Mend the Toys, Mother.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1671, 26 June 1875, Page 5 (Supplement)

Mend the Toys, Mother.

BY MBS. B. C. EUDE,

' Mamma, mamma, fix my moosick-box, won't you?' And little four-year-old Een trotted up and laid a dilapidated mouth-organ on my lap. It was just before Christmas, and I was so busy, and I didn't know how to stop sewing; but I did. 1 couldn't refuse —how could I ?—Ben looked at me so. Well, I worked at the thing twenty minutes, riveting on the sides and straightening them out, until at last it went as well- as ever, and little Ben trotted off tooting —or blowing, if that's any better—happy as a whole band.

Wow I took the shortest way to dispose of Ben If I had grumbled out after this fashion: You know I'm busy, and can't be bothered!' he would have pulled my apron, and fretted for at least twenty minutes; and at the end of which time 1 might have punished him, for aught I • know. And, just think of it, I should have lost the sweet satisfaction of having him look up into my eyes with those pretty blue orbs of his and say: ' I'm so glad, mamma—> so glad you fixed my moosick —so glad ! Toot, toot! X loves my mamma; and 11 sees little Bennie in mamma's eyes ?'

O mothers-! it.isn't loßg that q{ have them withl us, they grow ' soon. They'll find life a hard r best. Some of them will find it ti and briars on either side. ,And time 3 they will sit down—oh, so w —and then they'll think back, fa and farther, until, perhaps, a, vis \ dear mamma mending a music-bo: float before them, and in that mo: j they will thrill with a joy they not known for years. It will all < j back—the gladness and it will them so. . . Dear mothers, we are singing labies to our darlings to-day that s echo and re-echo, and lull and soc as long as life lasts; and even in c nity they may sing because we sing ; them to-day; or they may wail beca we rave at them to-day. Oh, can we remember this, I w der ? Yes, you say, but it sounds har this last. You wish I hadn't said Why didn't I leave off with the lullab Why did I take up the wail ? ''Why?'l ask. j; ' Oh, because it grates.' i 'It is the truth, is it not ? You \ X lieveit?' ' Yes, it is the truth, but it stan ! out so bold and naked.' ; ' You see it, then ?' ' Yes.' 'Well, my dear woman, that,s ji , j i what I wanted.'