A mother is the truest friend we have, 
when trials, heavy and sudden, 
fall upon us; when 
adversity takes the place of prosperity; 
when friends who rejoice with 
us in our sunshine, 
desert us when troubles thicken around us, 
still will she cling to us, 
and endeavor by her 
kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, 
and cause peace to return 
to our hearts. 
~Washington Irving