only twenty one, and have got to
lie. I have wasted the past years of |
ny life. and cut off the future, which |
hight have been mine to use for good"
Bitterly did he repent, and We believe
,as forgiven, which is the only drop Of
omfort my cup of sorrow contains.
He dropped asleep very peacefully,
nd we have laid him here to rest till |
tod shall bid him rise. But my heart
'as broken then, and bitterness and
orrow have been my companions ever
ince. God gave me that boy to bring
p and was responsible for his future.
here was in him the germ of a noble
manhood, and I crushed it.
The heart of my child was mine, but,
1stead of making an effort to keep that
cart, / permitted it to slip from my
rasp.
I never see a little boy nov but that
ant to go to the mother and on Bonded
nee to implorc her TO SO love that boy
nat she will be patient with him; that
he will so win and retain his affections
oat his love for mother shall be
held of safety in the darkest hour of
smptation.
Dear young mothers, bear with the
oisy boys better few headaches now
nan the dreadful heartaches that will |
ONE in after years. Make home pleas
ut for them. No matter if the work is
OF all done to your satisfaction the
ternal welfare of the child is of IA
lore Importance Lay aside your wor /
)metimes, and enter into their spo 3
nd games. Question tlsena alosit their
oings at school ;;,~,eioiee with them
hen they are Aespy svmpathiae with |
when~Sts IN ironbie. hekf
zee tsne
lat.
then,
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