Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-05
Eaaies' Column.
A WORD TO MOTHERS.

We see, now and then in forest,
lofty pine that towers high above all
surrounding trees and seems to look
down from its great heig with grand
ure all its own; so, to some individ-
uals, has been given the divine gift of
genius. making them superior to or
binary mortals, while persons of CON-
mon clay only rise to moderate
heights among there fellows. All
women have not, like Parepa Rosa, or
Jenny Lind, the gift of song to sway
a multitude at will; to melt to tears, or
move to smiles by the power of voice
alone. All cannot take bit of canvas
and paint portrait or a landscape that
will bring a fabulous sum. All can
not, like Harriet Beeoher Stowe, paint
pen pictures that will move nation
and have their influence felt the world
over as did "Uncle Toms Cabin" All
cannot, like Harriet Hosmer, take block
of marble and chisel it into such pro-
portions that it shall seem almost a
living, breathing being. No. all have
not such gifts. But mothers. though
you are scarcely known beyond the little
sphere in which you live, whose duties
keep you confined within the narrow
limits of your own home, if you are not
called upon to tread in the paths of lit
erature, art or song. think not your
mission small. 1t is not small thing
to be able to make happy home; to
cast around the home circle such halo
of loving words and kind deeds, such
bright glow of sympthy and charity,
that your husband shall call you blessed.
and your children, in after years shall
look back upon their childhood home
as the dearest spot on earth. To the
care of mothers of to-day, is committed
a coming generation. 1t has been truly
said. "The mothers of to-day rule the
world of tomorrow. How important
then, that they be able to wisely and
rightly train their children. But in or
der to rightly do this, they should make
the most of themselves, intellectually and
religiously. 1t is not enough to care
for the physical wants of the child, but
the mother should be able to encourage,
cultivate and direct the nobler faculties
of the mind. 1t is the duty she
owes to herself and her children to
educate herself in this direction. And
mothers, one word more, be gentle to
the little ones committed to your care.
Do not fret if their shrill voices fall
harshly upon your nerves. What if
you have to sit up into the weary hours
of the night, working for their comfort,
planning for their good? Fortunate will
it be, If you can make your home so
attractive that they will not care to wan
der from it. Remember in all this car
ing and toiling. loving and praying, that
it will be but little while, at best,
ere their restless feet will have passed
over the threshold of your homes into
the great noisy world beyond. And,
mothers, the time may soon come to
you, as it has to me, when they will
have passed beyond the reach of your
care and your prayers then every i'm
patient word uttered toward the dead
will come back to your memories, and
pierce the heart like dagger you will
then cry out in bitterness of spirit,
"Come back, loved ones, from the portal
of the tomb, that may make atonement. "
Think it not small thing to rear i'm
mortal souls for heaven Such is a mis-
sion worthy of angels. Let us so live
that when the frosts of age have whiten-
ed our heads, and our footsteps become
feeble and slow, that the children we
have reared. following good examples.
will be we'll fitted to perform life's
duties, and may say, "Blest be the moth
err whose loving words and holy exam
pie turned my feet in the way of duty
and success" DORA SUTTON.