The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-04-29
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Twelfth Discourse Of the Series on
1.-THE Marriage Ring"

IM9 N&lu0 Oh 0VOu uA0LACKD IA OO--~
munity-The Story OF Hannah and the
Child Samuel BY Way of Iilustra-
tion-The Price of Soul.
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage's twelfth SER
mon on aThe Marriage Ring" takes up the
subject Of motherhood" the text being
the words:
Moreover his mother made him little
coat and brought It to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband.
to offer the yearly sacrifce.-L Samuel, H., 10 :
The stories Of Deborah and Abigail are
very apt to discourage a woman's soul.
She says within herself: at is impossible
that ever can achieve any such grandeur
of character, and don't mean to try" as
though child should refuse to play the
eight notes because he can not execute a
civilian 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-
traordinary piety, standing out before all
the ages to come, the model Christian
mother.
Hannah was the wife of Elkannah, who
was person very much like herself-un-
romantic and plain, never having fought a
battle or been the subject of marvellous
escape. Neither of them would have been
called a genius. just what you and
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, I think
the angels of God stopped at the coming of
so 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
rifices of thanksgiving. The cradle where
the child slept was altar enough for Han
snah's grateful heart, but when the boy was
old enough she took him to Shiloh and
took three bullocks, and an ephah of flour,
and bottle of wine, and made offering of
sacrifice unto the Lord, and there, accord
ing to 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 it 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 all
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"
l. Hannah stands before you, then, in
the 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 oil
Jeroboam, the son of Elihu, the son Of
John, the son of Zuph. "Who were they?'
you say. I do not know, but they were
distinguished people, no doubt, or theil
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 tt
year, If there had been any to read
but when see her making that garment
and taking it over to Samuel, know sht
Is industrious from principle as well a.
from pleasure. God would not have
mother become drudge or slave; b,
would have her employ all the helps pos
sible in this day in the rearing of her chill
dren. But Hannah ought never to b.
ashamed to be found making coat fo
Samuel.
Most mothers need no counsel in this di
rection. The wrinkles on their brow, tn
pallor on their cheek, the thimble-marl
on their finger attest that they are faith
full in their maternal duties The bloom
and the brightness, and the vivacity o
girlhood have given place for the grandel
dignity, and usefulness, and industry O
motherhood. But there is q heathenisl
idea getting abroad in some of the fami
lies Of Americans; there are mother
who Danish themselves from tn
home circle. For three-fourth
OF their maternal duties the,
prove themselves incompetent. The,
are ignorant of what their children wear
and what their children eat, and wha
their children read. They intrust to ir
responsible persons these young immor
tails, and allow them to be under influence
which may cripple their bodies, or tain
their purity, or spoil their manners, or de
stroy their souls.
From the awkward cut of Samuel's Goa
you know his mother Hannah did not max
it, Out from under flaming chandeliers
and on from imported carpets, and dow
the granite stairs, there has come grea
crowd OF children in this day, unframed
saucy, incompetent for all practical dutie
OF liz ready to be caught in the first whir
OF crime and sensuality. INDECENT an,
unfaithful mothers viii make indolent an,
unfaithful children. You can not expec
neatness and order in any house where tn
daughters see nothing but slatternlines
and observation-disclosures in their parents
Let Hannah be idle, and most certainl'
Samuel will grow up idle.
Who are the industrious men in all on
occupations and professionsa Who ar
they managing the merchandise of th
world, building the walls, timing til
roofs, weaving the carpets, making th
laws, governing the nations, making th
earth to quake and heave and roar am
rattle with the tread Of gigantic enter
prisess Who are they? For the most par
they descended from Industrious mothers
who, in the old homestead, used to spil
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