“Oh! but he will not pray for himself!” sobbed the mother.

“Then you must pray all the more for him; and go where he will, he cannot get beyond God’s sight, or out of His merciful hands.  You know Christ said, ‘Whatsoever you ask in my name, I will do it’; and if the Syrophenician’s daughter was saved not by her own prayers but by her mother’s faith, why should not God save your son if you pray and believe?”

Mrs. Murray clasped Edna closer to her heart, and kissed her warmly.

“You are my only comfort!  If I had your faith I should not be so unhappy.  My dear child, promise me one thing, that every time you pray you will remember my son, and ask God to preserve him in his wanderings, and bring him safely back to his mother.  I know you do not like him, but for my sake will you not do this?”

“My prayers are not worth much, but I will always remember to pray for him; and, Mrs. Murray, while he is away, suppose you have family prayer, and let all the household join in praying for the absent master.  I think it would be such a blessing and comfort to you.  Grandpa always had prayer night and morning, and it made every day seem almost as holy as Sunday.”

Mrs. Murray was silent a little while, and answered hesitatingly: 

“But, my dear, I should not know how to offer up prayers before the family.  I can pray for myself, but I should not like to pray aloud.”

There was a second pause, and finally she said: 

“Edna, would you be willing to conduct prayers for me?”

“It is your house, and God expects the head of every family to set an example.  Even the pagans offered sacrifices every day for the good of the household, and you know the Jews had morning and evening sacrifices; so it seems to me family prayer is such a beautiful offering on the altar of the hearthstone.  If you do not wish to pray yourself, you could read a prayer; there is a book called Family Prayer, with selections for every day in the week.  I saw a copy at the parsonage, and I can get one like it at the book store if you desire it.”

“That will suit my purpose much better than trying to compose them myself.  You must get the book for me.  But, Edna, don’t go to school to-day, stay at home with me; I am so lonely and low-spirited.  I will tell Mr. Hammond that I could not spare you.  Beside, I want you to help me arrange some valuable relics belonging to my son, and now that I think of it, he told me he wished you to use any of his books or MSS. that you might like to examine.  This is a great honor, child, for he has refused many grown people admission to his rooms.  Come with me, I want to lock up his curiosities.”

They went through the rotunda and into the rooms together; and Mrs. Murray busied herself in carefully removing the cameos, intaglios, antique vases, goblets, etc., etc., from the tables, and placing them in the drawers of the cabinets.  As she crossed the room tears fell on the costly trifles, and finally she approached the beautiful miniature temple and stooped to look at the fastening.  She selected the smallest key on the bunch, that contained a dozen, and attempted to fit it in the small opening, but it was too large; then she tried her watch-key, but without success, and a look of chagrin crossed her sad, tear-stained face.