Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1922-03-24
LEAST OF THESE
BY EMMA L. BATsoN.
&c. isai. western Newspaper union.)
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&c. is2i. Western Newspaper union.)
1--WE fully made up my mind. Emily.
TO go 10 work. With Jacks consentf
Nc! Certainly not! But what does
that matter? He can give no good.
sensible reason. to my way Of think
ing, why shouldn't stay Mt home.
Says Paul needs a mothers care. Just
Imagine "a boy over ten years old
tied to his mothers apron stringsi
"oh, yes. I knew you're terribly
shocked. and all that sort of thing;
80 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
nelghbors talk IL they want to; be-
sides, when they're talking about me
they're giving someone else a rest"
Emily burst into u 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-
riop as you are. wanted good times
and fine clothes above everything
else In the world--or at least
thought I did. until experience taught
me better. Would you care to have me
tell you about It'll"
Heart Heart" exclaimed Beatrice
enthusiastically to an imaginary audi
M
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 shall tell you "A
thrilling story OF adventure and hard
ship. aren't you. Beatrice7 You win
he disappointed. I know, for this IL
Just drab little tale
She patted the flaxen curls Of her
younger daughter. Laura, while she
watched with keen interest her bols-
ferrous, affectIonate little tomboy,
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 so
| little the treasures that God has given
into her carer
at was a great day for me, Bea-
trice. when brought home my very
first pay envelope. had visions OF
| all the beautiful clothes l would buy
and OF the happiness l could bring to
others l was elated to think that I
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 20
strut around as though they were
lords OF all they surveyed. But why
should we worry ourselves about such
trlfles? Let them 90 on thinking so IL
II 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, &C.
cording to our own standards of liv-
ing and outlook upon life. But | am
drifting away from my story. Where
was II 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 j will not
weary you. Suffice 10 say that when
| returned home at night was too ex-
hansted 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 became III. You
know, my dear. God Is sometimes
obliged to put US ON our backs In or
der to make US look upward. l looked
and beheld the handwriting on the
wall: whatsoever shall offend the least
OF these. My little ones Just that
and-it was enough.
1.-THE answer to my unspoken ques-
tlon 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-.
sumed to choose my own path. regard
less Of a nobler work that the Great
Mind had planned for me. was too
engrossed ln my own affairs to guide
Alright the uncertain footsteps of my
little ones. and too wrapped up In
trivial matters to realize that their
impulslye, lonely little hearts had
constant need of a mothers love. II
was all too true that ] had offended
the least of these His little ones. by
thoughtless neglect, and I felt con-
demned. Do you wonder now, my
dear, why turned over new leaf?"
When the simple story came TO an
end there were tears In Beatrices
beautiful eyes. but she hastily wiped
them away and spoke quietly. broken
TO-. bat