Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

and I hope never shall; and I trust, as citizens of this free and happy country, we shall ever prove ourselves worthy of the inestimable blessings with which a kind Providence has favored us.

Original.

MY LITTLE GIRL.

BY WILLIAM OLAND BOURNE.

I HAVE a bonnie little girl

Who often climbs upon my knee,
And turns her blue and sparkling eye
In loving glances unto me.

She twines her arms around my neck,
And clasps me in her fond embrace,

And now her fingers catch the pen

With which these simple lines I trace.

Her patting step I love to hear

The tripping of those little feet

They bid my heart with love awake,
And quicker with affection beat.

She talks, and laughs, and sits, and runs,
All other children do the same;

But then, of all the world, I know

I still love best her cherished name.

Her gentle heart is full of love,

Her voice is music to my ear-
Her ringing laugh, joy's golden sound,
More than fine gold to me is dear.

There never was her like, I'm sure!
Who ever had so blue an eye?
No little girl has ever spoke

Such loving words-I scarce know why!

Somehow, a strong and lasting chord

Has bound my soul-it ne'er can break!
It binds her close and closer still,

Whene'er I sleep-whene'er I wake!

Lowville, N. Y.

I ever hope her future years

Will shine with holiest love and peace,
And, as she grows in riper days,

Her hours of joy may never cease.

And oft I ask with earnest prayer
That grace may all her soul subdue,
May make her spirit pure and fair,
And all her inmost heart renew.

And then, when she and I have passed
Life's changing road with trusting heart,

May we unite in Heaven above,

There never, never more to part !

Original.

THE PRAYERLESS HOME.

BY PROFESSOR ALDEN.

"I HAVE a good offer for my farm," said Mr. Earl to his wife, "and I think I shall sell it."

66

Why do you wish to sell it?" said Mrs. Earl.

"The land is stony and partly worn out. I can go into a new country, where land is cheap and fertile, and realize a much larger return for the same amount of labor."

"If we go into a new country, there will be no schools for our children."

“Our children are not old enough to go to school: by the time they are old enough, it is most likely schools will be established wherever we may go."

"We may also be deprived of the privilege of attending meeting." "We can take our Bibles with us, and can read them on the Sabbath, if we should happen to settle at a distance from a place of meeting."

"It will be far better for us to remain here where we can educate our children, and bring them up under the sound of the Gospel." "I must do what I think is required by the interest of my family.". "Pray remember that property is not the only thing needed by our children." A few days after this conversation, the bargain

was concluded, and the farm became the property of Mr. Hale. Mr. Earl was to put him in possession of it éarly in the spring.

Mr. Earl was descended from one of the early Puritan settlers of Massachusetts. His ancestors, for many generations, had been devout members of the church of Christ. He was the first alien from the commonwealth of Israel. His mother was an amiable, but not a pious woman, and some thought it was owing to her that he had not profited by the instructions of his pious father, and had turned a deaf ear to the Gospel which he had heard from his infancy. He loved the world, and, in order to secure a larger portion of its goods, he was willing to leave the home of his childhood and the graves of his fathers, and to take up his abode on the borders of civilization.

His wife was one who preferred Jerusalem to her chief joy. The old time-worn meeting-house, with its high, square pews, and huge sounding-board, was as beautiful to her as the most faultless specimen of architecture to the connoisseur. She desired that her children might grow up under the influence of the truths which were proclaimed in that house. Her chief desire, with respect to them, was that they might become rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom. In the spring she was constrained to bid farewell to her native village. After a wearisome journey, she found herself and family in what was then a wilderness in the western part of New York. The Gospel was not preached in the vicinity, nor was even the log schoolhouse erected. For a time Mr. E. observed the Sabbath so far as resting from labor was concerned. He even spent some time in reading the Bible, but he did not pray. In consequence, that blessed book was gradually laid aside.

The climate, and perhaps the labors incident to a life in the wilderness, caused Mrs. E. to fall into a decline. When, after a lingering illness, she bade her husband farewell, she charged him to send her children to her native home, that they might there be taught, in the schoolhouse and the church, truths which could make them wise unto salvation. Mr. Earl complied, in part, with his wife's request. He sent his daughter Julia, who was now nine years of age, and her younger brother. The older one he detained, to assist him in his labors.

It was six years before Julia returned to her father. She had spent that time among the pious friends of her departed mother. She found the home of her childhood greatly changed. A neat village surrounded the tasteful dwelling now occupied by her father. The spire of the village church rose aloft, and the schoolhouse was not far distant. She rejoiced to return to her home, though she was to meet its chief charm no more. A check was soon given to her joy. When she sat down to the evening meal, the blessing of God was not invoked. It was with difficulty that she could eat. When the hour for retiring came, she was still more unhappy, as the family separated without prayer.

Mr. E. soon perceived that his daughter did not feel at home in his house. It made him sad at heart, for he had long looked forward to her return, with hope that she would restore in part, at least, the loss he had experienced. He said to her one day, "Julia, you do not seem to feel as much at home as I could wish." After some hesitation, she replied, "I do not feel safe here." "Do not feel safe!" said he, in astonishment.

"I am afraid to live under a roof where there is no prayer." The remark went to the father's heart. He thought of all the mercies he had received, the protection he had experienced, un-, asked! He continued to think of his ways till his soul fainted within him. He looked at his oldest son, a Sabbath-breaker, and ignorant of God, and could not conceal the truth, that it was owing to the act in removing him in childhood from the means of grace, and exposing him to influences that in all probability would prove

his ruin.

In a few days, he asked Julia to read the Scriptures and pray in the family. It was with joy that she heard the request, but with great difficulty that she complied with it. It was not till she was reminded of the joy it would give to her mother, could she be a witness of it, that she consented to make the attempt. In a few weeks, on a Sabbath morning, the father himself took the Bible, and, having read a portion, kneeled down, and with tears besought God to teach stammering lips how to pray. Light, peace, and safety took up their abode in a dwelling now no longer prayerless.

[merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]
« AnteriorContinuar »