The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-06-05
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A COMING MOTHERS FEARS

Copyright. 1915. by tho Newspaper In
tsrpriss Associaiiouj
After the children had gone to
bed. Eliene took me up to the
room she had prepared for her
self and her coming baby during
the first few months OF its life
She II not going 10 the hospital.
and 30 she had this room prepared
and sterilized with the same by
gienic care that is bestowed on
the operating room OF clinic.
Everything was white tile. white
paint and white furniture. A white
hospital bed stood almost in the
center OF the room. and beside II
beautiful white bassinet for the
baby. "Baby's nurse can sleep In
here. after | am able to leave II.
she said. Il hated 10 30 TO the
hospital and leave the boys and
Harry. go he had this fixed up for
me under the supervision OF my
doctor and nurses"
Ellene suddenly took my hand
"Margie. are you afraid?" she
asked.
Yes. | am. dear, awfully afraid"
i get Just all trembly chillE.
she explained "Oh. Just wish
II were all over. Have you heard.
Margie. that there IN a man over
in Germany who. they say. has
found out how 20 prevent pain at
childbirth They call II Twilight
sleep Harry told me a month
ago that he would take me over
there IL ! wanted To 70. but was
afraid OF that also. You know
Harry's mother is awfully old.
fashioned. and when I mentioned
IL 10 her that possibly I might go.
she said that che thought II was a
sin for women TO try TO get rid OF
the pain OF childbirth. That Il was
going against the teachings OF the
Bible.
The agony that comes from n
woman when her child is born. Is
the payment she must make for the
sin committed by the first woman
IN the Garden OF Eden. she said
Isn't that terrible theory TO
have. Margie. that We must suffer
pain for the sin OF our oldest an.
costor7 Isn't II enough 10 have to
suffer for own sins? feel my
courage oozing. and have come TO
the conclusion that the real test OF
bravery is in being able 10 wait.
patiently. was not half as heart
broken when that awful episode OF
the twins was being enacted be-
fore my eyes. because !. too. could
act. az | was while was Just wait.
ing for Harry to come back TO me
in the long months after that girl
died. and | had adopted the chill
dreu. think | shall be brave dur
ing the coming ordeal. but Just
now | am rorstricken"
We looked at each other solemn.
ly. and then said. Here. this will
never do. You and I are only go
ing TO pass thru an ordeal that our
mothers and their mothers before
them passed thru. Surely. we can
be as courageous as they" and
then we Strengthened up and went
into the nursery where Bulge and
Teddy were sleeping.
IL ever there were adorable chill.
dren on this earth, they are Har-
RVS boys whom Eliene adopted.
and when they are asleep. they
are almost too beautiful. AS we
looked at them. Eliene came close
to me aud said. "Margie. I've
thought lot since | have been ex.
pecting my child OF the poor moth.
er OF these dear boys. She must
have had the same physical fear
that have. and she could not
have had the same hope and spir.
itual upllft 20 sustain her. What
TO me will spell the physical as
pect of honor. to her could only be
proof OF disgrace.
She must have lived in hell all
those long months until she died.
Do you know. as much as / love
Harry, and az much az know that
he suffered, sometimes when he
comes in at night and takes me In
his arms and tells me how happy
he Is, between my lips and his
kisses the ghost of that poor girls
paln-twisted mouth fingers. When
feel the warmth OF his living
body against mine again | feel
that coldness that Is not like any
other chill | know--the chill that
felt as | clasped In her stiffened
hands across her breast tiny
flower that had lain for a moment
on the seeking mouth of each OF
her sons.
I'VE women are all imaginative
creatures. and we are always do
ing more or less temperamental
things. IL seemed TO me. Margie.
when | placed that flower on her
breast. the shadow OF smile de.
seconded on the face from which
death had carved out all but ever
lasting peace"
We were both In tears when the
bell rang. and Eliene said. Il ex.
pect It's tho people back from the
theatre"
Sure enough II was, and when
we went downstairs. we found
that Eleanor Falrlow and Jim Edle
had Joined the party, and that