Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-08-07
Evening Talks With Mothers.

Are you very tired tonight ? Have the
boys been rough and rude-seemingly care
less of your reproofs Have the girls ap-
peared forgetful Of your cautions, needless
Of past instructions Has the baby fretted
and worried
"Let not your heart be troubled" Your
boys may seem careless of your words, but
tired mothers, the echo will come back 10
them by and by, and though you feel some
times that they care not, you do not know
the hearts that throb beneath those Jackets
A mothers love and early instructions have
kept many young man from rushing to de-
struction. al owe the fact of my being a
Christian, under God, to my mother" said a
sincere worker in Christs vineyard. "There
was a time, as there is in most lives when |
was tempted to doubt God; but in that aw.
full hour the memory of my mothers pray
ers, and her pure, consistent life came be-
fore me like great shining light, and
felt that my mothers God and Saviour must
and should be mine '
And the daughters Oh, they will never
forget you If they live to sit by the
cradles of their children, how the memory
of their mothers steals over them; perhaps
never till then will they know the depth OF
your love. Be hopeful and faithfully ten
der, and may God make them all to shine as
jewels in your crown.
cannot help thinking tonight of those
mothers whose darlings have been taken
from them, whose homes are desoate and
silent. O friends, it seems very hard now
and yet the time will come when we shall
see how love has led us all along. Gods
plans are like some pure white flower, slowly
Dlossoming. We cannot tear the leaves
apart, but must patiently wait until in his
good time the petals unfold aud the golden
calyx appears. Do you remember, once,
how your darling cried for some more con
tectionery of which you had given her some
She could not see that it was kindness and
love on your part TO take it away that any
more would be dangerous for her. You
knew what was best for your child. So God
sometimes takes away the sweets of life
from us but oh, how like a mother deny
ing child what it Graves And how often
he sends other joys to us to try and comfort
us, just as you brought that pretty book to
your child to make its trial less severe. If
we could only learn to feel that our children
are lent to us. They are Gods, and we are
taking care of them until he is ready to re-
ceive them to himself. They twine around
our hearts so closely that this is not always
an easy task but if the thought can only
be encouraged in our souls, perhaps life and
death, too, will come more as gift from
loving Fathers hand.
Let us trust the children. We do not
know what harm we may do child's heart
by looks of suspicion and distrust. A lady,
herself now a mother, told me that one OF
the bitterest memories of her childhood was
of day when her teacher accused her of a
1. -, II. 4
her mother communication of her sup
posed guilt. The child asserted her in-
nocence, but circumstances were against her,
and even her mother, to whom she had al
ways spoken the truth, would not take her
word. For hours the mistaken mother talked
to the child, trying to make her confess
the poor little thing still asserting her in
nocence. At last, her nerves so overweight,
and her whole being quivering with excite
ment and unjust treatment, she actually
confessed herself guilty of fault that she
had never committed; but from that day to
this. reserve has existed between that
mother and daughter which will never be
these earthly stains and mistakes are washed
away o mothers, have faith in your chill
dren 1t will be their greatest safeguard in
this world of temptations to know that you
trust them.
Dear friends, shall we not throw open the
windows of our souls and let in Gods sun
shine to every corner, taking our children
into its depths with us, keeping them there,
warmed and comforted with mother-love, SO
that no other earthly love shall ever seem to
them so sweet and precious
o mothers, in cottages and mansions, by
the soundinp sea or meath the mountain