you like himself, and you will be happy, and His own Spirit will make you holy.  Let us ask Him to do it,” and she knelt by her bedside, and her son placed himself beside her.  It was no new thing for him to pray with this devoted mother.  Often had she been with him to the throne of grace, when his youthful troubles or faults had made him feel the need of an Almighty helper and friend, but never had he come before with such an earnest desire to obtain the gift of that blessed Spirit, to subdue and change his heart and make him like his Savior.  When they rose from prayer he sought his own room.  He felt unable to go to school, and his mother hoped the impression would be more lasting, if he thought it over in the solitude of his own chamber, and she had much reason afterward to hope that this solemn afternoon was the beginning of good days to the soul of her child.  As she looked anxiously at the expression of his countenance when the family assembled at the tea-table, she was pleased to notice, though an air of sadness hung around him, he was subdued, gentle, and affectionate, and she hoped much from this severe contest with his besetting sin.  His father said little, and soon hurried away to a business engagement for the evening.  Mr. Arnold was a lawyer, a gentleman and a professing Christian, and though never very strongly beloved, yet few of his neighbors could tell why, or say aught against his respectability and general excellence of character.  He was immersed in the cares of an extensive business, and spent little time at home, and when there he seemed to have no room in his busy heart for the prattle of his children, no time to delight and improve them, with the stores of knowledge he might have brought forth from his treasury.  If company were present, he was polite and agreeable.  If only his wife and children, he said little, and that little was chiefly confined to matters of domestic interest—­what they should have for dinner—­what schools the children should attend—­or the casual mention of the most common news of the day.  He provided liberally for his family, what they should eat and drink, and wherewithal they should be clothed and instructed—­but he took no pains to gain their affections or their confidence, to enlarge their ideas and awaken within them the thirst for knowledge, and plant within them the deathless principles of right and wrong—­or even to inspire their young minds with love and reverence for their Divine Creator and Preserver.  All this most important duty of a father was left to his wife, and blessed is the man who has such a wife and mother, to whom to intrust the precious charge he neglects.  Most amiable and affectionate, intelligent and judicious, and of ardent and cheerful piety, this excellent woman devoted herself with untiring zeal to the training of her cherished flock, and as she saw and felt with poignant grief that she would have no help in this greatest and first earthly duty, from him who had solemnly