Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-11-18
Mothers aud Their Children.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
There is a tendency on the part OF
mothers to do so much for their chill
dren that virtually a premium is
placed upon selfishness. The child
whose every wish is anticipated and
for whom nothing is too good is apt
to grow up an exceedingly unpleasant
person unless, indeed, there be an ex-
traordinary amount OF natural good
in him to counterbalanee the undue
indulgence. Shielding children from
every chilling breath of LIES air begets
a life OF ease and selfish enjoy
ment which becomes fixed when child
hood is past. A mother, for example,
has denied herself OF every COM
fort. She has risen early and taken
rest late in order that her daughters
might have perfectly happy girl
hood" No duty was exacted OF them.
If they minded to help they might do
SO, il not there was no one to ease the
weary mother of her burden. Small
wonder is it that after these girls grew
up their sole thought was for self.
The mother was ignored by them; dis
respectfully spoken of as "old-fash-
toned" and without taste" Indeed,
she was only regarded as one who
could bake ard brew, and was even
"ordered"-no other word can be
used-to wait upon them while they
lolled in their easy chairs. Never hav-
ing been taught to spend and be spent
in doing good, these young women
were not the helpers of those in need,
and never carried sunshine into dark
ened homes. Even their best friends
tired of them. and their lives were an
lovely and discontinued. There can
be no happiness in life unless the
straight line of duty, which leads TO
"beauty's curve" be conscientiously
followed. Let every mother incnlcate
in her children's minds that it is more
blessed to give than to receive.
The opposite of this unpleasant pict
ure is seen in a family of seven daugh-
tiers, reared in wealth and luxury.
There was not any absolute need OF
their doing any household work, as
there were "man-servants and maid
servants" enough to perform every
duty. Although her first desire was
to make her children happy, the moth
er of these girls knew there could beno
happiness without work; so each child
had her special duty and was held to
strict accountability for its perform
ance. The mother was the central
sun upon which they all revolved; her
slightest wish was the command OF an
empress, so perfectly was it obeyed.
The one thought was ito help to please
mother" And the family was devot-
ed to good works. In later years
when the older daughters had grown
up, the whirligig OF time brought Sc
we're reveI ses-so severe that the
beautiful home, replete with all
that culture and wealth could COM
mand, had to be given up and new
home found among strangers. Was a
word of repining heard? No; although
the new home was small, common
place and without a trace of those
comforts to which the family had been
accustomed. But the girls immediate
~ set to work to alter the dead level
of disagreeableness and to make "the
dessert blossom as the rose" The
united endeavor of their trained
and willing hands. under the super
vision of the mother, soon made a
bower OF beauty of the bare habita-
ton. 1t became a place of refresh
ment to all who had the privilege of
visiting it. These girls bring sunshine
into every place, and the desire to
help every one with whom they come
in contact is as natural to them as
it is for them to breathe.