The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1918-05-09
ANY of us have become
so self-absorbed and
have had our energies
on lOnr d;roctod unOn

HYNMEXgN have had our energies
H!AggD so long directed upon
our material desires and problems,
our plans to amass money, to make
business pay, to perfect some in
vention, to write book, or to
attain this or that ambition; in
short, all our faculties have been
centered in ourselves so long that
they cannot look outward ex-
cept upon the things that concern
our immediate interest, therefore
there are many of us who forget
our dear old mothers.
Many man is enjoying a fame
which is really due to u self-effac-
ing, sacrificing mother. People
hurrah for a governor, or mayor,
or congressman, but the real secret
of his success is often tucked away
in that little, unknown. unappre-
ciated mother. His education and
his chance to rise may have been
due to her sacrifices. Many moth
ers practically sacrifice all that
most people hold dearest in life for
their, children. They deliberately
impair their health, wear them
selves out, make all sorts of sacri-
fees, to send their boy to college.
Many mothers take in washing, 60
out house-cleaning, do the hardest
and most menial work. in order to
give their boys an education and
the benefit of priceless opportuni-
ties that they never had, vet, how
often they are rewarded only with
total Indifference and neglect.
What a pathetic story of neglect
many a mothers letters from her
grown-up children could tell. A
few scraggy lines. a few sentences
now and then, hurriedly written
and mailed, often to ease troubled
conscience; mere apologies for let
ters, which chill the mothers s
heart.
There are plenty of wealthy men
in this country who owe everything
to the mothers who made all sorts
of sacrifices for their rearing and
education. When they become
prosperous, these men neglect their
devoted mothers, but come to their
senses at their funerals. Then they
spend more money on expensive
caskets, flowers and emblems of
mourning than they had spent on
their poor. loving, self-sacrifcing
mothers for many years while
alive. Men who, perhaps, never
thought of carrying flowers to
their mothers in life, pile them
high on their caskets. There is
nothing which pains a mother so
much as ingratitude from the chill
dren for whom she has risked her
life. and to whose care and train
ing she has given her best years.
Not long ago I heard a mother,
whose suferings and sacrifices for
her children during long and ter
rible struggle with poverty should
have given her a monument, say
that she guessed she had better 60
to the old ladies' home and end
her days there. What a picture
that was! An old lady with white
hair and sweet, beautiful face:
with wonderful light in her eye,
calm, serene and patient, yet digni-
fed, whose children, all of whom
are married and successful, make
her feel as if she was burden.
She had no home of her own, not
a single piece of furniture, or any
of the things which are so dear to
the feminine heart. Think of this
old woman, who, in order to bring
up and educate and Fit for success
full careers three or four migrate
full, selfish children, had made sac
rifces that were simply heart
rending, receiving in her old age
only stingy monthly allowance
from her prosperous sons.