The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-10
The Influence of a Mothers
Prayer.

-
More than thirty years ago, one lovely
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
to a grove, in a retired place, to spend
few hours of that holy day in playing
cards. Each of them had flask Of
wine in his pocket. They were the sons
of praying mothers. AS they were
walking along, amusing each other with
idle jests, the bell of a church in lit
tie 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. Presently one of their
number, whose name was George,
stopped and said to the friend nearest
to him that he would go no farther, but
would return to the village and 90 to
church. His friend called out to their
companions, who were little ahead of
him: Boys! boys! come back here.
George is getting religious. We must
help him. Come on, and let's baptize
Dllll ny ll1llcISlOu III Vic WdlGT. III
moment they formed a circle round
him. They told him that the only way
in which he could save himself from a
cold bath was by going with them. In
calm, quiet, but earnest way, he said:
81 know very well that you have power
enough to put me in the water and hold
me there till l am drowned: and if you
choose you 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 two hundred
miles away from home; but you do not
know that my mother is helpless, bed
ridden invalid never remember see
ing her out of bed. am her youngest
child. My father could not afford to
pay for my schooling; but our teacher
is warm friend of my father, and Of
fered 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 might go. The preparations for
my leaving home were soon made. MY
mother never said a word to me on the
subject till the morning when l was to
leave. After l had eaten my breakfast
she sent for me, and asked if every
thing was ready. l told her all was
ready and l only waiting for the stage.
AT her request / kneeled beside her
bed. With her loving hands upon my
head she prayed for her youngest child.
Many and many night since then /
have dreamed that whole scene over.
1t is the happiest recollection of my
life. / believe till the day of my death
/ 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 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
f., father cannot afford the expense of
your making us visits during the two
years that your studies will occupy. !
: cannot possibly live as long as that.
The sands in the hour-glass of my life
r have nearly run out. In the far-off
T strange place to which you are going
J, there will be no loving mother to give
| 1Ou COuIoCl III tlilC vi tlOuDlC. EDCch
counsel and help of God. Every Sab
= bath morning from ten to eleven O'Clock
E / will spend an hour in prayer for you
+ Wherever you may be during this sa.
J. cred hour, when you hear the church
3 bells ringing, let your thoughts come
t back to this chamber, where your dying
I mother will be engaged in prayer fol
you. But / hear the stage coming
5 Kiss me, FAREWELL Boys, l never ex.
!, pect to see my mother again on earth
I But, by the help of God, Imean to meet
3 her in heaven" AS George stopped
7 speaking the tears were streaming dowr
his cheeks. He looked at his compan
ions. Their eyes were all filled with
= tears. In a moment the ring was
opened which they had formed abou
. him. He passed out and went to church
He had stood up for the right agains
y great odds. They admired him for do
: ing what they had not courage to do
!, They all followed him to church. Or
T their way there each of them quietly
. threw away his cards and his wine flask
t Never again did those young men play
g cards on the Sabbath. From that day
r they all became changed men. Six o.
q them died Christians and are now il
q heaven. George is now an able Chris
!. tian lawyer in Iowa, and his friend, the
q eighth party, who wrote this account
], has been for many years an earnest
active member of the church, Here
g were eight men converted under the
!. prayers of that good Christian woman
4 And if we only knew all the results OF
}, their examples and their labors W,
y should have grand illustration of the
! influence of mothers prayers. Rich