Mother's Work | AdventAI

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Sep 30, 1908

Mother's Work.

BAKING, stewing, and brewing, Roasting, frying, and boiling, Sweeping, dusting, and cleaning, Washing, starching, and ironing, 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, Making them happy The livelong day; It is ever thus from morn till night; Who says that a mother's work is light?

At evening, four Little forms in white; Prayers all said, And the last good night, Tucking them safe In each downy bed, Silently asking O'er each little head That the dear Father In heaven will keep Safe all my darlings, Awake or asleep. Then I think the old adage true ever will prove: "It is easy to labor for those that we love."

Ah, me! dear me! I often say, As I hang the tumbled clothes away; And the tear-drops start, While my burdened heart Aches for the mother across the way. Where, O, where, are Her nestlings flown? All, all are gone, Save one alone! Folded their garments With tenderest care, Unpressed the pillow And vacant the chair. No ribbons to tie, No faces to wash, No hair all awry; No merry voices To hush into rest; But He knoweth best! But, ah! the heart-anguish; the tears that fall! This mother's work is the hardest of all! —Selected.