The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1907-06-27
The SONGS Mother Sang.

/ lie is a Dig man OF D ICcC aNt
weighs 200 mounds. He is heavil,
interested in gigantic business enter
prises and thinks in big figures. Ye
withal he is as gentle as child ane
carries the burdens and sorrows Of
many people, especially the widow!
and the orphans. The frlendless the
homeless seem to trust him instinc
lively. He carries the confidence Of
many, and shares the sorrows of all
Just the other day in conversation
the thought waa suggested that i,
seemed strange that man with his
multiplicity of interests should be SC
thoughtful and careful for those
round about him, and a reason for il
was asked.
The big man grew tho ,ghtful,
and, leaning his head on his hena
made reply:
4 think am what am because
of the songs my mother used to
sing"
Well. here was a new thought,
fresh from the mines of truth:
Il am what l am because of the
songs my mother used to sinx.''
There have been given by success
Il men many reasons for success.
They have laid down many pertinent
lies for other young men to fellow,
b 1T rarely, if over, did you hear of a
man saying that the songs sung, or
crooned, by his mother had played a
part in the developme mt of his char
acter.
Then the man began talking about
the songs that his mother sang as she
went about the house in the humble,
vet necessary duties Of his boyhood
days. He told that while he was Just
a boy, and there was little or no news
from the front" she sang: mine
eyes have seen a vision Of glory of
the Lord" and that she would round
out the chorus of GLORY, glory hal
ielujah' in wonderful way. Then,
as he was telling of these songs that
mother had sung, the tears. came to
his eyes and he said:
Boys, l never hear those songs to-
day but what see the face of nv
dear mother, and somehow those
songs she sang gave me a love for
home and country that makes old
America the dearest spot of all to
me-"
Then he paused for a moment and
said:
There was another song she used
to sing that has helped me. / was
then a young man Of ri or q, per-
haps a little older. / had learned to
swear, gamble and drink, and was
rather proud of my accomplishments,
but mother didn't say a word. She
began to sing in her now trembling
voice about the wandering boy, and
there was one line that rung in my
ears. I love him he knows-where
is my boy tonight And one night
went to her and told her | would
tut it all out. | tell you she was glad
% hear me say that and said her
prayers we're being answered. But ,,
was mighty hard, l tell you,
or where we lived the boys were
pretty rough. and ] didn't Want to
un with the old men who had one {
DOT in the grave. for l was full of
port and life. So l thought I'd come
o the city, and when l told mother
he began making preparations for
ne, and then she just began to sing ,
mother song:
'Shun evil companions, bad Ian j,
guage disdain, +
'od's name hold in reverence, nor S
take it in vain;
'e thoughtful and earnest. kind 1
hearted and true
And that song just impressed it. f.
elf on my life, and in every line of /
rouble and trial I've just heard |.
1other singing the dear old songs, b
nd somehow and in some way they !,
ave kept me true to the line of truth 7
nd duty" s
The songs that mother used to I
ing!
What about the songs she sings t
ow?
Are they songs of rejoicing now e
nat she has come to old age, be- +
ause you, her boy, are good man?
re they songs of triumph, now that s,
lie has gone Home" because you, re
no always will be her boy, are walk o o
g in her footsteps, and going to =
'in her in the songs of triumph by
I'd by.
Troubled and weary, sorrow-strick- m
and sore, just try singing and liv- \
g the songs your mother sang, and ~
e if your life does not become
ng. hi