The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-09

er and her unhappy. harrassed boy. She
nagged at him in the dining room tin
the poor child lost all appetite. One morn
ing the father came down alone. and X
planned that mother was not we'll enough
to come TO breakfast Whereon the bow
with childlike frankness, exclaimed. "Oa
I'm so glad" Then seeing his fathers
reproving glance, he explained, ''You
know, papa, I'm not glad she's sick; but
but I do enjoy my breakfast so mucn
more when she's not here" The women
was an egotist. Her own ailments were
her continual theme, and the comfort Of
her husband and child was wholly dis
regarded.
Il think mamma doesn't like me, aunt
ie.' said another sensitive child. "Oh.
If she would only sometimes seem salts
fed with me. and speak TO me as you 90
to Nellie. / used to try so hard to please
her. but IL isn't any good; for no matter
what do she always thinks it is wrong.
Two little girls were talking of their
governess, an irritable, unsympathetie
woman. who should never have been plac-
ed in charge Of children. Said one clap
ping her hands and dancing around the
room, I've just heard the most delight
full news. It's almost too good TO be true.
Miss \. is going TO be married and GUY
next governess is to be a really kind wo-
man. Papa said so "Oh. you selfish.
selfish girl" replied her sister, you might
be glad she's going 10 leave us; but how
ried? Haven't you any feeling for the
poor man? Think what a life he'll have
with her. And no matter how she scolds
he'll have to stay married"
one sees nervous. nagging women in
charge of schools and must heartily pity
them, for they are Obliged 10 earn their
living; nevertheless, they are running the
of almost frantic efforts cannot nam.
tain discipline. Oft reiterated complaint
ceases TO have remedial effect.
A handsome woman. whose face bore
traces of a sweeter disposition In girl
hood. was unhappily married to a drunk
ard. With her large family, small means
and the misery of seeing the man return
night after night in a disgusting condi-
ton of intoxication. she had a heavy bur-
den to bear. But she did not rail at the
man; she feared driving him TO lower
depths. The results of her dsappoint-
ment and worry were visited on the un-
fortunate children. She was not by ma
ture a motherly woman. The children
came into the world without a welcome.
and were made to realize il. Shaken,
scolded. unreasonably accused, they had
no home in the true sense of the word,
and each took the earliest opportunity
world.
There are nagging men as well as nag
ging women, but as the fathers are us
ually absent from the nome during many
hours of the day, they have less oppor-
tunity to destroy family peace 1t Is said
that "the mother holds the key of the
soul and stamps the coin Of character"
We remember Cowper's lines to his moth
ers picture: "Oh, that those lips had
language! Life has passed with me but
roughly since l heard thee last" Mem
cries of a mothers sweet voice have led
back wandering feet in paths of right
eousness; but harsh words of other moth
ers have driven the children to the broad
ways of destruction, as did certain
widow who rallied continually at her chill
dren. They feared her when they were
little; but, as they grew older. they gave
back railing for railing; and every son
of that mother was laid In a drunkard' 8
grave. A little lad made desperate by
the nagging of both parents ran away,
crossed the sea as a stowaway and found
a refuge with a relative, who obtained
permission to bring him up. Under the
rule of his parents he had been deceitful,
driven to falsehood through fear. When
loved and trusted he returned love and
trust. and developed a fine character.
In another home the nagging of the
mother was repeated in the children. Old
grievances were dwelt upon magnifed
and brought forward at most inopportune
moments, and there was a continual round
of petty fault-flndng and retort But a
realization of her responsibility came 10
the mother; she controlled the queru-
lous words and turned them to gentle ones.
The children were puzzled They did not
expect the new condition to last; but it
did last, and now is rare to hear an inn
patient word in that house from any OF
its members.
one may make excuse for the nervous
condition of invalids the irritability that
results from sleepless nights and long
continued suffering is difficult to control;
but much of the uncontrolled irritability
of invalids is the outcome of self pity and
lack of consideration for others. The de-
velopment of egotism and selfishness i'm
some natures is one of the evils Of invalid
ism.
us your patient better, nurse?" asked a
sympathetic visitor.
Eyes, ma am; oh, yes, 20 be sure she is
better bodily. But she's so disconnected
and fault-findng that if the Lord should
see fit to take her, she'd be making trouble
among the angels and complaining that
her halo didn't fit"
on the other hand, some of the most
winning lessons of patience and self-re-
nunciation are learned from invalids, who
are suffering from ailments that peculiarly
OBJECT the nervous system. One who had
been stricken with incurable disease min
istered to others long after she should have
laid aside her cares, and, in the last weeks
of her long Illness was continually watch
full lest those who tended her should be
wearied. On the day of her death, when
she was in great agony, she had asked her
nurse to do something for her relief, but
presently she said: "Oh, my dear, forgive
me. / had forgotten you have had nc
dinner. Please go down; the pain is not
unbearable. and / can wait very well till
your return" Most people can remember
some pale, weary mother, bearing herself
bravely, listening patiently to the Joys and
griefs of her children, concealing suffer
ing for the sake Of those who need her
care and affection. The ranks of naggers
are not recruited from such women. No
woman with an unselfsh and motherIy
spirit could be one of the habituaI naggers.
though she might be betrayed by pain
and nervous tension into momentary irri-
liability.
Serenade.
May Byron in the London Spectator.
The thrush upon the apple bough
Asway each tardy daybreak now
Hath a new song within his mouth
l. l. .r.s@.~. 40