Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1885-04-25
The Influence of a Mothers Prayers.

The Influence of Mothers Prayers.
More than thirty years ago, one
lovely Sabbath morning, eight
young men, students in law
school, were walking along the
banks Of a stream that flows into
the Potomac river not far from the
city of Washington They were
going to Il grove in a retired place,
TO spend the hours of that holy day
in playing cards. Each OF them
had IA flask of wine in his pocket
They were SONS ofpraying mothers.
As they we're walking along anus
ing each other with lille jests, the
bell of a church in a little village
about two miles Off began to ring.
1t sounded to the ears Of those
thonghtless young men as plainly
as though it were only on the other
side of the little stream along which
they were walking. Presently one
of their number, whose name was
George, stopped, and said to the
friend nearest to him that he would
so no further, but would return to
the village and go TO church. His
friend called out TO their c0mpan
ions, who were Il little ahead of him:
"Boys! boys! come back here
George is getting religious. We
must help him. Come on, and let's
baptize him by immersion in the
water" In a moment they formed
Il circle round him. They told him
that the only way in which he could
save himself from having a cold
bath was by going with them.
In Il calm, quiet, but earnest way,
he said: 81.
;. 81 know very we'll that you f. e
power enough to put me in the
water and hold me there till I am
drowned, and if you choose yon can
do SO and will make no resistance:
but listen to what have to SAY and
then do as you think best.
"You all know that l am 200
miles away from home; but you do
not know that my mother is a help.
less, bed-ridden invalid. I never
remember seeing her out Of her
bed. | am her youngest child. My
father could not afford to pay for
my schooling; but our teacher is IL
: warm friend of my father and Of
fereG to take me without any
charge. He was very anxious for
:, ule to come; but mother would not
consent. The struggle almost cost
her what little life was left to her.
At length, after many prayers on
the subject, she yielded, and said l
might go. The preparations for
my leaving home were soon made.
My mother never said a word to
me OH the subject till the morning
when l was to leave. After had
eaten my breakfast she sent for
me, and asked if everything was
ready. / told her all was ready
and / was only waiting for the
stage. At her request l kneeled
beside her bed. With her loving
hands upon my head she prayed
, for her youngest child. Many aud
many Il night since then | have
dreamed that whole scene ever. 1t
is the happieSt recollection of my
life. I believe. till the day of my
death / shall be able to repeat every
word of that prayer: Then she
spoke to me thus:
"sMy precious boy, You do not
know You never can know, the
agony Of a mothers heart in part
ing, for the last time, from her
youngest child. When you leave
home you will have looked for the
last time, this side Of the grave, on
the face of her who loves you as no
other mortal does or can. Your
father cannot afford the expense Of
your making us visits during the
two years that your studies will oc-
cupy. Icannotpossibly live as long
as that. The sands in the hour
glass of my life have nearly run
out. In the far-off, strange place
to which you are going there will
be no loving mother to give you
counsel in time Of trouble. Seek
counsel and help from God. Every
Sabbath morning from ten to elev
ell o'clock, l will spend the hour in
prayer for you. Whereveryou may
be during this sacred hour, when
you hear the church bells ringing,
let your thoughts come back to this
chamber, where your dying mother
will be agonlzing in prayer for you
But | hear the stage coming. KISS
me; farewell!'
"Boys, / never expect to see my
mother again on earth. But, by
the help OF God, | mean to meet
her in heaven"
AS George stopped speaking the
tears were streaming down his
cheeks. He looked at his compan-
ions. Their eyes were ali filed
with tears.
In q moment the ring was open.
Ell which they had formed about
him. He passed out, and went to
church He had stOot1-llu FIR The