Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1856-03-28
Prayerless Home


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al have a good offer for my farm"
ssid Mr.. Earl to his wife, "and / think
/ shall sell IT,"
"Why do you wish to sell it?" said
Mrs. Earl.
"The land is stony and partly worn
out. l can 60 into new country
where land is cheap and fertile, and
realize q much larger return for the
same amount of labor"
"If we 90 into new country, there
will be no schools for our children"
"Our children are not old enough
TO 60 to school; by the time they are
old enough. il is most likely schools
will be established wherever We co."
ave may also be deprived the priv
ilege Of attending the house Of God"
1--WE can take our bibles with US.
and can read them on the Sabbath. il
we should happen to settle at dis
tance from place Of worship"
at will be far better for US to re-
main here. where we can educate our
children. and bring them up under the
sound OF the gospel" ;"
II must do what think is required
by the interests Of my family"
"rray remember that properly is
not the only thing needed by our chill
dren."
A few days after this conversation
the bargain was concluded. and the
farm became the property Of Mr..
Hale. Mr.. Earl was to put him, in
possession Off early in the spring.
Mr.. Earl was descended from one OF
the early Puritan settlers Of Massachu-
sets. His ancestors Tor many gener-
atons had been devout members in
the church Of Christ. He was the
tirst alien from the commonwealth Of
Israel. His mother was an namiable but
not pious woman. and some tho't
II was owing to her that he had not
pro6ied blythe instruction ofh pious
father. and had turned deaf ear TO
the gospel which he had heard from
his infancy. He loved the world,
and in order TO secure larger portion
OF It's goods be was willing to leave
the home Of his childhood, and the
graves OF his fathers, and TO take up
bis abode on the border Of civilization.
His wife was one who preferred Je-
rusaIem 10 her clief Joy. The old
time. worn house OF God. with It's
high, square pews. aud huge sound
ling board. was as beautiful 70 her as
the most f.ullless specimen Of archi-
lecture TO the connoiseur. She de-.
Aired that her children might grow up
under the influence OF the truths
which were proclaimed in that house.
Her chief desire with respect 10 them
was. that they might become rich In
faith and heirs OF the kingdom. In
the spring she WAS constrained TO bid
farewell 10 hcr native village.
After n wcarisomc journey she
found horscli and family IN what was
then wilderness, IN tie western part
Of New York. The gospel was not
preached d In the vicinity, nor was even
The log scbool-houpc erected. For n
time Mr.. u. observad the Sabbath 90
FAR M resting from labor was concern,
ed. lie even aponl somo time In read
Ing the Bible. but he did mol pray
In consequence that book was gradu.
ally laid aside.
The climate. and perhaps the.lAbofl
cidcnt TO life Ia the wilderness. caus
cd Mrp. e. 10 fall into q deeline.--.
When. altering illness. sho babe bel
husband farewell. she charged him e
send her children 70 her native home
that they might there be taught, Ii
the sehool.leuse and the church
truths which could make them wis,
unto salvation. Mr.. Earl complied Il
part with his wile's request. fle SEN
his daughter Julia. who was now nine
years OF aye. and her youngest broth
sr. Tho oldest ono he retained 20 as
sIst him In hIs labors
II was six years before Julia return
cd 10 her father. She had spent thn
time among the pIous friends Of hol
departed mother. She found IN,
home Of her childhood greatly chang
ed A neat village surrounded The
tasteful dwelling now occupied by bel
father. The spIre Of the village
church rose aloft. and the school horss
was not far dstant. She rejoieed e
return 10 her home, though she wal
TO meet Iis chief charm no more. A
check was soon given 10 or chief JOY
When she sat down 10 her evening
meal. the blessing OF God was not In
voked. IL was with difficulty that shs
could eat When the hour for retir'
ing came, she was still moro unhappy,
Al. the family separated without pray
er. s.a
Mr.. r. soon perceived that hi'
daughter did not feel at home in his
house. II made him sad at heart, fcl
he had looked forward TO her return
with hope that she would restore, Il
part. at least. the loss he had expert
enced. He said to her one day: "Ju
| liza, you do not seem TO feel as much a
home as / could wish"
After some hesitation she replied. q
do not feel safe here"
"Do not feel safeP' said be. in as
J tOuishment.
81 am afraid 10 live under roo
where there is no prayer"
That remark went to the fathers
heart He thought Of all the mercie.
he had received. the protection he had
experienced, unasked! He continued
to think Of the ways ill his soul faint
J ed within him. He looked at his old.
est son. a sabbath breaker and ignor
ant Of God, and could not conceal the
truth, that it was owing to the act ol
removing him in childhood from the
means OF grace. and exposing him tc
influences that. in all probability
would prove his ruin.
| In a few days be asked Julia to
read the scriptures. and pray in the
family. 1t was with joy that she
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