Mothers and Fathers—Two Pictures.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 810, 9 September 1887, Page 4

Mothers and Fathers— Two Pictures.

Little Willy —* Mother? Oh, you mean my mamma. Oh, she’s nicer than anybody else. She calls me her little darling, and she gives me pretty toys, and reads me nice books. She teaches me to say my prayers at night; and nothing can hurt me even when it is dark, because the good angels watch over me. But I’m not afraid, any. how, for she would cuddle me all up if anything made me cry. We go out to walk together, and she tells me about all the things I see ; and I’m going to learn fast, and grow up, and be a big boy to be proud of. ■ I won’t do anything mean to make her ashamed; and I wouldn’t say a naughty swear word like the boys in the street, because she would cry to hear me so wicked. She made me that little white rabbit and my new jacket, and when I had the measles she sat by me all day. Once she went on a visit, and I cried—l was so lonesome. She was lonesome too. She don’t like to go away from home long. She’s the nicest person in the world; only papa is just as nice. He kisses me when he goes out, and he rides me on his back in the garden, and he makes rabbits on the wall with his fingers, and he takes mamma and me out to ride, and says we are his treasures, and he takss care of us both, and mamma says he’s the best man in the world, and I guess he is.’ Little Neddie —‘My mamma is pretty. She’s so pretty I want to kiss her, but I muss her hair. She don’t often come to breakfast with papa and me, because she gets so tired dancing at the balls. When I tumbled down stairs and broke my arm she was at a party, and she didn’t know it until the next day. But if she gets up I don’t think it’s nice, for papa scolds her, and says he will put an end to waltzing with the captain. Does your tna ever waltz with captains ? And do you think pa don’t like it because the captain might get mad and kill her with his sword ? I’m afraid of soldiers. I’m afraid of ghosts, too. Biddy says if I don’t sleep sound a ghost will fetch me up the chimney. Biddy is our French maid, with a cap. She gives the bread and butter to her cousin James, and I can’t go to sleep because I am so hungry. I told pa once, and he said : * Poor child ! why, have you no mother ?’ but I asked if ma wasn’t my mother, and I don’t know what he meant. I don’t go into ma’s room, because I’m troublesome. I spilt the aurora, one day, all over the rouge and lily white. Don’t you know what they are ? Why, they are things to make ma look pretty.

But J wouldn’t care if pa would make me a kite, like the one your pa made for you. But he’s always so busy, and he groans so when he’s home. He goes down town all day, and onceT asked ma what he went for, and she said, ‘To make money, and that is all he is good for.’ Did your pa ever fail ? My pa says he will, if ma’s dressmaker’s bill is three thousand and twenty.one dollars again. But ma says he’s only a miser. I guess I’d like to come to your house and have your ma and pa instead of mine.’ M.K.D.