St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-06-24
TO THE MOTHERS OF LARGE FAM
lilies.

| noticed in the COngrega tiOnalist,
a few weeks ago, a paragraph from the
happy mother of five little ones, who
wished that some one would write for
those with large families Il wish that
| heartily echoed, being myself the
mother of eight children. Having Oft
EN- wondered at the scarcity of such
articles in our papers, L have cOnclud
ed that the most of those who are quail
flied by experience to write them are
too busy, while those who have the
time but not the experience avoid it as
difficult subject. Many time moth
ers are advised to leave off few of
the ruffies and tucks from the chill
dren's dresses, or to be little less
elaborate in decorations for the home
and preparations for the table. This,
they are told, will give them time for
self-culture, for the daily walk or drive
which shall keep them fresh and young
for the training of the children's minds,
and so forth. Very good; and, no
doubt, applicable to a large class of
women with small families. But what
about the mother who makes no ruffles,
does no fancy work, prepares no elab
crate dishes, and even then cannot
keep down her pile of plain sewing
and mending, nor keep her house more
than whOlesOmely clean and comfort
able ? Is there no word for her? What
can be said to the many who grieve
daily over the fact that their whole
time is taken up ill meeting the bodily
needs of their families, so that they
can only regard any higher training
for themselves or their children as a
longed for, but unattainable, good?
My own experience and reflection
have taught me some things which
wish might be help to others. One
comfort for busy mothers is this her
influence in the family depends, not
so much upon what she is able to do
or say, as upon what she herself is.
Example will do more than precept.
If she has no time to sit down with
her children and instruct them OH the
subjects of patience, cheerfulness, I'M
seltishness, faithfulness, let them see
her, in the midst of her daily cares, pa
tient under provOcatiOn, cheerful amid
WEAKNESS and work, faithful and con-
scientiOus in little duties; and it will
be a far more powerful and lasting les
son to them than could be given by
hours of talking or volumes of reading.
If her Sabbath hours must be, as is
often the case, interrupted by the care
of the baby or the little ones, SO that
she canDOt give the older ones the
much needed and desired Bible instruc-
ton, still let her not be discouraged.
Let her children see that she loves her
Bible, tries to live by it and follow its
precepts, that she respects the Sabbath
and loves the house of worship al
though she cannot go to lC, and she
may feel that she is giving them relig-
iOus teaching which they win never
forget, even though she cannot give
her time to instructing them or pray
ing with them.
do not say it is easy for mother
to live this life. The nervous strain
and the WEAKNESS to which she, more
than many others, is subject make it
often peculiarly difficult for her to
practice the many virtues she would
teach to her children. But, in SO far
as she is able to do it, she is training
her children in the right direction,
even in the midst of busy days when
she seems to herself to be doing moth
ing for them but to serve their physical
needs.
Another thing / have learned. No
mother should be discouraged because
rules laid down and methods used by
others for governing children are not
found adapted to hers. Because she
reads of gifted mothers with lovely
children who never need more than a
word of reproOf, she need not think
herself the worst of mothers, nor her
children the worst of children, because
two or ten, or even twenty, lessons are
not enough to overcome their faults.
Let her remember how hard she finds
it, will all her years of discipline, to
overcome her own temptations and to
remedy her own faults, and let her
have patience. with the restless bodies,
and faith in the undisciplined hearts.
And lastly, mothers, do not fail to
take the help aud comfort that you
may find in prayer. When you are
tired in mind and body, and the child
rem require more patience and wisdom
than you can possibly command, there
is rest and peace for you if you can
commune with your Master, or even
place yourself in silence before Him