Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-23
s. VI "A III mas Sick ,,

To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
"Mamma'ssick." Everybody about the house
feel themselves personally injured when mamma
has the presumption to get sick. Mamma who
is popularity supposed to be capable of being in
all parts Of the house at the same time; who is
always on the spot to pick up the baby when it
falls down stairs; who applies the healing power
not only Of salves and poultices. but Of caresses
and sympathetic words to all the cuts and
bruises and sprans that the family are heir to;
who flies to the kitchen to hurry up dinner. and
yet is serenely in her place when dinner comes
on the table; who, from morning till night.
bushes the din of the domestic machinery. so that
husband and children and friends may imagine
that all parts of it run smoothly and noiselessly
along who must listen to the recital of the Short
cOmngs OF each member OF the Juvenile flock
Familiarity known to the children as .telling
tales"-to all this she must listen as though
twere music In her ears; who must Z. ask mana,
whenever doubtful indulgence is desired, and
write notes to the teacher asking her to excuse
her little boy this time, and try him again: who
must mend the broken toys and know where
eVerybOdys knife and lead pencil are and keen
plenty OF string" in her wOrkbasket, ready to
be delivered on moments notice
But clocks will run down, and so will
mammas and there comes a morning when
mamma presses her hands to her aching head
and announces that she cannot get uD. and
amidst the general alarm for fear its something
dreadful" and the general Impression that its
simply impossible for mamma to remain sick
long. they someway get ready for breakfast
But who can put on Jacks collar properly. and
who can brush 'touchy' Willies HAIR. and who
can arrange Bills long braids? Who can sew on
that button in half a second and mend glove
In TWO seconds more, and sew up that rim in the
racing III less than no timer" Who can pack
the lunches? Even papa feels slightly aggrieyed
IL he would but confess it, as he goes abOut
with the impression that it devolves on him to
loon ai.er domestic matters little, and scold
the children whether they deserve it or not. for
fear they ,riU be bad
They are all of at last, not without many a
parting admOnitiOn delivered from the bedside
the cook has received her orders for the dav
and mamma lies back on the pillow with closed
hears shrek. and starts up in alright ooh.
l know Its Willie, wonder II he's killed" and
she reaches far out of the bed and pulls the hell
to receive presently the intelligence that .sWil-
lie fell down the area steps and cut his head
@eodFA put guess ito nothing, man."
And sometimes it happens that In some re-
mote corner OF the room an immense roll of
flannel, enveloping1 tiny specimen of humanity
may be discovered, and the nurse divides her at.
tention between mamma and tho new baby and
mamma holds up her hand with q curious in
specti0n Of Its unaccustomed idlenAss. ana
vaguely wonders how she Is ever to get on when
the time comes for her to take up the duties Of
life again with this addition to her cares md re-
probabilities. a5rr.'- - = :,
wonderful thing h mother-love. Poets
have sung about IL in all the ages, and ia MANY
brilliant essay have Its virtues been SET forth
but who save a mother can have the slightest
conception OF the constant sacrifice Of her own
plans and inclinatiOns- without it impossible
which 1t readers easy and pleasant.
STELLA DAVENPORT.