p. 10 | HELPING MOTHER

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Mar 20, 1907

HELPING MOTHER.

"PLEASE, mama, can't I help you? I'se tired of make believe, I want to play real earnest— Wish I could sew a sleeve."

The precious face was clouded, The eyes had wistful grown, The pretty lips were quivering Like a rose by the wind waves blown.

"I'se dot so tired of kitty— He scratched me on my head— And dolly's been so naughty, I'se putted her to bed.

"Put a knot in bose ends, mama, So the thread won't all pull out," The little face was glowing— Gone every tear and pout.

The little dimpled fingers Were working hard full soon, And baby "helped" her mama The livelong afternoon.

At last the work was finished, Crooked and puckered in, But mama kissed her darling For the "help" that she had been.

So God takes our poor striving, Tho our seams are crooked, too— 'Tis not always what we have done But what we try to do.

—Selected.