Mother's Work.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 80, 7 March 1885, Page 4

Mother's Work.

Part I. Baking, stewing; and brewing, Roasting, frying, and boiling, Sweeping, dusting, and clewing, Washing, starching, and ir'ning, Ripping, turning, and mending, Cutting, basting, and stitching, ! Making the old like new ; Shoe-strings to lace, Faces to wash. Buttons to sew, And the like of such; Stockiugs to darn While the children play, Stories to tell, Tears wipe away, Make them happy The livelong day ; Tt is ever thus from morn till night ! Who says that a mother's work is light? ♦ Part 11. At evening, four Little forms m white Prayers all said, And the last good night, Tucking them safe In each downy bed, Silently asking, O'er each head, That the dear Father In heaven will keep Safe all my darlings, Awake or asleep. Then I think the old adage true ever will prove "It is easy to labour for those that we love." Part 111. Ah me ! dear me ! I often say As I heaped the tumbled " clothes away, And tear drops start, While my burdened heart Aches for the mother across the way. Where, oh, where are Her nestlings fiown ? . All, all are gone, Save one alone ! Folded their garments With tenderest care, Unpressed the pillow, And vacant the chair ; No ribbons to dye, No faces to wash, No hair all awry, No merry voices To hush into rest ; God save them He took them, And He knows best ; But ah, the heart anguish ! the tears that fall This mother's work is the hardest of all? — Philadelphia Sunday Republic. *