The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-05-28
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Twelfth Discourse Of the Series on
THE Marriage Ring"

Twelfth Discourse Of the Series on
'-rhe Marriage Ring"
| The value Of Good Mothers I'm Com.
munity-The Story Of Hannah and the
Child Samuel BY Way Of lliustrs-
tion-rhs Price Of . Soul.
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage's twelfth SER
mon on 1.-THE 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 sacrince.-L Samuel, IL 10
The stories OF Deborah and Abigail are
very apt to discourage q woman's soul.
| She says within herself: SIT is impossible
| that ever can achieve any such grandeur
Of character, and I 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-
ordinary circumstances, and yet, by ex-
traordinary piety, standing ont before ell
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 .
battle or been the subject of . marvellous
escape. Neither Of them would have been
called genius. Just what you and
might be, that was Elkannah and Ham
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, 1 think
the angels Of God stopped at the coming Of
90 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
riflces of Thanksgiving. The cradle where
the child slept was altar enough for Ham
nah's grateful heart, but when the boy was
old enough she took him to Shiloh and
took three bullocks, and an ephah of -four,
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 &c stay all the days Of his
life, and minister in the Temple.
Years rolled on, and every year Hannah
made with her own hands q garment for
Samuel, and took it over to him. The lad
would have got along well without that
garment, for suppose he was we'll 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 q
little coat, and brought it to him from
year to year, when she came up with her
husband to offer the yearly sacrifice"
1. Hannah stands before you. then, in
the first place, a. an industrious mother.
There was no need for her to work. FL
hannah, her husband, was far from poor.
He belonged to q distinguished family, for
the Bible tails us that he was the SON Of
Jeroboam, the son Of Elihu, the SON Of
John, the SON Of Zuph. "Who were theYi"
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 de
sheveled hair, read novels from year to
year, II there had been any to read;
but when 80 her making that garment,
and taking Il over to Samuel, know she
II industrious from principle as well a.
from pleasure. God would not have q
mother become = drudge or . slave; he
would have her employ all the helps pos
sibas In this day in the rearing OF her chill
drsn. But Hannah ought never to be
Ashamed to be found making q coat for
Samuel.
Most mothers need no counsel in this d.
rection. The wrinkles on their brow, the
pallor on their cheek, the thimble- mark
ON their finger attest that they are faith
ful In their maternal duties. The bloom,
and the brightness, and the vivacity Of
1irlhood have given place for the grander
dignity, and usefulness, and industry Of
moeAsrhood. But there 10 heathenish
Idea getting abroad in some Of the fami-
lies Of Americans; there are mothers
Who banish themselves from the
home circle. For three fourths
Of their maternal duties they
prove themselves incompetent They
ere 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-
tals, and allow them to be under influences
which may cripple their bodies, or faint
their purity, Or spoil their manners, or de-
stroy their souls.
From the awkward cut OF Samusl's coat
you know hismother Hannah did not make
f. Ont from under flaming chandeliers,
ard VI IRON Imported carp cts, and down
TIE granite stairs. there has come great
crowd Of children in this day, unframed,
sancy. incompetent for all practical duties
ct life, ready 70 b caught in the hrst whirl
Of crime end sensuality. Indolsnt and
unfatoaful mothers VIII make indolent and
unfatthful children. You can not sxpect
neatasss and order In any house where tie
daughters 80 nothing bat slattsrnlinees
end observation-disclosures in their parente.
LIZ Hannah b Idle, and most certainly
Samuel WIN grow up idle.
Who ars the industrious men In III our
epcupations and professional Who are
hey managing the msrchandiss Of the
world buudfngs The walls, thinning the