Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-10-13
The HappIest Time Of Life.

II was once my privilege to minister to
dear old Christian mother during the last
years of her pilgrimage on earth. Not long
before she left us to go to the Celestial city,
I said TO her one day, "Mother, what por-
tion of your life was the happiest 7" I can
remember well how she looked up at me as
she sat in the old arm chair, evidently max
ing pictures of the old scenes that had been
dear to her heart and were still bright and
fresh in her memory. "The happiest time
Of all my life," she answered, "was when
the children we're young and all at home on
the old farm. | had to work very hard in
those days, but as look back upon them,
they are the sweetest and dearest TO me of
all my life." When the dear old grand
mother told me this was a young mother
,,,,I !" Little tile children were % elnsng TO my gown;
Were black enough to make me frown."
Some child was always wanting something
used to get impatient and fretful, and
mourn because had time to accomplish so
little outside of the care Of the children.
thought it would be a relief to have them
all grown up and able to take care of them
selves. did not appreciate what the full
meaning of growing up signfed. So it was
only in a measure that sympathized with
the dear old Christian mother. But now as
! sit alone, the children gone, men and
women in their places, feel in full sym
pathy with that now sainted mother. The
days when the children were small and all
at home, dependent upon the mothers care,
are the happiest ones to look back upon. |
would say to all young mothers Try to
realize this fact, and thank God for every
day that the little ones are asking for some
thing-that they are "clinging to your
gown" By-and-by your gown will hang in
painfully well regulated folds around you
and you will long for some little hands to
pull out its rigid primness. You will often
wish once again to see some muddy foot
prints on the floor and playthings scattered
about. This is what grown-up means-to
sit alone in the old home and long to rock
to sleep in your arms once more the little
child who is now a man or woman, miles
and miles away from you; to see the little
boy again kneeling beside you in his purity
and innocence, and listen as he repeats his
evening prayer. That boy grown-up is a
man out in the world, surrounded by temp
tations all the time. The mothers anxiety
over the grown-up boy is an hundredfold more
than it was when she had him at home,
tucked up in his little bed, sleeping so peace.
fully aud innocently. Then she could look
in upon him as he lay upon his pillow, and
know that he was safe from evil. o loving
mothers be patient, be thankful that the
children do not grow up any faster than
they do. Make home the happiest place on
earth for them. Do not lay any heavy bur
dens upon them. The years of your life
with all the children at home will be all toe
short You will wonder by-and-by that you
did not appreciate them more and enjoy
them better.
Then gather them close to your loving heart,
| Cradle them your breast
| They Will soon enough leave your brooding care,
| Soon enough mount youths topmost stair,
| Little ones In the nest"
| --SeIectad