American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-01-22

"Then'-the young logician's eyes
/ spark led 80 such thing can be So aw-
! fully important as the teachers try to
make us believe. You We got along fifty
years without them"
| She tired TO explain that man 5 work
and needs are not n wom;,n's but she
lacked words and address to nullity the
effect of n living example
More solecism"' she groaned, in
mounting to the nursery. Her babies,
ut least, would not put her to shame.
She paused at the threshold of the half
open door. Harry, aged ten, was de-
claiming the poem he was to recite next
day ut school. May, Just turned eight,
was auditor and critic, sitting bolt up
right in her little chair. her doll asleep
ON her knee.
Honor the charge they made!
Honor the Light Brigade,
| Noble six Hundrcd!'
vociferated the boy, with windmill ges-
ticulation.
'.It's very pretty" commented the
small audience. ..What is it all about?'
'.About big fight someWhere," re-
| Joined the brother. s.Here's mamma;
she can tell u.s."
Alas! Mamma, thus abruptly put in
to the balance, was found wanting to
degree that stretched the Young eyes
to their widest. She had never heard
of Balaklava, that she could remember,
and only surmised, after studying the
ringing lyric. that it was about bat
tie with the Russians lover in Eu-
rope"
| Never mindr' Loving little May,
reading. without comprehending. the
pain in the eyes, and the low, con-
strained voice, climbed into her moth
er's lap, stroked the sallow cheek. and
laid hers-downy and rosy against it:
You are just naamn1a-aren't you9
and Dolly's grandma
''It's all l am good for, darling!' Tho
words came with a hysterical sob that
brought Harry to her side.
"You are the best mamma in the
landr' he protested. stoutly.
For all that, when she had put them
to bed, she sat down upon the rug be-
| fore the nursery fire, laid her arms upon
chair, and cried herself sick.
The Daltons had gone, and other Wis
itors engaged the young ladies in the
parlor. Papa was helping George with
his examples (they do not call them
sums nova days.. The little ones
slept soundly. The heart, bruised al
most to breaking, made its moan in
solitude, each ''solecism' separate
''agony."
The light, firm step that came up the
stairs, the kind face at the door, the
tender anxiety of the query, "Mother,
are you sickP" were those of her first
born-the man she had gotten from the
Lord. She had risen as she heard his
approach. He never went to bed with
out kissing her goodnight. The gas
was turned low, but the red glow of
the CRATE glistened on her wet lashes
and the deepened burrows about eyes
| and mouth.
She laughed awkwardly in turning
| from the tell-tale CLEAN. Scenes are the
dread of the diffident.
Its nothin', my boy" trying to
overcome tremor and huskiness. 81
have the blues, and am bit tired.
That's all"
He pulled her down upon his knee
the stiff, ungainly figure-and held her
as he would May.
"That means you have been over
working yourself for the rest of us! All,
| little mother, how can we show our APP
probation of your long years of patient
serviceP Twas telling Grace tonight
what a wife and mother you are. She
lost her parents SO long ago that she
does not remember receiving any
"mothering.'' as the old people style
it. It's a good word. 1t brings to
mind the soft warmth of nest and wings,
the brooding and cuddling and cooling
of the bird over her young. You must
give my Oracle double portion when
| she is your daughter, to make up for
what she has missed
Morgan. l can't stand such talk
tonight! Your wife will be as much
ashamed of me as your sisters are.
Women see one another as men don't
mind things you don't notice unless
| your attention is called to them. You
all love me, l know. But I've seen to-
day what I've been very dull, perhaps
| foolish, not to know long ago, that Pm
not your kind. The best thing you
your wife-your father-your sisters
me in the background. And the safest
mortify you there!'
The cry of the poor wounded heart
tore its way out through the lips, and
sobs and tears followed.
=" Mother! Dear motherr'
"Yes, that's all am = all 1 ever can
be! l amt fit to rear the children I've
brought into the world. l don't know
nothin' but to tend to their bodily
wants-to make them comfortable -
"And happy, mother-yes: better
than that" the young man interrupted,
almost in tears himself. ITO teach
them to love God and one another; to
live clean lives that will ripen into
beneficence to their kind when youth
has passed. The harvest is not yet.
Mothers SOW for all time-and for
eternity! And you have sown well, my
precious mother"
Its a long waitin', dear. Specially
when body's worn out and discour-
aged. But you are very good to try to
put me in heart again"
She arose, Strengthened herself up
and put back the scattered wisps of
gray hair. He could not but note how
wan and broken she looked. Yet there
was mournful dignity in expression and
homely speech.
"There must be Engineers and fire.
men on every train, you know. And SO
long as you are all gittin' on so smooth
and rapid l ought not to mind that the
fret and work and dirt has left marks
that won't wash Off shall try not to
feel too keenly that my girls can't help
SEEM the truth. I'd change myself for
their sakes, it l could. 1 haze always
| tried to be a faithful mother. I've
tried to do my best. The trouble is, in
these times, the best of sech as me goes
sech q lille scayn'
Tears were in the sons eyes. ooh,
mother, you have done all this, and
more, too; and blessed fruit will come
from your faithfulness. As 1 have al
ready said, The harvest is not yet"