The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1901-04-03
Children Asking the Blessing.

Attention has been called in these columns to the
pretty custom of allowing the children in family
to grace, and forms of blessing prose and
verse suggested But is it not WELL when they do it
voluntarily and naturally, to let the children their
own form OF words? They will surely understand
and remember that. In one family the children
cessively ofcated chaplain the table, the form
tor years, with slight variations being follows:
20 God, bless us thank you for this food; forgive
our sins; for Chrst's sake. Amen"
Even childish comments or improvised additions
to the usual form not at heart rreverent and
Aar better than Stiff unntelligble Formally In one
family, where the father had just begun the custom
OF saying grace the fouryear old boy remarked that
he did mot like it well what grandpa said when
he was here-papa blessing is not long enough, and
1t doesn't ask God to give us better food! !"
A minister whose duties often took him away from
home left the asking of the blessing to his little sons
also charging them strictly care for the health and
comfort of their invalid mother The latter was
much surprised to hear this petition in the fathers
absence: U Lord, we thank thee for giving us such
good father. We thank thee for giving us such
good mother and when she dies we pray thee to give
better onel'
One interesting fruit of this custom in years gone
by was the habit of the children of Christian fam
lies to initiate 1t in their play feasts as is no
doubt well remembered by many now grown I'D
taking OF mudpie dinner on the roadside the Oldest
sister, with thumb carefully placed under the fore
hnger, after the manner of their aged grandfather
reverently repeating, 20 God, more 'bundenty may
more present tense. fears after it came out that
TINS remarkable prayer a snatch of the grammar
lesson heard at school added the grandsres stero
typed petition, More abundanty bless and feed DIR
never-dying soulsp' This points a moral When
grace is said in the presence of children it should
always De expressed in simple, distinct language;
else how shall the children that sit in the place of
the unlearned say Amen" seeing they understand
not?
well-known doctor of divinity related remi-
nscence of his childhood in a country parsonage
Inc children were not allowed to eat between
meals so that clothespins served in place of
food ON their dining table in the barn One form of
blessing was, 20 Lord, bless this food and don't let
any OF 1t stick in throats," the last petition hav
ing reference to the experience of a young brother
who had nearly to his death by getting piece
OF lead in his throat AS the children grew I'D thew
felt less inclined to ask the blessing at their clothes
PIN banquetS and discussion sometimes arose as to
whose duty it was, the guests rightly claiming that
1t belonged to the host AT last they settled in the
same way they chose the 1T" in game by using the
time-honored formula, "Intra mintra cutra corn
apple seeds, apple thorn" Even then, when it fell
to the other boy" he would decline, and SO the
future D. D. had to ask the blessing anyway!
Since the above written letter has been read
from native pastor in the Armenian country. one
item of which touchingly illustrates how the New
England custom has borne fruit in the distant Orient
"Theodoret is sweet in many ways Before we begin
anything to do at the table he is the one to say Pray
preparing his hands beautifully.'-T'he Congre-