Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-08-29
Mothers. From a Social Standpoint.


home, who never felt called upon to
write line for the papers in your life, do
you realize what an enviable lot is yoursP
II for nothing else, because it never oc-
ours TO you that the fotsam and ietsafn
of conversation, the beauties of nature,
the flying of a bird against the wind,
the bit Of wisdom dropped quantity from
the bps of child, are each and all good
material to be woven into your weekly
or monthly budget. The writing habit
(be glad that 1t is not yours) is other
wise. One gets to be ever on the alert,
half unconsciously, too, and everything
that one hears is mentally seized upon
for future use. Like the birds who go
darting here and there in the spring
sunshine, catching a bright hued thread,
or a shred of wool, or a whisp of hay
wherewithto build their nests, we of the
journalistic profession think nothing in
dvertent or inappropriate which we
may blend into our modest fabrics. So
much by way of preface, If not of apollo
gy. And for what one dark-eyed
woman said to her neighbor, in the pub
lie conveyance which accommodated
throng Of passengers:
"She had completely effaced herself
for her daughters. Everything is done
to accommodate Helen and Julia, and
Mrs is supersede1.s 1t don't seem
Just right to me that b mother should
be kept altogether in the background"
"O," said the sweet looking lady to
whom this was addressed, "self-denial
is easy TO mothers. What is mothers
life anyway, but sacrifice all through"
agreed with the first speaker. 1t
don't seem right to me that the Helens
and Julias, bright, beautiful, bewitching
though they may be, should step to the
front, in selfish absorption and monopo-
lize the best things, while "mother," a
pale, colorless, worn-out figure, is wear
ing old dresses, reading old books or
none at all, seeing few friends, and liv-
ing humdrum life of routine, chiefly
enlivened by conflicts with Bridget's s
stupidity and Noah's impertinence. In
deed, it is not right, and Helen and
Julia, flashing like butterflies in the
sunny morning of youth, would be the
last to enjoy their warm and cozy home,
if they felt that they were responsible
for the monotony of their mothers ex-
istence. Mother is herself the person
y
indeed, to real mother. From the
hour when her nature first over-brimmed
with the tidal rapture which sweeps full
flooded into the heart that cradles babe,
through the weary watching hours OF
teething and whooping-cough, mumps
and measles, on through school days and
vacation days, and courting days, the
mothers life is poured out and given
necessarily for her children. So il
should be in sense. In every child the
mother renews her youth, and each son
and daughter is an addition to the home
wealth.
But some of your mothers, to whom
am talking, carry your self-sacrifice sc
far that you forget that you have any life
of your own, for which you are response
bleto God. You spend your strength sc
freely and so recklessly during the years
OF your children's childhood that yor
have no elasticity, no resources, nc
health left to spare by the time they
are grown up. You so devote
your skill and talents to the material
side of the house that you have no time
to keep up with the current of the world
thought, or to grow intellectually with
your young people. Many good woman
suffers her religious life to droop anC
.languish, because in her thoughtles
giving up of every moment of time, and
of every remnant of nervous force, tc
the daily demands of her household, sh,
has absolutely no opportunity left fol
sitting at the Masters feet. Society i
not, in our cities, given up so wholly tC
the young as it was a few years ago
In fact, there can be no social success
where only the crudity of early you'll
appears upon the scene. Older people
who bring to the front the tact, the eX
perience and the knowledge which they
have gained through the years, mus
mingle in the social gathering, if it is t.
be witty, brilliant and attractive. The
mothers must be in the van, and the
daughters, as BELTS their age, little in
the sheltering shadow, if we are to have
the ideal social-life growing out of thu
| ideal home-lfe.
am very fond of tho Helens ant
Julias. like their sparkle, their vivac
ity, their esprit. But do not like thei
want of consideration for mother if shC
is, perhaps, a little old-fashioned, little
tired, a little dif1ident and frightened il
the blaze of their splendor. True ant
tenderly loving daughters will never b,
contented to let mothers eflace them
selves even though self-denial be an cas-,
maternal duty.-M. E. SangSter, IN In
| teyior