The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-03-19
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 grove, in re-
tired place, to spend a few hours of
that holy day in playing cards. Each
of them had flask OF wine in his
pocket They were the sons of pray
ing mothers. As they were walking
along amusing each other with idle
tests. the bell of a church. in a little
village about two miles off, began to
ring. 1t sounded TO the ears of these
ihoughtless young men as plainly as
though it was only on the other side
of the little stream along which they
were walking. Presently one of ttheir
number whose name was George, stop
ped and said TO the friend nearest him,
that he would go no further, but would
return TO the village and go to church
His friend called out to theii compan-
ions, 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 him
by immersion in the water" In
moment they formed circle round
him. They told him that the only way
in which be could save himself from
having cold bath was by going with
them.
In calm, quiet, but earnest way he
said
Il know very well that you have
power to put me In the water and hold
me there till 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.
sYou all know that am two hun
dred miles away from home but you
do not know that my mother is help
less, bed-ridden invalid. / never re-
member seeing 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 offered to take me with.
out any charge. He was very anxious
bat mother would not consent. The
struggle almost cost her what little lite
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 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. | told heI
all was ready and | was only waiting
for the stage At her request | kneel
ed beside her bed With her loving
hands upon my head she prayed fol
her yougest child. Many and many g
night since then | have dreamed the
whole scene over 1t is the happiesi
recollection of my life. believe til
the day of my death, shall be able &c
repeat every word of that prayer
Then she spoke to me thus:
"'My precious boy, ysu do no
know-you never can know, the agony
of mothers heart in parting, for thu
last time, from her youngest child
When you leave home you have looked
for the last time, this side of the grave
on the face of her who loves you as NJ
other mortal does or can. Your fathe
cannot afford the expenses of you
making US visits during the two year
that your studies will occupy. l can
not possibly live as long as that Th
sands in the hour-glass are nearly rul
out. In. the far-off strange place t.
which you are going there will be NJ
loving mother TO give You counsel il
time of trouble. Seek counsel an
help of God. Every Sabbath morning
from ten to eleven o'clock, will spen'
the hour in prayer for you. WheI
ever you may be in this sacred houl
when you hear the church bells ringing
let your thoughts come back to thi
chamber, where your dying mothe
will be agonizing in prayer for yor
But | hear the stage coming. ks
me; farewell !
"Boys, / never expect to see m
mother again on earth. By the grac
of God, mean to meet her in heaven.
As George stopped speaking, tn
tears were streaming down his cheeks
He looked at his companions. Thei
eyes were all filled with tears.
In moment the ring was opene
which they had formed about hin
He passed out, and went TO churcl
He had stood up for the right agains
great odds. They admired him fc
doing what they had not the courag
10 do. They all followed him to th
church. On their way there each {
them quietly threw away his cards an
his wine flask. Never again did an
of those young men play cards on ii
Sabbath. From that day they all b.
came changed men. Six of them die
Christians, and they are now in heave
George is now an able Christian Law
yer in Iowa; and his friend, the eight
party, who wrote this account, hi
been for many years an earnest, acti'
member of the church Here we
eight men converted under the pra
ers of a good Christian woman. Al
if we only knew all the results of the
examples and their labors, we shou
have a grand illustration of the inf
ence of mothers prayer.-Richdl
Ne,rToll n II