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 xi
... heard her call ; went to her . They must all go , " she whispered . The nurse , uncomprehending , asked : Who must go ? Where ? " " My sons , " she whispered . " My three sons . They must all go to the war . They mustn't feel that I am ...
... heard her call ; went to her . They must all go , " she whispered . The nurse , uncomprehending , asked : Who must go ? Where ? " " My sons , " she whispered . " My three sons . They must all go to the war . They mustn't feel that I am ...
Page 33
... heard that his first wife had perished in the wreck of the Oceana . It was the latter end of the nineteenth century ; too modern a time for marvellous tales of small boats surviving in stormy seas , of delicate women withstanding the ex ...
... heard that his first wife had perished in the wreck of the Oceana . It was the latter end of the nineteenth century ; too modern a time for marvellous tales of small boats surviving in stormy seas , of delicate women withstanding the ex ...
Page 34
... 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 , drove the dreadful truth home . Poor Phyllis , she could ...
... 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 , drove the dreadful truth home . Poor Phyllis , she could ...
Page 35
... heard of John ; had schooled herself to bear it , treasuring him in her memory , trying to think of him as lost , trying to make Bobby fill all his place . Bobby , little sonny , God's message of comfort and peace . And now , Bobby lay ...
... heard of John ; had schooled herself to bear it , treasuring him in her memory , trying to think of him as lost , trying to make Bobby fill all his place . Bobby , little sonny , God's message of comfort and peace . And now , Bobby lay ...
Page 36
... heard her talking to him ; they said she was mad ; she could smile now , as she had not smiled for months . Only the poet knew ! A troop of wandering angels stole her little son away , But they left in its stead a changeling , A little ...
... heard her talking to him ; they said she was mad ; she could smile now , as she had not smiled for months . Only the poet knew ! A troop of wandering angels stole her little son away , But they left in its stead a changeling , A little ...
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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.