The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1886-04-07
TALMAGES SERMON.
Twelfth Discourse Of the Series on
'The Marriage Ring"
The Value OF Good Mothers in o Com
munIty--The Story of Hannah and tho
CbiId Samuel by Way OF IIiustra-
tion-The Price of Soul.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage's twelfth SER
mon on "The Marriage Ring" takes up the
subject of "Motherhood," the text being
the words:
Moreover hts mother made him little
coat, and brought 1t to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband,
to offer the yearly sacrilce.-L Samuel, II, 49,
The stories OF Deborah and Abigail are
very apt to discourage woman's soul,
She says within herself: "It is impossible
that ever can achieve any such grandeur
Of character, and don't mean to try" as
though a child should refuse to play the
eight notes because he can not execute a
"William Tell" This Hannah Of the text
differs from the persons | just now named
She was an ordinary woman, with ordi-
nary intellectual capacity, placed in the
ordinary circumstances, and yet, by ex-
traordnary piety, standing out before all
the ages 10 come, the model Christian
mother.
Hannah was the wife OF ElkarInnh, who
was person very much like herself-un-
romantic and plain, never having fought
battle or been the subject Of marvellous
called a genius. Just what you and l
might be, that was Elkannah and Han
nah.
The brightest time In all the history Of
that family was the birth Of Samuel. AL
though no star ran along the Heavens
pointing down to his birthplace, think
the angels Of God stopped at the coming Of
30 wonderful prophet.
As Samuel had been given in answer to
prayer, Elkannah and all his family, save
Hannah, started up to Shiloh to offer sac
rihces OF Thanksgiving. The cradle where
the child slept was altar enough for Han
nah's grateful heart, but when the hoy was
old enough she took him TO Shiloh and
took three bullocks, and an ephah Of -four,
and hottie of wine, and made offering Of
sacrifice unto the Lord, and there, accord
ing to a previous vow, she left him; for
there he was to stay all the days Of his
life, and minister in the Temple.
Years rolled on, and every year Hannah
made with her own hands garment for
Samuel, and took IL over to him. The lad
would have got along well without that
garment, for suppose he was well clad by
the ministry of the Temple; but Hannah
could not be contented unless she was ell
the time doing something for her darling
boy. Moreover, his mother made him a
little coat, and brought it to him from
year to year, when she came up with her
husband to offer the yearly sacrifice"
/. Hannah stands before you, then, in
khe first place, as an industrious mother.
There was no need for her TO work. FL
hannah, her husband, was far from poor.
He belonged to distinguished family, for
the Bible tells us that he was the son of
Jeroboam, the son Of Elihu, the son Of
John, the son Of Zuph. "Who were theyP
you say. / do not know, but they were
distinguished people, no doubt, or their
names would not have been mentioned.
Hannah might have seated herself with
her family, and with folded arms and di-
sheveled hair, read novels from year to
year, II there had been any to read
but when see her making that garment
and taking It over to Samuel, know she
Is industrious from principle as well as
from pleasure. God would not have q
mother become drudge or q slave; he
would have her employ all the helps pos
sible in this day In the rearing Of her chill
dren. But Hannah ought never TO be
ashamed TO be found making . coat for
Samuel.
Most mothers need no counsel In this d.
rection. The wrinkles on their brow, the
pallor on their cheek, the thimble-marh
on their finger attest that they are faith.
full In their maternal duties. The bloom
and the brightness, and the vivacity Of
girlhood have given place for the grander
dignity, and usefulness, and industry Of
motherhood, But there Is a heathenish
idea getting abroad In some Of the fami.
lies Of Americans; there are mothers
who banish themselves from the
home circlo. For three-fourths
Of their maternal duties they
prove themselves incompetent. They
are ignorant Of what their children wear
and what their children eat, and what
their children read. They intrust to ir.
responsible persons these young immor'
tails, and allow them TO be under influences
which may cripple their bodies, or tain'
their purity, or spoil their manners, or do
stroy their souls.
From the awkward cut OF Samuel's coat
you know his mother Hannah did not maxi
IL. Out from under flaming chandeliers
and off from imported carpets, and dowI
the granite stairs, there has come a grea
crowd Of children in this day, unframed
saucy, incompetent for all practical dute
of life, ready to be caught in the first whlr
Of crime and sensuality. Indolent anC
unfaithful mothers will make indolent anC
uufaithful children. You can not expec
neatness and order In any house where tn,
daughters see nothing but slatternlines
and upside s-downativenes In their parents
Let Hannah be Idle, and most certainly
Samuel will grow up idle.
Who ere the industrious men In all oul
occupations and professionsi Who ar,
they managing the merchandise Of th,
world, building the walls, timing tn
roofs, weaving the carpets, making th'
laws, governing the nations, making tn
earth TO quake and heave and roar an,
rattle with the tread Of gigantic enter
prisesi Who are theyi For the most par
they descended from industrious mothers
who, In the old homestead, used TO spii
their own yarn, and weave their ow,
carpets, and plait their own doormats, AM
flag their own chairs and do their owl
work. Tho stalwnrt men and the In
fuential women Of this day, ninety min
out Of hundred Of them, came from al
illustrious ancestry Of hard knuckles an,
homespun. wg "a "a. n.
And who are these people In society