Thoughts On Mother From The Children Of Perth...(1908).
In 1908, over 100 years ago the children of Perth shared some of their thoughts on mothers for an essay competition run in the Daily News newspaper for the Sunshine League.
The essays from the children of Subiaco were posted in a blog post titled 'Subiaco Sunshine League Members...An Opinion On 'Mother' (1908).' published on 30 December, 2020. As the children's thoughts are insightful the post was reposted here for this Mother's Day, along with some of the other children from Perth who entered the competition and were published.
From the blog post 'Subiaco Sunshine League Members...An Opinion On 'Mother' (1908)'. "...In 1908 Uncle Tom, editor of the children's pages at the Daily News newspaper suggested 'Mother' as a topic for children readers of the newspaper to write essays on. The best essays would be awarded prizes according to age groups.
Several essays were written by children who were Sunshine League members from Subiaco. The children wrote some insightful comments about various aspects of a mother's role through their eyes and based on their experience including that of a carer, nurse, teacher, helper and comforter in times of trouble, advice giver and provider of correct behaviour. Other children shared empathy with children who may not be as lucky as them to have a caring mother and father and were in institutionalised care.
The last letter was written by Ivy Love in an essay competition in 1910 titled "My Most Valued Possession" who was her mother. The letter was written to Auntie Nell, editor of the children's pages at the time..."
The articles are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 18 November 1908.
ESSAYS ON 'MOTHER.'
By Florence 'Beryl Beauchamp, aged 13, 75 Olive-street, Subiaco.
Mother the very sweetest word in the English, language. Just as mother's love surpasses any other, so does that word contain all that is sweetest and best. There are undutiful children, we know, but how can they be so ungrateful if they ever think of all their mother has to do for them. When they are little, helpless babies, with what endless love and patience she cares for them, and later, when they are running about, although perhaps unsteady on their little feet, after a tumble, no one but mother can "kiss the place-well".
Then when school time comes, it is mother who is full of sympathy and, help, when sums will not come right, or teacher is cross, when we feel that we do not deserve it. Mother is full of comfort for everything.
Now that we learn cooking at school, mother is so pleased with all our little experiments at home, and if they do not turn out quite as we expect, mother shows us where the mistake was made, and is full of encouragement to us to try again. How sorry we should be for the poor little ones who have no mother; for what is home without a mother ?
Dear Florence, - You can see a home without a mother any day by just peeping into any orphanage. No matter how kind the staff may be, they cannot fill mother's place. That is why I encourage all my nieces and nephews to visit the orphanages; it brightens up the orphans and teaches the visitors to value their homes and mothers more than ever. Will you help us with the Orphans' Christmas Cheer by sending a present for one of the children. - Uncle Tom.
(By Florence Cottrell, aged 14, Keightley-road, Subiaco)
In a home mother is everything. Everybody goes to if they want anything. Mother is the principal person. If any of get a cut of would of any sort, we run to mother to make it better. We depend on her for most things. A home is very lonely without mother, so we who have her ought to look after and care for her and help her in all we can.
Mother is always very thankful to us when she is tired and we help. It takes very little to please a mother, and it encourages to help her more. Mother is very fond of flowers and she pleased we are joining in your competitions, and thinks it is very kind and thoughtful of your to take such an interest in us boys and girls.
Mother always helps and comforts us in out troubles and pains. If we want to go out we ask mother to take us. It is best to take mother's advice, and we are always good. If we are later for school mother says better late than never, children.
Dear Florrie. - you have placed correct estimate on the value of a good mother. Fathers have the passing events of the outside world to relieve the monotony of life, but a mother's world is rather dull, unless the children do all they can to brighten her. The best way to do that is to be gentle and kind. - Uncle Tom.
Daily News, 19 November 1908.
ESSAYS ON 'MOTHER.
(By Ella Kerr, 'Restcliffe,' 334 Barker-rd., Subiaco.)
Dear Uncle Tom, — Mother is the dearest name on earth. Think of the worries and the trials that she passes through without demur. If any of her children or her husband take sick she how she looks after them. She will watch over them day and night, taking a few moments sleep when it is possible.
There must be hundreds of poor motherless children. What a life they must lead, and think of the hardships they must go through. Of course this does not refer to all motherless children, for some children, we may say, are often better without mothers.
I for one, love my mother better than anybody. She gets angry with me at times, no doubt, but I suppose I deserve to be scolded, for I must do some very naughty things, which I do not notice at the time, but after being scolded I generally sit down and say mother is very nasty to have scolded me. But that is all very well if we were not corrected at times we would never know the end of our naughtiness.
