The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-05-08
By KATHLEEN NORRIS
lBell syndicate--wNU servIce.l

)OOD mothers are the most
r valuable thing in the
~ world. All the love, ap-
probation, respect, honor that
good mothers get isn't one-tenth
enough for them. No nation has
ever been just in recognizing
what good mothers do; mothers
are never publicly rewarded;
they get no decorations, no high
places. But the fact remains
that they are the most valuable
persons in the world.
Mothers lives have two phases.
The first is giving; the second is
receiving. They like the giving
years best; they love the time when
the children are small, when love
and service keep them busy every
moment of the day, when they drop
into bed exhausted every night. 1t
is one of the Divine DEGREES that a
good mother shall love her job.
To the skeptica1, sophisticated out
sider's eye that job looks dull
enough. 1t means the early sum-
mons Of an alarm clock, cold dark
kitchen turned into a place Of
warmth and light; it means bub-
bling oatmeal and the opening of
milk-bettles; it means crib blankets
to air, school lunches, rubbers, good
bye kisses, telephone, grocer, pick
ing up small pajamas, making small
beds, planning of meals, baking Of
potatoes, help with homework,
dishes to wash, scratches and bumps
to soothe, cough medicine, scolding,
guiding, judging, consoling, advis-
ing.
An Endless List.
This list Of the normal cares and
duties of a good mother could 60
on for several columns before we
come to the emergencies and great
occasions that make special de-
mands on her; events like Christ
mas, parties, illnesses, accidents,
moves to new neighborhoods, finan-
cial crises. All these Mother has to
meet, and it is upon Mothers atti-
tude toward them that the whole
family,s position depends.
For Mother is the family weather
vane. II she is cheerful, if home is
a pleasant place to which to return,
if she likes her job, then everyone
is happy, and the benefit derived
by her husband and children from
her strength and fineness is beyond
all calculating. It win 60 with those
children through every day Of their
lives. A happy, unburdened, un-
afraid childhood actually means a
happy, unafraid life. No money can
buy that particular security, but
Mother-and only Mother-can give
it.
Outward1y drudgery, her busy,
self-sacrificing, firing days. But in
wardly they are filed with that glo-
ry that comes to human beings who
are living their destined lives to
the full.
The second phase of a mothers
life Is the hard one. All through her
girlhood and young woman-hood and
proud maturity she has been hear
ing that there is agony ahead; the
agony Of having the children grow
up, become independent, select their
own mates and go into the world to
live their own lives. But that is q
pain that must be experienced to
be appreciated.
The children simply don't need
her any more. She can't quite be-
ieve It'll The tumbled beds and tum-
bled heads, the torn frocks and cut
fingers, the Christmas surprises and
vacation trips, the young, sweet
faces pressed against hers, the Ian
guild small hand Of the little con-
valescent reaching for her own--all
gonel Empty rooms in her house.
Toms room, the girls ROOM"