Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-13
Mothers PRAYERS

some time ago I heard a preacher say
% his conservation: Two funerals In
sour place yesterday Those who died
we're lovely in character and precious to
heir own families. They we're lamented
~ the mourners as they went along the
streets. but 1 will hazard the assertion
nat more tears fell last light for the
aving than the dead said he: Il would
isk my Judgment on the truth OF the
,oIIowing declaration. namely. that more
ears. more prayers and more signs went
ID 10 GOO from dark 10 daylight from
anxious heart-sore parents on account
u hayward children than for all other
troubles in this world beside
Look about you and see II the. preacher
poke truly, Examine into your personal
.xperience. and ask yourself what lies
heaviest on your heart. after your daily
-ound OF duty is over and you gather
n try TO gather your family about you
or sleep and rest. Who is il that prays'
heng
When a young mother looks at the babe
Il her bosom who loves il so well?
Sometimes she is hardly more than a
.hild In years OF experience. Love has
some TO her arms in the shape OF some
Aing that links her life TO the Great
III
There is new inspiration in her be-
ng. something like new wine fills her
Feins-
With this tiny scrap OF humanity on
Ter lap. her very soul cleaves TO it. and
sornes nearer 10 Divine Love than any
hing known to earth
a new light comes in her eyes, a new
iope in her breast and she prays uncon-
iciously She wants the best there is for
Ter Own-this precious part OF her own
tfe. Sick or well. happy or miserable. she
s in her nature. Her anxiety leads her
o seek support in prayer. When the
.hIld sickens and her heart-strings are
rrung she appreciates her helplessness as
never Beforehand she prays.
When these children grow and scatter
broad she knows how the tempter can
tarrass them, she prays again. Even II a
Soor wretch goes to the gallows. he is
rot friendless so long as his mother
ives.
should not be surprised II we shall
Ind I'm the Great Hereafter that IL has
Inly been Gods love and mother-love that
nave kept the jarring elements from
vreclCing human kind.
should not be surprised II the earth
lever that moves God to pity and
rotection is called mother-love in heaven.
What makes the chief happiness OF a
sood father and husband2 Isn't II the
light OF. mother-love beside cradle beds?
When loving hands are lightly placed
On little golden heads
20 ask the Shepherd-good. to keep:
The wee weak lambs, who sweetly
sleep"
What makes the wrinkles in a sorrow
ng mothers face? II isn't her own per-
onal grief for. what the world does to
her. but ills the carking care and blight
ng strokes that her unhappy offspring
leap upon her heart.
Giddy girls disobey. and run over their
Mothers cautious advice. but they may
Ind out some day that the prayers Of a
ioor. neglected. wrinkled-faced mother
TAD kept them from plunging into a hid
Zen abyss that was covered with deceit
al vines and flowers.
The saddest grief that ever comes to a
pod mothers heart is the ruin OF her
ihild. either girl or boy. There is a hope
essness. humiliation. a shame. that IS
ieaped on the poor woman who would
ierhaps give her life TO bring back the
ost character Of those so dear to her
cry being. Nothing can hurt a mother
much as the lapse OF her own or
pring- Nothing can give her So much
heasure as their good name and good
haracter- Oh, children. be good TO your
elves. that YOU may spare and bless the
mother that hare you