St. Landry democrat., 1886-04-10

Rev T. Dewitt Talmage's twelfth SER
n.on on "The Marriage Ring" takes up the
subject of motherhood" the text being
the words:
Moreover his mother made him a little
coat, and brought 1t to him from year to
year, when she came up with her husband
TO offer the yearly sa crifce.-L Samuel, H., l9
The stories of Deborah and Abigail are
very apt to discourage 8 woman's soul.
She says within herself: SIT 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 q
civilian Tell" This Hannah of the text
differs from the persons I 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 a person very much like herself-un-
romantic and plain, never having fought
battle or been the subject of marvellous
called 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, think
the angels of God stopped at the coming Of
SO wonderful a 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
nah's grateful heart, but when the boy was
old enough she took him to Shiloh and
took three bul1ocks, and an ephah of flour,
and a 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 we'll without that
garment, for l 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 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
che first place, as an industrious mother.
There was no need for her to work. Ell
hannah. her husband, was far from poor.
He belonged to distinguished family, for
the Bible tells us that he was the son of
,seroboam, the son of Elihu, the son of
John, the son of Zuph. sWho were thew"
you say. I 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 d.
sheveled hair, read novels from year to
year, if 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
mother become a drudge or 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 a coat for
Samuel.
Most mothers need no counsel in this di-
rection. The wrinkles on their brow, the
pallor on their cheek, the thimble- mark
on their finger attest that they are faith
full in their maternal duties. The bloom,
and the brightness, and the viyacity of
girlhood have given place for the grander
di entity, and usefulness, and industry of
motherhood. But there is heathenish
idea getting abroad in some Of the fami-
dies of Americans; there are mothers
who Danish themselves from the
home circle. 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 faint
their purity, Or spoil their manners, or de- I
stEoy their souls.
From the awkward cut Of Samuel's coat /
you know his mother Hannah did not make :
it. Out from under flaming chandeliers, t
and OFF from imported carpets, and down |
the granite stairs, there has come a great I
crowd of children in this day, unframed, t
saucy. incompetent for all practical duties t
IF life, ready to be caught in the first whirl {
Of crime and sensuality. INDECENT and &
mothers will make INDECENT and f
children. You can not expect i
leatness and order in any house where the c
daughters see nothing but slatternliness t
md observation-disclosures in their parents.
let Hannah be idle, and most certainly ;,
samuel will grow up idle. =
Who are the industrious men in all our n