The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-12-20
"You are tired all the time, dear mamma,

"You are tired all the time, dear mamma,
said the child, winding his arms about his
mothers neck. "Byand-by am going to
grow big man, then am going to have
grand house and lots of easy chairs and piles
of walters. You shall live with me and rest
all the time" Won't that be nice2"
every nice, darling" said the mother,
mprnting kiss on the fat cheek. "But l
am rested now, even in anticipation of those
easy chairs and piles of waiers,'" and she
smiled as she wiped away the tears.
Mrs. Sauderson is only one of large
community of tired mothers. Mothers whose
tears are due to the weakness Of the flesh
and not of the spirit. Mothers whose mus
Gle aud brain power is c. lied into constant
requisition and taxed to their utmost strength
every day of their lives. They abuse ma
ture and consequently must pay the penalty.
1t will do very we'll for Meadames Plenty'of-
time and We'll enough. off to ask why these
mothers allow themselves to get tired; why
they do not put off part of tO-day'S work un-
Gil tomorrow. To them the putting off might
cot be followed by serious consequences, but
TO the class of mothers l am writing of, one
lay's work cannot be crowded into another
days time The crowd would be SO dense
the mother could never crowd her way
through. In every family there is chapter
Of accidents. No mother can calculate over
half of her work for the day. Things never
before thought of come up that must be done.
The tired mothers have husbands whose in
comes are small, whose resources are few
They oftentimes are all the "help" in the
family, acting as kitchen-maid, nurse-girl,
seamstress and mother. Some women who
have SO many trades to ply get discouraged,
and keep disorderly homes and unruly chill
iren. Those who do succeed and fill all the
Offices required of them are gifted women.
They may not have written book or painted
picture for the art gallery, nevertheless
they are gifted women. They are possessed
of wonderful financial ability, inventive pow
ers and patience of spirit. The hardest work
is the hum-drum every day house-work over
and over again without any change. There
is no scene-shiftiug, no excitement, no en-
thusiasm in it. No man could begin to have
the patience with it his wife has. Then the
baby.tending. We love the little helpless
creatures but when the work basket is over
flowing with unmade garments, how we be-
grudge the time the babies make US hold them.
Many of those tired mothers do not get out
of their homes half dozen times year.
Every one needs change of scene and a
change of air, but it is very seldom that they
can treat themselves to either. No wonder
that many of them rest u early graves long
before the boys grow up to be men and get
the " easy chairs" aud the waters"
The tired mothers, although such won
derful part of the community, are entirely
overlooked by the fashionable world. Their
names and doipgs never appear under the
head of "Society Gossip in the newspa-
pers. They have no "mauVe silks" and
"lace oyerekirts,' SOLITARY diamonds" and
elegant apartments to "receive in. The
correspondent of the society news would not
think of mentioning the brown calico dress,
blue checkered apron, and cOzy cottage
rooms the tired mothers "receive q" the chill
dren in. But do not feel sighted or for
saken, tired, faithful mother. There is a
record kept by the angels, read in the courts
of the King of all the earth. You have never
seen it, but if you could turn over its pages,
you would see your nsme written there
Under it you would 6ud recorded little acts
and deeds Of love and kindness, which you
never thought worth while to mention,
scarcely to remember.
Very gear to Jesus Christ are the " tired
mothers" He sees all their self-sacrifces
and denisls, all their patience through suf-
fering. When they feel their weakness,
then He cometh and strengthened them
In the dreary night watches, when the little
ones are sick, His presence makes it light iu
the darkness. Don't be discouraged or dis.
hearteued, tired mother. You are doing the
greatest work in life. Thank God that He
has counted you worthy of such trust
Faithfulness the Lord always rewards. By
and by the little ones shall "arise up and call
you blessed" The resting places will come.
The boys will grow up to be men, and the
girls to be women. They will not forget
the self-denying, faithful mother. There
will be easy chairs in all their homes for you
to rest in, if the good Lord gives you strength
to furnish the work of their childhood. If
He sees fit to take you to His eternal rest
before your work is done, your children will
never forget the loving, patient mother, and
their memories of the home-life with you
will be the sweetest of their whole lives
Luxury and health may surround them in
later years, but the cczy rooms, which you
made beautiful with your presence, will be
the dearest spot of all the earth to them
Interior.
How to be Gentleman.