Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-03-19
On, Matthew, my bo,

in bedT''
 q could not sleep, Matthew. | heard you walking and walking"
 "Heartless brute that I am to be laundering about in my clumsy boots at this hour. He placed her frail fig tre ill his armchair and drew up stool beside her.
 Matthew, wEat is it?" she said. Can you not tell me your trouble?"
 Folly, mother, folly and its proper punishment. There is nothing more to l tell"
 Can you pot speak freely to your mother, my boy?" Her voice was won derfully tender, and she took his large hard hand between both of her own and caressed it gently. Tt will ease your heart to talk of it."
 Well" he laughed constrainedly, II thought myself n great man, moth i CT. reformer, benefactor of my kind, and 1 have found out that 1 am just weak fool-a common, ignorant, vul- gar demagogue, mother"
 Don't say that, Matthew. You have tried to do your duty, manful and honest -
 l NOy ho IHtSII uptCu udIoIlSs lhS1C | is where you are wrong, mother. be- gan all right, but-but I let other things come into my life. other crav- ings and hopes, which have corrupted I my motives and destroyed my useful ness. meant to do battle for the poor and the downtrodden against the rich and the powerful, keeping myself pure and clean. l have fought-yes, fought | desperately-but personal hatred and jealousy were at the bottom of it all. "
 "Matthew!"
 Yes, mother, it is true. 1 have been blind, but 1 can sometimes see myself as 1 really am. l had dreams, mother-great, noble dreams. l had ! ambitions in which there was no spark of selfishness. I worked studied, learned many things which men of my way of life seldom trouble themselves about. grew proud of my own strength and fell as the evil angel is said to have | fallen.
 Tt was sad day for us when she first came into this house.
 What do you mean, mother?' He drew back and looked at her frown- ingly.
 Do not try to deceive your mother, Matthew. It is love for her that has done all this From the hour you first saw her you have been a changed man. There was new look in your face, a new tone in your vOiCe-mOre confident and yet more humble. And you were always restless and always pondering, pondering. And you groaned in your SlaaTO WhpD I tn n shoulders, lest you should take cold, 1 heard always one name you muttered in your dreams. It was -
 Don't mother, don't, he interrupt ed in husky whisper. II cant bear it.
 He rested his head on her knee, and for long time neither spoke, the son breathing heavily, while his mother passed her thin hand caressingly among his cprls with that touch which only mothers know and which they learn from God. With it they sOothe, forgive and impart courage. They convey the utter sacrifice and self abnegation. the devotion and faith that neither shame | nor crime nor neglect nor the whole worlds condemnation can shake. Those OI LID W It III (IlCSC IICdCh lIC terialistic doctrine and demonstrate tS our own satisfaction that the mother is only an animal among animals, and that her love is mere animal instinct, have surely forgotten that touch.
 He lifted his head at length, with haggard smile upon his worn and ema- ciated face. Tt only needed that, he said. My mother has discovered my disgraceful secret! Well, yes, confess the whole wretched truth. hate that man; am jealous of him. I have melt ed the hands against him; IT would have been glad if they had killed him. Yes, mother, your son that you were so proud of is nothing better than mur- derer at heart He rested his head upon her knee again and groaned aloud. "She could not care for me, he went on in smothered tone. II am not her kind. I am only common workman, after all. She is a lady,
 "There are no differences in rank in America, Matthew" said his mother gently.
 II used to think so, mother,' he re- sponded sadly. but it is not so. Wealth, a life of ease, education and refined associations, Euft white hands, fine clothing-these are real things, mother, and there is no use ill kicking against the truth.
 But he is flop. an idler, weak, womanish creature. You have told me so yourself, Matthew. Surely she could never care for such man.
 We were all mistaken. mother" he said, ''I more than any. He has shown himself strong, generous and full of courage, and it is love for her that has worked the change in him. It might have made something of me, too" he