Year: 1876

One thing which makes death very hard
TO the most Of men and women is the thought
OF leaving those whom God has placed under
their love aud care The severe pains which
are racking the body, the greater suffering
which is yet 10 be endured, are almost for
gotten in remembrance Of those dear ones
who must be left alone in a cold and sinful
world. Lying in a sick-room, on one Of the
long and wearisome afternoons of summer


how hard it Is to keep from murmuring at
the voice which has taken from the heart all
hope of walking up and down the bright
earth again, of speaking 10 friends Of the
love of Christ and striving to lead their
steps back to him. Hard, oh how hard it
is TO look out across the fields where many
Of the household are at work with rough
companions and feel that evil words and
thoughts are being sown broadcast IN their
souls, and that the teachings of the past are
being rapidly forgotten. Especially hard is
it to watch the children straying thither. to
know how fast the works of sin are being
learned by them, all unconscious of the ma
ture of the lesson, and the sorrow 1t must
cause them. And when the dear little ones
come near the house, what pangs are in the
soul, what bitter tears are shed, as there
reaches the ears of the sad listener the sound



80 Father, how can leave them alone in
this wicked worldP' Often that cry trem-
bles on the pale lips. We love our friends
so much, we cling so to our plans, we feel
our efforts for them to be of so great worth,
that it is only by much prayer and reading
of the Holy Word that we can look trust
fully upward and feel that our God knows
best that lie can take care of all we love,
that He can save them without our presence,
works and prayers. Wise and good though
we may be, it is an eternal truth that many
of our friends would never be saved unless
we were taken from them. The Bible oh
what would one do without this in the hour
when death and separation are near Some
passages are truly what Martin Luther
called them "little Bibles" "God isgreater
than our hearts and knoweth all things"
That has helped many soul. lie knows
all things-our anxiety, our prayers, each
word of prayer each tear we shed, the dan
gers to which those we love are exposed,
| yea and all their future is as clear to Him.
Seeing the sins to which they viii be ex-
posed and having had these in contempla-
| ton from eternity, will not He, who spared
not His only-begotten Son, look upon our
children and friends in tender love and pity
will He not do all He can to save them will
not He, when father and mother are gone,
stake them up" as He has promised
Surely He will, il we pray to Him, though
all the future seems dark to us. Some
years ago mother died with trust like
this, leaving a little child in this friendless
world Just when it seemed to need her care
the most. The father had gone, the wife
knew not where. Brothers and sisters the
little boy had none. There were but few
relatives, and the help of these was poor
The boy soon left them in their country
home and went to distant city. No mother
to pray for him, no friend there, no hope il
Jesus in his heart, beset by Thousand
temptations would not the dear boy fall
Yes, he fell. lie became Incorporate. HI
was led into other vices lie fell But the
mother had died with trust that Goo
would keep him and save him, had prayed
for that with her latest breath. And God
seeing the fall, stretched forth His loving
hands. He sent friend who strove to viii
him to Christ. He lifted him up little
and then the two were thrust apart. Would
not the boy fall? He began to sin again
But the mother had prayed to God. Agar
he sent friend noble woman, who led tn,
boy upward with a mothers love. Ther
they were separated. Then the young man
for such he had grown to be, wandered onc'
more in the paths of sin. Overcome S,
many times, would he not be discouraged
and his soul be lost 7 Almost lost. Blu
the mother had prayed and her God knew i
ALL Sickness came to the youth, and through
a long season he was confined to his room
away from his sinful associates, where h
could not bnt think upon Gods mercy AM
love and be led to Him. | wish you nigh
all read the letter where he tells of his 10
and trust in the Saviour. Saved. Snatche


as brand from the burning. WhyY B'
cause of the mothers faith and prayers.