Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1890-07-25
WEARY MOTHERS.
From Zone Of the Weary Ones,' in
New York Ledger.


For instance, there is the over
tasked mother of a family, in moder-
ate circumstances, who must be
brains, hands, stomach and feet for
dozen little children, and their
father, who counts full another doz-
en-. Do the best she may, plan the
wisest she may, her work accumu-
lates fearfully on her hands. One
days labor laps over on the next,
till she cannot sleep al night for fear
she will oversleep in the morning.
And though she works hard all
day, and gives herself no relaxation,
she cannot see any result at the
close, sayc that she hath done
what she could"
OF course, you say: "Let her be
satisfied with that, and not worry
about it," That is only a proof
now easy it is for some people to
bear the troubles of other people
Suppose her nervous system has
been strained to the utIn Jst, so that
every step is weariness, and every
fresh and unexpected demand sets
her tall of a tremble," as women eX-
press it, what is the use of reasoning
then about not working? The more
she can't work, the more she will
try to, till she drops in her tracks
Now, there are self-sacrficing
mothers who need somebody to say
to them:
"Stop You haye just to take
your choice now between life and
death. You have expended all the
strength you have on hand, and
must lay IN a new stock before any
work can be done by you. So don't
go near your kitchen. Get right in
to bed and lie there, just as a man
would do If he didn't feel one quar-
ter as bad as you do; and my word
for it, the world will keep on going
round just the same as if you were
spinning a spasmodic teetotum, as
hens do long after their heads have
been cut off. Yes-just lie there till
you get rested; and they all find out,
by picking up the burdens you have
dropped, what load you have been
uncomplainingly shouldering. Yes
just lie there; and tell them to bring
you something nice to eat and drink
yes drink; and forbid, under dread
ful penalties, anybody asking you
what the family are to have for din
ner. Let them eat what they like,
so they don't trouble you, and sea-
son it to their tastes; and here's hop
ing it will do them good"
And now, having located you
comfortably under the quilt, out of
harms way, let me tell you that If
yo1 think you are doing Gods SER
vice, or anybody else, by using up
years strength in week, you have
made a sinful mistake. l don't care
anything about that basket of un-
mended stockings, or any nursery
nightmare which haunts the
dreams of these martha" mothers.
You have but one life to live;
that's plain. And when you are
dead, all the kings men can't make
you stand on your feet again; that's
plain. There, then, don't be dead,
In the first place, go out a part of
every day, rain or shine, for the fresh
air, and don't tell me you can't; at
least, not while you can stop to en-
broider your children's clothes. AS
to dressing to go out, don't dress.
If you are clean and whole, that's
enough. Have boots with elastics at .
the side, instead of those that take
so long to "lace up" in short, SIM
plify your dressing, and then stop
every wheel in the house, if neces-
sary, In order to go out, but go. Fif- .
teen minutes is better than nothing. .
If you can't get out in the daytime,
run out in the evening; and if your
husband can't see the necessity of .
it, perhaps he will on reflection after
you have gone out. The moral of
all which is, that if nobody else will
take care of you, you must just take .
care of yourself. AS to the children .
i might write long book on this .
head, or those heads, bless 'em
They can't help being born, poor
things, though they often get slap |
ped for that and nothing else, as far
as | can see. 1t is a pity you hadn't
three instead of six, SO that the care
OF them might only be pleasure
instead of "A weariness; but "that's
none of my business" as people say
after they have been unusually med
dlesome and impertnent. Stn
repeat 1t, l wish you had three in
stead of six, and | don't care il you
do so and tell John.
The Panama Canal Bubble.
Scientific 4 Apnpripon, II ~ NOW