THE MOTHER'S CONVERSION SAVED THE CHILD.
By Mrs. C. H. Goodwin
"WELL, I declare, that child is the most trying youngster that ever lived," said a mother to a neighbor who had just as poor management as herself. "Well," said the one addressed, "I'd lick it out of her. You won't do your duty if you don't make her mind when you speak to her." Then the mother, with boiling feelings of "duty," slapped the little four-year-old, to make her pick up some toys that she had left lying around. The little one had protested, saying, "I don't want to pick them up now;" but, after receiving several slaps, she proceeded to do so, and threw them in the box, breaking several in the process. Then the mother shut her up in the bedroom. At this punishment she both kicked and screamed, until the indignant mother said to her, "I will give you a sound whipping, if you don't behave yourself." Very soon the switching was administered. The little one then climbed upon the bed and cried herself to sleep, while the mother tried to quiet her disturbed conscience with the texts, "Spare the rod and spoil the child;" "Tho ye beat him, yet will he not die." Yet days and weeks of such treatment had gone by, and instead of the child growing better, she had only grown worse. What could be the matter? Surely, such rebellion must be stopped. The neighbor went home. The mother, tired and heart-sick, fell on her knees at the bed of the sleeping, sobbing little one. The sobbing continued, and well nigh broke her own stubborn heart. "O Lord," she cried, "I'm not fit to bring up the little one Thou hast given me." She remained upon her knees, and rapid were the texts and quotations from the Bible, as well as suggestions from Christian mothers, that came into her mind:— "He that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city." "Never let a frown gather upon your brow." "Never strike a child unless you can first pray over it." "Don't speak of your children's faults before others." "O God," she cried, "forgive me my sins against this child! Help me to remove the stone from the door of my heart. O, give me Thy Holy Spirit, and let its gentle influence be felt upon the child!" The child awoke after a while, and was moved to penitence by the mother's penitence and tears. The little arms went around her neck, the curly head nestled on her shoulder, and she sobbed, "Mama, I want you to ask Jesus to make me a good girl." They prayed together, then both arose, and the mother took the little one in her arms, and told her how anxious she was to let Jesus rule her own actions, so she would not speak and act so cross and sinful. She told her how it grieved the good angels and the Holy Spirit. The little one comprehended so much that the mother could not help thinking, "And He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers." It was nearing time to get dinner for papa; but first they knelt and asked God to give them strength to be kind to each other, and make things cheerful for the one that had toiled away from home for them. How willing the little feet now were to run on errands for mama, bringing in wood and kindling, so papa would not have it to do! How she delighted to make little loaves of bread and clean up everything! Then, with a few gentle suggestions, she helped set the table. And at times she was singing, in baby fashion, bits of her own make-up, such as, "Jesus loves me and is making a pretty home for me and my papa and mama, and all the good people." Again she asked questions about the home in Eden, yes, and about the home here too. Even the cat mewed and seemed to enjoy her sunshiny heart, made so by the Spirit of God. Parents, are our children unruly? Are we inclined to lose heart and say, "It seems the devil has possession of them"? We are told, "Ye are laborers together with God." Is not the home the place to begin? Is there a field of labor that will exert a wider influence for good than this sacred domain? Did not the Lord say, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise"? Can it be said of us, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things," if we neglect the seeming little duties of our home? Jesus could have rolled away the stone from the grave of Lazarus; He could have taken off the grave-clothes; but no—He wanted His followers to be laborers with Him. To every parent of the household of faith He says, "Remove the stumbling-block," "Take ye away the stone." And may God help us to heed the message for to-day, that at the judgment bar of God we may be able to say, by His grace, "Here am I and the children, Thou hast given me."