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An Old Woman's Advice

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 8, 1875

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 45, No. 15.

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An Old Woman's Advice.

By Mrs. M. F. Butts

What's the use o' stewin', and fum'in', And fussin', and frettin' round? You won't make things any better, Nor smoother, I'll be bound.
Your husband and children ain't perfect, Of course that's very true; But Martha, think a minute, Think seriously—be you?
And s'pose they're a good deal ailin', Like plants that don't half grow, What'll you do with 'em, Martha— Keep 'em covered with snow?
S'posin' the boys are careless, And don't do as you say, You've got to win 'em by lovin', There ain't any other way.
Not love that's all wish-washy— That ain't any love at all— But love that is strong and sunny, Like a southern garden wall.
If you don't make home as happy And bright as a place can be, Them boys will be discontented, And go outside, you see.
For you can't manage human creatures, As if they was made of dough; They've got God's breath in 'em, Martha, And they're bound to stretch and grow.
There was Jim Bowles, you remember, Full of frolic and fun, But as fine a natur' in him As there is beneath the sun.
He was mighty good at playin', But just as good at work; If you set him goin' rightly, He didn't know how to shirk.
He had the kind o' timber That God likes when it's grown, And I b'lieve he'll save him fin'ly, And make him one of his own.
Well, Miss Bowles hector'd and scolded, And wanted him to go The very way she p'inted, Whether he could or no; And the consequence he married A well-enough little thing, But no more fit for Jimmy Than a house-maid for a king.
He was fairly driv from his mother, And so got tangled there, And then he was too true-hearted Not to stay in the snare.
What do you think mothers are giv' for— To fry, and bile, and bake, And wash, and sew for nothin' But the dyin' body's sake?
They're give to nuss the sperit, And make it strong and true, And to do that nussin', Martha, Your own must be strong too.
An' you've got to make it a business To find out the best way, Or your work will turn upon you Like a sarpint, some fine day.
It's very well to be careful— I ain't ag'in bein' neat— And clo'es has their own valy, And so has things to eat;
But God looks out for the in'ard, And let the outside come Nateral like and easy— The child, and then the home.
Bringin' up child'en, Martha, Is like any other thing— Easy, if only you handle The natural end of the string.
But we must allus remember They don't belong to us— God is their rightful Father, And they're given out to nuss.
He knows the little creaturs, And will tell us about our task, And, Martha, it's my opinion That you'd better go and ask. —Mrs. M. F. Butts.