Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-06-28
MarY'S PRAYER

, enteen; she had the sweetest possible man
ners, and was in truth one of those lovely
gentle women whose beauty lends charm
to everything they say ordo. She was sin.
cerely religious, and being accustomed to
the beautiful language of her own church
service, could not accept the idea that ex-
temporaneous prayers were equally true
worship; 1t seemed to her that the inform
al expressions used were positively irrever-
ent, and she used to declare that however
beneficial such prayers might be to those
who were accustomed to them, they never
could be true worship to her. Near her
fathers residence in the country was plain
little school house, in which a mission
school was held on Sunday, where Mary
taught a class of girls. Her scholars, won
by the gentle ways and kind interest shown
by their teacher, became much attached to
her, and were sadly disappointed when the
family soon after moved to the city, and
they had to say goodbye to their friend
Several years afterward, when Mary return
ed with her friends to her country home,
the Sunday School had been given up, and
she had her class no more. She had not
been long at her old home, however, when
she received visit one day from girl who
had been one of her former scholars, but
was now young woman. She had walked
from her home, four miles distant, Just to
see her old teacher and express her love
and gratitude for the kindness which had
not been forgotten. This young woman
was falling into decline, even then, and
not long after her visit, messenger came
| to ask Mary to come and see poor Jenny
| COsgrOve, who was now confined to her
room, and daily growing weaker Gladly
Mary went, to bear whatever she might of
comfort and consolation to the heart ofthe
suffering girl, who seemed all the dearer to
her because she had profted by the words
of her old teacher, and had since professed
a trust in our Saviour, by joining the
church which her parents attended.
Mary was much moved, on entering the
sick room, at the sadness of the circum-
stances which brought her to the side of
the girl she used to teach and whose affec-
ton for her had continued to be so faithful
and warm.
She talked with Jenny and with her
mother and sister, who were there; read
them passages from the bible, and succeed
ed in bringing much cheerfulness and hope
to the. sad household, by her bright, but
gentle and sympathizing words. At length,
as she was about to leave, the mother ask
ed her if she would not pray with them be-
fore she went away Mary was at first
very much embarrassed; she had never
prayed before others in her life; she knew
not what to say; but the thought flashed
through her mind Of the position in which
she stood toward these people; of the poor
suffering girl who looked upon her as a
guiding friend, and to whom she had often
spoken the lovely truths of Christianity
and commended the habit of prayer; she
thought of the motherand sister who would
be surprised and panied if she should re-
fuse this act of christian consolation: she
thought of her duty as church member,
and under the impulse of these thoughts.
she moved almost mechanically, to the bed
side Of the young woman and raised her
voice IN prayer. First, she used the words
OF our Lords Prayer, and from that went
on and poured forth simple, earnest pray
er to God in her own sweet language; just
such a prayer in purity and simplicity as
we might have expected from a gentle
christian girl under those touching circum-
stances. The women were much comfort
ed, and Mary left them with quiet, peace
tul feeling in her own heart, such as she
had never experienced before. Afterward.
when she had time to reflect upon the
events Of the day in her own room at home,
and realized the fact that she had actually
made an extemporaneous prayer in the
presence of others, she was quite astonish-
ed at herself. The evidence was in her
heart that this prayer had been one of the
most earnest and sincere that ever came
from her lips; and 50, as she thought about
1t, two little scales of error fell from her
eyes, and the truth fairly dawned upon her
that she had been cherishing hitherto an
unreasonable prejudice against the custom
OF extemPoraneous prayer. With a new
interest she repeated to herself the verse,
And now abideth Faith, Hope, Charity ;
these three, but the greatest of these is
Charity."-N y Observer.