Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-07-08
Leading Children 70 God.

Parents can never be too deeply impressed
with the importance of early leading their chill
dren to God, and fixing in their infant minds q
sense of his presence, and of their dependence
| Ifthe following should induce one parent who
reads the Evangelist, to make more prayerful ef-
forts to train up his children for God and heaven,
our laborwil not be in vain.
A mother sitting in her parlor overheard her
child whom an elder sister was addressing in an
adjoining bed room, say repeatedly, as if in an
swer to his sister, "No, I don't want 70 say my
| prayers"
"How many Church members in good stand
ing thought tho mother to herself, soften say
the same thing in heart, though they conceal
even from themselves, the feeling!'
Mother" said the child, appearing in min
ute or two, at the parlor-dOor; the tone and look
implied that it was only his morning salutation
81 am going out to get my breakfast"
''Stop minute; want you to come here and
see me FIRST a1rt
The mother laid down her work in the next
Chair, as the boy ran toward her. She took him
up. He kneeled in her lap, and laid his face down
upon her shoulder, his cheek against her ear
The mother rocked her chair slowly backward
and forward.
"Are you pretty we'll this morning'" ssid she
in kind tone. t'-
"Yes mother, am well.' r- .a- I'd.
81 am glad you are we'll, am well too; and
when walked up this morning, and found that
was well, 1 thanked God for taking care of me- :"
'sDid you!" said the boy in low ,,tone-hslf a
whisper lie paused after it-conscience was at
work.
"Did you ever feel my pulse!" asked his mo-
ther, after a minute of silence, at the same time
setting him IN her lap, and placing his fingers on
her wrist. --r
"No, but have fe,t mine.'
"WeIl, don't you feel mine now! how it goes
beating!"
"Yb-e-s!'' said the child.
"Ifit should stop beating, l should die.'
"should you!"
eyes, and can't keep it beating
"Who can!T
Good"
silent pause.
You have pulse too, which beats in your
DOSOAi ACitJ anu duu dll OfCI IOuy
and cannot keep it from beating, nor can you.
Nobody can but God. If be should not take care
of you, who couldr'
81 don't know said the child, with look Of
anxiety-and another pause ensued.
$50 when 1 walked up this morning, I thought
would ask God to take care of me. hope he
will take care of me and all of u.s."
"Did you ask him to take care of mel" ..
"No."
"Why not:' .- --
"Because thought that you would ask him
yourself; God likes to have US all ask for our
selves s- .-
A long pause ensued. The deeply thoughtful,
and almost anxious expression of connteuance,
showed that the heart was reached.
don't you think you had better ask him for
yourself :"
"Yes," said the boy readily.
He kneeled again in his mothers lap, and ut
tered in his own simple and broken language, a
prayer for the protection and blessings of Hea-
ven.
hearing the same words, calls her child into the
room. The boy comes. so ----- -.I -..--.1
"Did not / hear you say you did not want tO say
your prayers?" -..-. F,
The boy is silent
ayes he did, says his sister behind him.
"WeIl, that is naughty. You ought always to
say your prayers. Go right back now and say
them like good boy, and never let me hear of
your refusing again"
The boy goes back pouting, and utters the
words of prayer, while his heart is full of mort-
ssi pride, vexs:iOn, and i'll will.-[ESangelist.