Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-08
PEE.'LS


NNN-N~-o-eeo-~1N~.
Family Prayers.
"An excellent discourse we had this
morning." said the master OF the house,
unfolding his napkin at the dinner
table. The scene was 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 dangled from the seat
Of the great pew. They had heard It
and had talked 1t over on the way
home-that sermon on hiding ones
light under a busheI.
The minister had had a good deal to
say about a mans responsibility for
those round him, and In particular be
had dwelt upon the influence Of daily
prayere on the life which swarmed
upon the great plantations
I'VE have no prayers on our planta-
tion. / wonder II he meant u.s." sadd
the children; and when their father
praised the sermon they looked up
eagerly, but nothing more was ssdd.
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 70 say
much lest It should seem a reelection
upon their kind, dlgnlned father.
Il think he isn't going to have
Them" finally announced Hester, the
eldest
why couldn't we ask himT suggest
ed Pauline; but her question was new
er answered, for each felt Instructive
ly that she could not venture to ap-
proach her father on q matter which
was 50 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
nor wise enough 10 take part IN such
discussions, but she listened thought
fully. Suddenly she looked up ana
asked, "Why couldn't we have themT'
Why not, lndeed2 The older chill
dren had never thought OF that, but
had they not some responsibility them
selvesf Perhaps they had been hiding
their lights under a bushel.
We've got our prayer-bools, and
we could do 1t in the schoolroom after
nurse has put out our Hghts," said
Hester. There was no hesitation in
taking up Betty's idea.
"s'pose they and usr suggested
Pauline.
Then we'll get punished for being
out Of bed and downstairs" replied
Hester, firmly; and punishment meant
something In those days. stu, the
fear Of 1t made no difference this time,
for that very night they crept from
their beds, trifie pale and very sol
emn. Each carrying her candle and
book, the white-gowned figures stole
down the broad stairway and Into the
dark 'schoolroom. Three tiny forms
knelt before their chairs, three rever-
emit little heads bowed over their prayer
books, while the candles hlckered in
the drafts Of the bare room By their
light Hester found her place, and her
trembling voice began the prayers
The third night, as they kneit to-
gether, firm footsteps were heard. ev.
cry moment sounding nearer. Hester's
voice died to a whisper. What should
they do?
Keep on, Hester; pretend we don't
hear" advised Pauline. And 30 en-
couraged, Hester Kept on. They listen
ed while the steps grew loud, and final
ly stopped, and the heavy door opened.
Still Hester kept on and still the heads
were bowed. Presently the door was
closed and the steps receded.
The children waited, breathless. he
fore they could muster courage to steaI
up to bed They wondered what tho
morning might bring; but finally they
fell asleep with strange confidence
when Betty had asked, "But we did
what we thought was right, anyway.
didn't weY'
In the morning they wondered what
the : father would say; all day they
wondered. But when goodnight time
came they knew for calling the family
/ into the library, and gathering the lit
tie girls close to him with a tenderness
they had never felt before. he said
very simply, ASK the servants to come
In, please, and hear prayerA"-
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