TIRED MOTHERS.

Motueka Star, Volume II, Issue 58, 4 March 1902, Page 4

TIRED MOTHERS.

(A little elbow leans upon your,knee- .. >., Your tired knee—that has "so much to I. bear; A child's dear eyes are looking lovingly ..From underneath a thatch of tangled hair. : Perhaps you do not velvet touch. Of warm, moist fingers, folding yours so .... . ' tight— ~.' - h ,;-. _,-~ ..,: _. .- You do-not prize this blessing overmuch ; . You-are almost too tired to pray to-night But it is blessedness ! A year ago I did not see it as I do to-day- * We are so dull and thankless, and too slow. To catch the sunshine, till away : And now it seems surpassing strange to me That, while I wore the badge of motherhood, I did not kiss mbrefoft arid'tenderly The little child that brought, me only good. And if some night when you sit. down to rest, - You miss the .elbow:. 'from your aching knee, This restless, curling head from off your" .'■■'-.. breast This lisping tongue that chatters constantly ; If from your own the dimpled, hands had slipped, And ne'er would nestle in your palm again; If the white feet Into their grave had tripped, - I ; could hot blame you for your heartache then! .""- . I wonder so that mothers ever fret As littie children clinging to their gown, Or that the footprints, when the days are wet, .Are ever black enough to make them frown. .. . " , v If I could kiss a rosy, restless foot, And hear a patter in my house once more; • If I could mend a broken cart to-day ; To morrow make a kite to reach the sky— There is no woman in God's world could say She was more blissfully content than L" But ah I the dainty pillow next my own, Is never rumpled by a shining head; My singing birdling from its nest has flown. The little boy I used to kiss is dead ! MAY RILEY SMITH.