The Project Gutenberg eBook, Apron-Strings, by Eleanor Gates

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Title: Apron-Strings

Author: Eleanor Gates

Release Date: September 29, 2007 [eBook #22804]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)

***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK APRON-STRINGS***

E-text prepared by Al Haines

APRON-STRINGS

by

ELEANOR GATES

Author of
The Poor Little Rich Girl, Etc.

_A story for all mothers who have daughters
and for all daughters who have mothers_

New York
Grosset & Dunlap
Publishers

Copyright, 1917, by
Sully and Kleinteich
All rights reserved

First edition, October, 1917
Second edition, October, 1917

DEAR ANN WILDE,--

It seems to me that there are, broadly speaking, three kinds of
mothers. First, there is the kind that does not plan for, or want, a
child, but, having borne one, invariably takes the high air of
martyrdom, feeling that she has rendered the supreme service, and that,
henceforth, nothing is too good for her. Second, there is the mother
who loves her own children devotedly, and has as many as her health and
the family purse will permit, but who is fairly indifferent to other
women's children. Last of all, there is the mother who loves anybody's
children--everybody's children. Where the first kind of mother finds
"young ones" a bother, and the second revels in a contrast of her
darlings with her neighbors' little people (to the disparagement of the
latter), the third never fails to see a baby if there is a baby around,
never fails to be touched by little woes or joys; belongs, perhaps, to
a child-study club, or helps to support a kindergarten, or gives as
freely as possible to some orphanage. And often such a woman, finding
herself childless, and stirred to her action by a voice that is
Nature's, ordering her to fulfill her woman's destiny, makes choice
from among those countless little ones who are unclaimed; and if she
happens not to be married, nevertheless, like a mateless bird, she sets
lovingly about the building of a home nest.

This last kind is the best of all mothers. Not only is the fruit of
her body precious to her, but all child-life is preciou