The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-10-11
Home At Last.


which brings to my mind some very
pleasant rccoiections. My old parish
was Elmous for its aged saints, and
among them this 'Fmotber in Israel"
Isaw her first twenty years ago, and in
answer. to my inquiries about her family,
she told me about the conversion OF her
son. She had been so anxious about him
that she had besought God to have COM
passion and save him. But he went to
the West, and yet her prayers we're not
answered. And could there be any hope,
now that he was so far Off At last her
desire for his convesion became so ye-
hemcnt, that night after night she would
rise from her bed to engage in wrestling
supplications unto God for him: "And
don't yon think" said she to me with
an expression of charming simplicity,
t'oDe day Aleck came home, and almost
the first thing he said was that he had
become Christian! Way off there,
God had reached him, and wasn't l
glad"
For many years she resided in re-
tired spot on the mountain west ofthe
church, and there she was led to think
about her own wants as a sinner. |
think it was in the great revival of 1918
when the parish was pervaded and re-
freshed with such rain OF spiritual infu-
ences as had never been experienced
there before. When she asked for ad-
mission into the church, she told her
story as simply as a little child, without
parade, and with the utmost apparent
sincerity.
One day, as her pastor and friend
were riding up the mountain, they met
several children, and stopped to con-
verse with them. A few inquiries dis
closed the fact that they knew the cate
Chism from "What is the chief end Of
man!"to "Amen." "And who taught
you!" asked the pastor, "Nother," was
answer. "And whois mother? The
answer designated our convert, who, il
her retired home, was not mefely living
aMe Of faith herself, but was diligently
teaching her children to do SO also
And so it came to pass that as a matte
Of coirse the children one after anOthe
became Christians, As for her, nobody
questioned her piety, or thought o
mentioning her as a proof that "therC
is nothing in religion" She had nj
concealments to make, nor yet was sh'
intrusive in presenting to others heI
hopes and wishes.
For many years she was widow, ant
whilst not in the want of anything will
such devoted children about her, yet sh
had no large surplus of means. 1t i
time that she always had her "widow'
mite'' for the Lords treasury, and too
her part, to the extent of her means, il
the great work which called the son Q
God to earth. Her busy fingers wer
always busy at some labor of love 70
somebody, and her tongue always had
pleasant answer for those who addresse
her, and her gentle face was ever read
tolight up into smile which was yer
pleasant to those who saw it. HoV
we'll do remember her in the Frida
evening meetings and the sanctuary
Every feature and look was expressly
of intense relish for the privilege, grea
delight in the worship of God and in tn
communion of saints In fact it used /,
be a serious question with me, whethe
she and few other devout Christian
like her were not themselves the mos
effective discourses on religion that wer
preached in that community. They Ger
tainly were our epistles of Commenda
ton known and read of all men.
When she was more than sevent
years old, this saint was smitten witt
palsy; and gradually she lost the entir
use of her hands. She could not walk
nor work, nor even ply the knitting nee
dies Famous for her industry, she wa
now unable to do anything. She wa
helpless charge, and itwould not seen
wonderful had she been peevish and un
submissive at times. But there sh
dwelt year after year, in that little up
per room, ministered to by devote
granddaughter aud l do not believ
that during the twelve years she waite
for her change to come, any one eve
heard word of complaint or despond
eDcy, or fretfullness from her. The We
ny seu itself, which smiled so genial
in at her south windows, did not smil
more pleasantly than the feeble occupau
Ofthat room. The birds aud bees then
selves, twittering and humming in tn
trees and vines by her open Window
were not happier in their music than sl
in her expressions of contentment an
resignation Indeed, in my frequeI
visits TO her, it seemed to me that hO
very room was lighted up with the e,
traordnary and beautiful piety of Il
venerable invalid She was not in hast
TO be gone, nor yet was she afraid
90. She was not unwilling to renal
nor yet to depart. All she wanted W
for her blessed Lord to accompli
his viii in her. That done, she W
happy; and so it was that these twel
years she had been marvel of Christi
contentment, and perhaps as happy
Christian as was to be found in III
whole community
w At last the appointed hour came, a
she was gently taken home by the a
.saia Tha dovu of Nuaapv halulassn,