The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-05
The Little Mother.
BY bessie ShsckIeford, of Pensacola,
Fla

1t was a chilly afternoon in early
spring, the day was near its close,
the shadows were Iengthening yet the
little old lady took no notice Wnat
picture she made as she sat there
in the tiny, coy room, the dim hre-
light tightening up her crown of sill
yer hair which rested as halo above
the sad, sweet, patient face!
From the river in the distance were
heard the cries of the night BIRDS
softly calling TO their mates Inc
little old lady gazed into the fire with
unseeing eyes and something of
glimmer of a smile passed DER her
face. The night birds call had awak-
ned memories of a time long since
past. AS she gazed into the fire she
seemed to see pictured there, her
life. from the time when, as a happy,
careless child she played, till now,
and she a lonely childless woman with
none to love and care for her How
happy had been her childhood, her
girlhood Her womanhood, also. 1T
was as the varying winds When
she had married Jared Dunstan she
thought her cup of joy full to over
flowing. vet soon she cound she had
been mistaken Jared Dunstan proved
not to be the man she thought and
when she discovered her mistake she
was like a poor little violet crushed
BY the harsh. cruel winds Yet she
was brave through ii all, and Dunstan,
coward and knaVe though ne was, he
admired her for it. Then came the
birth of their first and only child,
A little son Often the little mother 5
heart was chilled by the thought that
he world he like his father and she
fr.T
ewes: Good need had she to watch
the little lad so. for Hugh had indeed
inherited his fathers rowing, restless
spirit About ten years after little
Hugh's birth the death of the father
wrapped the home in gloom. He had
been killed in a fight late one night
near a saloon. The sorrow and
anxity completely wore the little
mother out. and for days she lay
'twixt life and death. in her conva-
lescence, the little lad. when allowed
TO visit the little mother, would climb
to her side and whisper:
Mother. I'll be a man, now that
poor papa Is gone
Then she would stroke the little
curly head and lovingly whisper in
feeble accents:
Yes, yes. my little boy You are
mothers man now"
But she would smile sadly. Poor
little lad. what a future is in store for
YOU Mothers man. and he but yet
a baby So thought the little mother
Time went on the rowing, restless
spirit of the lad growing with aim
and still the little mother watched
with anxious. loving eyes
Then came the Saddest part of all
Little by little, urged by companions
of no good name Hugh drifted on in
the path of ruin while the little
mother gTieved her very life and heart
away.
One morning wneR she called him
TO his late breakfast. there was no
reply. and upon Investigating she
found his bed Undisturbed- He had
not occupied il that night.
This last blow proved almost be
yond the little mothers strength and
for a second time she lay sick for
weeks and at times all thought her
dead But she recovered. As springs
back TO life the flowers whose seeds
and roots nave been hidden in winter.
so did life bud anew in the heart o.
the little mother
Through all the long years OF her
bereavement how the little mothers
heart Ionged for a daughter. one TO
whom she might look for love and
comfort As for Hugh, her thoughts
always dwelt with him. Yet she never
expected him. for he was to her as
one dead
All these memories were recalled