Mothers and ChildrenW. Collins, 1918 - 166 pages These 14 brief, contrasting vignettes, which each stand alone and deal with one mother and her child, provide glimpses of a huge range of mother-child relationships. Most extol the passion, depth and fulfilment of maternal love, which is likened in some tales to divine love, even protecting a child from beyond the grave (EILEEN). Some mothers invest all ambition in their offspring (ARTHUR). Some stories describe tragedies – MARGUERITE turns out ‘a dumbie’, longed-for PHI-PHI is an ‘idiot’, clever GERALD has a serious accident at Eton, BOBBY dies aged 4, devastating his mother, idolised CHARLIE becomes delinquent and ruins the family (though retaining his mother’s adoration). DOUGLAS’s adoptive mother cannot love him as his own mother still does. Some children return this devotion - GERALD comforts his anguished mother after his accident, MAUD gives up married love to care for her blind mother. NORMAN’s mother, fleeing a drunken, murderous husband, is redeemed and comforted by her son. Other mothers, like DERRICK’s, hate their children, with reciprocal dislike. GLADYS, spoiled by her mother, grows up selfish and arrogant. JANEY’s mother despises husband and child, and Janey dreams of her absent father. |
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Page 22
... babies ; turned the newcomer out of her bed- room before it was a week old ; left it to the mercy of servants while she ... baby held to her , and the crow with which it asked to be taken up . But whatever may have 22 MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
... babies ; turned the newcomer out of her bed- room before it was a week old ; left it to the mercy of servants while she ... baby held to her , and the crow with which it asked to be taken up . But whatever may have 22 MOTHERS AND CHILDREN.
Page 31
... baby - talk - not much sense in it perhaps , but unutterably sweet to her —those thin , soft baby - lips that cooled themselves on Mummy's cheek , that tired baby - head that rested on Mummy's breast . Such a little wee child , so long ...
... baby - talk - not much sense in it perhaps , but unutterably sweet to her —those thin , soft baby - lips that cooled themselves on Mummy's cheek , that tired baby - head that rested on Mummy's breast . Such a little wee child , so long ...
Page 32
... baby boy to justify her struggle for them .. Phyllis Vane's story was no common one of vulgar seduction , of vulgar de- sertion . John Vane had been an honest man who wooed her in her father's house , and wedded her in her father's ...
... baby boy to justify her struggle for them .. Phyllis Vane's story was no common one of vulgar seduction , of vulgar de- sertion . John Vane had been an honest man who wooed her in her father's house , and wedded her in her father's ...
Page 34
... baby nestled in her arms , said it triumphantly when she heard that Nora was childless . Then Bobby , frail little Bobby , sickened : fret- ful words instead of loving ones , drooping head and feeble step instead of childish laughter ...
... baby nestled in her arms , said it triumphantly when she heard that Nora was childless . Then Bobby , frail little Bobby , sickened : fret- ful words instead of loving ones , drooping head and feeble step instead of childish laughter ...
Page 36
... baby broken words . Then she saw him in the day , felt him clinging to her dress , and the touch of his little hands in hers . They heard her talking to him ; they said she was mad ; she could smile now , as she had not smiled for ...
... baby broken words . Then she saw him in the day , felt him clinging to her dress , and the touch of his little hands in hers . They heard her talking to him ; they said she was mad ; she could smile now , as she had not smiled for ...
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Common terms and phrases
ambitions arms Arthur asked Aunt Bessie baby beautiful Bobby brain caresses Carson Charlie child Chisel Danby's Derrick Devereux Douglas dream Eileen Eric Eton everything face father Frank Danby Frazer friends genius Gerald girl glad Gladys grew growing hair hands happy head heard heart ache Heaven husband Janey Jessie Joanna John Evans kiss knee knew light lips little angel little one's lived look Marguérite Margy marriage married maternity Maud Maud's measles months mother-love mother's eyes MOTHERS AND CHILDREN Mummy Mumsey ness nestled never night nurse nursery old Celia old maid pain pale passion perhaps Phi-phi Phyllis Vane's pity Poor little Poor mother Reuben Carson's seemed shadow world Slowcumb smiled Stanford University story sympathy talk tears tell Temple thought tin soldier told touched tremulous trouble turn Ursula voice watch wife woman words Wyvern young young doctor
Popular passages
Page 21 - I HAD a little daughter, And she was given to me To lead me gently backward To ,the Heavenly Father's knee, That I, by the force of nature, Might in some dim wise divine The depth of his infinite patience To this wayward soul of mine.