Page 204 - Always Virginia

192 Virginia Day Fritscher

Let us take this verse apart and see how full of meaning is
each line.
Who ran to help me when I fell? Does not this line express at
once the solicitude that each and every mother holds in her heart
for her child? What mother would not risk her life to save her son
or daughter from even the slightest harm? Recall your own child-
hood days. Who alone was there at your every beck and call? No
one, but your own dear mothers. At the sight of a stranger, or of
a strange dog, at the sound of a clap of thunder, did not each and
every one of you instinctively cling to your mother’s side. You knew,
whatever happened, or whatever danger was near, you knew your
mother would protect you.
The second line, of our verse—or some pretty story to tell? Ah,
my friends, does it not bring back the fondest memories of your
childhood days, yes, even of your whole life—to recall the beauti-
ful stories you first heard on your throne as a little king—on your
mother’s knee? Ah, the sweet stories of the Infant Jesus, of your
Guardian Angel, or of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!
How your dear mother convinced you of what was right and what
was wrong, of what was virtue and what was sin. Perhaps she even
thrilled you with tales of fairy land. Would that we all could have
kept the innocence of our early childhood days.
Who would kiss the part to make it well? My Mother! Suppose
you did stub your toe, or cut your finger, or bump your head. It
felt as good as new as soon as mother healed it with her maternal
kiss. Suppose someone hurt your feelings. Yes, mother would still
be your friend. She would understand.
Yes, my dear friends, this is sentimental talk. But who can deny
these words, or say they are not true? Yes, every child though he be
6 or 60 knows that his mother really and truly loved him, as bone
of her bone and flesh of her flesh.
Is your mother still living? How do you treat her? Are you going
to call on her today? Are you going to remember her by some little
token of esteem? Don’t say you can’t afford any gift. Remember, it is