Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-06-08

T F"
table. The scene was a great South
ern plantation. and the time a period
some years before the Civil War. The
three small girls of the family looked |
at each other furtively. They, too, had |
heard the excellent DISCOURSE as
their little legs dangied from the seat |
of the great pew. They had heard It
and had talked It over on the way
.home-that sermon on hiding ones
light under a bushel. 49,, ~. ~
The minister had had good deal TO
say about mans responsibility. for
those round him, and in particular he
had dwelt upon the influence Of daily
prayers on the life which swarmed
upon the great plantations
1--WE have no prayers on our planta-
tlon. wonder IL he meant u.s." said
the children and when their father
praised the sermon they looked up
eagerly, but nothing more was said.
Apparently the master of the house
had not made the application as per-
sonal as had his small daughters. They
waited several days, not daring TO say
much lest iteshould seem a reflection
upon their kind, dignihed father.
II think he isn't going to have
Them" finally announced Hester, the
eldest.
why couldn't we ask him? suggest
ed Pauline: but her question was new
er answered, for each felt instructive
| ly that she could not venture to APP
proach her father on a matter which
was so personal. The attitude of chill
dren of that day toward their parents
was more formal and restrained than
the attitude of children to-day.
Betty was thought not old enough
4 nor wise enough to take part N such
\ discussions, but she listened thought
| fully { Suddenly she looked up and
asked. f~Why couldn't we have them?
Why not indeed? The older chill
dren had never thought of that, but
had they not some responsibility them
selves? Perhaps they had been hiding
their lights under a bushel.
"We've got our prayer-books, and
, we could do it in the schoolroom after
: nurse has put out our lights said
, Hester. There was no hesitation in
taking up Betty's Idea.
sS1pose they Yhhd us7" suggested
Pauline. ..,.a...,4 -rl
''rhen well get punished for being
} out of bed and downstairs" repliet
I Hester, firmly; and punishment mean
something In those days. Still, The
fear of it made no difference this time
for that very night they crept from
e their beds, trifie pale and very sol
l. erin. Each carrying her candle an,
book, the whlte-gowned figures stol-
down the broad stairway and into th'
dark schoolroom. Three tiny form
knelt before their chairs, three rever
ent little heads bowed over their praye
:, books, while the candles flickered II
!. the drafts of the bare room. BY thel
. light Hester found her place, and he
!. trembling voice began the prayers.
o The third night, as they knelt to
# gether, firm footsteps were heard, ey
n cry moment sounding nearer. Hester
d voice died to a whisper. What shout,
l. Keep on, Hester; pretend we don
2 hear" advised Pauline. And so Ell
D. couraged, Hester kept on. They lister
t. ed while the steps grew loud, and fnaI
a ly stopped, and the heavy door opened
IS Still Hester kept on and still the head
y were bowed Presently the door wa
Il. closed and the steps receded.
10 The children waited, breathless. bt
d fore they could muster courage to stes
u up to bed. They wondered what tn
e morning might bring; but finally the
" fell asleep with a strange confidenc
: when Betty had asked, "But we di
what we thought was right, anywa,
didn't we?'
In the morning they wondered whs
& the father would say; all day the
n wondered. But when goodnight tin
(came they knew; for calling the famil
into the library, and gathering the II
II tie girls close to him with a tenderne.
they. had never felt before. he sal
= very simply, ASK the servants to con
4 in, please, and hear PRAYERS"
Youths Companion.
f Happiness and joy.
r Remember that happiness is n,
as thing. and joy, which We often confu,
az with II, another. We are so ant
/ al.