The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-26
A RICH WOMAN.
BY SUSAN TEAL PERRY.

Call me rich woman? and my John
with such small salary, and l always
having to rack my brains to study out
all sorts of twisting ways and turning
ways to make it sufficient to keep us
just as decent folk? Call me rich?"
And the little spare busting woman who
could not afford to lose moment of
time, piled her needle busily sewing
some buttons on to the little boys
jacket.
Eyes, my dear Mrs. Brown, dare to
repeat what have just said; you are
rich woman, very rich woman" And
Mrs Proctor in her fine well-ftting
gown leaned her head back on to the
chair rest.
Excuse me-" she added, Z" for l am
weary to. day." then the speaker smiled
in an ironical way, saying, "weary doing
nothing"
30 dear me-" said Mrs. Brown, II
should think you would be glad you had
nothing to do, and that you could have
your nights rest. have not had real
good sleep since baby came, he is such
restless child. He is not like my other
children; and the rules | followed out
with them, cannot apply TO him at all.
l got my other children in the habit of
going to sleep by themselves. l put
them on the bed at just such time
every day, and came out of the room,
and I never heard whimper from them;
but this baby keeps up such pathetic
little cry that cannot bear to hear it,
and so rock him to sleep. and even
then must put him down very gently
or he will open his big blue eyes ard
look up into my face with protest
about leaving my arms"
"Clasp him to your heart every time,
and thank God that you have baby
that loves to be in your arms and cuddle
up to you. These empty arms ache be-
cause there is no baby to cuddle. Do
you know, my friend. that | call you a
rich woman because you have so much
of love in your life and so much of loves
labor to do every day? l was thinking
to-day that if | died / should not be
missed ] am not really necessary to
any body. Once | was, but those that
depended on my love and care have
passed away or grown up and do not
need to rely on me now. | have every
comfort, and income sufficient to pro.
cure whatever | need without worri-
ment or thought for the morrow. But
love and dependence, such as you have,
have gone out of my life. o should be
so glad to be really tired in body because
of needed daily ministrations to husband
and little ones. / should be so happy to
feel when night came that had been
necessity to some living person. | was
so rich when was situated just as you
are, with a small income, a good loving
husband and four little ones to call
mother! motherp ahundred times day.
o for mothering time once more But
l did not realize what richness came
into my life then. Young mothers sci
dom do. My dear Mrs. Brown, you get
nervously tired great many times; the
flesh is weak when the spirit is willing.
but do try to value these treasures of
your life. these precious trusts the good
Lord has given you. See all the sun
shine of tire way, keep out of the shad-
ows, pick the beautiful flowers by the
wayside, sing as you journey along with
husband and the little ones. / miss
ed so many of the beauties along the
way. so many of the hospices of rest
/ might have enjoyed. Excuse me for
this plain talk. Unjust be going. felt
so burdened with the poverty of loneli-
ness to-day that ! came over to see my
! rich neighbor."