The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-11
A SCOTCH HOME.
The Lasting influence of a Dear
MOther's HNmnA.

Mothers Hymns.
A poor peasant on the Scotch coast
had an unusually large brood of chill
dren. seven of them boys, and little in
Iced could he do for them. He labored
early and late in the fields, and con-
trived to keep the wolf from the door,
but that was all. There was never a
shilling to spare, and the farmers life
was hopeless, eXhausting struggle
against poverty and adversely.
The mother, too, worked early and
late with all the cooking, washing and
household drudgery of the humble
home. There were many to clothe as
well as to feed, and so scanty were the
schooling facilities on that lonely
stretch of coast, that she herself taught
the boys one by one to read and write.
If there had been girls among the
older children she would have had help
in the homework. Her daughters were
the youngest of the flock, and only add
ed to her cares when she was least able
to endure them.
Weary and overworked as this Scotch
mother was, she was always the light
ard the life of the household. 1t was a
happy home because it was frightened
by her cheerfulnesS and cOntentment.
When there was a boy old enough to
read a book aloud, there was entertain
ment for the family while she was sew
ing, and she taught her children to
sharpen their wits by keen argument,
and above all, to think for themselves.
Then, too, this Scotch mother, while
not trained musician, had deep. rich
voice and a stirring way of singing old
fashioned humns. On Sunday evenings
the Bible would be read aloud. and then
she would sing one hymn after an
other: while her brawny Scotch lads
listened with eagerness and enioyed
the treat so kcenly that they often com
planned because Sunday came only once
a week.
The brood of children left the home
nest one by one, and the mother died
prcmaturely because of oyerwork and
anxiety. But she lived anew in the
boys as they became successful men in
although at the outset they We're poor
ard had little education, they had her
buoyant, hopeful nature, and her fine
qualities of mind.
One of them was soldier, and was
MORALLY wounded in a foreign CAM
paign. The chaplain in the hospital
told him that he had only few hours of
life in reserve. and asked him if he had
any religious faith.
Il have never had anything else" he
replied. 81 can hear my good mother
now singing her Sunday night hymns
on the Scotch COAST"
Another son became prosperous
barrister, with a great reputation for
learning and wit. He would have had a
larger income if it had not been for a
striking popularity. He invariably
threw up case when he was convinced
shat there was no justice in it.
81 like to think of my dear old Scotch
mother" he would say. when | plead
case in court
Another was an earnest preacher.
One was doctor with a metropolitan
practice. Three We're successful mer-
chants and one was high-minded pub
Usher. All were richly endowed with
their mothers courage and mental re-
sources, and all shared her deep, re-
ligious nature.
In many temptation and crisis they
recalled her face shining in the winter
freight of their old home. and the
hymns she had sung, in which she had
expressed the religious devotion that
Aad governed her life. and the tender.
unfa.ling love of a mothers heart
Youths Companion.