Mrs. Grundy. (Tracy City, Tenn.) 1903-1930, 1904-04-14


,,ue,. Tom. need their chill
dren most-when they would be
the most comfort and help to
them-they are miles and miles
away from home. But such is
life; parents 90 through heat and
cold for the benefit of their chill
dren and almost move heaven
and earth to lay by something for
the boys and girls to use yet those
boys and girls don't appreciate
their parents efforts enough to
even write them once year
when they are away from home.
And then, there are some so non
appreciative that they are veri-
table sponges on the old folks and
wont help provide not even fire
of wood or coal, muchless some
thing for the table. This is sad
thing but it is true. 1t looks
hard when the old folks have
labored and toiled and given all
| their love and care, to be treated
with such Indifference. | know
such children think their unduti-
full acts are concealed from the
world not bit of it. There is
no concealment in the case and
if the community had to point
out the guilty ones it could do it
without a single error. From the
conduct of some boys and girls
we are led to believe that they
think their parents can live on
wind and water. guess you also
think that Uncle Tom is very
plain about these. things but |
can be still palmer if necessary.
/ have had fathers to tell me
their troubles more than once,
how they had to slave to keep
food and clothes for his family
with strapping, sponging sons on
their hands to be waited on and
i
looked after. You ask, don't the
boys work? Yes, the boys work
but the father never receives a
cent of their earnings and not
even "thank you" for his kind
ness in charging them no board.
Their earnings are spent in fine
clothes, cigars, whiskey, paying
for these little swell buggies in
which they 90 driving with some
other boys sister. If they would
show their poor tired mother just
half the attention and kindness
that they shows the girls of their
acquaintance, they would receive
more thanks and make more
hearts happier. 1t is very sad
also, to see the treatment some
mothers get from ungratef u !
daughters. They have worked
patiently night and day to raise
and care for their daughters
after the daughter grows large
enough and old enough to attract
attention and receive company,
the mother still does everything
so that her child may have a gay
and pleasant time. The girl
never thinks of washing the
dishes or quieting the sick, fret
full baby brother while the mother
sits sewing all night on a dress
to be worn to picnic or a fair
next day. She never seems to
care how old and dingy her
mothers dress and bonnet look
just so she gets herself a pretty,
stylish suit; never thinks how
that mother has planned, saved
and denied herself the necessi-
| ties Of life to add a little comfort
and pleasure to her daughters.
Then, when she gets old and has
to be cared for, instead of being
repaid for her past kindness and
care she is in some cases thrust
out in the cold and spends the
last days of her life in the poor
house. Girls and boys, you can't
have your parents with you for
ever, treat them kindly for they
live only for their children.
When father and mother are
gone you will think of and realize
how you have treated them, but
too late, they will never know
UNCLE Tom.
Hundreds Of children, of all