The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1917-05-10
nm THE glare of the war.

NESSBS1H nreS burning In Europe
ISEE1O in the fierce heat of which
lA-AJ now has ignited the war
yes, in our own fair land,
Mothers Day" assumes a differ,
ent aspect. During the years OF
peace the anniversary symbolized
our love of Mother and its univer-
sal observance was in grateful ac-
acknowledgement of a debt too great
ever to be repaid. But now we
arm for battle. Mother stands at
the gate and gives us goodbye" !"
even as her mother bade farewell
to the boy in blue in years long
past. And her heart is aching for
the son she sends to defend the
cause Of liberty. Literally she must
bear the sorrow and, too often, the
physical distress that follows war.
Often she lived in silent COM
munion with her soul and asked:
Must l suffer always?" Down
the valley of thousand years
echoes the reply: mo! you suffer
now that future generations may
live in happiness. 1t is the price
of evolution--of civilization that
has spurned the things spiritual to
grasp at the false idol of material
isn't is the cost of material
progress. The pits of hatred and
anguish now over boiling and
scorching all mankind will burn
out and from the ashes will be re-
constructed new plans of living.
The lessons now being learned will
not be forgotten. You suffer that
posterity may prosper"
The mother of to-day no longer
bids her boy goodbye" without
feeling that he is going forth to do
battle for the generations to come.
She knows why he goes and in her
heart there is a great wonder, q
a beatiic feeling of gratitude that
God has privileged her to arm hu-
manity in it's battle for right.
True, when the call comes and the
lad upon whom she has lavished a
lifetime of love is ready to 60, the
heart swells until it seems ready to
break. and tears glow to eyes that
bravely try to stanch the rising
tide of affection, but Mothers of
our land, like the Spartan wives,
bravely cheer their men forward
ever forward towards the beacon
light of liberty that embraces all
humanity.
1t is wonderful love that
Mother has given us-such love
as He who preached liberty two
thousand years ago knew. 1t is the
only unselfish love; giving life
time of tender care, it asks for
nothing in return. 1t extracts no
bonds, no conditions for its boon.
Giving us life, it cradles our in
fancy and directs our youth and
inspires our manhood. In i'll
health or illness, happiness or dis
tress, Mothers love is with us.
Even to the end.
Men grow careless of Mothers
love. In the struggle for the
things of life we forget duty
easily. Some have roamed the
world and caught in the harsh
conflict, have allowed even the
sacred duty of worshipping at
Mothers shrine to be forgotten.
But we forget, yet there are times
when we plainly see Mothers face
and hear her gentle voice. Some
times we drift back into the days
at home. Then we see Mother
bending over us and soothing our
childish ills. With a laugh and a
kiss she sends us to school. How
she helps us with the lessons each
night and carefully she guides Our
youthful steps. Sometimes ou1
childhood is not complete ere
Mother goes to a far. off land where
the streets are paved with gold and
music fills the air.