The daily Alaskan., 1921-09-20
LEAST OF THESE
By EMMA L. sATsoN.
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@, 1891, Western Newspaper Union.l )

505O5660o656dNd60ooN6No0oN @, 1921, Western Newspaper Union,)
 I've fully made up my mInd, Emily, ] to go to work. With Jacks consent2 . Nc! Certainly not But what does
 that matter? He can give no good, { sensible reason, to my way of think
 ing, why I shouldn't stay at home, | Says Paul needs a mothers care. Just ] magine,-a boy over ten years old
 tied to his mothers apron strings i "Oh, yes. I 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
 neighbors talk If 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 thoughtfully:
 ! My dear. know just how YOU feel. . was once in exactly the same posi- ton as you are. I wanted good times and fine clothes above everything
 else in the world-or at least thought did, until experience taught
 me better. Would you care to have me l tell you about It?'
 Hear, HearH exclaimed Beatrice I enthusiastically to an imaginary audi , eDce. "FeIluw citizens the little gray
 mouse has finally consented to disclose ] the horrors of the business world. i Lead on. fair one; convert me, fl you , can."
 Emily smiled uuderstandingly at her
 romantic little friend and replied:
 You're bound l shall tell you 1 thrilling story of adventure and hard ship. aren't you, Beatrice? You will be disappointed, l know. for this Is just a drab little tale"
 1 She natted the faxen curls of her younger daughter, Laura, while she watched with keen interest her bols-
 terOuS. aGeCuonate little Jomboy, Louise. as she raced through the yard
 laughing joy lusly.
 "A mothers place, my friend is with her children. first, last and al- ways. No one elsa can take her place. No one else can possibly know just what their little hearts require. Why, then. should she sometimes prize SO little the treasures that God has given
 into her care?
 "It was a great day for me, Bea-
 rr.ce. when I brought home my very first pay envelope. I had visions Of an the beautiful clothes l would buy and or the happiness l could bring to others. was elatcd to think that was uo longer dependent upon my huS' band for ready cash They have a 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 r.Gcs? Let them go on thinking so If ir 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- uice quietly.
 "You're right my dear" returned her friend. and We women can often influence them for good or evil, ac- curlnc to our own standards Of liv- ing and outlook upon life. But I am drifting away from my story. Where was l: Oh. yes. l could spend hours telling you of my thrilling and tragic experiences as a special saleswoman in am exclusive department store In the heart If the city, but I will not weary you. Suffice 10 say that when returned home at night I was too eX- hauStcd to enjoy my blessed young sters and too nervous and irritable to
 treat my husband deCently.
 We missed the companiOnship which We once enjoyed, but we did not realize the reason for its absence,
 Then suddenly l became ill. You know. my dear God Is sometimes obliged to put us on our backs in or der Co make Us look upward. l looked and l beheId the handwriting on the l. wall: Whosocyer shall offend the least of these, My little ones Just that ard-it was enough,
 "Thc answer to my unspoken Ques- ton 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. had pre- sumcd to choose my own path, regard less of a nobler work that the Great Mind had planned for me. I was too cnErosSed in my own affairs to guide aright the uncertain footsteps of my little ones. and too wrapped up in trivial matters to realize that their impulsiyc, lonely little hearts had constant need of a mothers love. It was all too true that l had offended the least of these His little ones, by