Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-05-30
A Word for Mothers,

Aunt Julias face was long when she came
to the breakfast-table that morning. and she
looked tired and worn.
1t was no wonder, for Tom and Susy were
off at party the night before, leaving their
night-key upon the parlor table, so their
mother slept with one eye on the clock and
one ear listening for the door-bel, till after
midnight. Little Robbie woke up with the
tooth-ache then, and nothing could relieve
his pain but hot applications and the sove-
reign virtue which lies in Mothers bed"
So, on the whole, Aunt Julia had rather a
hard night, and her face was long, as have
said, when she came to breakfast the next
morning.
If we had only known Just why she was
so quiet and low-spirited, we would have
made proper allowances, but Uncle Jones
had been off on law business since the morn
ing before, and rang his door-bell Just as
breakfast was put upon the table He ex-
pected as every man does, to find his wife
bright and cheerful, glad to see him aud
with an extra-good breakfast ready for him.
Glad TO see him Aunt Julia surely was,
but she had slept later than usual, and Katy,
the cook, had consequently done the same,
so breakfast was not quite so inviting as it
was wont to be. The coffee was little
muddy, the beefsteak overlone, the cakes
not quite as light as usual and Uncle Jones,
who had brought home hungry mans ap-
petite, was little disappointed, and his face
heightened.
Susy and Tom were sleepy after their
evenings dissipation, and little disposed
to find fault, Susy with the breakfast, Tom
with his sister, for coming home with some
one else's brother instead of her own. Rob.
l.. s..l. 4
cried till he had to be sent from the table.
Usually Aunt Julia's cheerfulness and
tact would have fused these dscordant ele-
ments, helped out the breakfast with hot
toast and fresh eggs, laughed away Toms
ill-humor and diverted baby Robbie; but
this morning " "grasshoppers " abounded, and
were burdensome; the cloud ON her spirit
was so heavy she could not lift it, much less
help to lift another's burden.
1t is a sad fact, but true one, that there
is no time nor opportunity for a mother to
indulge her private griets, nor convenient
days in which she may lounge about and
take her ease. No, she must hide her own
smarts TO alleviate the pain of others, keep
back her own tears that she may wipe clear
the childish eyes raised to hers, and in a
| thousand ways deny herself that others may
be helped. Breakfast, dinner and tea must
be planned, though head aud heart alike
ache; toes will come through little stock
ings and garments grow threadbare when
there is no strength TO replace the worn
stitches, and in the continual need there il
| for a mothers care, we are apt to forget hel
own wearness and feel disappointed if we
do not always find her wearing the same
cheerful face.
So, this morning, Aunt Julias face
heightened very decidedly the countenances
OF the rest of the family. Uncle Jones
hurried through prayer, and was off to his
office, forgetting to give his wife his usua
good.by kiss. Tom started for school, bang
ing the door behind him, and Susy, in har
mony with the spirit of dscord which
seemed to rule, went her way weeping
Baby Robbie was found asleep upon tn,
floor with his arms around the kitten, anC
tears, undried, upon his cheeks That sigh
was too much Tor Aunt Julia. Catching
him up in her arms, she sobbed, "Oh dear
dear Everything is wrong this morning
Every one has II long face, and every on,
finds fault with me, as if were the cause
of it all. Aud cant help anybody
can't even bear my own burdens I'm tirec
and discouraged, and wish | could lay dowr
my burdens and rest -
NOW JUST Whht 10 say 10 Aunt Julla II
these circumstances, | did not know, fo
since had been an inmate of her family
no such cloud had ever risen but III tel
you what did. | lifted Robbie into hi
crib, and coaxed her to lie down on the bed
made her cup of tea, and locking the door
threatened to call policeman if she stirre,
before noon, recalling with a sigh and
smile, as left her, the remark of that over
worked mother who did not want to go +,
heaven right away, but would rather lie il
her grave few hundred years aud rest.
We expected too much of our mothers
and, in their turn, our children expect to'
much of us but since it is so, aud thes'