Mother always knows what is best for us; if she did. not we might often be very ill for want of advice on what food we should eat; then also, we might have sweets or play-things by which we should not benefit. So, as the saying ; is, ''Mother's advice is the best" I hope you will like my essay, Uncle Tom, and thanking you for accepting me as your niece.
Dear Ella.— Your essay is a good one. Mother's advice in the vast majority of instances is the best for children who should learn to obey without a pout of the lips and a shake of the shoulder. Uncle-Tom.
Daily News, 11 November 1908.
ESSAYS ON 'MOTHER.'
(By James Morrison, aged 11 years.)
All should pay respect to their mother. We can only have one mother and we never know when that 'dear person' will be parted from us. How dull a home is without a mother; in fact, when mother is out everything seems to go wrong. A home is made brighter and happier by the presence of our dear mother.
When we grow up we may well look back to the present time, and think of the old, but yet beautiful song, 'Dreaming of home, dear old home; Home of my childhood, and mother. Of when I wake 'tis sweet to find I've been dreaming, of home and mother.'
Without my mother I think I should be lost, for when I am looking for anything and cannot find it mother generally comes to my aid and finds whatever I am in search of. Again, in time of sickness no one is prized so much by the patient as mother.
It is mother that looks to your wants and soothes your troubles, or, as it is expressed by the poet, 'Who taught my infant lips to pray. And love God's holy will and day, And walk in wisdom's pleasant way. My mother who ran to help me when I fell, and would some pretty story tell, And kiss the place and make it well, my mother.
Dear James, - You could not have placed too high an estimate on mother, and I have printed your nice essay in the hope that some thoughtless boys and girls who may not value their mothers and are rude to them might profit by reading it. - Uncle Tom.
Daily News, 11 November 1908.
Dorothy F. Brakenreg, Harley-street, Perth.
Dear Uncle Tom, - Mother is the most precious, sweetest, and truest word one could think of. I think every boy and girl loves their mother. When any of the family is sick, mother is the one that nurses them back again to health, using love as well as medicine as a cure.
Mother shares all her children's joys and sorrows, and is always planning something to bring sunshine into their lives. If it is raining or there is any danger about, mother is always anxious, and makes her children change their wet clothes, as soon as they come home, so that they will not catch cold.
She is always so proud when any of her children gains any merit, whether at Sunday school, day school, or in open competition. If all children followed the teaching of their mother, what a good world, it would be. Who taught us to say our prayers, to be truthful, and to be kind to all living ttiings Mother. So I think that boys and girls should always remember in their prayers every night, and morning that beautiful word. Mother. - From your loving niece. DOROTHY FLORENCE BRAKENREG.
Dear Dorothy, — You have written a very pretty essay, and I hope all who read it will take heed. I am afraid some children do not do all they can to make mother's burden light and her life happy, because they are thoughtless. - Uncle Tom.
Daily News, 17 September 1910.
PRIZE ESSAY.
'MY MOST PRECIOUS POSSESSION.' by Ivy Love 206 Hay-street, Subiaco.
Dear Auntie Nell, — I suppose you will be beginning to think l have quite forgotten you; but I have not had much time, as we have had a lot of homework lately. Can you try more than once for a prize? If so, I would like to try for a prize on 'My' most valued possession.' I will be 11 on September 28.
My mother is my most valued possession. I prize her love and kindness to me. I like many others, have known a mother's love, therefore we prize her so much. We have never known what it is to be homeless and destitute or to have a bad and wicked father or mother, like some poor children have, who are worse off even than orphans, who at least have a home, where they are treated well.
These poor children, who have never known a mother's love, care, and kindness are looked after and loved by noble men and women, who have devoted, their lives to looking after and loving. God forsaken little children. So we who have loving mothers prize them, all the more. We children cannot do this noble work until we are older hut we can at least save our pennies and give them to the numerous homes where these children are living happily. Well, dear Auntie, I think that is all I have to say now. I must now say goodbye, with best love. - I remain, your loving niece IVY LOVE.
My dear Ivy, - I was pleased to hear from you again, and to learn that you had not forgotten me. I am also glad you tried for a prize on 'My most precious possession' because your, effort has gained a prize. You were a wise girl in choosing mother as your most precious possession. There is no doubt they are the dearest and most precious of all our earthly belongings. I wonder if you will make something for Ailsa Skene's bazaar in aid of the orphans cheer. Have you noticed that we are endeavoring to give the orphans a picnic about Christmas time? Well the proceeds of Ailsa's bazaar are to be devoted to this outing. Yes, dear, the members are, allowed to compete for prizes as often as they like. Hoping that your prize arrives safely, and that you will write to me soon, Yours lovingly, Auntie Nell.
