The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-06-06

4 cpfil, ~ FRAZER.

TIE y nth Kiwey, ] was seated 10 the
cabin e the magniheen, steamer
! Isaac Nc~taa,, in oonsersaisoa With
,enae friends. Il ~ss hecognins late
"a ,he evening. AID one after smother
seeking rcrosc from tie cares aud
Oo,ts Of the DAY. male preparations to
tire 70 their hr,hs. Some. pulling
- their boots and coats. lay them
selves down 10 rest; others. IN the
attempt 20 make il sec u a. much as
p.ossb,e ike home. threw aa more Of
their cio'hing--cach one a. his com.
fort. or apprehension Of danger, ac.a-
tel
! had noticed on the deck q fine
10 ,kins little boy of abou, SIX years
old. following around a man, evident
! ~ his father, whose a. pearance iUi,-
Gated him 10 be foreigner, probably
German--a man Of medium height,
aud respectable dress. The child
xas unusually fair and fine looking,
hands ,rnely featured, with an in,clli.
gen, and afrctiona,c expression Of
conn.cnancc aud from under his
little German cap fell his chestnut
hair, in dick clustering, beautiful,
cufis.
After waikin. about the cabin for
time, the father and son stopped
within few fee. Of where We were
seated; aud begun preparations for
going to bed. ! watched them
The father adjusted and arranged the
bed the child was TO occupy, which
~as al upper berth, while the little
fellow was undressing himself. Hav-
, in2 finished this, his father tied a
handkerchief around his head to pro-
.cct his curls, which looked as If the
, sunlight from his young happy heart
always rested there. This done, l
looked for him to seek his Resin.
place hut instead Of this, he quietly
knee!cd down on the aoor, put up his
little hands together, 50 beautifully
childlikc aud simple, and resting his
arms on the lower berth, against which
, he knclt, he began his vcspcr pray.
crs.
The father sat down by his side,
and waited the conclusion. 1t was,
for a child long prayer, bu. well
understood, ! could hear the mur.
mnring sweet voice, but could not
distinguish the words he spoke
But what a scene There we're men
, around him-Christian men--re,iring
to rest without prayer; or. If praying
, at all o kind Of mental desire for pro.
lection without sufficient courage or
. picty 70 knccl downsin a steamboats,
cabin, and before strangers, acknowl.
edge the goodness Of God, or ask his
I protecting love.
t This was the training Of some pious
mother. Where was she now? How
many times had her kind hand been
laid on those sunny locks, as she had
taught him to lisp his prayers!
u. A beautiful sight it was, that child
at prayer, in the midst Of tire busy,
] though,less throng. lie alone, of the
: worldly multitude, draws nigh to
heaven. l thank the parental love
that taught him to lisp his evening
prayer whether Catholic or Protes.
.ans whether dead or living, whether
far Of or nigh. 1t did me good it
made me better. ] could scarce re.
f .rain from weeping then nor can |
now, as | see again that sweet child,
IN the crowed tumult ola steamboats,
, cabin. bending in devotion before his
Maker.
But little while before | saw a
crowd Of admirins listeners gathering
about company Of Italian singers, in
the upper saloon-a mother and two
sons. with voice, and harp, and vio-
lin; but no one needed, no one care
ed, for the child at prayer.
: When the little boy had finished
: his evening devotion, he arose, and
kissed his father mos, aaectionately
who put him into his berth to rest
for the night. l felt a strong desire
to speak to them but deferred it til
morning. When morning came, the
confusion Of landing prevented me
from seeing them again. But, if
ever ] NEE. that happy youth, in his
ANXIOUS manhood, in his declining
years, III thank him for the Influence
and example Of that nights devotion,
! and bless the name of the mother
that taught him to pray"
Scarcely any rassing incident cf
my life ever made deere, inn res
) sion on my mind. l went to nv
room, and thanked God tina, had
Witnessed il and for its influence on
my heart, Who prsys on a steam.
boat. Who train their children to
pray, even at home =.