Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-09-27
SHOW CHILDREN FAITH.
Instances Where Mothers Investments in
This Regard Have Been Paid.
With Interest.

Back of the great work OF rebuilding
the Campanile in Venice, which is about
to be begun, will stand a nations pride
in its ancient monument, a city's patri-
otto sacrifices for the restoration Of the
heavenward pointing finger of st,
Marks, and one woman's faith in her
soldier son.
Giovanni Morosini of New York city
came TO America poor man, after serv-
ing his beloved Italy in her revolution.
He is of splendid lineage. Several of the
doges of medieval Venice came of his
family. But he had nothing when he
came to this land but the stout conf
dence of his mother that he would sue
coed. And now that he has sent $780,
600 back to the Adriatic port from which
he sailed in poverty, to be used in the re-
building of the fallen tower, l find my
heart full of the hope that his mother,
from her place among the stars, sees and
knows and keeps within a heart freed
from all earthly cares a little earthly
pride and triumph in her boy.
Nearly every man who amounts to
anything in this world lays his success,
like a garland of everlasting flowers, at
some wOman's door, And this woman is
most often his mother.
Nancy Hanks, in her mountain cabin,
laid her hand, soft only with love, on all
the soul hurts of Abraham Lincoln. She
had little of the knowledge of this world.
She might not teach her boy to spell; but
she taught him to endure bravely, and
impaired to him that moral stamina
which made him bend to the storms of
life as the lone pine bends; bending, but
never breaking; until he took so deep, a
root in his native soil that he stood-and
stands today-unshaken in his place as
the Great American.
/ never pass his statue in park, that
lean, gaunt shape with the Interchangeable
ugliness of feature and the deep, sad
kindliness of eyes, that my sight does not
grow suddenly dim. And l find myself
hoping with a heart that fairly aches
with eagerness to have it so that when
his greatness came poor Nancy knew!
1t must be that the mothers who have
prayed and hoped and believed and ell
couraged through all the years are given
that satisfaction in the end. think were
TO wander lonely, through the spheres
a thousand days, and then should meet
some bright spirit who would say:
Heaven is overcrowded now, and |
have tried to find you all in vain. But
on the earth your boy is doing well. His
heart is clean and his spirit brave. lie
is all that your mother-love desired him
to be-"
Then l would laugh until the stars
angels folded wings.
''You have brought my heaven to me.
| would cry. "Why should | enter in?"
Mr. Morosini's mother always knew
that he would succeed. But other moth
ers have had that faith about their sons
when it has not been so well rewarded.
1t is possible that the old, wicked and
anfiaa nf with hol diY0 r,tsoica Y,1ov
account for that. Flattery is a gift
shared by Irishmen and angels. 1t is a
great pity there is not enough of it to 60
around.
BY fattery I do not mean untruth. /
have never been able to understand why
pleasant words should have to be hypo-
critical. When any one tells me l am
very nice, indeed, try to believe it.
There is not one Of us-big, weary,
boys and girls that we are-whO will not
take fresh heart and courage at a word
OF cheer. There is not one of us who
will not try to live up to the highest opin-
ion some dear, loving heart has formed
of us. But in, the old days, when 1.-THE
morals of people made them dreary," as
Stevenson complained, it became the
fashion to withhold praise from children
and some people have not learned better
yet.
We talk a great deal of the influence
Of thought; and whatever our creed, OF
our lack of creed, may be, we know
down deep in our hearts that:
''As a man thinketh so he is
A boy who is taught to doubt himself
is certain to live up to his expectations
You tell child that he has no talent for
arithmetic, and he will make no effort
to learn the multiplication table. Tel
him he is weak willed and he will resist
no evil. Tell him that he is conqueror
hop on1 hn will 90 forth 70 his ~
We do not encourage children enough
or show faith enough in them.
"YOu naughty child" we cry to one
fresh from the courts of God: and the
lmDid eyes of the newborn mirror OuI
fretfuness and ill-temper.
l never knew a child who did not re.
sent being called naughty. or who did not
try to live up to the reputation. Nor have
known one who did not thrive under be.
lief and praise as flower expands into
fragrance and strength under the in
fluences of the sun and the dew. Colo
looks are to soul like the chilling blasts
to q tender blossom. Let us have more
warmth for the new flowers of life. Les
sons are more easily learned under en-.
couragement, whether the tasks are sci
down in printed pages or the confusing
chapters of experience. And we all
manage TO make about the record ex-
pected of us by the one who holds the
greatest influence over us in the impress.
sionable period of youth.
| met successful man on the Western
coast who was the wonder of his asso.
ciates because of his temperate life.
''You have lived your manhood DAYS
here" | said to him, looking back over
my shoulder as we rode single file up 4
trail of the Serras, "and yet you are
not wild, bad man Of the West as fan
as l can judge. How have you managed
to keep so goodg'
He laughed. Then said, with some
hint Of earnestness in his voice:
at is up to me to behave myself
Mother always believed in me. l had moi
set up any standard to follow. But she
got it into her dear old head that was
naturally square. l couldn't go back or
her plan, you see. 1t wouldn't be right
specially as she is dead
| couldn't answer There was nothing
to say. But we were among the clouds
and as | looked with dim eyes into the
near blue sky | whispered to myself: Il
hope she hea rdr'-Washington Star.
The Real Thing.
When Dion Boucicault was playing
'"Ihn NqmDirsA' or bn