River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1883-05-24
oLD-FAsHIONED MOTHERS.
How They Work and Worry Over
the Big and Little Trials OF

How They Work and Worry Over
the Big and Little Trials of
Life
Bill Arp in Atlanta Constitution.
81 wish" said Mrs Arp, 'you would
90 and see what Carl and Jessie are do
ing. down at the branch / reckon, and
feet all wet, and they have both dread
ful colds. can't keep them away from
that branch"
"Didn't you play in the branch, my
dear, when you were child" said IL
Eyes" said she mournfully, "but moth
ing couldn't hurt me then; we were not
raised so delicate in those days. You
know ] used TO ride to the plantation,
twelve miles, and back again in day
and bring bag of fruit on the horn Of
the saddle, but the girls couldn't do it
now. They can 90 to party in buggy
and dance half the night, hut that is all
excitement, and they are not fit for any
thing the next day. We didn't nave
any dances-hardly ever-we went 10
country weddings sometimes. You re-
member we went TO James Dunlap's
wedding when he married RebeCca,
That wasa big frolic-al old-iashioned
the neighborhood, and there were more
turkeys and roast pig and cake than
ever saw, and we played everything we
could think Of Rebecca was mighty
pretty then, but poor woman-she has
had a thousand children, too, just like
myself, and | reckon she is faded, too,
and tired" "But Jim Dunlap hasn't
faded, said /. 81 see him when 80 10
Atlanta, and he is big and FIT and merry
looks little like old David Davis
'Oh, yes, Os G. urse he does, said
Mrs. Arp. "The men don't know any
thing about care and anxiety and sleep
less nights. Ii is wonder 10 me
they die at ALL. "But | have helped
you all could. my dear" said I, "and
you see it's telling on me. Look at these
silver hairs, and these wrinkles and
crows-feet, and my back hurts ever and
anon, and this rainy, bad weather gives
me the rheumatism, but you havnt
gray hair and hardly Il seam on your al
abaster forehead. Why, you will outlast
me and oulive me too, and maybe there
will be a rich widower stepping around
here in my shoes and you VIII have
fine carriage and pair of beautiful bay
| horses, and"
William told you to go after Carl
| and Jessie"
If Vanderbilt's wife should die, and
he should accidently see you" said /,
"after Pm gone, there's no telling"
'Well. go along now and find the
children, and when you come back III
listen to your foolishncss. I'm not go
ing to let you die If can help 1t, for |
don't know what would become of usa all.
Yes, you have helped me, ] know, and
been a great comfort and did the best
YOU could most Of the time, YES most of
the time-and might have done worse,
and you must nurse me now and pet me
| for | am getting childish"
"And must pet me, too, y said J.
cor course will said she. Gam 1
not always petung you2 Now, 90 long
after the children, before we both get to
CRYING and have scene. And | wish
YOU would see if the huG cochin hens
have hatched in the hen house,
''She has been setting about fourteen
weeks said ], "but she is getting Old,
and these old mothers are slow, mighty
slow"
went after the children, and sure
enough they were fishing ia the spring
| branch, and their shoes were wet and
| muddy, and they were barebeaded, and
| marched them up tenderly, "a Mrs.
| Arp set them down by the fire and dried
| their shoes, and got them some mere
stockings, and then opened their little
morning school. How patiently these
| od-fashioned mothers work and worry
over the little things of domr7ti~ elGe.