News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-04-02
FOR SUNDAY READING.
FEW SERIOUS THOUGHTS FOR A
DAY OF REST.

FEW SERIOUS THOUGHTS FOR A
DAY OF REST.
The Influence of n Mothers Prayer-Why
| Lille Is Worth Living-The Use OF The
| scriptures. Etc, Etc.
THE INFLUENCE OF A MOTHERS PRAYERS.
More than thirty years ago, one love-
~ Sabbath morning, eight young men,
students in law school, were walking
along the banks of stream that flows
into the Potomac River not far from the
city OF Washington. They were going
20 grove in a retired place, to spend
the hours of that holy day in playing
cards. Each of them had flask Of vine
in his pocket. They were sons of pray
ing mothers. AS they were walking
along amusing each other with idle jests,
the bell of ehurch in q little village
about two miles off began to ring. 1t
sounded to the ears of those thoughtless
young men as plainly as though it were
only on the other side of the little stream
along which they were walking. Pres
eptly one of their number, whose name
was George, STOPPED, and said to the
friend nearest to him that he would go
no further, but would return to the vii
lage and go to church. His friend called
out to their companions, who were a
little ahead of him: 'Boys boys come
| harn &c
We must help him. Come on, and let's
baptize him by immersion in the water"
In moment they formed circle round
him. They told him that the only way
in which he could save himself from
having cold bath was by going with
| them.
In calm, quiet, but earnest wey, he
said:
81 know very web that you have
| power enough to put me in the water
and hold me there till I am drowned,
and if you choose you can do so and /
will make no resistance, but listen to
what I have to say and then do as you
think best.
"You all know that am 200 miles
away from home; but you do not know
that my-mother is helpless, bed-ridden
invalid. l never remember seeing her
out of her bed. 1 am her youngest child.
| My father could not afford to pay for
my schooling; but our teacher is warm
friend of my father and offered to take
me without any charge. He was very
anxious for me 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 We're soon made. My mother
never said word to me on the subject
till the morning when was to leave.
After had eaten my breakfast she sent
for me, and asked if everything was
ready. 1 told her all was ready and I
| was only waiting for the stage. At her
request kheelsd beside hes bed. With
her loving hands upon my head she
prayed for her youngest child. Many
and many a night since then I have
dreamed that whole scene over. 1t is
the happiest recollection of my life. I
believe, till the day of my death 1 shall
be able to repeat every word of that
prayer. Then she spoke TO me thus:
My precious boy, you do not know
you never can know, the agony of q
mothers heart in parting, 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 max
ing us visits during the two years that
your studies will occupy. I cannot pos
sibly live as long as that. The sands in
the hour glass of my life have nearly run
out. In the fsr-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 eleven o'clock, will spend
the hour in prayer for you. Wherever
you may be during this sacred hour,
when you hear the church-bells ring
ing, let your thoughts come back to this
chamber, where your dying mother will
be agonizing in prayer for you. But I
hear the stage coming. Kiss me; fare
we'll =
"Boys, I 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 companions. Their eyes
were all filled with tears.
In a moment the ring was opened
which they had formed about him. He
passed out, and went to church. He had
stood up for the right against great odds.
They admired him for doing what they
had not the courage to do. They all fol-
lowed him to church. On their way
there each of them quietly threw away
his cards and his wine-fask. Never
again did any of those young men play
cards on the Sabbath. From that day
they all became changed men. Six of
them died Christians, and are now in
heaven. George is an able Christian
lawyer in Iowa; and his friend, the
eighth of the party, who wrote this ac-
count, has been for many years an
earnest active member Of the church.
Here were eight men converted by the
prayers of that good Christian woman.
And if we only knew all the results of
their examples and their labors, we
should have grand illustration of the
influence of mothers prayers. - Chris
tian Union.
THE USE OF THE SCRIPTURES.
The Rev. DR.. Howard Crosby: I be-
lieve that to-day, if there is any one
cause more prominent than another for
Christian mediocrity and Christian
apathy and Christian imbecility and
Christian perplexity and Christian
cloudiness, it is the neglect of the Bible,
and hence I know not how we can be
better employed than in putting the
Bible in its right place in cur estima-
tion and affection by regarding its true
position in Gods plan. We are believ
ers in specific revelation to sinners.
We do not believe that the stars in the
skv the birds in tho mir the fiowera in