Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-23
FOR LITTLE FOLKS.
WHO LOVES MAMMAY

When the Test Came. Only One of tne
 Four Was Proof
 The sun had gone down. and it was dark In the sitting room. Great fakes of snow were flying through the air out side. The wind whistled and blew through keyholes and under doorsills.
 Mamma sat in big Boston rocker ;n front of blazing grate fire, surrounded by her little family-Wi the youn- gest, on her lap, Janet on one arm of the chair and Jack on the other, both with their heads leaning on mammals shoulders, while Sam, the oldest boy, sat on stool at her feet, with his back close up against her.
 ''I love you, mamma, said Janet.
 ESQ do I, ;" "So do I, tSo do l." ohimed ill the three other voices.
 tI love you more than anybody else can love you, said Sam, "because I'm the oldest. I loved you the longest. /"
 ''I love you the most, because I'm the only girl, :" said Janet.
 "I love you so much wish big bear would come after you, and I'd shoot him, ,' said Jack
 lON6 yOu 4lQ10 hlIetl JaA bOA4 you, said Willie. putting his arms around his mother neck and kissing her again and again.
 Then all the children kissed her at once, and poor mamma was almost sui located with their embraces.
 Do you love me, children" she asked. ''Do you really know what love is?''
 "Why, love is loye-something you feel inside of you that makes you want to do something for somebody
 ''Yes, love is doing something-not your own pleasure, but doing something for some one else, perhaps something hard and unpleasant
 Just then the postman whistled at the door, and the children ran to see what be had brought.
 It's letter for me, !" said mamma as she opened it, "and I must write an answer at once, so it will go in this evenings mail. Who'll take letter to the lamppost for me?"
 Sam looked out of the window. How the snow blew aroundl His rubber boots were away up stairsa Oh, dear. he had five hard examples to dol Why oouldn' t that letter wait until morningf He'd take 1t on his way to school.
 Jack looked out of the window too. Ugh, how dark it wasl He didn't like being out in the dark alone. It made him seary Suppose there should be bears somewhere about the street cor nersl In the stories he had read when they came 1t was always ill a snow storm.
 Janet thought: "Why, certainly mamma doesn't mean me to go as long as Sam and Jack are Tn the house. I've got my slippers on. 1 hate going out in the cold. 7"
 Sc when mamma had finished writing the reply to her letter and looked up, she found Sam busy with his slate and pencil, Jack with one of his games, and Janet knitting away very industriously on Q hood for her doll. Only Willie stood before her with his big boots on and his overooat turned up about his ears
 I'm all ready, mamma, he said.
 But, Willie, aren't you afraid to go alone:' she asked. Its getting dark, and it's cold out of doors ,
 "I love you, mamma, he answered. "I'll run fast, and don't believe any thing will hurt me- D
 Yes. you may" said mamma.
 Don't get lost in the snowdrift, lit- tie maR. I'll watch you from the win dow. I know who loves me truly to- night, she added, with sorry smile. "Love does not think of itself, and love conquers even fear, doesn't it, Willie?" New York Observer.