The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-02
By Gertrude Nafe

but your father was kept long time with the other
leaders. That was the first time he had seen me
tho OF course, / had seen him often. When he came
out he married me-"
She spoke Semelelike tho she herself had had
nothing to do with it. The god had descended. That
was all. Still wonder If Semele had to make the
cabbage soup, day after day
Great men have odd notions at times" she went
she must have forgotten that she speaking
to me. l have tried all my life to decide what she
meant. Surely she not referring to herself as
the odd notion OF great man.
When my father next came from prison went
back to our own country, and life went along very
quietly for until I nearly fifteen. ! studied
very hard and was ready to enter college.
Then hard times came, much hunger rioting ON
the streets. One day saw woman in the bread
line get into dispute with a soldier on riot duty.
Like a young fool attacked him and was locked up
night for my folly In the morning my father
came and got me out
shall never forget my fathers talk to me on the
road home For the first time in his life he really
set himself to show me that had been wrong. My
mother had often blamed me, my father never
"They who wish to make great and vital change,
must take long and weary road" he said land
they must gather strength and wisdom for long
journey before ever they set out Control your
SELF know what you are fighting and what you are
fighting for. Know what is the best way and how
you will begin and how end 1t is the greatest work
in the world. Do not throw yourself into it unpre-
pared and so ruin the service you wish to give
Know, that is the great word, know"
was silent. felt very young and much ashamed.
Your mother" he added, quietly, "had sat all
night watching the fire.
looked up at him, astonished Had he never
seen her so, before? Then l remembered 1t
always when he away, when he in trouble
Many as We're the times could remember. he knew
nothing of any of them. Then strange little pride
began to creep into my heart For me, for me too
she would do that.
AS we reached home my mother stood in the door
way. As l looked in her face l thot, what has
happened to my father?" Then l remembered. 1t
was not my father The terrible quiet in her eyes
was for me and again with my sorrow came that
astonished little pride.
My father felt that l had been blamed enough and
said, before either of could speak
Il have told him, dear child that there are wiser
ways of going about such things and that he should
have thot of you, and not begun so young and SO
holly"
My mother looked up at him questioningly inter-
rupting herself that she failed to greet me at all
until we in the sitting room.
Then she stood before US.
"You told him that he should think of mel" she
repeated. What should he think of me?"
She folded her hands in front of her and her very
garments spoke authority.
you told him that my night was anxious What
OF that? have watched the fire before this" She
looked back grimly into her life 81 have been
anxious many times and shall be again, for two
now. Have ever begrudged it?
There was woman you say standing in the
bread line? 1t was not of that he should have
thot then You told him that he was young? BIT
not too young to have seen brutal injustice If he
had 50 young been ripe with all the wisdom of old
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