Spirit of the age., 1853-06-01
G8RDAT READING !,
Allie Lewis; or, how to pray


Allie Lewis; or, how to pray.
Come, my dear 2 said Mrs. Lewis to her
little daughter, the birds have put their heads
under their wings and gone tosleep, and it's
time foryou togo to bed. Come, kneel down
and say yourprayers, then kiss good night?
%, ma y said Allie, have said Our
Father every night for SO long, and I'm tir-
cd of it !; payn't l learn something else to
pray 2
why, Allie dear it's Christ's own pray
or. lie has told us all to say it, and it asks
for just what every child needs
But don't ask for any thing when Isay
it, ma. / only think about remembering
the words, ard good many of them don't
know what they mean
We'll, my dear, come kneel down by me,
and will help YOU
Allie casped together her two round dim
pied hands, and laid her curly head in her
mothers lap.
Now begin slowly said her mother,
and try to think about what YOU say
'Our-FaLher-wbich-a rt-in-heaven,
murmured he little girl, pausing moment
after every word that means God, don't it,
ma!
yes, and when YOU say it, you ask God
to be kind to you like father, and promise
that you will be dutiful to him, like child
Do YOU understand that, Allie 2?
'Idon't know, ma. Papa gives me every
thing that WANT don't need any othe
falherP
But what # papa should die, Allie ?
%, never thought that, ma! lie won
die, will he =
L hope not, my dear but don't you re
member when Susan Warmers father died
and left her mother sick, and they were s
poor that Susan and her sister had to com
here TO beg for something to eat AM
don't YOU remember how cold it was, an
their clothes were ragged, and they wer
barefoot, and how glad they were to get
piece of dry bread, and said they had nc
eaten any thing before all day. Don't yo
think that Susan would like to have herfatht
come back again 2 ............
%, yes, ma! for then he would work an
earn money, and they would have plenty
eat again, and good clothes to wear. b.
ma, if Susan had prayed to God before, l
would have made her father well, and j
him live
Yes. God gave her father, and toc
him again. God gave you your papa, wi
is so good to you, and God can take him.
way. God gives papa health, so that he c;
work and earn money TO buy what we wan
God might make him sick, and then WI
would we do! Don't you see, then that y
,,.aJ n JoovorIv Eatbor toO %
Yes, mamma 7
And don't you remember when Lu
Thomas died took you to see her, a
YOU know what pain she she was in. A
her father stood by her. and she cried q
%, papa, help me ! o. papa make me v
again o, papa, | don't want to die!' A
her papa said that lie could not do any til
for her, and he cried while he said it
not poor Lucy need another father? 4
when her spirit went away from the TO
her father could not 90 with her. She
in strange world, and then she needed
lIevenly Father-did she not !
We'll, my dear Allie may be taken S
and though papa may buy great dca
medicine, and send for the doctor, it ma,
do no good What will you do then ?
my Allie may have to die ; and then T
or mamma can't go with her. She will Il
nothing here but her cold body-her
will want another home and another fat
Where will Allie, go, and who will take
Of Allie, if she dies =
Won't God. mamma 2
Yes, if Allie loves God now, and p
to him. But if while you are we'll.
don't thank God for it, and try to pl
him, you could not expect him to love
and hear your prayers, and take care of
if you should be left an orphan, or sh
die. Suppose that you never cared for
except when you wanted something
him do you think papa could love
Suppose when he came home, you
Just as ifyou didn't sec hm-that you
had smile or a kiss for him, but that
YOU wanted new clothes, you would ask
for them just as ifhe was bound to buy
for you, no matter how naughty you
been TO him. do you think that he
love such daughter as that
No, mamma =
Well, my dear, you are Gods daug
as we'll as papa's, and God is rear yC
the time, though you can't see him; and
gives you all the comforts you have.
preserves your life, and your fathers Ii
And when you are sick, nobody can
you but God and when you die, yo,
e miserable forever, unless he is your Fl
Don't you see, then, that it is rig ght 70
say Our Father every night, an,
praying means great deal more tha