The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-08-15
MOTHERS lNFUENCE.

We have read q touching LITTLE
story ofa mothers endeavor to *
arers that she would appear mos
beautiful to her boy. that he might
n after years, recall, with love and
pride, the pretty things "mother'
were for his sake.
The story relates that when this
mother fastened b, = .,retty Newport tii
with poppy-red ribbons, her gruff old
Quaker uncle frowned and said it was
not seemly. But the mother laughed
and replied: 81 want my little boy
70 remember that his mother wore red
bows on her shoes"
The old Friend retorted that the
reason was far worse than the ofense,
and then gave his niece long lecture
On the folles of a love for gaudy dress
and the gew-gaws of modern fash
ions. But she kept the ribbons and
BY them bound her boy closer to her.
Blessed mother! How divine was
that inspiration which laughter that
in this little bow was power which
would bring up in after years her
memory to that boy amid the cares,
tells and temptations of bis manhood,
causing his heart to glow with holy
affection for her and becoming to him
a shield and buckler, an inspiration
toward nobler life as her image once
more foated before him.
And who of us does not remember
the pretty things smother" wore
Her dainty laces,the pale lilac dresses,
the scent OF violets in her bonnie
brown hair, the rose tucked under the
lace on her breast, seem half divine
when they become but memories to
ne. "Mother" is mother" be she
gentle or rough, but what different
ideal We have when we recall how
proud we were when We brought our
friends home from school and surprised
them with her pretty, graceful ways.
Her hair was SO soft, her eyes SO ten
der; she talked so well and had such a
winning way to make q boy feel at
home It was not necessary to make |
excuses for her and say she was so
busy. The boys themselves praised
her, and We felt sorry for them, be-
cause we knew that they must feel
how much sweeter and prettier she was
than theirs could be!
It is wise tor q mother to take time
TO dress and be fair in her children's
eyes; to read for their sake, to learn
10 talk we'll and to live in to-day.
The circle the mother draws around
her Is more wholesome for the chill
than the one he has to make for him
self, and she is responsible for his
social surroundings. 1t is not easy to
be the child's most interesting COM
panion, and to make home his strong
est magnet. but the mothers who have
done this have been the mothers of |
good men.
A mothers influence is the strong
est of all others. 1t begirs in that
mysterious hour when life begins and,
like the artists chisel on the roug |
marble, day by day impresses itself in
lasting touches. Hers is a holy mis-
sion and work. She it is who teaches
the young lips the evening prayer and
kisses tie tired fodder into sweet
SLEEP. To "mother" We 60 with all
our troubles and nestle in her bosom
when sorrows come upon us. She is
to us the one woman of all women,
fair, pure, holy and sweet.
How reverently have the great and
wise and good men of earth bowed at
the shrine of mothers love and
memory. What . picture that was
when, amid the glories of that proud
day which witnessed the solemn oath
Of James A. Garfield as president of
his country, he turned and kissed the
old mother who saw her noble boys