Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1857-07-16
TnE hSEsING PRAYkk.
"0UR FATHER


Our father The mothers voice vi. Low,
lender and solemn.
Our father On two svest voices the
words we're borne upward 10 vas the inno-
eencs Of revsreut childhood that gave their
utttraoce.
who art 10 Heaven, repeated the child.
ren, one with her eyes bent meekly down
aud the other lookup 4 upwards IS IL she would
penetrate the heavens into which her heart
Inspired
'asiis-eS be thy name
Lower fell the voices Of the little ones
In agehtle murmur they said-'H allowed bs
thy name'
Thy kingdom come
And the burden Of the prayer va, still
taken up BY the etildren-'Thy kingdom
come
Thy viii be done on earth a, i, is in
Heaven
Like slow sweet echo from the land Of
augels-'Tby will be done on earth IS il 10
IN Heaven filled the chamber
And the mother eontiaued-tGivs rs this
day our daily bread
Oar daily bread, fingered . nomsn, on
the air, ~ the mothers voice vas hushsd
into silence.
And forgive ss our debts A. We alse for
give our dsbtors.'
The eyes Of the children had dropped for
amoment But they we're upiifted sKaiu ss
they prsyed-'And forgive Us our debts a.
We also forgive our debtors
And lead US not into TEN ptation, but de-
liver Us from evil For thine il the king.
dom, and the power, aud the glory forever.
Amen
All those holy words we're said pisusly
ana isrysnty, by the little ones, a. Lbsy knsit
With olaspsd hands beside their nother.-
Then as their thoughts, uplifted on the uipgs
Of prayer 70 their Heavenly Father, came
back again and rested on their earthly pa.
rents, . varaer lore came gushisg from
their hearts
Pure kisses-teuder embvlces-the fond
good night Whist sweet agitation per.
vAded all their feelings Then tUo dear
heads were placed side By side on = snowy
pillow, the mothers last kiss given, and the
| shadouy curtains draUn.
What . Pulseless stillaess reisns through.
cut the chamber Insardly the parents'
listening ears are bent They have given
the innocent ones in the care Of God an.
gels, and they eAn almost hear the rustlinR
Of their garments As they gather round their
sleeping babes A Sigh, deep aud trenu-
lous, breaks on the air. Quickly tbs mother
| turns 20 the father Of her children with .
look Of earnest inquiry on her eounteusnce
And be answers thus her silent question:
Far back, through many years, have my
thoughts been wandering Al nv .c,her's
knee, thus said Nightly 10 childhood my
evening prayer. IL was the beat and holiest
prayer, Our Father that she taught me
Childhood aud my mother passed away.
went forth IS . man to the world, strong,
| con6dsnt, aad self seeking Ones I came
into q great tenptsti0e. Had / fAllsn into
that temptation, l would have fallen, I sadly
fear, never TO have risen again The strue.
/ gle 10 my mind went on for hours vas
shout yielding All the barriers I could op.
pose to the rushing aoOd seemed Just ready
70 give way, when, - sat in my chamber,
krsI occupied in many weeks, the murmur
Of = Low voice vas heard, yet something 10
the tones that stirred my heart with bes and
strange emotions At length there cane 20
my ears, in the earnest, loving vscs Of . 10
man, Tie words. Deliver as from evil -
For 80 Instant, il seemed to me a. IL the
voice vas thai Of my mother Back, With .
sudden bound, though sll . child 10 heart
again ! vas kpseliog at ny noibeT's knee
Humbly aud Teversptly said over the
words Of ,bs holy prayer che had tAught me,
heart aud eyes upliftsd to Heaven The
hour aud poser Of darkBsss bsd passed.
was no longer stsnding on slippery places
With aood Of water ready 70 sweep me to
! destruction but my feet we're on rock -
: Ay mothers P'ous care had saved her son
( "a ihs kS!y zSEas 1ks iasskI E-s - SSsIa.
b0od iasFs Was lisisE poser 70 Tssiss sSl
through all my after life Al tba, IN
kuowu mother, Is she taught Der child 10 rs.
peat bis evening prayer bow little dresIned
she that The holy words we're 10 reach .
Strangers ears, and save him thrsugh ths
memories Of bis oun sbildhsod AID ys,
IL vas 80 What power there is IN God.
world As IL GoWs into Sud rests Ia she hearts
| of iunacebt children