Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-03-19

0u0 uiCuiOu tuO OlUlC, du0 low
dared to speak of the subject to him.
He allowed his children to attend
Sunday school, because he was shrewd
enough to see that those children that went
were better behaved than those that did
not. And then it was safer place to
have them out of the way on Sunday,
when he wanted quiet time to read but
he wouldn't have any cant if they wanted
to study the Bible, they might keep it to
themselves; he wouldn't be annoyed by it.
Mrs. Burton was an earnest Christian,
but being somewhat over awed by hi.
stern nature, she was usually silent on the
subject before him, but strove to lead her
children to love the Book which their
father openly despised.
40, Anna" said Minnie, that evening,
after they had gone to bed, "dont you
hope father will 60 to the concerto | al
most believe he will, for when | asked
him he only said, Nonsense, and didn't
seem bit angry"
81 am afraid he won't, said Anna, with
sigh, because he don't like the Bible,
and won't let us talk about our lessons. l
wish he would 60 to church with us, like
Mary Weeks father"
81 wish he would" sighed Minnie !;
then suddenly starting up, she said, ami
matedly 81 maybe God will make him want
to 60. Mother says God hears everything
We ask him; and [ mean to ask him to
make father 60 to the concert"
The concert was to be in two weeks,
and the children could scarcely wait for
the time to come. 1t was a new thing in
the little prairie village. and it created
quite an interest among young aud old.
But the children could not tell whether
their father was interested or not in what
everybody else was talking about.
But it had not been withoutits influence
upon him, for he could not avoid hearing
it talked about; and though he affected
contempt, yet his curiosity was awakened.
Besides, he had heard his children singing
their sweet Sunday school hymns, when
they thought he was not near, and imper-
eeptibly he had become impressed with
the power and beauty of the instructions
given in the School, and saw their effect in
softening and subduing the rough tempers
and habits of his children.
The day before the concert, Minnie
came running to her sister, and, clapping
her hands exclaimed, & [ do believe father
is going to the concert for | heard him
ask mother what it was we were talking
so much about. And then be said he had
a good mind to 90 to please the children.
And mother looked very glad"
q hope be WILL" said Anna, " for if he
sees how nice it is, | don't believe he
would talk about the Bible as he does
sometimes"
The evening for the concert came at
last. The children cast many sly glance
at their father, to see if there were any
indications of his going with them. After
they were ready, he LAID down his newspa-
per, and said to Minnie, " May be I'll 60
tonight and see this famous show you are
making such a fuss about. What'Il |
have to pay for the sight?''
Minnie, delighted, replied to his banter
by throwing her arms around his neck,
with an impulsive hug, and exclaimed,
laughing, " Nothing, only that you must
behave as we'll as the rest of the childen."
They were soon at the door of the
church, and when he looked in and saw
the crowd Of people in the well-lighted
room, his heart almost failed him, and he
would have turned back, but he was
ashamed to show such weakness before his
family. Minnie held him tightly by the
hnE lad for fpr ord
where he could see and hear all the
exercises, then whispering, with an air Of
great Importance, Is must 60 and sit
with my class, cause got to sing" she
fitted off to the front bench, where he
could see her expressive face, now radiant
with excitement and delight, among about
dozen little girls and boys who composed
the infant class. The rest of the school
were seated in the open body of the church
while the side-pews and gallery were filled
with parents and friends Of the scholars
For few moments, Mr.. Burton, who had
boasted that he had not been inside Of a
church for ten years, felt bewildered, but,
as he looked around, surprise took the
place of confusion, for here and there he
saw old acquaintance that he had not
thought of meeting in such a place as this.
| His establishment reached its height, when,
in the farthest corner of the back seat, he
sped lawyer Brown. a noted infdel. and
not far from him, Mr.. Lane, the saloon
keeper, whose children, be knew, attended
the Sunday school. "WelI,' he thought
g | need not be ashamed Of my curiosity
other folks want to see what's going on as
well as [, though they don't believe in re-
ligion more n do" But, down deep il
his heart, he felt that it was more than
curiosity that brought him there that
evening.
The superintendent gave him kindly
greeting the pastor spoke to him cordially
and he began to feel quite at ease by the
time the bell tapped for the opening exer-
sises. Every restless hand and foot was
stilled, and every murmur huShed
The Lords Prayer was chantsd sweetIy
by the whole school, followed by short
earnest prayer BY the pastor for blessing
upon the children and youth gathered
there, that the holy words they should re
cite might DE remembered, ana Drlng Iortl
fruit unto holiness and that God woult
lead these lambs of the flock into greer
pastures and besides the still waters o
heavenly wisdom, that gladness and jo.
might fill their young days, that goodness
and usefulness might crown their ripe
years. and all, at last, reach heaven o
eternal blessedness. He did not forget
petition for the parents, friends anc
strangers, that had come in to share thei
pleasure.
After prayer, another song then fol
lowed the reciting Of texts, beginning
with the little ones. A little four-year
old girl commenced with, Suffer it'll
children to come unto me, and forb d then
not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.