The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-09-16
Childless Mothers.

1t is a common saying that cold
maids children are perfect": but
there is touch of something beyond
the ridicule usually implied by the re-
mark, for the mothel-instinct is by no
means confined TO mothers alone.
There are women, plenty of them, mar
ried and single, who, though childless.
have the true mother-love in their
hearts, with the strong common sense
and wisdom in government which rem
der them keenly alive to the rights of
other peoples children, and to the in
justice often meted them by their own
parents.
Why woman, with the true attri.
butes of motherhood written plainly in
her life, and with the hunger for it in
her heart, should remain cbildless while
another, to our imperfect Judgment
less fitted for the responsibility, should
receive the blessing, must for us re-
main part of the inscrutable mystery
of the plan of an all-wise Creator.
But that such women should neces-
sarily be shut out from an active part
in children's life is by no means part
OF the plan. There are little mother
less waits in every town and city who
need the shelter of the home they can
offer. There are others who do not
lack for food or shelter, but whose lives
may be frightened and changed by the
thoughtful kindnesses, the loving words
which they can give. Harriet Malti-
neau, in her autobiography, tells a sad
story OF her life as child, which could
not fail to carry suggestion to such
woman. She says: " / had no child
hood, because there was so little love in
1t, so little of the demonstrative affec-
ton so necessary for the proper growth
of character, so few loving words, such
a dearth of kisses and caresses."
She tells of the punishment for
wrong-doing, which made her ugly and
stubborn, when one tender word would
have caused her to fall on her knees in
an agony of repentance.
She would have done anything,
everything, for a kiss, caress, or a
stroke of her head. And we cannot
doubt there are children to-day who
may be similarly situated.
There are older children, too, who
need this care and love. The young
girl who has left her own kindred be-
hind to earn livelihood for herself,
and perhaps for them, stands in need
of the wise counsel and companion
ship which the older woman can give
her.
The young boy away from home,
either in business or college life, can
often be kept in the straight path by
just such an infuence-and the social
home evenings, the cosey little din
ners, and the freedom of the home
opened to him are no small factors in
his education.
If none of these opportunities have
offered, at least there is one that is
open to all-the kindly thought and
bright smile for every child whose life
we come in contact with.
We are only just beginning to APP
preciate the power of thought trans
ferrence-the influence that our silent |
thoughts have upon all about us, and |
especially upon the plastic mind of a
child. We can hardly estimate the
good that may be done in this way.
This silent influence is powerful |
one, which helps the giver as well as
the recipient.
1t is lift on the road for both, and
it brings It's own reward in the "peace
which passeth understanding" and |
which follows close upon the footsteps |
OF every good thought and deed.-The
Household.