Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1852-01-15
Affecting Incident.

in one Of our eastern towns, minister
Of Jesus Christ was one morning told by his
wife that little boy, the son of near
neighbor, was very siok, near to death, and
asked If he would not 60 in and see him.
! hardly kuUw what to do.' said .ha gnnd
man; his parents, you know, do not be-
long to my congregation, and are, besides,
greatly opposed to the doctrines which ]
preach. fear my visi. would not be well
received But, rejoined his wife, when
you were sick short lime since, the mo.
tller Of the little buy sent in kindly every
day to inquire how you were, and think
they will expect yon to coupe and see their
son. This was a sufficient inducement.
and he was soon on his way to the dwelling
of sorrow. The mother was hanging in
anguish oyer her precious and beautiful
child, who was tossing from side to side in
the delirium of brain fever. The minis
ter, after watching him y few moments,
turned to the lady, and said, This poor
little fellow should be kept perfectly quiet.
madam; he should not be excited id any
manner.' Sir said she, will you offer n
prayer!' At irst he hesit"ted. fearing the
effect upon the child, but on second thought
knelt Mt the bedside and uttered few PEI
titions in His name who said, Suffer little
children TO come unto me- The moment
he commenced speaking, the little sufferer
who till now seemed unconscious of his
presence. ceased his means, lay still upon
the bed, and fixing his large black eyes up
on him listened ntientiveIy to every word.
Tho minister rose from his knees, said
few words to The mother. aud wen, home,
leaving the child in perfectly tranquil state.
The next morning The first intelligence
which greeted him was, that little Frank
had died during The night.
He had become extremely interested,
and the apparent effect Of The voice Of
prayer upon the dying boy had surprised |
him. lie went again to visit the family |
the funeral, and nj length learned |
rem the mother the following facts. She |
had two children. Frank was the Oldest. |
and the second was daughter Of FIVE years, |
A few months before, little Alice had gone |
10 spend the night with some companions in |
the neiG hbOrhOOd, whose parents were
and were training their chill
iren tn fnlioy their steps. As they were
sbout retiring TO rest. these little ones said |
to their visitor. Come Alice. kpcel down
with Us and say. .Our Father before we
90 10 bed
The child bewiIdcr, d by their words and |
kne+liDg attitude, ans~ered, Bot do not |
KNOW what Our Father is .Wel. don't |
you went t0 I~aEM il y said one. % yes,
Fs'd ATIees aM& being fright little girl,
she sceW c0sNtMltesd 10 EHsm@ry the pre-
ci0us form 0f prayer which hiss gons up 1
from 80 many lips since tho Saviour Grst
uttered il. The heat m0rning, faIl Of AMI
NATION and delight With her new acquisition
she returned home; and lhe moment her
brother Frank appeared from, school she
began to tell him alI about her visit, and \
beg him to learn Our FATHER and 10 say
1t with her. From that time. the mother
SAID, kaeeling together they had dali, TO-
peated the Lords prayer with great cam
estness and delight, and had also learned
other prayers, in which they seemed much
interested. A few days before he was In :
ken sick. Frank had come 10 her with !.
book Ia his hand and said, oh, mother
here Is . beautiful prayer. will you let me
read it to yOu!' II was the remembrance
Of this which induced her to make the re.
quest that tho minister would pray by the
bed of her suffering boy. and this was the
secret Of the calming influence which ,ha,
prayer exerted. He; continued thus tram
qull q long time, but at length his DISTRESS
IS returned, and the hour Of death drew
pear. About midnight. suffering and ago.
nizeds he begged Of his mother to send for
'a.a :