“At length he said, ’No, sir, if he had been a Christian, we could have given him up willingly.  We had no hope for him; but my mother was a Christian.  My mother, a sister seven years old, and myself, were all the family after my father died.  I had no hope that I was a Christian when my father died; but my mother used to come up the ladder every night and kneel down, and put her hand upon my head, and pray that I might be converted.  Often, when I was asleep, she would come, and her tears running into my face, would wake me.  I knew that I was a sinner, but I hope God forgave my sins one night, while my dear mother was praying for me, and I still hope I was converted then.

“’About a year after my father died, my sister was taken sick and died in about two months.  My mother was naturally feeble, and her sorrow for the loss of my father and sister wore upon her until she was confined to her bed.  She lay there seven months, and last fall she died.’

“By this time the little fellow was so choked with grief that he could hardly speak.  ‘Then,’ said he, ’I was taken sick, and lay all winter, not expecting to get well.’  I shall never forget the appearance of that boy, and the expression of his countenance, when he said, ’I am a poor orphan, sir; I have nothing in this world except the clothes I have on.’

“All the clothes he had on would not have sold for twenty-five cents.

“What an example is here to induce mothers to be faithful to their children.  I wish to ask mothers if they have ever gone at the midnight hour and awoke their children by a mother’s tears while pleading with God for the salvation of their souls?”

Many mothers—­thousands of mothers—­have done no such thing.  They have neglected their own souls, and the souls of their dear children—­and both have gone to the bar of God, unprepared for the solemn interview.

But some mothers have been more faithful, and what a rich and divine reward have they received!  Many a son, now in glory, or on his way thither, owes his religious impressions to the prayers of a tender, faithful mother.

Nor should mothers be soon or easily discouraged!  True, they may not live to see their prayers answered—­but a covenant-keeping God will remember them, and in his own good time and chosen way give them an answer.

  Though seed lie buried long in dust,
    It shan’t deceive our hope;
  The precious grain can ne’er be lost,
    For grace insures the crop.

The writer, perhaps, cannot better conclude this article than by another extract from the work alluded to, much to the same purpose as the one already cited.