Page Five "^--^^^.k^ Page Six MOTHER^fMlNE 2?y x/ohrL y^edet^ic 7~/ess^l Page Seven Page Eight Page I en MOTHEFC Mine ^ ©. John Frederic Hesse I \^ Published by Xne Municipal Proolems PuDlisning Company Champaign, Illinois Page Eleven ;'=5\-^. Copyright. 1921 By JOHN FREDERIC HESSEL Pase Twelve . . ,_„, MAR 14 1921 0)CU60S889 CONTENTS PAGE Dedication 19 Foreword 25 His Religion 27 The Vale of Human Tears 28 The World of Glorious Achievement 31 The Promised Goal 32 Failure and Success 33 Filial Love and Duty 35 Strength and Dignity 36 The Sunshine of Life 39 The Last Battle 40 Soldier, Strong, in Battle Array 42 The Philosophy of Life 45 The Beautiful Isle of Somewhere 48 The Beautiful Memories of the Long Ago .... 51 Do It NoTP 52 The Last Leaf on the Tree 55 Page T}nTken ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Portrait Frontispiece The Goal of Glorious Achievement 29 Steps to the Promised Goal 32 Portrait 37 Soldier, Strong, m Battle Array 42 Favorite Drives 43-53 The Deep Sea of Doubt . 49 The Mossy Marbles 55 Page Fifteen ORNAMENTS'AND ILLUSTRATIONS Paoe Seventeen Page E'.ghlceii DEDICATED to Fond f/lemory or otner Days "iQlFT in the stilly night, ■^^ Ere slumber's chain has bound me, Fond memor}) brmgs the light Of other days around me: The smiles, the tears. Of boyhood's years. The words of love then spoken; The eyes that shone. Now dimmed and gone. The cheerful hearts now broken." Page Nineteen "Fond memory brings the light Of other days around me." Mothers' Day, 19. Mother of Mine This page to be used for memories, reminiscences or private messages. Page Twev.lM This page to be used for memories, reminiscences or private messages. Page Trvcnl\)-oiie a Cributc to a iHotber /'age Tlvculy-tliK Page Trvcnhi-foi FOREWORD g MONG human relations, the love of a good mother for ■^ her offspring is, in a class by itself. In other words, it is unique, especially unique in fact. Unique because there is nothing else like it in this big world m which we all live and have our being. Especially unique because it is ever- trustful, ever-devoted, ever-forgiving, ever-tender, ever-un- changing, ever-enduring." — Johnson. "The friends who leave us do not feel the sorrow Of parting as we feel it, who must stay Lamenting day by day. And knowing when we wake upon the morrow, We shall not find in its accus- tomed place The one beloved face." Page Trvcnl\)-fivc MOTHER O' MINE X F I were hung on highest hill, S^ Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine ! I know that your love would follow still. Mother o' mme, O mother o' mme ! If I were drown'd in deepest sea. Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine ! I know that your tears would come down to me. Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine! If I were lost of body and soul. Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine! I know that your prayers would make me whole, Mother o' mine, O mother o' mine ! — Rud^ard Kipling. I o N being asked, "What is your religion?" he replied, "My mother is my religion, and my daily prayer Kipling's Mother o' Mine." What more of a religion does one really need, And where in the English language do we find Such few words that so fully measure A mother's love and her devotion? Page J'wcnlv-ieven II fTlS we saunter through this vale ^g of tears, Strong, virile, debonau', crowned with victory. Fighting battles, crushing enemies, planning and constructing. Sometimes with success, other times with failure. Sometimes with loss, other times with gain. Obsessed we become, with a still stronger determination To repair that loss, to retrieve that failure. To regain not only that which is lost, But manifold additions, to be offered at the shrine of success and power. Mrmf ^v^^#^ Page Tiveiitxi-eighl Page Tiventyi-ntne i^ O such a man, no loss is quite enough SIS9 ^^ or too severe; But what, with will power and determina- tion, may be transformed Into an asset, overcome and converted. By the aid of that vision That inspires one to dare and to do Still greater and better things, In this world of glorious achievement. Page ThiTlxi-one IV C5 O losses accustomed, knowing how transitory, only for An hour, a day, a week or a year, if so decreed. We accept with delight the challenge to overcome and conquer By pushmg the advancmg column One step forward towards the promised goal. m^^M Page Thirt^-tmo V HAT else in life is there, other than this? What a game it is, transforming failures into successes; Losses into gains, for the satisfaction it gives In pleasing the fancy of the one you love; To brighten the eyes of the one who idolizes you And thinks you wonderful, when, in reality, you know you are not. How in secret thought you glory in this adoration ; What a feeling of intense satisfaction and contentment Permeates your very being when you realize, That there is at least