The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
APPRECIATE A
 SONS LITTLE ATTENTIONS

T shall miss Toms goodnight kiss" said fond mother yesterday in speak ing of her boy who has just gone back for his third year at college. and Mary. who was trying to look unconscious. blushed a rosy red and dropped her eyes, while Toms mother continued to talk of his thoughtfulness and to say that not a night had passed of his vacation with out his loving caress and his goodnight, mother.
 And it is not just recently that Tom began kissing me goodnight" she went on. He has always done so and, al- though he Is a college boy now and will graduate next year, he has not yet ne- glected his mother or failed to show her these little attentions that so touch a mothers heart and that to. me reveal the sweetest depths in a boys nature"
 "A young mothers greatest joy is the evening hour when her baby boy nestles in her loving arms and, in kissing him goodnight, she whispers her prayer that later on he understands. Then as he grows old enough to put his arms about her and lisps a little prayer at her knee, she sometimes wonders if the time will ever come when he will forget the hour at mothers knee" and not only forget the lesson of that hour but grow neglect full of her. I used to wonder if when Tom grew up he would, like so many boys l know, who never seem to think that mother should want at least an occasional caress from her boy but he never forgets to give me a kiss, no mat
 
 guests may be around But as perfect as I think Tom Is, I give myself the credit of having impressed upon him the importance of showing his mother the little attentions that every mother deserves.
 "I was determined that Tom should not grow up indifferent in his manner to- wards me. While I demanded respect and obedience, I felt that his education would be sadly neglected unless he was taught the lesson of affection, and so began my work early. If he failed to kiss me at least once during the day l reminded him. and Tom no doubt kissed me many times just from a sense of duty. But he got into the habit and long before he went off to college l had grown to look for Toms quick step, and then his arms would steal about me in loving embrace. It was habit of his but I thought it was a beautiful one, and have missed it since he went away, two years ago. But even college life has not changed him. for on his vacations not day goes by without Tom putting his arms around me and making me feel that nothing will ever make him forget the days when he was a little fellow in my arms And when I went on for a football game on Thanks giving l remember that when Tom and 1 said goodnight at my hotel that his chum, a great, tall young giant looked on very sadly when Tom and kissed each other. and Tom suggested that l kiss his friend for his mothers sake, and before 1 could say anything this tall boy leaned over and actually kissed me and there was a little break in his voice. Tom afterwards told me that the boys mother had died a few months before.
 q do not mean to say that all boys are not as thoughtful as Tom, but certainly think that the tendency on the part of the majority of boys is to regard outward | expressions or dnecllOH toWdluS theh mothers ar rather a waste of time and foolish in the extreme And l think that mothers are frequently to blame for this apparent indifference.
 "Of course there are boys who are naturally undemonstrative, but who are as devoted to their mothers as the boy who is demonstrative in his feelings think mothers should impress upon their sons the value of showing their apprecia- tion and a boy should not be allowed to grow up feeling that 1t makes little difference whether he shows his mother the little attentions that find expression Tn getting chair for her and seeing that she is not neglected, and made to feel she is of secondary consideration.
 "One of the brainiest men l ever knew, enc who was known on Dotn continents. always gave his mother the little atten- tions that other women expected of him. He would always rise when she entered the room and she never had to look for chair if he was near her. And 1t was