Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-02-13
AFFECTING ANECDOTE.


told by his wife that a little by, the son
Of near neighbor, was very sick, near
10 death, aud asked if he would not 90
in aud see him. al hardly know what
10 do. said the good man; his pa
rents, YOU know, do not belong TO my
congregation, and are, besides greatly OPP
posed to our doctrines which preach.
fear my visit would not be well rccely-
ed
" But" rejoined the wife, when you
were sick short time since, the mother
of the liule boy seut in kindly every day
to enquire how You were, and | think
they viii expect you to come and see
their SON"
This was sufficient inducement, and
he was sool on his way TO the dwelling
of sorrow. The mother was hanging in
anguish over her precious aud beautiful
child, who was tossing from side TO side
in the dellrium OF u brain fever. The
minister, after watching him few mo-
menis turned 10 the lady, and slid,--
" This llttle fellow should be kept
per ccily quiet, madam he should not
be excited IN any manner
" Sir," said she, evil you offer
prayer"
Al first he hesiaicd, fearing the effect
upon the child, but on second thought
knel at the bedside, and uttered few
pctliOns III his name, who SAID, +" Suffer
lltle children TO come unto me" The
moment he commenced speaking, the
lltile sufferer, who till now med un-
conscious OF his presence, ceased his
H,csas, lay still upon the bed, ard fixing
his large dark eyes upon him, listened
inteDily 10 every word. The minister
rose from his knees, said a few words to
The mother, aud went home, leaving the
child IN perfectly tranquil state. The
next morning The first intelligence which
greeted him was, that httle Frank had
died dunng The night.
He had become extremely Interested,
and the apparent effect Of the voice OF
prayer upon the dying boy bad surprised
him. He went again to visit the family
attended the funeral and at length learn
ed from the mother the following facts !:
She had two children. Frank was
the oldest, and the second was daugh-
ter OF five years. A few months before
little Alice had gone TO spend the night
with some companions vino were in the
neighborhood, whose parents were Chris
tians, and were training their children
TO follow their steps. AS they were
about retiring to rest, these liltle ones
said TO their visitor, " Come, Alice, kneeI
down with us and say Our Father be
fore we go TO bed"
The child, bewldered 10y their words
and kDeeling attitude, answered, 4" But
do not know what Our Father is"
Well, don'tyo want to learn il Z"
said one.
90 yes" said Alice; and being a
bright little child she soon committed
10 memory the precious form of prayer
which has gone up from SO many lips
since the Saviour first uttered ii. The
next morning, full Of animation, and
delighted with her new acquisition, she
returned home aud the moment her
brother Frank appeared from school, she
began 10 tell him all about her visit, snd
beg him TO learn Our Father and sa !,
II with her. From that time, the molh-
er sand, kneellng together, they had daily
repeated the Lords prayer, with great
carLesiness and delight, and had also
learned other praye rs, in which they
seemed much interested. A few DAYS
before he was taken sick, Frank had
come 10 her with a book in his hand aud
said
:" y mother, here is beautiful prayer
will you let me read II TO YOU -
II was the remembrance of this which
induced her 10 make the request that
The minister would pray by tie bed of
her suffering boy, and this was the secret
OF The calming Influence which that
prayer exerted. lie continued thus
Tranquil long time, bat az length his
distress returned, and the hour of death
drew near. About midnight, suffering
aud agonized, he begged of his mother
10 send Tor the good minister 10 pray
ugaIn. He must have somebody TO Draw.
The parents dIsliked TO cali him a,
that hour OF night, and knew no, what "a
do. Al last the mother went up stairs
and taking tbs litlle sleeping Alice from
her bed, Brought her to her brother.
bedside, and told her what Frank want
cd. Immediately she knelt down, ana
slowly and solemnly repeated the PRAYER
which they both SO much loved, aud then
unasked, said
:: Nov Ffasky lays him down to sleep
,prAy the Lord his soul to aesp,
fhs should die before he wuks,
pray the Lord bis so1l 10 take"
The FIRST words soothed the sufferer, and
with the last his spirit fled.
Witnessed earth ever sublimer spec
iacle I At the dead hour of night, in
the chamber where waits the king of ter
Tors, surrounded by weeping friends,
the infant OF five summers, rousled has
fily from the sweet slumbers Of child
hood, kneeIs in her simple night dress,