one, who has faith in you. One who would toil, slave and die that you may live. Mother of mine, O mother of mine ! Page Tluri\3-t}iree M» OU gloat in this devotion. It becomes of you a part, a parcel. Dare anyone rob you of that, which is yours? Yours, by right of natural possession? It is thought of this that makes you tremble ; That makes you choke with fear and dread ; That grips your very heart-strings; That makes you reach out for strength and courage. To fight the coming foe. It is then you ask yourself the question : "Without you, what will I be, What shall I do. Where shall I go, Mother of mine, O mother of <^^aZ^^ v-^.vT^^^^r Page Thiri\)-five VII OW beautiful she becomes as old m years she grows, In the strength, dignity and pride of a character Chastened and softened by the bitter losses of the past. Sweetened by the beautiful memories of the long ago. Closer and closer to you she clings. For, perhaps, you are the only one left To feed a hungry heart. To her, an idol, a wonder, a marvel you become. In whatever you say or do. In ever act and deed. Do not disillusion her, for you could not if you would. And you would not if you could. Mother of mine, O mother of mine ! . i_.a.2j«liii-.il3t-. Page Tbiriv-six Page Thirty-seven VIII ITH you always, you should keep her, if you can : Keep her young, old she will never be. If you help her just a little. Old in years, young in heart. Over-sensitive, a little out of tune, perhaps. With things as they are now. She may sometimes feel. This should not be. Young, spirited and companionable, she will ever be. If properly the sunshme of life is distributed, So she gets her share. A share to which she is justly entitled, One which to you she never denied. Whenever it was within her power to give. Mother of mine, O mother of mine! Page Thirl\)-nine IX © HE last stand on life's battlefield ^^m is taken. Out of the world, a life dedicated and consecrated To the noble idea of filial love and duty is quietly passing. As in boyhood days, your hands in hers are taken. To give you strength and courage to with- stand the shock Of a loss that she knows must be yours, and yours alone to endure. Page Forlv Her thoughts, always of you, none of self. Your welfare, to her nothing else seems quite so important; "Carry out your plans. Do not give them up, I will always be with you. Someway — somehow. O for one more ride over Our favorite drive!" she pleads, "The one you and I so much enjoyed." Still guiding, still planning, for you and you alone. While the last drop of life-blood is slowly ebbing, Mother of mme, O mother of mine! ^^^A^C^ ■isS^^ Page Forl^-onc X •p> O soldier, strong, in battle array, In more heroic mould was ever cast. Than she who has fought, suffered and sacrificed ; Endured pangs, heartaches and distress. So strongly, so bravely, so silently. Mother of mine, O mother of mine! Page Fort^-lrvo Page Forly-Three XI 11(1= -==•' OUR philosophy of hfe, Transforming failures into success, Losses into gains, What about it? What is to be done about this loss? To regain not only that which is lost, ^ ,, But manifold additions? ^%,^^'^yy^^ Where is thy boasted strength to surmount ~ - /> ■'^^- - every difficulty? What about the many battles fought and won? What about the strength within you, to dare, to do? ^^5—-^^^ W^^^I^^'3 Page Forl^-five mm^ What a cold, hard, cynical, calculating philosophy. How much sordidness seems to be expressed In its creed, when you realize That everything you could ever hope To receive from such a philosophy Would be gladly given, this one loss to regain. Must such a loss be suffered, Such a penalty paid, To melt the coldness. To soften the hardness. To destroy the cynicism of such a worldly philosophy? PaSe ForM-sevcn GROPE and search in the deep Sea of Doubt, For the beautiful "Isle of Somewhere," For gems, such as these, there surely must be, A haven of rest, secure. A cruise to this isle, for a look or a Page Fort^-eight Page Forty-nine X XIII N the beautiful memories of the long ago, I live and dwell in thoughts of you. Our favorite drive, through wood and dale; Midst flowers and sunshine lonely I wander. Listening to the breezes gently whispering, To my anguished heart the sad refrain, Mother of mine, O mother of mine! .l^cF^ •<^O^^A' Page Fifty-one DO IT NOW X F some good thing for tomorrow ^^ You are dreaming, do it noiv; From the future do not borrow; Frost soon gathers on the brow. Days for deeds are few, my brother, Then today fulfill thy vow. If you mean to help another. Do not dream it, do it noJp." Page Fifl\)-iwo Page Fifl\)-llirce HE mossy marbles rest On the lips he has pressed In their bloom, And the names he loved to hear Have been carved for many a year On the tomb, " Page Fifty -five Page Fif^-sevcn ^^tv-*! Page Fifl\)-nitic -lAMMOND PRESS 1. CONKEY COMPAh CHICAGO ill i immimm .0 015 973 819 A