Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-06-18
Madeline's Prayer-Meeting.

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Not that Madeline is irreligious, but she
has peculiar religion. She quarrels with
can't in all its forms. Madelines de6ni.
tiou Of this comedies perfectly with Web.
stor's. "Can't-the phraseology Of sect,
used without sincerity-an empty, solemn
speech And this phraseoogy, used per.
haps not with positive insiucerity, but with
out much realization Of its import, is what
Madeline says has spoiled our prayer-meet-
ing.
"'Au empty, solemn speech" said she,
"and that is just why dislike IT, The
language Of prayer.meeting should be full
and joyous because Of the 'mercies past,
and the sure promise Of more to come"
But she went, Notwithstanding There
was a good deal Of life in the opening hymn.
That always makes difference with the
whole meeting have found Then there
was no long chapter, but two or three verses
selected from different chapters Of the Bible,
like this
Come unto me all yc that labor aud are heavy la.
den, nud will give you rest
Thus is the rest wherewth We may cause the weary
20 rest aud this is the refreshing.
Aud his rest may hc glorious.
1t was SO appropriate--ihis idea of rest.
You could see from the way people dropped
into their seats how tired they we're. There
was prompt Brother Jameson, for instance,
the shipper Navigation was at length
open, and the white sails were teatheripg
bis dock clerks flying hither aud yon,
steyedores "yeohi' ing and rafting, por-
ters scurryiug along with their trucks, and,
omnipresent among them all, Brother
Jameson How tired be was, aud yet he
was here at prayer-meetiug. | was so glad
our minister always has a word Of comfort
for the members present, and not words Of
scoding for the absent
There, too, were the housekeepers
fresh (2) from the topsy-turvy Of the an
nual house.cleaning. There we're the dress.
makers, worn with the pufs aud pipings Of
the spring styles, aud there were the dress
wearers, quite in the chrysalis state, dun
and brown, and ary-looking. There.
too, was poor Mrs De Lisle, who keeps
boarders, aud has just had her summer in
voice filled and put irto place, and there in
a quiet corner was good Mrs Frommacher,
who goes out washing six days in a week
and came 10 bent and swaying, as if still
over her wash-board. The upturued, ex-
peofant faces Of all these. when the Word
of Rest was read, was impressed upon me
as being like bank Of pansies just when
shower is coming.
There were several prayers that hardly
seemed in co1sonance with the theme and
the occasion. These were they concerning
which Madeline bad mourued before coming.
They were the prayers that are always
prayed, regardless if the theme be Chris
tian Rest or Christian Strife. Then came
Bro. Jameson's | could hardly help watch.
ing Madeine's attitude as he prayed. 1t
was full Of life, as was the prayer;
o Lord, the flesh is very weary to-
night and the spirit suffers with the body.
We thank thee, however, that there has
been enough strength of purpose to bring
US here Thou hast said 4" Come unto me
all ye that labor and are heavy laden and
we who are of all these, have come. Thou
hast promised, will give you rest, and
we are receiving the promise. Our bodies
]
side the busy world goes on unconscious
and uncaring. Our thoughts are at rest
because fixed on thee, while outside the
men OF trade are counting to.day's gains
aud planning tomorrow Our spirits
are full Of this rest as we get nearer and
nearer TO thee in prayer and conservation,
and thou dost fulfill thy word most gra.
ciously This is indeed the refreshing, and
thy rest is glorious. But we know, dear
Lord, that thou givest this not merely for
our evenings enjoyment, but that it may
overlap the week before us. Help US to
>carry this rest Of spirit into tomorrow S
labor this buoyancy of soul into all the
heavy lading of the days to come this re-
freshing into our homes, our offices, our
docks and factories, our sewing rooms, and
into all our drudgery o Lord, help us to
do all we do with sweet thoughts of thee
who giyest US this rest, aud as thou dost
give to us, so may we out Of thy received
fullness communicate to those about us,
! tightening the load of our brothers if we
can, and always lending the hand of help
and sympathy. All these gifts we ask in
the name of him whose rest we here re.
ceive Amen"
The full, round voice and everyday &C.
accent is so completely lost in this transcript.
ton that you may wonder little at the
light in Madelne's eyes as We rose to sing
"other refuge have nonc.n
Again the pastor said, "Let us pray
This time it was poor, bent Mrs. From
macher, in broken English :
"0ch Mein Gott | comes downso low
as can before thee. Dare is so much work
get SO much tired. | am like de woman
in de crowd around de Saviour. | only
wants dc hem of thy garment. l am SO low
down upon de ground But de Lord Jesu:
felt her touch, and he will feel mine. And
youst de hem of thy robe can geef me dis
rest, dear Gott Den dare are de six lit.
tie children at home. 1t is thy spirit
want for dem. How mooch | thank thee
dear Gott, dat thou art in the house ven
goes home at night. 1t is so mooch bless
ing dat thou will stay dere while | am gone
Den dere are de people | work for. Dey
do not ask thee to come into dere houses
Och mein Go,t; go dere, | pray thee. Gee
dem dis rest Dey have no rest. Anc
all peoples must come to thee Geef us Dc
true faith to believe dis, and den we shal
work for thee. Once more, dear Gott, re
member de six children and all thy peoples
for de Lords sake Amen"
The tears were in Madeline's eyes as W
started homeward. "Ah !" said she, will
the triumph of one who has found pana
cea, "if people would only pray in the sin
guar there would be no can't"--Norfh
icestern Adpocate,
Great crimes work great wrongs, ant
Tho lnnnor trnnndina nf hln snrinn from II