Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05
Power of the Hymn.


Taking the suggestion Of the text, |
shall speak to You of Christ our Song. |
remark in the first place, that Christ
ought to be the cradle song. What our
mothers sang to us when they put US to
sleep is singing yet We may have for
gotten the words; but they went into the
Gber of our soul and will forever be
part of it. 1t is not so much what you
formally teach yorr children as what you
sing to them. a hymn has wings and can
fly everywhither. One hundred and fifty
years after you are dead and "Old Nor
tality" has worn out his chiscl recruiting
your name on the tombstone your great
grandchildren will be singing the song
which last night you sang to your little
ones gathered about your knee There Is
a place in Switzerland where, if you dis
tinctly utter your voice, there come back
10 or Is distinct echoes. and every Chris
tian song sung by mother in the ear Of
her child shall have 10000 echoes coming
back from all the gates of heaven. Oh, if
mothers only knew the power of this sa-
cred spell. how much oftcncr the little
ones would be gathered, and all our
homes would chime with the songs Of
Jesus,
upon our children. The very moment
your child steps into the street he steps
into the path of temptation. There are
foul mouthcd children who would like to
Lcsol your little ones. 1t will not do to
keep your boys and girls in the house and
make them house plants. They must
have fresh air and recreation. God save
your children from the scathing, blasting,
Il my i'm Ina oF bp -
Of no counteracting influence but the
power of Christian culture and example.
Hold before your little ones the pure life
of Jesus. Let that name be the word
that shall exercise evil from their hearts.
Give to your instruction all the fascna-
ton of music morning, noon and night
Let it be Jesus, the cradle song. This is
important If your children grow up, but
perhaps they may not. Their pathway
may be short. Jesus may be wanting
that child. Then there will be "A sound
less step in the dwelling, and the youth
full pulse will begin to iutter, and little
hands will be lifted for help. You cannot
help And a great agony will pinch at
your heart, and the cradle will be empty,
and the nursery will be empty. and the
world will be empty, and your soul will
he empty. No little feet standing ON the
stairs. No toys scattered on the carpet.
No quick following from room to room.
No strange and wondering questions. No
upturncd face with laughing blue eyes
come for a Kiss, but only grave and Il
wreath of white blossoms on the top of it
and bitter dcSolation and signing at
nightfall with no one to put to bed. The
heavenly shepherd will take that lamb
safely anyhow, whether you have been
faithful or unfaithful, but would it not
have been pleasanter if you could have
heard from those lips the praises of
Christ? | never read anything more
beautiful than this about child's dcpar-
ture. The account said, "She folded her
hands, kissed her mother goodby, sang
her hymn, turned her face to the wall,
said her little prayer and then died"
oh, if | could gather up in one para
graph the last words of the little ones
who have gone out from all these Chris
tian circles. and | could picture the calm