Theartofmotherhoodinvolvesmuchsilent，unobtrusiveself-denial，anhourlydevotionwhichfindsnodetailtoominute。Thesoupwarmingbeforethefiremustbewatched。AmIthekindofwoman，doyousuppose，toshirksuchcares？Thehumblesttaskmayearnarichharvestofaffection。Howprettyisachild’slaughwhenhefindsthefoodtohisliking!Armandhasawayofnoddinghisheadwhenheispleasedthatisworthalifetimeofadoration。HowcouldIleavetoanyoneelsetheprivilegeanddelight，aswellastheresponsibility，ofblowingonthespoonfulofsoupwhichistoohotformylittleNais，mynurslingofsevenmonthsago，whostillremembersmybreast？
Whenanursehasallowedachildtoburnitstongueandlipswithscaldingfood，shetellsthemother，whohurriesuptoseewhatiswrong，thatthechildcriedfromhunger。Howcouldamothersleepinpeacewiththethoughtthatabreath，lesspurethanherown，hascooledherchild’sfood——themotherwhomNaturehasmadethedirectvehicleoffoodtoinfantlips。TominceachopforNais，whohasjustcutherlastteeth，andmixthemeat，cookedtoaturn，withpotatoes，isaworkofpatience，andtherearetimes，indeed，whennonebutamothercouldsucceedinmakinganimpatientchildgothroughwithitsmeal。
Nonumberofservants，then，andnoEnglishnursecandispenseamotherfromtakingthefieldinpersoninthatdailycontest，wheregentlenessaloneshouldgrapplewiththelittlegriefsandpainsofchildhood。Louise，thecareoftheseinnocentdarlingsisaworktoengagethewholesoul。Towhosehandandeyes，butone’sown，intrustthetaskoffeeding，dressing，andputtingtobed？Broadlyspeaking，acryingchildistheunanswerablecondemnationofmotherornurse，exceptwhenthecryistheoutcomeofnaturalpain。NowthatIhavetwotolookafterandathirdontheroad，theyoccupyallmythoughts。Evenyou，whomIlovesodearly，havebecomeamemorytome。
Myowndressingisnotalwayscompletedbytwoo’clock。Ihavenofaithinmotherswhoseroomsareinapple-pieorder，andwhothemselvesmighthavesteppedoutofabandbox。YesterdaywasoneofthoselovelydaysofearlyApril，andIwantedtotakemychildrenforawalk，whileIwasstillable——forthewarningbellisinmyears。
Suchanexpeditionisquiteanepictoamother!Onedreamsofitthenightbefore!Armandwasforthefirsttimetoputonalittleblackvelvetjacket，anewcollarwhichIhadworked，aScotchcapwiththeStuartcolorsandcock’sfeathers；Naiswastobeinwhiteandpink，withoneofthosedeliciouslittlebabycaps；forsheisababystill，thoughshewilllosethatprettytitleonthearrivaloftheimpatientyoungster，whomIcallmybeggar，forhewillhavetheportionofayoungerson。Yousee，Louise，thechildhasalreadyappearedtomeinavision，soIknowitisaboy。