Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-05-15

dear little Eddy is fast asleep, and I'm
going to lay him in his crib
"Away went the children, and | heard
no more of them for the half hour dur
ing which I stayed. With the child 10
her arms, Mrs. Eldridge went up TO her
chamber, and went with her. AS che
was laying him in her crib, l took from
the mantle small porcelain figure Of a
kneeling child, and wss examining it,
when she turned 10 me. Very beauti-
full said /. 1T is,' she replied. We
call it our Eddy, saying his prayers
There is history attached to it. Very
early I teach my little ones to say an
evening prayer. First impressions are
never wholly effaced; I therefore seek
to implant, in the very dawning of tho't,
an idea of God, and our dependence on
him for life and all our blessings, know
ing that, if fixed, this idea will ever re-
main, ard be the vessel, in after years,
for the reception OF truth flowing down
from the great source of all truth
Strangely enough, my little Eddy, SO
sweet in temper as he was, steadily re-
fused to say his prayers. l tried in every
way that could think of to induce him
to kneel with the other children, and re-
peat few simple words but no, his
aversion thereto was unconquerable. !
at last grew really troubled about it
There seemed to be vein in bis charac-
ter that argued no good One day l
saw this kneeling child in store. With
the sight eff it came the thought of how
might use it. l thought the figure, and
did not show it to Eddy until he was
about going TO bed. The effect was all /
had hoped to produce. He looked at it
for some moments earnestly, then drop
ped on his little knees, clasped his white
hands, and murmured the prayer 1 had
so long and so vainly strove to make him
repeat
"Tears were in the ewes of Mrs. Ell
dridge, as she uttered the closing words.
| felt that she was a true mother, aud
loved her children with high and holy
love. And now let me give you ipic-
.ure that strongly contrasts with this.
Not far from Mrs. Eldridge, resides a
ady, who is remarkable for her devotion
o the church, and, am compelled to say
want of charity towards all who happen
o differ with her-more particularly, i'll
he difference involves church matters. !
t was after sundown still being in the |
l embraced the opportu-
lity to make a call. On ringing the bell, |
heard, Immediately, a clatter of feet
lown the stairs and along the passage,
accompanied by children's voices, loud
md boisterous. 1t was some time before |
he door was opened, for each of the |
our children, wishing to perform the
,ffice, each resisted the others attempts |
o admit the visitor. Angry exclama-
ion, rude outcries, i'll names, and strug-
lies for the advantage continued, until
he cook, attracted from the kitchen by
he noise, arrived at the scene of
ontention, and, after jerking the child
en- so roughly as to set the two youngest
rying, swung it open, and l entered.
)n gaining the parlor, l asked for the
mother of these children.
" She isn't at homer said the cook.
"She's gone to church, said the oldest
f the children.
al wish she'd stay at home,' remark
d the cook in a very disrespectful way
nd with a manner that showed her to be
much fretted in her mind. Its Mary's
ay out, and she knows / can't do any
hing with the children. Such children
never sawl They don't mind a word
ou say, and quarrel SO among themselves
hat it makes me sick to hear them
CAT this moment h eadless doll
truck against the side Of my neck. 1t
ad been thrown by one child at another,
Missing aim, she gave me The benefit of
er evil intention. AT this, the cook
1st all patience, and seizing the offend
ng little one, boxed her soundly, before
could interfere. The language used
y that child, as she escaped from the
ook's hands, was shocking. 1t made
ny flesh creep!
"'Did | understand you to say that
our mother had gone to church ? l ask
d of the oldest child.
"'Yes, ma'am,' was answered. She's
cen every day this week. There's
meeting
"'Give me that book = screamed "a
lild, at this moment. CHANGING across
le room, saw two little ones contend
g for possession of large family Bible,
hich lay upon small table. Before
could reach them, for started forward, {
om an impulse of the moment, the table