p. 10 | A WORD WITH MOTHERS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 28, 1897

A WORD WITH MOTHERS.

When a mother grows careless about her appearance at home, she is either declining in health, or her heart’s love for her husband and children is lukewarm. How many hours did she spend in personal toilet attentions before she took up the sacredness of marriage, when her lover came “a-courtin’ and admirin’”?! Often and often these same dressy girls develop into veritable slouches after marriage, and why is it? Mother, why do you “dress up” when looking for company or going a-visiting? And why do you show the very worst side of yourself to your immediate home circle?

The children appreciate pretty gowns and smooth coiffures far more than you think; then why go about “arrayed in calico and loose hair,” when these wide-awake critics are so alert to observe the least error in your appearance?

Our little ones appreciate a neat attire and smiling face; then mother should by no means deny them this pleasure, and reserve her best gowns and best smiles for the world, who only half appreciate them. I came from my dressing-room one warm afternoon, dressed in a plain, neat wrapper, but the collar and cuffs were of deep red, and also wore a dainty bow in my coiffure. My three-year-old boy, glancing up from a story-book, said admiringly, “Mama dot a new dress with fancy work on it,” and he was pleased, yet only a baby. It does pay to dress up at home. By dressing up I don’t mean for a woman to wear out her best church or party dress in the kitchen, but try to always appear well dressed, even in calico and a gingham apron. Let the garments be clean and neat, pin on a little bow at the throat, have the hair shining and well arranged, not curled and fluffed like an actress, and the husband as well as the children will be pleased and full of praise for the woman who regards it her duty to look her best for dear loved ones.—Womankind.