Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-03-25
MS ELtAAE0u
POWER OF A OHILD's PRAYER,

POWER OF a oHILD's PRAYER.
N PHYSICIAN. who for many years prsc.
81 tlced his profession in the State of Cali
iorn'a, was once called to see the child of
MIR Do"k, OF GaVaferas couaty, living on the
rond between San Audrass aud Stockton ard
not far from tho mining town of Campo Scco
or Dry Camp. He SAYS: Tho patient ,rss
little girl about ten years of age, bright and
intelligent aud one of twins, the other bein:,
hoy, equally bright and vol disposed. The
primary symptoms had indicated irfamation
OF the stomach which the attending physician
had h"p"less!y conbatted. and finally. when
by upctastatis it attacked the brain With other
uutA"oEahle symtons, had induced him TO
abandon the case in despair. It waa rt this
juncture I WAS called in. The symptoms
were exceedingly unfavnrahle, and my own
opinion ooinciihi with my professional
brothers. However wo determined to 40 u
work day and night of incessart v7ntcl>
ing, and the state Of tho patieut, caused bot,
to feel the cnse hopeless, and We only con-
tnued our attendance at tho earnest s0licitA>
ton of tho chi!d's mother. The anxious,
sare worn. and restless sorrow Of the little
brother, his deep grief as ho saw his sister
given over to the power of the King Of ter
rorR, had attracted our attention. He would
creep up tn the bed side of his little sister.
silently, with pale aud toarful face, coutrol!>
ing his emotion with great effort, and then
steal away again and weep Litterly With
vague. Indefinite 'doa of comforting .:,A little
fellow. took him 10 my kneo and was about
to utter some pIattu1e, whom the little fellow
Iookin" ne in the face. his owu the very pic
tnrn Of grief. burst out:
"0h. Doctor must sister die ?
"Ycs," rer1ied. "hnt,"-
Before I could go fathor he again inter-
ruptn.l uc
"Oh Doctor, Is there rothing, nothing.
that will save hcrI Can nobody, nobody
save my sister 2"
For an instant the teachings cf tender
end pious mother flashed over NV mind
They had been neglected, were almost for
gotten. California in these days, was not
we'll calculated TO faster more deeply on tho
mind home teachings. There wore verv few
whose religious training survived the ordeal.
and for a long tno had hardly thought Of
prayer. But the question brought out wish
the vividoess of flash of light, and az sud
denly ell that bad been obscured bv my
course OF life, and hardly knowing what I
did, | spoke to him of the power that might
reside in prayer. Eaid God had n1omised
to answer prayer. [ dared NOT allow the
ekeptical doubt. that came to my own mind.
meet the car Of that innocent boy, and told
him more, os my Mother had often told me.
than with any thought of impressing serious
subject on his niCd. "that the prayers OF little
boys even, God would hear" I left that
night With some simple directions. that were
given more to satisfy the mother than from
having the slightest hope of eventual recovery.
promising to return next morning.
fho I l.
little boy was playing around with bright
and cheerful countenapce. and looked 20 happv
that iuvoiuntarily I oskei
''ls ynur sister better 2''
''Oh no. Doctor" nc replied "but she is
going TO get we'll
'How Do YOU know % asked.
"He"""'o pr"yed to God, SAID he, ''and
He tod me she uould"
'Fi"w did Fic tell vnu -
The Iit'Ic fellow looked at me for nn in
Etant, sud r"vsre"tIy pnoing bis hand on the
region OF his ne,ri, !io said
'lie told me in my heart
Going to the room whore my patient was
lying, found no changn whutever. but in
spite Of my own convictions there he'd sprung
up hone within me- The medical gentle
man with whom [ was in consultation cane
to the room and as he did, thought Of
very simple remedy had seen used by an
old negro woman in very dissimiisr caac,
occurred to my mind. It became 80 persists
emily present that mentioned it to my bro.
ther practitioner. He looked surprised. but
merely remarked 'is can do. no harm"
applied it. In two hours We both felt that
the case was ort of danger.
The second day after that, as we rode from
the house, my friend asked me how I came
to think of 30 simple remedy.
81 think it was that boys prayer" I re-
piled.
"Why, Doctor! you are not so supersti-
tious as to connect that boys prayer with his
sisters recovery z" said he.
Yes do" replied For the life of
me cannot help thinking his prayers were
more powerful than remedies"
''Then why not just let him pray, and
leave your remedy alone? It was simple
coincidence"
81 thought of that myself. replied. 'bu.
then this thought suggested itself: 'God
could even give grain or even bread to feed
us, but He has ordained the labor of the ag-
riculturist as the means by which it is ee-
cnred ; and I have no doubt that he works
in all nature through some sort OF sacramen-
tai agency"
Years have passed since then, and when
discouragemeuts of any kind have arisen in
my path. 1 have thought of that child's
prayer, and it has done me good.