Wedding.

  • Francis Younghusband
Date:
1942
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Wedding. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to the limit. With children, it is true, come endless cares and complications, irritations, conflicts of opinion between father and mother, parents and relations, strains, clashes, and troubles of every kind. And the young couple may look with dismay upon increasing their number. Children have to be fed—and with the right food ; to be clothed—and with the right clothing ; to be housed—and in healthy rooms. They have to be washed, kept tidy, tended in sickness, amused and provided with playmates ; and, most important of all, to be strictly brought up in religion and carefully educated. And these requirements impose a fearful strain on both father and mother. Yet this is not all that children mean. Even with these, and with many another trouble and anxiety which children cause, does not every mother in her heart love to have their presence in the home ? Does she not delight in their cries for her, the patter of their little feet along the passages, their shouts of joy and laughter, their fondlings and caresses ? And does not every father on his return from bread-winning love to be greeted by them ? Both parents will have to sacrifice much. But will the word “ sacrifice ” ever be mentioned between them, still less spelt with a big “ S ” and regarded as a cross ? Will not every sacrifice rather be a cheerful giving—a giving without thought of return ? So to the young couple children will be a joy, not a burden. More children they will prefer to more luxury. The present cry is for tanks, more tanks, and still more tanks. When peace comes it will be for children, more children, and still more children. So the larger the family the greater will be the parents’ pride : the more they will have to give to their country and the world. In Russia are excellent institutions which care for the mother in child-birth, and feed, clothe, teach, train, and