The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-14
Where's Mother =?

When the tired father returns at
night from the Office or shop, when the
children come home from school, the
first question is always--unless she
stands in the very hall before their
eyes-"Where's mother p 1t is
often said that the mother is the
home. This question is one of the
many proofs Of the proverb. Unless
the mother is in the house, the vital
principle Of the home seems to be
lacking. She comes, and comfort,
love and Joy seems to enter with her.
She goes, and there isa sort of breath
less and uneasy waiting until she
comes back again.
To the true mother, the knowledge
that she is thus indispensable to the
loved ones should be one Of the choic-
est possessions. 1t is only by cher
ishing the spirit which prompts the
question, "Where's mother p that
the can properly instil into the hearts
Of her children that passion for
home" which one Of our great writer's
has called the 'frst characteristics of
manly natures. And yet not infre-
iquently tired mother will exclaim
impatiently: II wish that 1 could stir
without having an outcry, Where's
mother p" To one who sets true
value upon life and its duties and
pleasures, such words come with an
awful shock. Pearls seem to be cast
out wastefully before the feet Of such
women.
But even if mother holds most
dear this precious tribute OF love, how
many are there who take pains to be at
home when che children come ? Or,
if she must be absent, to leave word
for them; or to tell them before they
90 in the morning or at noon that she
expects to be gone when they return,
with the reasons and regrets.3 It is
only by mutual thoughtfulness in
these .so-called trifes that the harmo-
ny Of the home life can be preserved,
and woe to her who does not appre-
ciate them at their true value. 1t is
impossible that the busy mother OF a
family, with shopping to do, calls to
make, and meetings Of various kinds
to attend, should always be in when
the children come home from school.
It would show an undue regard for
sentiment if she were to shut herself
away from the outside life which
every woman needs so much, and
which. she needs especially for the
benefit of tie family. But by follow
ing this rule, to tell the children in
the morning, whenever she can, just
where she is to be, and how soon she
will be at home, she may keep alive
and still foster, though she is absent,
the sacred fame which she so highly
prizes. ;JIl-;ll lllg
A lady was calling recently upon a
friend, when small boy came bound
ing in at the basement door about 4
o'clock in the afternoon, with the us
ual inquiry: "Where,s mother ?"
20, remember" he added impati-
iently, "she said she was going to the
mothers meeting this afternoon. l
wish she would hurrysup and come
back ~
"she didn't co. said the good ma
tured Irish girl to whom he had been
speaking, "she had word there would
not be any meeting.
20, goody p cried the urchin, leap
ing up the stairs two at time, and
bursting into the room where the la
dies were sitting. His face was
yreathed with smiles-but his shoes
were muddy.
go, Tommy p exclaimed his moth
er, in 8 reproachful voice, as she
pointed to the tracks he had left be-
hind him. =.
"Well, I was SO glad to see you
-home," he explained, as he saluted his
visitor in boyish fashion, and imprint
ed a resounding kiss upon the moth
er's cheek. ''I'm sorry about the mud,
but here's my ball for you to sew up,
aud here's the geography you were
going to cover and may I 60 over to
Will Smiths corner with my roller
skates ?-there's such daisy side
walk over there p
Verify, well may the mother forgive
much in such case. And blessed is
she who can answer the children 8
question with a glad "Here l am T.
and hear their sweet words Of joy in
her presence.-Congregationalist.