A PRAYING MOTHER.

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord.

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her hus band, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide for ever.

And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the Lord establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young.

And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord.

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.-1 SAMUEL i. 9-18; 21-28.

THE GOLDEN TEXT.

"I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord." -1 Sam. i. 28.

Subject.-" A Praying Mother."—1 Sam; i. 9-18;

21-28.

OUTLINE LESSON.

You boys and girls cannot be "praying mothers" (the girls may be by-and-by, though, and the boys praying fathers). But you can all study Hannah as an example of prayer.

I. In one respect do not copy her. For why did she pray? Because she forgot the mercies God had given her (see ver. 8), and coveted others He had not given her. Look at Heb. xiii. 5, and use Jacob's words, Gen. xxxii. 10.

2. Still Hannah, having a great desire, did the right thing with it. She took it to God. See Phil. iv. 6—“ In every thing," &c.

3. She vowed, if God gave her what she asked for, to give it back to God. A great sacrifice! She had to part with the child while it was quite young. We have many earthly blessings; do we consecrate them to God's service?

4. She prayed in her heart even amid services and feasts that might have distracted her. Can we lift up our hearts to God in a crowd?

5. When Eli challenged, she was not ashamed to own that she was praying. If you prayed, would you like others to know it?

6. When her prayer was granted, she did not forget to thank God. See chap. ii. "In every thing give thanks," 1 Thess. v. 18.

But though you are not "praying mothers," have you got praying mothers? If so, do you value her, or do you complain, and say, "Why can't you let me alone?" If not, are you glad that you have parents who "let you do as you like," or do you pray for them? "Happy the home where prayer is heard, And praise is wont to rise!"

"MY MOTHER'S PRAYERS."

THE REV. Mr. Bradford, the well-known prison chaplain, states:- “A young man, on whose mind the doctrines of religion had been early impressed by his pious mother's instructions, gave way to evil associations, and at length went to sea. Although he was early taught to study the sacred Scriptures, and at one period of life gave evidence that he desired to be guided by its precepts, he fell deeply into sin, and ultimately became, alas! an abandoned and miserable creature. He was thrown into prisons and workhouses, and into dens of wretchedness and vice; but into all these places his faithful mother seemed to follow him with her prayers and tears. The mother died, well nigh broken-hearted, leaving her son in prison, convicted of crime. Here he was an object of so much dread, that the keepers were afraid to approach him. In about six months, however, the tiger began to grow tame, and, to the surprise of every one, his inquiry

was,

"What shall I do to be saved?'

"I questioned him about his feelings, and he informed me that for two months he had paced his room, with sleepless nights, in agony and remorse, save when exhausted nature would sometimes overcome his horrible convictions. I inquired what particular cause had led him to his present remarkable change of feelings.

"He replied, My mother's prayers and counsels! Her last words to me were-" William, there is no other name

given under heaven among men, whereby you can be saved, but the name of Jesus Christ."

"His mother's prayers were answered, and this poor wandering prodigal became a consistent follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. Mothers of prodigal sons! pray on!”

MY GOOD MOTHER.

THOUGH Many years have passed away,
In memory still I see
The days when I, a little girl,

Stood by my mother's knee.

She taught my youthful lips to pray,
And many a tale she told
Of good and holy girls and boys
Who lived in days of old.

But she loved best to tell of Him
Who died and lives for me,
Who prayed, and blest the little ones
That gathered round His knee.

And when the stories had been told,
My hymns I'd sing or say,
Then mother took my hand in hers,
And we knelt down to pray.

SOME years since a fine young man, "the only son of his mother, and she was a widow," on becoming of age, and receiving his patrimony, entered into company, and indulged in the dissipation of genteel society. Her watchful eye saw his danger, pointed out its tendency to ruin of body and soul, and used every argument, persuasion, and entreaty in vain. One day she learned he was to dine with a large and jovial party, and she spent the forenoon in persuading him to relinquish it, but all in vain. "Mother, I will go." "Then, John, I will retire to my closet and pray for you till I see your face again." He went to the party, but could find no enjoyment; the thought of his mother being on her knees, wrestling with God in prayer for him, formed such a contrast to the scene before him, that he slipped away-found his mother in the act of prayer-knelt down by her-fell on her neck—and from that day became the delight of his pious mother's heart: a brand rescued from the burning. A religious parent's prayers are never offered in vain.

Kitty King. With Sixteen Illustrations. Price 18. 6d. This book, which is in large type, will we believe have a warm welcome from not only "the little ones," but also from their parents and teachers. It is one of the best Nursery Books we have ever seen.

Illustrated Songs and Hymns. Compiled by T. B. S. Numerous Engravings. Price 2s. 6d.

Jessie Dyson. A Christmas Tale for the Young. By John A. Walker. Price 18.

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