The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1871-03-07

A CHILDS SERMON.

al must Co." he said, for they will
expect me-"
But you will not be long?"
"I don't know; that depends-but
you need not sit up burning candle for
nothing, as you did last night"
Very well, John. Say goodnight
to father, Ally, dear"
The child put up her mouth for kiss.
Goodnight dearie," she whispered,
as he stopped to receive her caress; come
as quick as you can"
He was gone. Mrs. Ross washed up
the cups and dishes, and put them, with
Ally's help into the cupboard. Then she
sat down to mend her husbands waistcoat.
They were dull that night, and with
reason yet the child laid her head on
her mothers knee, with sense of rest
and calm that seldom came to her in her
fathers presence. Soon she began to
sing the little hymns which the children
of her school had learned Then kneeing
to pray beside her mothers chair she be-
gan to say, " Bless dear father tonight,
and bring him home safe, and help me
to be a good child to him and mother"
As these words rose to Heaven the
door was opened by John Ross himself
Unperceived, he now waited in the
shadow to hear the rest 1t was not
much, if measured by the number of its
words-simply similar prayer for 9TH
er relatives, and that all-comprehensive
one which Christ taught his disciples; but
there was beauty in the scene, touch
ing pathos in the voice, and above all a
reality in the petition which compelled
John Ross to bow his head and worship.
Nor even when the last Amen was utter
ed, could he persuade himself to come
forward and disturb them; for Ally be-
gan to talk about him, saying, 1 do hope
he will come before | go to sleep. Don't
you mother?"
I" Yes, darling though 1 cannot ex-
pect it," said her mother.
The child waited little while, and
then said, &" Is it far?"
Mrs Ross had been sitting with her
eyes fixed on the fire, thinking perhaps,
of her blithe girlhood and earlier married
life. She started now, asking, Is what
far w
"The Welcome Home" where father
goes every evening don't you know?'
Did she know? All, too WE'LL too we'll |!
1t required some effort to answer calmly,
Half mile"
"And why docs he never take us
! there p
"It is not place for little girls, dear
child"
"Do people work there, then?
"Work Oh, no."
"What do they do, mother ?"
"They talk, Ally, and-and smoke"
And l suppose" said Ally, gravely,
-" suppose they kneel down, too?"
!" What made you think so?"
Because, when stay awake till father
comes home, notice that he does not
kneel down here; and so think he must
have said his prayers at "The Welcome
Home"
There was no answer and in few
minutes Ally's little feet went pattering
into an inner room, where after being
snugly tucked up by her mother, she lay
awake, listening for the step which was
too often so long in coming.
Meanwhile the father sitting alone be-
side the hearth, mused over the little SER
mon which his child had, all unconscious.
ly been preaching
He would never forget that sermon
while he lived for it had awakened
hopes and fears that had been sleeping
within his breast for long season. All,
how many years had gone by, since he,
John Ross, knelt down! and how long
had he found his chief pleasure in a
" home" in which prayer was never
made, and in which he had wasted, night
after night, the time and money which
belonged of right to wife and child Dear
little Ally" could any society be more
refreshing then thine, when, the days
work is over the father rests beside his
own dear hearth? Could any face CLEAN
more brightly, could any smile be more
sweet, than that which thou dost turn
upon the beloved one in whom thou
trsted Impossible.
And the mother was she not worthy OF
his devotion? could she not listen while
he read and explained to her how great
events were transpiring on the solemn
stage of time ?"
Il have been strangely blind" he be
gan to say within himself that night
"but now think see. The dear child,
words have opened my eyes.-Thank Goo
for that ~
Truly, John Ross had small reason tt
to trust himself.
In whom. then. could he trust o