The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-22
The Influence of Mothers Prayers.
More than thirty years ago, one lovely

The influence or W0tner'S frayerSs
More than thirty years ago, one lovely
Sabbath morning, eight young men, stu.
dents 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 retired place tospend the hours ofthat
holy day in playing cards. Each ofthem
had a flask of wine in his pocket. They
were the sons of praying mothers. As
they were walking along amusing each
other with idle jests, the bell ofa church
in little village about two miles off,
began to ring. 1t sounded in the ears of
these thoughtless young men as plainly
as though it were only on the other side
of :he little stream along which they were
walking.
Presently one of their number, whose
name was George, stopped, and said to
the friend nearest him that he would go
no further, but would return to the vii.
lage, and 60 to church. His friend called
ont to their companions, who were lit
tie ahead of him, Boys boys! come
back here. George is getting religious.
We must help him. Come on and let
us baptize him by immersion in the wa
ter" In moment they formed q circle
around him. They told him that the
only way in which he could save himself
from having q cold bath was by going
with them. In calm, quiet, but ear.
nest way, he said:
~ know very we'll that you have pow.
er enough 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
I have to say, and then do as you think
best.
"You all know that lam two hundred
miles away from home but you do not
know that my mother is helpless, bed.
ridden invalid. Inever remember seeing
her out of bed. I am her youngest
child. My father could not afford 10
pay for my schooling; but our teacher is
a warm friend ofmy father, and offered to
take me without any charge. He was
very anxious for me to come; but moth.
er would not consent. The struggle cost
her what little life was left to her. At
length after many prayers on the subject,
she yielded, and said I might go. The
preparations for my leaving home were
soon made. My mother never said
word to me on the subject till the morn.
ing when I was to leave. After l had
eaten my breakfast she sent for me. and
asked if everything was. ready. I told
her all was ready and I was only waiting
for the stage. At her request I kneeled
beside her bed. With her loving hands
upon my head, she prayed for her young
est child. Many and many a night
since then I have dreamed that whole
scene over. 1t is the happiest recollec-
ton of my life. I believe, till the day of
my death, I shall be able to repeat every
word of that prayer. Then she spoke
to me thus:
my precious boy, do not know, you
never can know, the agony of q mothers
heart, in parting for the last time, from
her youngest child. When you leave
home, you will have looked, for the last
time, this side Of the grave, on tho face
of her who loves you as no other mortal
does or can. Your father cannot afford
the expense of your making us visits
during the two years that your studies
will occupy. I cannot possibly live as
long as that. The sands in the hour glass
of my life have nearly run out. In the
far.of strange place to which you are
going, there will be no loving mother to
give you counsel in time oftrouble. Seek
counsel and help from God. Every Sab
bath morning, from ten to eleven o'clock,
I will spend the hour in prayer for you.
Wherever you may be during this sacred
hour, when you hear the church-bells
ringing, let your thoughts come back to
this chamber, where your dying mother
will be agonizing in praye. ;os you. But
1 hear the stage coming. Kiss me
farewell r
"Boys, never expect to see my moth.
er again on earth. But, by the help Of
God, mean to meet herin heaven"
As George stopped speaking the tears
were streaming down his cheeks. He
looked at his companions. Their eyes
we're all filled with tears.
In a moment the ring which they had
formed about him was opened. He passed
out, and went to church. He had stood
up for the right against great odds.
They admired him for doing what they
had no courage to do. They all followed
him to church. On their way there each
Of them quietly threw away his cards and
his wine flask. Never again did any of
these young men play cards on the Sab.
bath.
From that day all became changed
men. Six of them died Christians, and
are now in heaven. George is an able
Christian lawyer, in Iowa and his friend,
the eighth of the party, who wrote this
account, has been for many years an
earnest, active member of the church.
Here were eight men converted by the
prayers of that good Christian woman.
And, if we only knew all the results of
their examples and their labors we should
have good illustration of the influence
of a mothers prayers.
A Pretty "Business" Story.
~, ol, L.