The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-19

we DO snow really WndJ we are anu
what we think. Now, how does any
body know your mother is worth
obeying7 Do they learn it from
you7"
Tom stared for moment at his
teacher, then gave low whistle. She
sat in silence while one new thought
after another crowded upon his mind.
Flow did anybody know it, any
how? Tom had never really intended
to be undutiful to his gentle little
mother, who INDUCED him far more
than was good for him. Now he re-
called the morning chores she asked
of him. If he felt like doing them
they were done, but more often they
were left for some one else. If there
was nothing cup" among the boys
after school, he needed her mildly
expressed wish that he should come
home promptly; otherwise he stayed
out as long as he pleased. No, GER
tainly. nobody would know from him
that his mother was worth obeying.
81 don't know Cliffs mother" went
on Miss Morse, because | haven't
been here very long, and it is quite a
walk to their house. But I want to
know her, for l feel sure from what I
have seen of Cliff that she must be a
good woman. When you see boy
ready to think of his mother, anxious
to keep her from anxiety, willing to
give up a pleasure rather than run
the risk of distressing her, can give
a pretty good guess what she must
be-"
Tom colored deeply. "My moth
er's good" he growled under his
breath.
II haven't doubt of it, my boy.
But how are people to know it through
you, unless you arei People will
judge her by you. If you do not
honor her by obedience, how can you
wonder at their thinking that as Cliff
expressed it, she is not worth mind
ing?"
"But she isl" exclaimed Tom, firing
up again.
81 wish more boys would remem-
ber," said Miss Morse, gently, after
another little pause, what joy and
comfort they can be to their mothers
if they will. And oh, that they would
remember it while they have timel
There must come time, you know,
when their voices will be hushed.
Our words can never reach them when
the sod is between them and us, no
matter how we ache and ache to tell
them how we did love, love them, in
spite of all our careless ways"
Tom set his lips hard together as
he choked down a lump in his throat.
"And | think those of us whose
mothers are mild and quiet, not
sharp and loud, but low voiced in
their way of letting us know what
they want of us-we ought to feel
special tenderness for them, don't
you7"
"Yes'm l do" said Tom, getting up.
Goodbye"
why, Tommy, you're home so
early" said his mother, looking up
with a pleased smile as he entered
the room at home. Tom liked the
smile; it was SO different from the
troubled look with which she usually
met his home-comings.
"Yes-'cause," he began, in the EN-
barrassment of the new feeling which
he did not like to show, "my foot
hurt and = say, MOTHER" with a
burst, SIM coming home when you
want me to. Every time"
"Are you, dear3 Well, that will be
great comfort to mother"
She looked after him as he went
about some small duties neglected
for days, and there was a mist in her
eyes along with the smile as she
thought
"The dear boy will forget it all be-
fore long. But it's good to have him
think it.
Cliff, arriving home, found the
house quiet and his mother away. 1t
was disappointing, and he growled a
little.
"There, nowl might have stayed
with the boys just as we'll as not"
And the feeling stayed with him as
the lonely evening dragged on and
she did not come home until late.
But the last of it went out of his
heart when she said:-
"My good boy! l had to go to your
aunt, who is i'll. But / should not
have had an easy moment if l had
not felt sure you would be at home