Saved by His Child

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Nov 6, 1879

Saved by His Child.

SOME twenty-five years ago I was at my desk, when David N. Sears came up to me and said:—

“Have you any petition? I wish to send my name in to the Division of the Sons of Temperance. I am determined to be a man. I have as good a wife as any man, and three lovely little girls; and yet, like a fool, I am spending the most of my earnings for whisky. I am now under the influence of whisky; have been on a spree for a week. I never go home when on a spree for the place would be too warm for me. I determined, this morning, to “call off” and go home. Soon as I took my seat one of the little ones, my pet, came to me as usual and sat upon my knee. Looking up into my face, and at the same time stroking down my hair with her little hands, she asked me:—

“‘Papa, do you love me?’

“‘Yes, my child.’

“This was repeated twice. The last time she asked the question, I said:—

“‘Why do you ask me whether I love you? Do you not know I love you?’

“With tears running down her cheeks, she said:—

“‘Well, papa, if you love me why do you let me be called a drunkard’s child?’

“I dashed her from me as if she had been a serpent; and if the Sons of Temperance will receive me, sir, I will become a man; and, God helping me, never shall a child of mine, again, be called a ‘drunkard’s child.’”

He was received, and, subsequently filled the highest office of the Division, and was a highly esteemed and honored man.

He removed from our town and, when under very strong temptation—led into temptation and sin by improper association—he violated his pledge; but was restored. He finally removed to a small town in East Tennessee, where he established himself in a good business, and lived an honored and highly esteemed citizen.

I saw him a few months before his death. He was then confined to his room by protracted sickness, but was waiting patiently for the coming of the Master. He died in peace.

In giving the foregoing statement, I have written it for the purpose of bearing testimony to the power and influence for good of children, when properly trained by their mothers. The mother of the child was a Christian; and the child but reflected under the influence of the Spirit, the teachings of the mother.—Our Morning Guide.