The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-06-28

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feet of living example.
"More solecism" she grosned, in mount
ing to the nursery.
Her babies, at 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 the next
day at school. May, just turned eight,
was auditor and critic, sitting bolt upright
in her little chair, her doll on her knee.
Honor the charge they made;
Honor the Light Brigade:
Noble Six Hundredl
vociferated the boy with windmill gesticu-
lations.
"It's very pretty" commented the small
audience "What is it all about?n
about a big fight somewhere" rejoined
the brother. Heres mamma; she can tell
u.s."
Alasl Mamma, thus abruptly put into
the balance, was found wanting to degree
that stretched the young eyes to their
widest. She had newer heard of Balaklava
that she could remember, and only surmised,
alter studying the ringing lyric, that it was
about battle with the Russians lover in
Europe"
Never mindl"
Loving little May, reading, Without
comprehending. the pain in her eyes snd
the low, constrained voice, climbed into her
mothers lap, stroked the sallow cheek, and
laid hers, rosy and soft, against it.
"Iou are just mamma, aren't you? and
Dolly's grandma2"
"It's al Pm good for. darling"
The words came with q hystericsl sob
that brought Harry to her side.
you are the best mamma in the land"
ne protested, stoutly.
For all that, when she had put them to
bed, she sat down upon the rug before the
nursery fire, laid her arms upon chair, and
cried herself sick.
The Daltons had gone, and other visitors
engaged the young ladies in the psrlOr.
Papa was helping George with his exam
pies. The little ones slept soundly. Tn
heart, bruised almost to breaking, made it
moan in solitude, each "solecism" q separate
agony.
The light, firm step that came up the
stairs, the kind face at the door, he tender
anxiety of the query, Mother, are you
sck?' were those of her first born. She
had risen as she heard his approach, he
never went to bed without 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 awk-
ardly in turning from the tell-tsle CLEAN.
Scenes are the dread of the diffident
sits nothin', my boy trying to over
come tremor and huskiness. Il have the
blues, and am bit tired; that's all"
He pulled her down upon his knee-the
stiff, ungsinly fgure-and held her as he
would May.
"That means you have been overworking
yourself for the rest of US. All, little mother,
how can we show our appreciation of your
long years Of patient service2 l was telling
Grace tonight what wife and mother you
are. She lost her parents so long ago that
she does not remember receiving any moth
erlng as the old people style it. It's a
good word. 1t brings to mind the soft
warmth of nest and wings, the breeding
and cuddling and cooling of the bird over
hel young. You must give my Oracle a
double portion when she is your daughter,
to make up for what she Las missed"
"Morganl l can't stand such talk to-
night. 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 know until your attention is called to
them. You all love me l know. But I've
seen to-day what I've been very dull, per-
haps foolish. not to know long ago, that
Pm not OF your kind. The best thing you,
your wife, your father, your sisters, even my
babies, can hope for, is to keep me in the
background; and the safest hldin' place is
the grave. l shan't mortify you there"
The cry of the poor wounded heart tore
it's way out through the lip', and sobs and
tears followed.
"Mother dear motherl"
eyes, that's all 1 ANAL ever can bel
1 amt fit to rear the children I've brought
into the world. 1 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. 'To teach them to love
God and one another; to live clean lives
that will ripen into benefcence to their
kind when youth has passed. The harvest
is not yet. Mothers SOW for all time and
for eternityl And you have sown well,
my precious mo.her"
Its long waitin', dear, specially when
body's worn out and discouraged. But
you are very good 70 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
her looked; yet there was mournful dignity
in expression and homely speech.
"There must be engineers and fremen on
every train, you know. And so long as
you are all gittin' on so smooth and rapid
ought not to mind that the fret and work
and dirt have left marks that won't wash
off. l shall try not to feel too keenly that
my girls can't help SEEM the truth. I'd
change myself for their sakes if 1 could
have always tried to be q faithful mother;
I've tried to do my best. The trouble is, in
these times the best of sech as me goes sech
little wayl"
Tears were in the sons eyes.
"Oh, mother, you have done all this, and
more too; and blessed ruit will come from
your faithfulness. As have already SAID,
The harvest is not yet