The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-15

for a moment, and. 10. the roses were
withered and dead and the baby
smile had vanished but, strong and
faithful and serenely beautiful as ever.
mothers love remained. and he cast
the others aside and took this and
laid 1t at the feet Of his Master as the
most lovely and lasting thing on
earth"
Is 1t any wonder that the vllest are
to the memory of a mothers love
and life when all other appeals have
failed to reach them?
Mothers Influence
And now We come very naturally
to the next thought which is their
influence. | would not detract in the
least from the name OF father It rs
a sacred name and Is the symbol o.
love. power and authority. God calls
Himself Our Father" No one can
deny the influence OF the father To
his children he is the soul of honor
and the embodiment Of every grace
and virtue. Papa SAYS so" and papa
does so" solve difficulties and deter
mine conduct. But If that which all
men have said and all men are still
saying Is true, then, next to. God, the
most potential influence in this world
is that Of our mothers
/. First of all, IL Ia the sweetest and
hottest. OF course. I am speaking Of
the influence of good mother, for
there are really but few bad mothers
and God knows I wish they were
fewer.
2. And then II is the strongest and
most lasting. All this is true. no
doubt. because Of the greatness Of
her love. We all gladly acknowle re
the truthfulness of these lines:
"Al1 true trophies Of the ages
Are from mothers love impaired.
For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world ."
! am persuaded that the best mart
of history has not been written Biog-
raphies OF eminent men have been
written. but the name Of her WIN
made their greatness possible Ia pass
ed by with bare notice. Thank God.
believe that when the archives NJ
eternity are opened We shall then
read of many OF the great ones IT
earth who were unknown to history,
but of whom the world was nor
worthy. We all know Of the great
Augustine, but how many remember
the name OF his mother the gentle.
plus Monica, who sripped God with
the other, and would not let God 20
until the blessing came. We all know
Of the great Chrysostom: but how
many remember the sanity Anthusa d?
John Quincy Adams said An that /
am my mother made me" Abraha m
Lincoln said: "Ail that 7 am or hope
To he owe TO my angel mother
Tho Jailer's Story.
The story Is told hy. a tailer-how
one evening before the lights were out
In the prison and the convicts ha d
gone from the corridor TO their cells
for the night. stro1g. sweet baritone
voice was heard singing In rear cell:
Cold has its power, saEes will say,
Riches in life hold a wonderful sway;
But there - power halls from
Richer and grander-power OF love.
There stroiis a nohle-money and
land.
Lives in mansion. costly and grand
Yet he's unhappy. no one knows why;
Loves a great power no money can
bug"
The voice ~ the singer was choked
for moment, then, clearing his
tf7voat as with an effort. he began the
chorus"
Love OF a mother fer her darlin z
child;
Love of son though he's hayward
and wild
The account goes on 70 cay how
audible sohs were heard in the cell
Of the singer from other parts OF the
corridor. Reco'lections OF. the moth
ers love had been stirred and the
floodsstes Of memory broken down.
For a few moments II seemed as II
some OF them could not control their
emotion. but finally all became still
again, and the singer once more be-
gan:
Love ~ q mother for her darling
child;
Love for a son, though he's hayward
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