Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-08-11

~ AASe"Si wa S-~ 20
been burned out. How soon do you
suppose the insurance will rebuild fo-
you? We can crowd up for few
weeks by letting Andrew give up has
cot. Of course you Il have to be in
the room with little Jim and Isabella
Did you save all your things?"
How weak she grew as she sat and
listened to her daughter g half'pee-
wish questions. She scarcely knew
her own voice as she answered:
"The insurance expired last week.
I neglected to renew it. The fire
broke out at four this morning. and
everything was gone before the neigh
bors heard my cries, | saved moth.
ing but my clothes and my tin boz
with my papers, and watch, and few
trinkets in it. There were five gold
dollars in the box. 1t is all the mon
ev | have now. The lot, the COW and
the chickens are all that is left Inc.
"Why mother" interrupted the
daughter vexedly, chow could you be
so neglectful? You must be in your
second childhood. All your nice
bedding and furniture, and the china.
Dear me! There must have been at
least q thousand dollars worth Of
property destroyed"
And | am homeless and destitute
indeed said her mother quietly IN a
very sad voice
"And all through your own culpa-
bic carelessness, | declare, said Jes
sic
And what in the world are you
going to do. ! don't know, I'm sure.
We re crowded enough, mercy knows.
And | was lust thinking Of sending
little jim up to you for a month The
air is SO much Turer oyer where you
lived, the other SIDE Of the hill, and
he is so cross and troublesome Dear
me And to think Of there being no
insurance. You might as well OF
thrown your home away, and your
things: and done with It.
Not word Of sympathy Of OF en-
couragement from julia. Eeproaches
from Jessie
We're these the battles whom she
had born, and nuraed, and fondled
and served, so willingly, so patiently,
so gladly ? We're these the daug ghters
for whom she had tolled, and striven
and planned Was it lot all a hide
GUS dream.
Her blood seemed turning to ice IN
her veins. She rose with rlgid limbs
and turned to the doos
II will walk over to your Uncle
Dick" she SAID. i may not return to-
dav. Andrew need not give up his
cot to grandma, at least not tonight
Good BY, children And she closed
the door slowly and with trembling
hand, az she went out from her daugh
ter S house, to return no more.
There is no welcome for me in my
children home, she said, their bread
would choke me. And OF, | love
them so.
And as she walked along, gray asL'
en- shadow settled upon her face, and
her look was as Of one whose death
stroke has been felt
Another mother might have acted
djfterentlv--even felt differently
Mothers have suffered disappolnt
ment in their children, and have borr
the pain in one way or another, anl
, yei,ed it from all ewes; even with low
, ing, iorgivng affection endeavorlng
to nils it even from their own. Alas
Perhaps they were less proud-splrlt
, ed than this mother. Perhaps they
had less self-respect.
: When once these mothers realis'
T. that the children for whom they hav'
/ lived, and would gladly die, value
, them more for what they have thar
t for what they are, battle against th
+ conviction as they may, the reallza
| ton works its sorrowful change IL
r their lives. Some may succeed II
making the bideous epecter down au'
> may pursuade themselves, indeed
= that twas a phantom only. Tho dlt
r ference between these and this moth
g er was, that she accepted the truth
and neither tried TO deceive herself o