Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-01-30


throb of the heart-ah, was not her own |
sos doing her a great injustice by or |
derins rest now? The noise and hustle |
In the kitchen came to her ears like !
mustc-only she wished she could be
among it all. Suddenly the dinner horn
sounded TO call the men folks. Her
eyes frightened and she started from
her chair toward the door. Then she
halted and stood still with uplifted hand
and troubled look on her face.
In the doorway stood her sons wife
bearing a tray. She stepped briskly
forward and Sid, smilingly:
Your dinner, mother. You must take
things easy now"
NO, mol 1 can't eat my dinner here.
don't want to be waited upon, dear"
But this is not waiting upon you,
| mother. like to save you steps. Here
you can eat in comfort and ease. See,
| all the nice things we have in the kitch-
1 en-. You will not have to stir from your
easy chair-please do sit down. There,
isn't it nice and comfortable to have
your tray right on little table by your
chair! If you need more tea just ring
this cute little bell. You must take il
easy, mother"
And for the second time that day the
busy old mother was gently pushed into
her rocking chair. For the second time
the irony of affairs was pressed home to
| the quick.
The cute little bell was not sounded for
more tea While the rest of the folks
were gayly talking, rafting spoons,
knives and dishes in the kitchen, the old
mother sat with folded hands looking
at the red glow behind the mica. She
does not touch the food, she cannot take
a morsel. She is resting, resting so
hard, so bitterly that she can only sit
and think.
The next day was the same-only she
began TO eat little, but lightly. She Is
eating lightly addressing, resting
more than she wishes. She is resting
SO much that her heart is growing
hungry. SO hungry that she is feeding it
with the tears that she must hide, but
cannot keep from dripping. ever drip
ping inwardly.
A few more days and she plucked up
courage and demanded to go to the
kitchen. But her sons wife was deaf to
!, her entreaties and returned:
! a nice long rest, mother. [ am here to
. do the work.
But do so want to do something
to help. Please let me come in the
, kitchen and wash the dishes. scour the
: pans and pots"
9 Never! Folks would laugh at me II
l should let you do that. l am strong
4 Besides, mother. 1 do not want to be
bothered"
Il would not bother you, my dear.
n only want 10 help you with the work
8 Please let me help you"
No; ! promised John TO make it az
!. easy as possible for you. am doing al
| can for you; l wait on you, do all the
d work and bring your meals to you"
: But you must see, dear that am no
) a sick person who needs to be waited on
I do not like to be waited on. dom
II eat much now-but could eat lots NOR,
: X could only go in the kitchen wher'
t the rest of the folks are
l. What silly fancy! Here you ar
II at ease, and comfortable. l do not minc
W bringing your meals in here. II is S,
d nice and quiet here. You must conten
yourself. mother. John wanted me L
D. make 1t easy for you, and / am doing tn,
o best know how"
h The old lady looked after the fin
G figure that disappeared through tn
doorway. and softly said in a low tone
y; You do not know-you are so young
Re Neither does John know-he thinks yo1
are doing all things right. But know
: you are starving me, my heart, my soul
n my all. If you only could know hoy
n long the days are to me, sitting her
alone; if you could know how dark tn
r. nights are TO me; II you could onl
d know how l long to get away from m
'e chair. get to workout you will neve
know
o Weekly the little old lady grew NOR
y and more weak pale and thin. She com
al planned no longer; she sat in her chat
by the fire and looked upon the re,
glow behind the mica She is resting
but eating more lightly than ever. All
but her heart is growing greedier an,
greedier day after day. Her hungr
heart that feeds ever and ever upon he
tearsi
The tray is brought to her chair on
morning and the young wife says:
Eat, mother. and take it easy"
! No hand is lifted, no lips feebly ute
thanks. no wrinkied face upturns. TIL
others hand is laid on the thin shoulde
but the little old mother is at rest a
last. Her soul and heart are starved a
last.
She is distinguishing everlastingly
JnPanese Wedding Ceremony
A Jap Inese wedding is a Quaint,