CHAPTER XXII.
GRATITUDE IN CHILDREN.
Mothers are very often pained at what seems to them the ingratitude of their children.

They long, above all things, for their love.

They do every thing in their power--I mean, of course, that some mothers do--to win it.
They make every sacrifice, and give every possible evidence of affection; but they seem to fail entirely of bringing out any of those evidences of gratitude and affection in return which, if they could only witness them, would fill their hearts with gladness and joy.

But the only feeling which their children manifest towards them seems to be a selfish one.

They come to them when in trouble, they even fly to them eagerly when in danger, and they consider their parents the chief resource for procuring nearly all their means of gratification.