Resumes Her Labors
Resumes her labors — Why a little girl did not learn the coniniandnients — Addresses her scholars on the duty of keeping the Sabbath day holy — An opposer changed to an assistant — His deep conviction — His conversion.
As soon as the cold weather had passed away, and my health would permit, I resumed my labors. I now boarded with different families. I found that a more intimate acquaintance with the parents greatly augmented my influence over them. I had a great desire that all the children should learn the commandments, and requested that they should recite them for a lesson on the following Sabbath. When they came to recite I found that several had not learned them. Upon making inquiries as to the cause of their delinquency, one little girl said that her father had looked “all through the New Testament,” without being able to find them. I then directed thera to look in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. By the next Sunday they had them perfectly. The parents had the impression that I pursued this course, for the purpose of finding out how much they knew of the Bible. After they had repeated the commandments, I told the children that on the next Sabbath I would address them from the words, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” and asked them to invite their parents.
When Sunday came I was quite sick, having had a heavy chill. My good friends with whom I boarded thought it imprudent for me to sro: but the Lord, who was “the strenorth of my life,” enabled me to meet the engagement. When I arrived I found the house filled. Some were there whom I knew were violent opposers, and such as delighted in ridiculing religion. I was deeply impressed with my utter incompetency to the work before me, and had almost despondingly said, “Who is sufficient for these things?” when the sweet assurance that I could “do all things through Christ strengthening me,” aflforded me very timely relief, and great encouragement. I was enabled to resign my will, my reputation, and my all, into the hands of my great Helper, praying that in my extreme weakness his strength might be made perfect. I had great liberty in prayer, and, through the whole of my remarks, was deeply conscious of the aid of the Holy Spirit. I had observed, as I came to the school, that three of my scholars were sliding” down a haystack; I resolved to speak of it in my remarks. I therefore took occasion to ask them, if ^’•atherin■ nuts on the Sabbath day was keeping it holy; if visiting was keeping the Sabbath day holy; if sliding down a haystack would be keeping the Sabbath day holy. The children looked much ashamed, and confessed that they had done wrong. I told them if they were to visit the state prisons and common jails, and ask the miserable beings confined there, what was the first step in their downward course, they would undoubtedly hear them answer,” Sabhathhreaking!’^ I then spoke very solemnly on this subject, when both parents and children seemed deeply affected.
There was one person present whom I had particularly noticed on coming in. He had been unfavorable to the Sunday school, and prevented his little boy from attending. But the little fellow had, nevertheless, succeeded in getting there the Sabbath previous, and had conveyed to his father my invitation for the parents to be present. To my request he had added his own importunities, till he had succeeded in bringing his father to the Sunday school; although it was afterward found that
•Xti THE USEFUL DISCIPLE,
he had come thcxC from wicked motives. After I had dismissed the scholars he tarried behind, and said, “Mrs. Gardner, you are doing a preat deal for us: you labor hard through the week, and then teach all day Sunday, for which you ffet nothing. If I could be of any service to you, I should be happy to assist you in teaching these little ones. I highly approve of what you have said; I did not know that the Sunday school was what it is.” I expressed gratitude for the kind offer, and accepted it.
The next Sabbath he came, looking very solemn, and greatly changed in his appearance. I offered him a class of large scholars; but he refused, saying that he knew nothing about the Bible himself, and did not feel competent to instruct others. He therefore took a class of little children.
When the school was dismissed he again lingered behind. He approached the desk, and said, “Mrs. Gardner, after we had returned home from this place last Sunday evening, and were sitting down to the tea-table, my little boy said to me, ‘Pa, won’t you pray? My teacher always prays when we eat at school.’ I endeavored to evade his question by telling
A NARRATIVE OF MRS. GARDNER. oJ
him to eat his supper. He obeyed me, but soon looking me in the face, said, *Pa, isn’t it wicked to say devil? You call sheep devil.’ This was an arrow in my heart; I could eat no more, but rose and left the table. My child had reproved me. I felt that my wickedness was very great. In the evening, as he was about to retire, he asked me to teach him how to pray; but I could not. I have passed a very distressed week. I feel that I am a vile sinner in the sight of God.”
From this hour he earnestly sought for mercy, till he obtained a clear evidence that he was born again, of that incorruptible seed which beareth fruit unto eternal life. God, in his wise providence, soon removed him from that place, but, I am informed, still owns and blesses him as one of his dear children.