The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-04-26
Write to Mother.

Boys, some of you who read this are
absent from home. You are attending
school, learning a trade, or engaged in
some kind of employment that has
called you away.
There is mother at home, who longs
to hear from YOU often. Do you give
her that privilege? Or are you willing
to let her watch every mail, day after
day and week after week, until the
thought comes forcing its way into her
heart that you have forgotten her. or
care more for the new associates around
you?
Do you realize that her thoughts are
with you oftener, and linger much
longer with you, than yours with herp
You can think of her as wise,
thoughtful mother, in quiet, peaceful
home, with but little change in her life,
as the seasons come and 90, and you
feel sure that all is well with her.
She can not think of you with the
same feeling of security.
You are young, and are out in world
which she knows is full of snares and
temptations. And. while her confidence
in your strength of character may be
great, yet she can not keep back the
anxious thoughts that come unbidden,
especially when she has not heard from
you for long time.
She knows that this is an important
period of your life. A great change is
going on. You are developing into
something. Can you suppose her to
have aught but the deepest solictude
in knowing what that something shall
beP She has foregone much pleasure
for your sake, and has conferred many
hopes in you. She can not help feeling
deep interest in watching the result
of her years of labor in your behalf.
/ A few days ago our postmaster re-
ceived letter from a mother in dis
tant State, asking for information con-
corning her boy. She had written to
him twice without getting any reply.
The mother s letter was handed to
heI soma genial, warm-hearted lad,
who could never nave been guilty of
such neglect if be had realized what it
was costing his mother.
| know another boy who, during a
years absence, wrote but two letters
to his mother. At the close of the year
he was summoned hastily home to look
upon that mothers face for the last
time He found the two letters he had
"iltNth CalCiuiil ldio away III u viz
where she kept a few things that were
highly priced.
When he learned how many times his
mother had read these letters, even after
every word they contained had been
committed to memory, he felt as though
he would give the world if he could
only live that year over again, that he
might swell the number to hundred
instead of two.
All, boys, we often bring upon our
selves, even in youth, the bitterness of
some might have BEEN" Will you
not guard against it on this one point.
at least?
Write to your mother, and write
often. Answer the many questions
found in her letter to you. Do not miss
sing one. They were not put in her
letter just for the sake OF filling up the
page. Mothers do not have to do that.
What may seem of the least importance
to you may he full of meaning to her.
Tell her all about yourself. Tell her
all about your studies, your work, or
whatever YOU may be engaged in Tell
her all atout Your assoc ates; and such
as you can not tell her about do not
hesitate to drop at once.
Boys, write to your mothers. Golden
| DdYS.