The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-11-25

placed by fieecy pillows whose undulations
buoy up the commerce of the world.
The mother sat in her accustomed seat
before the little table, while the fire threw
pleasant light over the room, the we'll
known furniture, and the basket of socks
that stood near her chair.
Just as she had done years before, the
| mother laid five folded pairs of socks before
her, while she said aloud: "Five boys! !!
five boysm
there one in the mother's tone. There was
no burden now Dpon her hands was there
heavier one within her heart.
Where were all the five Not asleep rs
in the oiden time, for then there would
have been q sense of companionship with
in the house ; but there was, instead feel.
ing of loneliness which reflected itself
upon the mother's face. She seemed weary,
too, for she ceased to work, crossed her
hands upon her lap, and sighed little as
the clock struck ten.
Certainly she was quite alone.
Tine boys; )" she called them 30 still In
spite of years, ''the boys have all they need !"
1t was Saturday night, and she went over
in her mind each detail of the necessary
outfits for the morrow. Their fancy shirts
were all in order, their Sunday suits were
nicely brushed, there was nothing out of
place except the socks bnt these her own
hands would lay just where they were
needed before she retired for the night.
"Five boys! Eve boysw The words
sounded in that desolate room almost like
a wall. As though she had once possessed
a treasure, now hers no longer. AS though
a day dream, once radiant as the sun, had
faded into doubtful twilight vision.
She had not altered much-the Trinity of
her early motherhood still ruled her heart.
The look that Patience gives was sweeter
that of Hope was more subdued but
Love still illumined every feature of her
face. The balr was glinted here and there
with gray, phosphorescent light that
locks, aud told of the great depths of
thought which only a mothers mind can
know.
There was ease and luxury around her.
Willis arm chair was rolled before the fire,
Toms lounge, he was her lazy boy, stood
Portable rocker had its soft-cushioned seat,
while john and Charley's fauteuils were re-
dolent of comfort and repose.
What then did she need as abe sat alone
before the fire that Saturday night in au-
tumn, having for companionship only the
memories of her five boys7
Every mother's heart knows what 1t was
she needed bat her own heart did not
know how to put the need into words. She
even tried to thrust it down and hide it, for
she believed that God had been very good
to her in all that he had sent her, and par
ticularly in the dear boys who were away
from her to night.
Through all her widowhood they had
been the subject of her thoughts, the object
of her cares. She knew they never dreamed
che needed anything which they could give
more than they had given. She had always
thought frat of them. She did 30 now.
Their happiness, nay, even their comforts,
went before her own. Was it to be expected
that this order now would changef
What does she need that she should weep
those quiet tears, and repeat 30 yearningly,
80 like an echo to strain of tender music
" Five boys! five boys"
Where were they all to night, for this
was the anniversary of her wedding, and
the mothers heart had need of sympathy
and love.
How we'll she had remembered each boy
ish anniversary, even their holidays, as
we'll as every day of their lives On the
one, it had been her pleasure to surprise
them by some timely gift, "j9st what fel
low wanted;" on tue other, she had treated
them to little suppers and on the last, she
had watched that all went well, and they
had all they needed.
Had they ever thought of her in this
way consulting her tastes, providing for
her comforts, bestowng those little atten-
tions, which, as the French 80 beautifully
express it, "keep up lovef"
Was it not, perhaps, her own fault that
time had come when che needed something
now almost unattsinable7 Who will dare
60 answer in the affirmative. Ia mother
to place herself first when her offspring
stand in need of aught that motherly love
eau giveq Must she consult her own ease
and tastes and pleasures in preference to
those of her beloved ones
God laid no command upon the parents love
towards the child. There was no need. he
knew the mothers heart would always be un-
selfish, sacrificing, true.
The fourth commandment refers alone to
sons and daughters.
What does she needi Alb, if she dared to
cay the wish, how selfish she would seem !
How unreasonable tho nineteenth century |
would call herl If she expressed aloud the
hidden papg at seeing all her boys drifting |
from her hands, her heart, her life, how some
lips would sneer, some souls despise! |
If she needs love when she has given love, |
care in return for care, and devotion as re- |
compense for devotion. is this stranger
Where are the boysf Each one was engaged
in the pursuit of his own pleasures, each one
was following eagerly his own interests, utterly
unconscious that the mother needed anything |
more than the homo and the comforts he had
secured to her. She had never complained |
she did not dream of doing 80 now; only