The Home Circle by San Francisco Call

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · May 22, 1884

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 10, No. 20.

The Home Circle.

By San Francisco Call

KEEP NOTHING FROM MOTHER.

THEY sat at the spinning together, And they spun the fine white thread; One face was old and the other young— A golden and silver head.

At times the young voice broke in song, That was wonderfully sweet; And the mother's heart beat deep and calm, For her joy was most complete.

There was many a holy lesson, Interwoven with silent prayer, Taught to her gentle, listening child, As the two sat spinning there.

"And of all that I speak, my darling, From my older head and heart, God giveth me one last thing to say, And with it thou shalt not part.

"Thou wilt listen to many voices, And ah! woe that this must be! The voice of praise, and the voice of love, And the voice of flattery.

"But listen to me, my little one, There's one thing that thou shalt fear— Let never a word to my love be said Which her mother may not hear.

"No matter how true, my darling one, The words may seem to thee, They are not fit for my child to hear If they cannot be told to me.

"If thou'lt ever keep thy young heart pure, And thy mother's heart from fear, Bring all that is said to thee by day, At night to thy mother's ear." —San Francisco Call.