St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-08-23
Child-Training.
BY MRS. ANNA L. PRICE.

Every Christian mother prays for her
children. She could as soon fail to
seek Gods blessing on herself as on
those claiming her tenderest and con-
slant care. But | doubt whether every
Christian mother prays auth her chill
dren. | hear one say, go, yes, when
nv sons or daughters come to years OF
discretion, and take upon themselves
the vows | took for them, | do pray
with them and delight in the exercise
This is truly well, and God will bless
YOU both in the sweet mutual commun-
ings of the closet. | have reference,
however, to prayer with the baby chill
dren of your household, with those lit
tie ones who have scarcely learned to
toddle, and who follow you at the bid
ding to retired place, clinging to your
gown for support, and kneel beside you
there.
Two sisters of one family, who are
now both in middle age, ascribe their
earliest, deepest impressions of God and
holy things to the solemn, loving habit
of their mother in praying aloud for
them after arranging them in their little
crib for rest. A dear boy, now in
heaven, seemed to learn permanently
of Jesus and the worth of prayer by
toddling after his mother to the closet
when she sought the God of all grace
and supplicatiOn. "Ask God to bless
me, too" he would ever say, and of his
own accord styled prayer talking to
God. That little child is among the
angels to-day, and by what name he is
known there know not, but we called
faly
bit of child to the throne Of grace, even
if you are conscious that thereby you
are somewhat marring your own en-
ioyment of spirit. You need not, nor
should you, cOnfne the little one many
minutes, for with childhood it is espe-
cially true that where WEAKNESS begins
devotion ends. Go to the group of your
young children playing merrily togeth-
er, and whisper to one, "COme with
mother now" 1t is the youngest this
time he skips along with you, bows
his curly head, and when the spoken
words cease, vOciferates amen" in no
very devotional tone, dances around
the room, and acts the spOrGive lamb
generally: but you are helping that
child to heaven, and the Spirit will help
your infirmities and his. Yesterday
being Sabbath, in the evening we had a
sociallprayer meeting, mother and the
four children, the eldest not ten years
but 'Na was our chief singer. And
Them Y Sunday game of which they
seldom tire-naming Bible characters
= ..lisss,-,l ftically, On reaching E, baby
Norman, with some whispered aid,
mOdernizes our first mothers name into
Eva, and Andrew puts Philip among
the F's; but on the whole, all did pref
ty well, and advance a step in biblical
lore.
Yes, Christian mother, my sister in
life's solemn duties, accustom your lit
tie children to prayer; let them know
this resource; begin at an infantile age,
take them often, separately, to the
throne of grace Nth you. They will
never forget it, even though sin and
Satan should mar Gods work for a
time the remembrance of those early,
earnest, Ofttimes fearful mother prayers
will come up yet to the saving of the
soul and the glory of God. Also, in
many instances, it may prove safe
guard, and be from the very first, as in
the case l named, guide to lead the
child to talk with God, to lead him
straight on to God, and literally, with
out any sad side wanderings, into the
very gate of heaven. All blissful con-
summation of all our cares and tolls
below !
When, soon or late we reach that coast,
O'el life's rough ocean driven,
May we rejoice, no wanderer lost
A family in heavenl
Christian Mt Work