MOTHER'S WORK.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1308, 26 February 1885, Page 3

MOTHER'S WORK.

Part I. Baking, stewing, and brewing, Roasting, frying, and boiling, Sweeping, dusting and cleaning, 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 ; Stockings to darn While the children play, Stories to tell, Tears wipe away, Make them happy The livelong day ; It is ever thus from morn till night 1 Who savs that a mother's work is "light ? Part 11. At evening, four Little forms in -white Prayers all said, And the last good-night, Tucking them safe In each dowDy bed, Silently asking, O'er each head, That the dear Father In heaven will keep Safe all my darlings, Awuke or asleep. Then 1 think the old xdage true ever will prove, "It is easy to labour for those that we love." Part 111. Ah me ! dear me ! I often any As i hapd the tumbled clothes away, And the tear drops start, While my burdened heart Aches for the mother across the way. Where, ob, where are Her nestlings flown 1 All, all are gone, Save one alone ! Folded their garments With tenderest care, I/npressed 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.