Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-16

The words required 10 my mind as
J looked into the tragic eyes of a widow
the mother Of two sons. Her husband
had died when her Oldest child was but
lve years old She was what has been
called "a born mother with whom ma
ternity was an absorbing passion. She
had married at eighteen and was
widow at twenty six For years she
had worked uncomplainiHgiy 10 edu-
cate her sons
There had been not only work but the
sacrifice Of many Of the things in which
women delight. She had not had time
TO go into society during working hours,
and IA the evening she did not like to
leave the boys" She put them both
through college, living close TO them,
spending her strength and youth IN the
effort When one ~ them finished his
university course no went into business
on the Pacific slope. Then the mothers
face developed lines Of anxiety, still she
smiled bravely
Il educated him that he might make
the best Of his chances" she said firm
u. and ir would be selfish for me 70
mention TO him my dread Of parting
from him. And I have my other boy,
YOU know"
Two years later her second son was
graduated and went 20 South America
as a mining engineer. II was soon after
this that ] called on the lonely mother.
She had grown old IN a few weeks, She
began talking OF her bOys-calmly at
first, then her voice quivered and broke.
Need Her No More.
''whar is there for me to do now?''
she asked. Il am no good to anybody.
have dropped utterly out Of the old
set and world to which / once belonged.
/ am too old to learn new ways. My
one aim has been 20 ht my boys for
sthe battle Of life. bur / hoped that bat
lie would be fought near me. Now l
am left alone would be a selfish crea.
ture in the eyes Of the world II I were
TO try to keep my sons with me-for
they have their own lives TO live, and
mine is done. They win never be mine
again. They viii sometimes come TO
see me. but they will never come as they
used to come They need me no more. '
She is not yet fifty and feels that her
life is done. She Is one Of tho Moth F.
ers OF Men" Of whom George Cabot
Lodge wrote.
Weep, mothers Of men'
The hands Of the iCOrld are
sir0HO to take
The hires yc bear for the
tr0fld's sole sake,
To frV their souls TN thcU bend
or break,
Your children UdHish from ont
your ken
Weep, mothers Of men"
II is ali true viewed from one stand
point. and yet when women dare make
a moan ike this the world calls them
selfish II so. then IL IS too late for the
mischief 90 be repaired.
-The greatest kindness We can do our
children is 10 teach them to be indie
pendent OF us" remarked one woman
sentenuously.
The mother to whom she spoke flung
her hands out with a gesture that was
almost desparing
"Ah. yesg' she exclaimed bitterly, but
good Lord who is going TO teach US 10
be independent Of THEM
There is the cry OF the mother, Who.
indeed?
Never Lose Daughters.
Mothers Of daughters claim that they
never lose these. and their contention is
true. Even after a girl marries she
turns 10 her mother for advice and coun-
sci. often loving her better than she did
before she appreciated what women
...ep.r Fs,r fhgfr children.
Yet. for the mother Of sons there Is
aIwavs the possibility Of which our poet
writes. HOW can she fortify herself
against this misery? It can not be pre-
vepted-God help her.-but IL may be
made lighter For she can be less I'M
reasoninsly unseltsh,
Does this sound cruel? Such selfish
ness as ] have In mind is kindness TO
the mother and true kindness TO the
child No boy Is better FOR knowing that
he nus his mothers entire mental and
spiritual horizon, that she counts all
sacrifice for him as gain. The time ar
rives-unless he be unusually noble
when. in spite Of himself, the sacrifice
is taken for granted by him; he thinks
Of il as his due and makes "a common
thing of IL.
would l have a boy sacrifice his fu-
ture TO his mother No, but l would
have him consult her a little in PLAN
ming That future. and he win NOT do
this If she has not taught him to con-
slider her wishes as well as his own,
If TWO equally good opportunities pre-
sent themselves. 1 would have him
choose the one which viii keep him
near his mother rather than that at