322 ANNUAL REl'OIiT OF THE Off. Doc. 



MOTHb]KS AS OUUMS 



By .MISS AUAI5ELLA CAKTER, Philadelphia 



Kecently I heard a girl say in speaking of her letters to her 

 mother and her replies: "1 usually begin mine 'Dear M.', and she 

 hers 'Dear A.' We do not bother with mother and daughter; we're 

 'chums/ Mamma and 1." This exjjression set me thinking, and as I 

 talked to that girl who had her mother for her "chum," 1 learned that 

 which caused still deeper thinking and I wondered how much teach- 

 ers and advisors of the young — and even mothers themselves, ac- 

 tually understand of girls anyway. Do they not too often leave 

 their own girlhood days far behind them, and ol' lorgetting their own 

 early aspirations, joys and troubles, fail to bridge the gulf of years 

 between them. 



Some dignified, elderly hearers may have a wholesome horror 

 of anything which would seem a retrogression from the old-time 

 filial reverence, the absence of which is so much deplored to-day. 

 And I grant "Dear M." is a long Avay off from "most revered mother" 

 of "ye olden time." But let the reverence be in the spirit rather than 

 in form if the 20th century girl cannot accommodate both, but I 

 believe she CAN. I ween the true love was not lacking in that girl 

 for her "mother-chum." '"Why," she said, "when I was home and 

 went to parties and all sorts of social affairs, a large part of the 

 fun was telling Mamma about it that night as I undressed, if she 

 was waiting up, as she often was, or the next morning as we worked 

 together, for she was just as much interested in all the little details 

 as I was. She never sneered at our frivolity, but enjoyed everything 

 with us. When we had company Papa and Mamma were a part of 

 the crowd as much as anyone, and the young folks used to say 

 'there's no restraint up at B's.' There was no sitting apart in 

 another room for them, nor was it thought of or desired by anyone. 

 If by any chance they were away a ready inquiry was made and a 

 genuine regret expressed." "And when I left home," she continued, 

 "to make my own way in the world and went home at the week-end, 

 there was so much to tell of what happened during the week; and I'm 

 sure they looked forward to my weekly budget just as much as I did 

 the saving up things to tell, and they were just as sorry as I when 

 anything kept me away. Why, it was a standing joke about Mamma 

 and my talking until 12 or 1 o'clock on Saturday nights, that she 

 kept me up as late as my weekly caller did!" "Yet," and here I 

 noticed her thoughts traveled back to the beginning of our conver- 

 sation, as a thoughtful, tender look came over her face, "I do 

 believe I cherish most those occasional letters who Mamma calls 

 me 'dear daughter,' for I realize then that is the title only one per- 

 son in the world can use to me;" and the tears filled her eyes at the 

 thought of that father so recently called from that loved home. 



