Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-01-05
OLD FOLKS AT HOME.
A sCBJECT DEAF TO THR HEAHT
OF EVERY TRUE MAN.
Two Pictures Thai 1, VIII be Well 10 Take
Good Look At.
from the Milwaukee SUM-


In o recent publication was an engrav-
ing entitled The Old Folks at Home.
1t represented an aged couple sitting to-
gether reading q letter which lay on the
table before them. The aged mother,
with a smiling face, was whispering
something to the pleasant faced father.
There must have been good news in that
letter. It may have been from their
boy-we are always boys and girls to
father and mother-telling Of his success
thus far in the battle of life. Maybe it
was from a loved daughter, writing to
father and mother, telling them how
much her little ones talked of grandpa
and grandma It was a beautiful picture
Of O subject dear to the heart OF every
true man and woman. The old folks at
home, in this picture, were just what
they should have been-happy. It was,
aside from an artistic view, a picture
that would attract and delight the eye.
Another picture is painted to the mind.
It is the same subject. In place Of
smiles there are tears coursing down tn
furrowed cheeks. An expression of anx-
ious care takes the place Of pleasure, a
thew gazs on the letter before them.
| That letter contains bad news from those
whom these two aged hearts, in the years
gone by, had hoped would prove an
honor and blessing to their father and
mother in their old age. Now all this
bright coloring of a happy old age gives
way to the dark colors Of life that make
Death welcome and the grave o fowery
bed of ease. These are true pictures OF
the old folks at home in every commu-
nifty.
Looking at the aged mothers face,
love for her child shines forth under all,
no matter how trying, circumstances.
In the criminal court of Chicago, re-
Gently, a young man was tried and con-
victed for a capital crime. The mother
had sat with her boy all through the
trial. She had heard all the evidence
for and against him. She had listened
to the arguments OF counsel for and
against her son, and when the jury
brought in a verdict of guilty she could
no longer restrain herself and in her
despair and excitement arose and de-
nounced in frenzied words the court,
hoping only to save her boy. Blinded
by love that mother could see no i'll in
her SON.. though he belonged to that
class of things which infest all large
cities. No one can estimate q mothers
love. It descends deeper, it reaches
higher, it is broader and more charitable
than all things else OF creation. No
matter how low and depraved a child
may become, mothers love goes out to
that child with the same force as it
would had that child grown up and the
mother had realized all her fond hopes
for it's future.
How many young men who are away
from the old folks at home think Of
mothers love? When tempted to do q
questionable act think of mother. Il
evil companions entice you it will help
you to resist temptation. If the young
men Of America who are out in the
world striving to make a competency
would only keep the picture of the ole
folks at home, especially mothers pic
ture, constantly in their hearts there
would be fewer mothers laid to rest il
broken hearted graves and much les.
crime to record. Boys, don't go bacl
on the old folks at home. Stand firm by
the principles mother taught, for it is t.
mother all credit is due for what goot
there is in us.