Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-31
A Mothers Story.


the house, were hushed in sleep. The pray
ers so precious to mothers ear and, as we
believe, to the ear of God, had been said,
each finding an echo in my heart. One
prayer, ON this autumn evening, brought
tears to my eyes Please, God, help me to
Keep stW and not trouble tired papa" This
prayer 1T was that made me sit and think
in the gathering darkness.
The little fellow who whispered this heart
felt prayer was peculiarly restless, fun-lov-
ing boy, but sensitive and affectionate. So
long as my little ones are happy and kind in
their play, allow them to "toss the light
ball, bestride the stick" and enjoy various
kinds of amusement, trying to forget that
have nerves. at is the God-given way to
develop the muscles, strengthen the lungs
and give the strong body which is the home
Of the strong mind" | often say to myself,
when my own selfish inclination prompts
me to check their play. And so they play
on, with merry noise and shout, except dur
ing the short time when require simple
lessons.
1t may be that am old fashioned in my
notions, but true it is that feel it my duty
and esteem it the chief pleasure of my life
10 take the entire care of my children.
Therefore it is that. if necessary, | would
Ilc NNtl ltHlilS tloC dput' btlblt ItdNiil6 W
the care of another these gifts of God to me.
II is mine to study the character of each and
to help him to form and strengthen it mine
to note the besetting sin " and to aid him
to "lay it aside;" mine to teach him to
"run with patience and to "look unto
Jesus" To me is given this delightful
task and to me is given the hope of ap-
pearing before God in that future glorious
day and uttering those triumphant, Joyous
words "Behold and the children which
God hath given mel"
As sat in the deepening twilight, was
prayerfully seeking some plan to prevent my
restless boys from troubling tired papa, ="
and at the same time to make them happy.
This same papa loves his children with a
tenderness like that of mother, and ejoces
in their health and joyous activity but his
profession is one especially wearing to the
nerves, and he comes home weary from the
labors of the day. He looks to his home
longingly as night comes on, and feeling
of restfulness steals over him as he enters
the cheerful rooms. Many who engage in
certain kinds of business are very weary,
but find their rest in frolic with the chill
dren. To those whose ears are panied with
the monotonous din OF the factory or foundry,
the gladstone noise of childish voices is re-
treshing as the music of birds. But my
"gude man is weary in brain, and it is
necessary that the feeling of restfulness
should be encouraged, and that for a time
quiet should reign. In the morning he can
enjoy the music of childhood, and join in
the romp and the riot which Longfellow de-
scrbes in the "Children's Hour"
Before this weary evening of which |
speak, | had let my own heart have its way
and, welcoming the coming, had immedi-
ately entered upon the converse SO delightful
between lovers who have been all day sepa-
rated There were SO many things to say
had boarded up the pretty sayings of the
children to repeat to their papa. My head
was full of items of mutual interest about
their cunning ways, or their progress in les
sons. Then, too, had bits of gossip ol
news gathered from my callers, or from the
| letter of some absent friend TO repeat to my
husbands ears. He had stories for me OF
what he had heard and seen during the day
Sometimes he was earnest to impart somt
new truth CLEANED from a new book anC
garnered for me, who have so little time u
read. Sometimes the new book came home
with him, and he eagerly read aloud th'
| choice extracts selected especially for me
But alas how often in the very midst o
this delightful communing, came little fee
within the door. Glad to see papa, tn
merry elves longed for frolic with him, o
at least IA place on his knee though the.
seemed utterly unable to be quiet there
Little tongues must ask questions, and W
felt obliged to say almost every moment
Don't talk now, dear" Papa does not fee
like playing now" or, " DO be quiet, chi
dren r. 10th to send them from the room
we would try to continue our converse
ton but innocent mirth, quiet at first, 500
grew into pleasant murmurs, then bubble
and boiled, till, grown wild over its ow
music, it could no more stop in its rollickin
course than the mountain brook when te
by an overfowing spring.
On this particular evening we had ser
them from the room, perhaps with mor
impatient look or tone than usual. | M
ticed the disappointed faces and feared ths
within there were grieved little hearts, an
when | heard the simple prayer OF my bo
my own heart was panied. | determine
something should be done to avoid this, I'll
only discordant note in the melody OF oil
home.
have never been able to determine Il
reason, but ] find it true, that as the da
wanes the activity of my children increase
till during their last waking hour it reach'
its climax. At this climax it is very dii
cult to bring the excited little beings into
state of quiet and fitness for saying praye
and for peaceful sleep. 1t requires some d
cson and labor on the mothers part TO I
, store order from chaos.
/ Yes" said to myself, something mu
be done, and | am the only one TO do i
. The hour before the children's sleep mu
/ be more quiet hour, both for their oW
1 sake and for their fathers. Thus shall Y
9 root away the weeds of annoyance and il
4 patience WEAKNESS and heart-ache, and
r their stead find flowers OF love aud hapl
, ness in our home-garden." | determin,
u thenceforth to deny myself the pleasu
a which had been accustomed to fill that hou
a and TO devote the time to my childre
4 Long did ! sit in the darkness maturing II
( plan. 1t rose before me clear and bright,
: vision of hope and happiness, and | went
G my rest cbeered and comforted. To I'll
plan we adhered throughout the long, co
winter, and with real happiness do we
d remember that hour before bedtime. II
[ details Of my plan for the amusement OF /
/. little folks may be given at future time.
Q The summer days, with their rambl
q among the beautiful hills or by the shore
e the sea, have passed. During those da,
e when the air was full of bird-songs, sunshi
IS and fragrance, it was better that the ch
d dren should live out of doors, and enjoy
4, the full these gifts of God. But the wint
4 is at hand again, and my children long a
q began TO beg for their precious hour.
e The wise man hath said, As in "
n ter face answereth to face, so the heart
4 man to man" Perchance there are mothe
IA at times tired in spirit with restless lit
A, ones, who yet feel that they cannot give
A, an hour from their duties or pleasure sole
" for "children's amusement" For then
have written this page of my home life
story simple and true-hopng it may inf
~ ence some mother to have a childre
:, hour" in which she will be one with tn,
r in their simple plans and pastimes AN he
VI spent so lovingly and oheerlully that
20 young hearts, warm and happy, shall tu
!. as readily TO their Heavenly Father, VIII
=, ~ the hour 10 rest shall come, as the buds ,
y fold in warmth aud sunshine.
N o mothers of little ones, | beg you rene
," ber how short the time they will be wi
you as children, how few and precious
Il, hours in which you have the privilege
No moulding them for good. There are the
IL who spend money ungrudgingy for the hi
II piness of their children, who, neverthele
lie are no, happy for the want of the contrC
ing power of a mothers loving guidan