The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-08-27
MOTHERS PRAYERS

ldm0Ql0u Dy the mOuTU6TS DIS luSy
went along the streets, but l will haZ-
ard the assertion that more tears fell
last night for the living than the
dead" Said he: Il would risk my
judgment on the truth of the follow
ing declaration, namely, that more
tears, more prayers and more signs
went up to God from dark to daylight
from anxious heart-sore parents on
account of hayward children thaa for
side"
Look about you and see if the
preacher spoke truly! Examine into
your personal experience, and ask
yourself what lies heaviest on your
heart, after your daily round of duty
is over and you gather, or try to
gather your family about you for
sleep and rest. Who is it that prays
then?
When young mother looks at the
babe at her bosom, who loves it so
we'll?
Sometimes she is hardly more than
child in years or experience. Love
has come to her arms in the shape of
something that links her life to the
Great Unknown and the Great Here
after.
There is a new inspiration in her
being, something like new wine fills
her veins.
With this tiny scrap of humanity on
her lap, her very soul cleaves to it,
and comes nearer to divine love than
anything known to earth.
A new light comes in her eyes,
new hope in her breast, and she prays
unconsciously She wants the best
| there is for her own-thiS precious
part of her own life. Sick or well,
happy or miserable, she covers the lit
tie thing with the best that is in her
nature. He9 anxiety leads her to seek
support in prayer When the child
sickens and her heart-strings are
wrung she appreciates her helpless
ness as never beforehand she prays
When these children grow and scat
ter abroad she knows how the tempt
er can harTass them, she prays again.
Even if a poor wretch goes to the gal
lows, he is not friendless so long as
his mother lives.
| should not be surprised if we
shall find in the Great Hereafter that
it has only been Gods love and moth
er-love that have kept the EARRING ele-
ments from wrecking human kind.
l should not be surprised if the
earthly lever that moves God to pity
and protection is called motherlove in
heaven.
What makes the chief happiness of
a good father and husband? Isn't 1t
the sight of mother-love beside cradle
beds?
when loving bands are lightly plac-
ed
VII llNtlC SOluCn HCduS
To ask the Shepherd-good, to keep,
The wee weak lambs, who sweetly
sleep"
What makes the wrinkles in a sor-
rowing mothers face? 1t isn't her
own personal. grief for what the world
does to her, but it is the carl1ing care
opJ bIiobtip,r Ctrolyoc tIot bor ,,pl,oo
py offspring heap upon her heart.
Giddy girls disobey, and run over
their mothers cautious advice, but
they may find out some day that the
prayers of a poor, neglected, wrinkled-
faced mother had kept them from
plunging into a hidden abyss that was
ers.
The saddest grief that ever comes
to a good mothers heart is the ruin
of her child, either girl or boy. There
is a hopelessness, a humiliation, a
shame, that is heaped on the poor wo-
man who would perhaps give her life
10 bring back the lost character of |
those so deac to her very being. Moth !
ing can hurs a mother so much as the |
lapse of heI own offspring. Nothing
can give her so much pleasure as
their good name and good character. |
oh! children be good to yourselves,
that you may spare and bless the |
mother tina. bore you.-Atlanta Jour-
nal.