Fair play., 1921-05-14
LEAST OF THESE
By EMMA L. DATeoN.
S3S8343 3S99Gl
tG. 1871. Western Newspaper Unisn.)

l We ludNe Wy hihu, 'SA.ss
10 60 to work. With Jacks consent!
Nc! Certainly not! But what does
that matter? He can give no good.
sensible reason. to my way Of think
ing, why 1 shouldn't stay at home.
Says Paul needs a mothers care. Just
imagine IA boy over ten years old
tied to his mothers apron strings!
"Oh, yes. l knew you're terribly
shocked, and all that sort Of thing;
so Is Jack, for that matter; but I'm
going to work Monday morning, In
spite of every obstacle, and the old
house and-and everything else can
take care of themselves. Let the
neghbors talk IL they want to; be-
sides, when they're talking ABOUT me
they're giving someone else a rest"
Emily burst into a gale Of laughter
at the picture before her, but her
mood changed suddenly as she re-
turned thoughtfuly:
MY dear, I know just how you feel.
was once in exactly the same posi-
tIon as you are. 1 wanted good times
and fine clothes above everything
clse in the world--or at least
thought I did, until experience taught
me better. Would you care TO have me
tell you about it?'
Hear, Hearw exclaimed Beatrice
enthusiastically to an imaginary audi
ence. Fellow citizens, the little gray
mouse has finally consented to disclose
the horrors Of the business world.
Lead on, fair one; convert me, II you
can"
Emily smiled understandingly at her
romantic little friend and replied:
You're bound l shall tell you q
thrilling story of adventure and hard
ship. aren't you. Beatrice? You will
be disappointed, l know, for this Is
just drab little tale"
She patted the naIen curls Of her
younger daughter, Laura, while she
watched with keen interest her boIs-
ferrous, affectiOnate little tOmbsy,
Louise as she raced through the yard
laughing joyously.
"A mothers place, my friend, is
with her children, first, last and al
ways. No one else can take her place.
No one else can possibly know Just
what their little hearts require. Why,
then, should she sometimes prize 20
little the treasures that God has given
into her care?
1T was great day for me. Bea.
trice, when l brought home my very
first pay envelope. I had visions Of
all the beautiful clothes ! would buy
and of the happiness ! could bring to
others. l was clated TO think that
was no longer dependent upon my hus-
band for ready cash. They have Q
way, you know, of feeling their own
Importance, bless 'em, and are apt to
strut around as though they were
lords Of all they surveyed. But why
should we worry ourselves about such
trifes? Let them so on thinking 30 II
1t makes them happy and keeps them
peaceful. We know in our hearts that
they are just big, grown-up boys"
''Yes, just boys, but such kind, de-
voted, big-hearted boys" added Bea.
trice quietly.
You're right, my dear" returned
her friend, "and We women can often
influence them for good or evil, ac-
cording to our own standards Of liv-
ing and outlook upon life. But am
drifting away from my story. Where
was 1? Oh, yes. could spend hours
telling YOU OF my thrilling and tragic
experiences as special saleswoman
in an exclusive department store in
the heart Of the city, but I will not
weary you. Suffice to say that when
l returned home at night was too ex-
hausted to enjoy my blessed young
sters and too nervous and irritable to
treat my husband decently.
I'VE missed the companionship
which we once enjoyed, but we did
not realize the reason for its absence.
Then suddenly l became i'll. You
know, my dear. God is sometimes
obliged to put US on our backs in or
der to make us look upward. looked
and ] beheld the handwriting on the
wall: Whosoever shall offend the least
of these, Ny little ones Just that
and-it was enough.
tion flashed across my mind as though
sent from heaven. There was no
longer any doubt in my mind as to the
meaning of those words. l had pre-
sumed to choose my own path, regard
less of nobler work that the Great
Mind had planned for me. was too
engrossed in my own affairs to guide
Alright the uncertain foot StanS ~ p,,.
little ones, and too wrapped up In
trivial matters TO realize that their
impulsirc, lonely little hearts had
constant need Of mothers love. 1t
was all too true that had offended /
The least OF these His little ones, by |
thoughtless neglect, and l felt con
demned. Do YOU wonder now, my
dear why I turned over new leaf!'
When the simple story came to az