Year: 1874

ny MRS, A. W. CURTIS.


Is there sight more lovely 10 all the


world, than that Of a dear, aged mother


sitting down at last TO rest awhile before


she goes hence, in the midst Of noble sons
and daughters that she has reared and
trained up for grand aud useful work 10 the
world How her heart swels with Joy and
pride, as she sees them, one by one, taking
up their life work brayey, ready for any.
thing which the Master has for them to DO.
She forgcts the wearisome years Of toll,
anxiety, and suffering which they have cost
her. She has her abundant reward now
aud is satisfied. Calmly and sweetly she
lies, a precious weight upon their hearts
and hands, and they vie with each other in
doing honor and reverence 10 the mother
who has done so much for them.


But the yoa1iy mothers with their rest
less, " hinderiug things cliuging to them,
filling their lives with constant, anxious
care, how surely must the angels have es.
pecial charge from God 10 minister unto
them. There are a great many kinds Of
mothers in the world. Some are weak and
iudulgont some are fussy and over-anxious.
There are sickly, fretlul, impatient, quick
tempered mothers, and in their hands lie
the soft, tender hearts of little children, to
be nodded aud trained up for time and
eternity. Oh il is fearful 10 think Of and
how dare a mother undertake such re-
sponsibiity, without the strong arm to lean
upon, the All-Wise to run to for wisdom
and strength There are also wise, loving,
faithful mothers who take each helpless lit.
tie child as a direct trust from God who
think there is no work on earth to be COM
pared with this. She may have heart and
hands full Of other cares, but she will never
neglect the little ones. She will find use
for every power Of her being every grace
Of learning aud culture she has acquired,
every delicate shade Of womanly tact and
skill, to keep the busy, restless little ones
amused, happy and good. Many child
gets into serious trouble from the smallest
beginnings. lie gets up in the morning
cross and fretlul perhaps, as we older chill
dren often DO and goes on from bad to
worse, until it becomes necessary TO punish
him severely. Nine times out Of ten a few
quiet words will divert his mind into some
pleasant channel, ard all this is avoided
These wise, tender mothers keep their
hearts in loving sympathy with their chill
dren. Whatever grieves or troubles them
they carry straight to her, sure that she
will enter heartily iuto it and make il
easier to bear, if she cannot remove it al.
together and no pleasure or JOY is COM
plete until they share it with her, aud see
that she too is pleased. That boy who has
his mother for his dearest earthly friend
cannot take pleasure in anything that would
grieve her. The habit of telling her every.
thing, knowing that she trusts him and be.
lieyes he will do right, is a powerful re-
straint stronger than any command could
be. And this is possible, it is certain to
be so, if she will make herself loving
friend to her child, never repulsing his lit.
tie outbursts of affection or confidence,
winning him with such tender interest and
sympathy that he finds it his greatest de-
light to open his heart freely to her


Among true mothers countless oppor-
tunities, she prizes most aud makes much
of the last hour of the day. Happy is she
when she can fold the baby in her arms,
and have all the other tired heads resting
upon her knee, while she talks with them
about the dear Savior that took little chill |
dren in his arms and blessed them how be |
loyes them still how he looks down into |
whether they try to be kind and loving to
each other; whether they are trying to do
better every day they live. Their little
hearts grow soft ond tender, and the pre-
cious seed sown in such an hour will spring
up and bear precious fruit And when
she kneels with her arms about them, and
commits them to the loving care OF the
Good Shepherd, the mysteries that are hid.
den from the wise and prudent are revealed
unto them, and the childish faith and trust
in God is perfect ard complete.


Dear, blessed mothers, be Of good cheer
1t is worth all il costs Of self.deual, toll
aud pain, as step by step VIC lead our
precious ones onward aud upward, until
they are able to stand alone, noble monu-
ments of our faithluness and Gods mercy.
We need not be oyerburdened and anxious
for their future if we are only faithful to
them noic. But beware lest these little
opportunities slip by uuimproved beware


lest while we sleep the enemy SOW tares in
the young hearts, that shall spring up with
the good seed and cause US unspeakable sor-
row and pain. We ourselves may remain
unnoticed and unknown, but these little
ones clingng to our knees may become
power that shall move the world our sons
become right royal kings and princes as
G God looks on them, and our daughters
mothers wiser aud better than ourselves.