The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-03-07
The influence Of q Mothers Prayer.


More than thirty years ago, one love.
ly Sabbath morning, about eight young
men, students in q 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,
to spend thu hours Of that holy day in
/, playing cards. Each of them had q
flask of wine In his pocket. They we're
the sons of praying mothers. As they
were walking along amusing each other
with idle jests, the bell Of q church in q
little village not two miles away began
10 ring. 1t sounded in the ears of those
thoughtless youths as plainly a. though
1t were only on the other side of the
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
60 no further, but would return to the
village and go to church. His friend
called out to their companions, who
were a little ahead Of them: "Boysl boysl
come back here; George is getting re-
ligous; we must help him. Come on,
and let us baptize him by immersion in
the water" They told him that the
only way he could save himself from
having cold bath was by going with
them. In calm, quiet, but earnest
way he said:
II know very we'll that you have
power enough to put me in the water,
and hold me there till I am drowned;
and if you choose, you can do 30, and
I will make no resistance; but listen to
what I have to say, and then do as you
think best. You all know that I am
two hundred miles away from home;
but you do not know that my mother is
q helpless, bed.ridden invalid. I never
remember seeing her out of bed. I am
her youngest child. My father could
not afford to pay for my schooling; but
our teacher is q warm friend of my
father, and offered to take me without
any charge. He was very anxious for
me to come; but mother would not
consent. The struggle almost cost her
what little life there was left in her.
At length, after many prayers on the
subject, she yielded and said I might
60. The preparations for my leaving
home were soon made. My mother
never said Il word to me on the subject
till the morning when was abuut to
leave After had eaten NV breakfast
she sent for me and asked me if every
thing was ready. I told her all was
ready and was only waiting for the
stage. At her requested kneeled be-
side her bed. With her loving hand
upon my head, she prayed for her
youngest child. Many and many night
I have dreamed that whole scene over.
1t is the happiest recollection of my
life. I believe, till the day Of my death
l shall be able to repeat every word of
that prayer. Then she spoke t. re
thus: My precious boy, you do not
know, you never can know, the agony
of a mothers heart in parting, for the
last time, from her youngest child.
When you leave home, you will have
ooked for the last time, this side ol the
grave, on the face of her who loves you
as no other mortal does or can. Your
father can not afford the expense of
your making us visits during the two
yoars that your studies will occupy. 1
can not possibly live as long as that.
The sand in the hour.glass of my life
has nearly run out. In the far.off,
strange place to which you are going
there will be no loving mother to give
you counsel in time of trouble. Seek
counsel and help from God. Every
Sabbath morning, from ten to eleven
o'clock, I will spend the hour praying
for you. Wherever you may be during
this sacred hour, when you hear the
church bells ringing, let your thoghts
come back to this chamber, where your
dying mother will be agonizing in prayer
for you. But I hear the stage coming,
Kiss me FAREWELL" Boys, I never OK.
pect tosee my mother again on earth.
But, by Gods help, I mean to meet her
in heaven"
As George stopped speaking the tears
were streaming down his cheeks. He
looked at his companions. Their eyes
were filled with tears. In 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
they had not the courage to do. They
all followed him to church. On their
way there each of them quietly threw
away his cards and wine flask. Never
again did these young men play cards
ON the Sabbath.