Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-06-11
The Widow and her Son.

JOnD was the only son OF WlQOW.
He was about twelve years old, intel
ligent and well educated but, though
quite a serious thinker on other subjects
he had never thought much about his
immortal soul. / do not wonder at
this SO much, for his mother, though
well-meaning and kird-hearted person
was not Christian. She had instruc-
ted her boy carefully in the rules of
morality had told him that it was
wrong to lie, or swear, or steal that it
was disgrace to desecrate the holy
Sabbath but she had never counseled
him to give his heart to God. How
could she ? she who had never given
him her own
AS we have said, John was about
twelve years old, when, one beautiful
Sabbath-day, he asked and obtained
! his mothers permission to attend a
prctracted meeting, which was being
held in neighboring village. The
sun shone brightly, the birds sang
sweetly, and everything seemed to re-
joice as he rode slowly along but he
felt strangely sad, and thoughts which
never before had entered his mind, were
busy in his heart. Very quietly he
entered the church, and took a scat in
a corner pew, where an old gentleman
kindly made room for him, and with 5
-~4--~l I4v-l lv-vl-eys :
upon 'ho man Of God, who was earn
estly inviting sinners to come to Jesus.
John had never heard such sermon
before, and long before the minister
ceased speaking, his distress of mind
was so great that he could not refrain
from weeping. He saw himself lost
and ruined sinner, and the inquiry Of
his soul was, 'What must I DO to be
saved p
After the meeting closed, the old
gentleman, who had taken deep in.
terest in John, laid his hand upon his
shoulder, and said:
''My son, judging from thy appear
ance, should think thou vert anxious
about the welfare of thy immortal
SOUL"
Il am: replied the boy frankly
"Oh, tell me, can little children be
Christians ? Can little boys like me re-
ceiye purlun 0f t44vir sims ~
"Surely, my son for unto such the
promises of the Lord are given. Thou
art none too young to repent Of thy
many transgressions, and become fol
lower Of Jesus Christ. +"
''Buthow canI do this" asked John
looking eagerly into the benign face 0
his friend.
Il will tell thee; thou must 60 hom
and read thy Bible, and pray to tn
Lord for new heart ?"
'But, sir" said the boy, "what if
should die before get home, then
would be too late-what would becom
of me p
'sTrue, true" said the old gentlema,
"delay is always dangerous. Tho
art quite right. Now is the time
give thy heart to Jesus. Let us kne
where we are, and l will pray wit
thee.
So the two, the white-headed o
man and the rosy-cheeked child, kne
and prayed together. An hour passe
then another, and the golden rays
the setting sun came in at the WI
windows, and filled the holy temp
with glory, as the ''Halleluiahs' Of
redeemed soul were waited like swe
: incense to the throne of the Nj
c High.
e Long the mother had watched al
c ionsly for her boy, and when he ca
6 she was greatly surprised at the stt
q he told her and when, in conclusi
Z he said, "Oh, | am SO happy, d
y mother won't you kneel with me-
: : thank the Lord that [ am saved 2"
knew not how to answer him. But
ID knelt in the dim twilight, and tho'
e, her lips were unused to such wo,
I'D she murmured, 90 Father, tn
I'd thee FOR what thou hast done for
u child"
IN That night, long after little ]
ne IVES sound asleep, one was kneelin
.: ne silent prayer by his bedside.
% mother was giving her heart to {