The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-27
THE MOTHERS HOUR.


household care there was mueh 10 do
The supper was over at last. the dishes
stacked 10 the pan. the table cleared
and the lamp light lay with a cheerful
glow all over the roomy kitchen. The
autumn moonlight hung ike a silver
VISION over everything without, creeping
shyiy IN at the open doorway aud
nopding eyeIy nook aud corusf xiih its
frosty beams. Our guest fingered, /,
chsttipg with my husband. and, look.
ing across the table. saw my baby
boy sieepily nodding in his chair be-
aide my little student who Abeut busiiy
above his book and slate. The silent
finger Of the clock pointed to the hour
of eight and l ssidi Come. Birdie, it 10
bedtime. starting toward the door way,
followed by my sober oldest son, xho
hsd early lsefpsd .tbe blesseduess OF
'ssrly 70 bed. ETC. We vent W 10 the
~oonlis chsmbess stoye!; the3pray ers
we're listened to. the brown heads lay
restfuliy on their pillows; then there
were qoestionsto be asked and an
swered-questioDs which were always
LETT till the bedtime hour, and then,
withVgccd- nishs kssses slsepily relur D.
ed by childish Aps. l left ttsui aipne In
the soft radiance OF the moon light, re-
turning wearily to my WORK below.
You were long away. said my h9s-
band, and ! replied:l'Y il takes a
great deal Of thought 10 put the little
once to bed
Our guest sat silently regarding the
patch Of moonlight lying in the opeu
doorway. with his bands clasped over
his head, his chair bali tilted back, q
dreamy look upon his sober, elderly
face. Ns
Il wonder. said he, slowly. If moth.
ers ever realize the vast importanss OF
this pntting-to bad business. | remem
Der. years ago. when / was a little Tot
OF o boy. like the little fellows np stairs.
how l used to LOOK forward alt day to
this hour. 1t was the on. glimpss OF
heaven and peace to ,hc TEN pestaeus
season of boy life. If nad any qGes
tion troubling my miud during the
day. mother would solve it then. 1t
aby trials. any crosses. had darkened
my spirits sunshine, mother would
soothe them away with the gentle
touch OF her loving band. If any dark
shadow of disobedience, unkindness, or
stubbornness lay like blot on my
memory, haunting the aylight, knew
the twilight hour would bring peace
and forgiveness and love; SO, through
all tie storms and griefs aud trials OF
the day, the anticipation OF che evening.
like star struggling through the
clouds, would come to my burdened
heart, and l knew that the bedtime
hour could go TO one ear ever ready
to listen to my grie!s aad complaints,
and mother would comfort me.
One day, l never will forget that day.
mother had been fretful and peevish
the baby had been fretful and cross,
and had not been very patient with
him. had performed slowly and re
luctantiy the little services required OF
me. aud was not vesy happy; still, l
thoaght would tell her l was sorry,
when kissed her good -uight. and |
knew sbe would forgive me. When
the long. trying day drew to close,
she said to my father: Things drag 30
with me today; everything goes wrong,
and my work is not half done So he
took tbetask from her tired hands. say
ing. tepderly aud patiently: well, my
dear. 60 With the little ones 70 bed,
and will finish for you; don't do any
more tonight She put out her hands.
one 70 each Of us, and led Us away
with her to our chamber. When our
prayers we're said, and little Blue-eyes
sank Away to s.umber. with his good
night half finished on bis baby hips,
she put her arms about me. and leaning
her fosehsad--I can feel its heat and
throbbing yet-sgAinst my cheek. she
said. 'Mamms 10 sorry she was 30 cross
with her boy today; but she is not we'll
and you know che loves you all the
same
%, mammA,' cried. 4 was so ugly
to you. ! have not been good TO yor
all day. II seemed c nid not be n
good boy.
Did you trys' she asked, smoothing
the hair away from my face with her
soft, gentle caressss. You must al
ways ask God to help you be q good
b3y.'
never will forget the picture she
made. sitting there In the flood oi
moonlight. her soft. brown hair lying
like . cloud over her shoulders; bel
fair facs y wAn and white and weary, htI
tired hands lingering. oh. 50 tenderiy
on my brow aud hair-my gentle
patient mother. She bent her lace te
mine. kissing me on brow and cheek
and lips. and said:
Mamma does not mind. dear; shs
knows her boy lcves her. But remem'
bsr. M. sou. God always helps thos.
who bsip thesisslves.'
Then. straightening the white cover
ing over our tired little limbs. sh'
kissed us both. 90 only . mother kiss-i
her childcen. saying. Good night. IN,
son. and then drifted away like i
white cloud into the darkensd hall be,
yond. I remember l went 10 sleep
sinking that life would be very darl
20 me without my wise. Loving mother
l saw her bat once again alive. Il
the nighttime / Was awakened from {
sweet dream. and told that my mothe
was dying. They took me TO her bed
side. where. pale and struggling TO
breath, lay my one faultless frlend-m.
boyhoods sngsl. She opened be
blue-ht eyes. . wan emile came 10 be
lips. and she kissed us. saying, Cos
bless my little boys and then a grea
change came over her face, look Q
ineffable pesce and sweetness setfies