THE OLD-FASHIONED MOTHER.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7020, 7 January 1910, Page 9

THE OLD-FASHIONED MOTHER.

rcdnu otposit ioravif er otaoin lmllaoi She is not at '.ill interested in w-hdt ■is ''bain? worn," this old-fashioned nattier, and she has a serene disregard for "what people gay." She seems 'juat to he living her gentle, strong, 'wholesome -ifo for her family and not to. care at all -whether clothes and persons

and ideas are "fashionable" or not. She never massages her face. to keep tin wrinkles away or lias her hair marcelled, or chooses corsets that will give her '"youthful lines," and yet, if she ever chances to be among any of these ultrti- ; modern women who refuse to be middle,agod, it is the old-fashioned mother who ifl indeed the most distinguished-looking 'of them nil. HER SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

Although she has never won a prize Ut a bridge tournament or driven a four-in-hand at a Show, or entertained in her box during the opera season, hor life h'.ts been by no means dull or uneventful. The children have always required a great deal of care, aad there hr. 1 * been some stormy ' seasons through which she has had to steer the family boat herself. When times were hard ' things had gone to pieces in tile panic, and her husband's health had given way. 6lia took charge of affairs, as a matter of course. The business fell into hej lirnds for a. whi'e, and she set it all on its feet again; a troublesome busine?? it was, too, although she never talked about it nor Beemed to regard her mana gement of it ais at all extraordinary. "ABOVE RUEIES." Her sons v ond daughters, growing up. hove always come to her with their joys find sorrows, their victories and defeats. And though there be those who say thher devotion has made her life a constant sacrifice to her children, those boys and girls ore stronger men and women 'because she has .started their lives itTight, and has given them, almost win■out their knowing it, the wonderful power of her example to live by She has never hesitated to do anything how?ri,l ar f ° r d """? re fal>le or even menial ' \V° w em ' for <*<*»■ whom f ' crown" oM q£ K° Ter b * ea , afraid °* growing old. She has never clamored fo< recognition or "credit" or gratihid* She never talks about herseTf? he3doi iierseil. bho has tho reserve of othe,.