Dresden enterprise and Sharon tribune. (Dresden, Tenn.) 1907-1997, 1921-12-02
TRIBUTE TO MOTHER LOVE

| " VuOIilCl AAONO 1CNCllSAy W
Senator James A. Reed, of Missouri
addressing himself to the Maternity
bill. 1t is so noble it will likely be.
come a classic. Every school should
have it read to assembled pupils and
every scrap book should garner it.
The tribute in part follows;
Mother Love! The golden cord
that stretches from the throne Of
God, uniting all animate creation to
divinity. It's light CLEANS down the
path Of time from barbarious ages
when savage women held their babes
to almost famished breasts and died
that they might live. Its holly flame
glows as brightly in novels, where
poverty breaks meager crust, as in
palace, where wealth holds Lucullan
feasts. 1t is the one great universal
mission of sacrifice incompatible in
its sublimity.
The wild beasts hear its voice, and
answers to its call. A tigress, find
ing her cubs, slaughtered, pauses to
lick their wounds, and then with rag
ing heart seeks out the murderer
A she-wolf, standing at the mouth
of her den, with glazing fangs and
blooded tongue, dies in defense OF
her whelps.
once saw a timorous mother quail
with marvellous intelligence, and still
more marvellous courage, protect her
brood by exposing herself to the
hunters deadly aim. l then realized
that nothing could take the place OF
mother love.
If the divine fire so warns and
thrills the heart of beast and bird,
with what intensity does it consume
the BOSOM, with what estacy inspire
the soul Of woman for the child of
her body. Although she knows she
must risk her own to, bring forth new
life she does not draw back. Her
love-lit eyes behold only visions of
happiness, of glory, and Of power to
be realized by her unborn child.
With smiling lips and eager heart,
she enters the vale of shadows. The
first cry of the newborn falls on her
ear, sweet as the music of paradise.
Her tender hands caress the tender
skin; her soul cries out the anxious
question; "Will my baby live?" The
torturing days of convalescence fly
swiftly upon wings of hope. She
nestles the tiny, helpless thing to her
BOSOM, sustains it with the milk Of
her body, every drop drawn from a
fountain of infinite love.
With indescribable solicitude she
watches over her offspring. Even
when her body slumbers her soul
keeps vigil, and her hands, in unison
with her spirit, will stretch forth to
soothe the baby back to sleep. With
glowing pride she watches the grow
ing child, shields it from harm guides
it along the path of rectitude, inspires
it's soul with lofty sentiments of hon.
or and of faith in the Eternal God,
When time has piled the snow upon
her head and turned her brown or
raven locks to white, her love still
abides, ripper and sweeter, with the
passing years. Though she may live
until her children themselves have
known old and gray, she yet will see
the silken locks Of youth their rough
ened hands have yet the caress'ng
tol On of baby fingers their voices
bear to her the tender and melodious
rctes of industry. And when at last
she approaches the portals of Death,
there is no solace so sweet as the
presence of those she bore "to people
and replenish the earth"
For mother love there is no substi-
tute. If there be truth in religion
then this holy sentiment was planted
in womans heart by the hand of God,
1t has made life possible. 1t is in
truth the very source Of life itself.
When all other passions are dead it
survives. 1t will pass though the
frey furnaces of disgrace and yet
live. 1t will endure the scorching
breath of contumely with unwaver-
ing fidelity.
A mother will enter prisons of
shame and kiss a felon hand thrust
through the bars. She will set beside
the accused in courts of law, when
the mob jeers and the heartless ma
chinery of justice gr,pds out its grist
agony, and with unwavering faith
maintain her child Is innocent. She
VIII stand at the foot Of the scaffold
and, when the trap mas fallen, cover
the condemned body with kisses and
with flowers. 1t is still to her the in
nocent sucking she once Rugged to