The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-18
Mother S Love
A Pathetic Short Story

IN sec
his father as he came into the
room, and exclaimed in surprise:
Is she in bed yet? 1t is 2 o'clock
When is she going to get up?"
She is just taking a rest, father.
You must not worry about her"
Worry? That is the last thing /
would do
he laughed and shook his head, as
70 say that he did not understand
Sne way things were being run In the
house now. Then he went out and
closed the door behind him.
Poor fatherl" said the patient. IT
wonder what will happen TO him
when I dep"
You must not think of dying
mother. In a few weeks you will
begin to get better. and"
The woman smiled family.
No, Pierre. I know I am going to
die. I am not afraid of dying. and
am only sorry because I know what
terrible blow it will be for YOU,
my darling boy, and for your father.
too. Perhaps it win kill him just
now, when his brain is even more
confused than usual He must not
be sent to an insane asylum. 1t would
be a dreadful torture TO him. I
can manage him easily enough, but
strangers"
You must not worry. mother dear.
that I Will look after father It is no
more than my duty, and you know I
love him. too"
Yes, know, my boy. But it was
all right for me to look after him. 1t
was all I lived for; but you are young
and have your future to think of. He
would be dreadful burden to you. I
have always prayed that he might be
the first of us to die
"Oh, mother, you must not talk like
THAR
MOTHERS THOUGHTS
The patient grew silent, but the
twitching of her lips and the cloud on
her brow showed that she was strug-
Cling in her mind with a difficult prob
lem. Pierre noticed it and again begged
her not to worry.
Try to sleep, mother dear" he said
He stopped down and kissed her
forehead She closed her eyes. but her
mind kept on working, her thoughts
left her no rest. Suddenly new ex-
preston came into her face, an ex-
preston of unspeakable relief, and
she said in a voice that was little more
than a whisper;
Your father and I have always
~. Vr.-h hax
had no greater wish than that we
might die at the same time. that
neither of us should be left to suffer,
and something tells me. Pierre. that
this is what Will happen. God will
not part u.s."
Yes, I am sure you are right,
mother; but 1 hope to keep you both
with me for a long time yet
His words seemed to calm her, for
she lay very quiet, with a smile on
her face. After a while she slept
peacefully.
Later in the evening she said:
IT do not believe very much in doc
tors. I have always been able to cure
myself before, and 1 think l will try
once more Get rae the bottle with
the red label from the medicine closet,
Pierre
Pierre did as she asked
But, mother, dear" he said. you
know that is poison, don't your?
Yes, Pierre, all medicine is poison
in a way: but when you know just
how m-ch to take the poison cures
instead of INJURIES
Pierres uneasiness left him.
The hours dragged slowly. From
the next room they could hear the
insane man laughing.
Il feel better tonight, Pierre, than
I have for a long while" said the
sick woman. IF you want to make
me happy you will take a few hours
sleep"
And leave you alone, mother?"
HER REQUEST
Il feel that 1 won't need you to-
night, but I should like your father
to stay in here that he may call you
In case I should want you. He can
take a nap in the easy chair and he
Will wake up as soon as I touch him"
Dollet came into the room just
then. so Pierre did not have an OPP
portunity TO object.
Pierre is tired tonight, dear" the
mother said, and / want him to
sleep
eWell, why should he not go to
bed?" asked the man, surprised.
HE does not want to leave me
alone here, because 1 am not feeling
will sit up with me. Won't you2"
The insane man began to object,
saying that it was he who was sick.
but when Pierre humored him he
grew angry.
you don't think I am good for
. anything" he said irritatedly. Then
he sat down in the easy chair and
said in a voice of command:
You go to bed now. Pierre. You
know your first duty is to obey your
parents"
Pierre did obey. Several times dur
ing the night he got UP and listened
at the door Of the sick room Every
thing was quiet, but once heard his
mothers gentle voice:
Now you are sitting here Henri.
nursing me just as I did Pierre when
he was a little boy. Before gave
him his medicine / always tasted 1t
first myself. and then he always
thought it was good and took it with
out even making face, no matter
how awful IL tasted"
Pierre felt sure that everything
was all right. so he went back to bed
ard fell sound asleep.
IT was broad daylight when he
woke up. He sneaked into the .sicr>
room and, seeing his mother awake,
he asked her how she felt.
She smiled and nodded.
THE END
st have come back. father" he said.
Now you can go and have a good
sleep"
His father did not reply. He looked