he saw no Bible, such as was likely to be used for such a purpose.

On Sunday morning they were rather later than usual, partly because they had sat up so late the night before; and again there was no family worship. As soon as breakfast was over Mrs. Atkinson left the room, for the purpose of preparing herself and the elder children to go to the morning service, for which they were only just in time.

In the evening a niece of Mr. Raine's accompanied them home, along with her husband. They stayed till a little after ten, and again there was no family prayer.

The following morning Atkinson, who had gone out to the works at six o'clock, returned to breakfast at eight. He sat and chatted a few minutes after breakfast was done, looked at the newspaper, and then invited his uncle to go out with him to see the manufactory and some other things which he thought would interest him. Still no family prayer.

It was now quite evident to Mr. Raine that the institution was altogether unobserved, and he resolved to take the first opportunity of speaking about it.

That night, as the three sat together after supper, Mr. Raine gradually led the conversation to the subject of the children, and their right training; and after a good deal had been said about it on both sides, he said: "But, George, there is one thing which I am persuaded is essential to the proper training of a household, and that is family prayer. Now, I've been looking, ever since I came, for the Bible being brought out, and your children and your servant being assembled for worship; but you have not done it hitherto. You are not letting me interfere with it, I hope."

Atkinson coloured deeply. He had already divined what was passing in his uncle's mind. He had caught his inquiring glance round the room on the night of his arrival, at the time when it might have been expected that family prayer would be held, and he saw what it meant. He had thought about it, indeed, before his uncle arrived, knowing how regularly he observed domestic worship at home, and what great importance he attached to it. He had debated in his mind whether or not it would be well to bring out the Bible, and ask his uncle to read and pray; but several objections occurred, which he thought decisive. For one thing, he was quite sure the children would remark upon it as something new: then, again, his uncle might possibly insist on

his sometimes conducting the service himself; but, perhaps, as strong a reason as any which influenced him, was that which found expression in the words,-"No, I'll not try to seem to my uncle any better than I am.” So things were

allowed to take their usual course.

It may be explained that George Atkinson's mother had not kept up family worship after her husband's death. At first, she felt that she could scarcely command her feelings sufficiently to do it; and afterwards, though she often thought about it, she had felt that it would be at once a confession of neglect and a great trial of nerve to begin again; so the practice was never resumed. During his apprenticeship, also, he had lived in a family where it was altogether neglected. It can scarcely be wondered at that when he set up his own house, he did not think it so important as he might otherwise have done.

66

Well, uncle," he replied, "to say the truth, we never got into the habit of it. We did not begin that way, and we never took it up."

"I am sorry to hear that, George," said Mr. Raine; “it is a grievous thing when a man does not pray for himself; and it is scarcely less sad when a father of a family does not pray with his wife and his children. If God has a right to your service, has he not an equal right to that of your household? and who is to teach them that, and who is to conduct their worship, but you? God gives us families many blessings, for which we ought to thank him; we have common sins to confess and to implore their forgiveness; and there are mercies which we need as households, which we ought to seek together in prayer. I often think of that saying of good Philip Henry, 'Wherever I have a home, God shall have an altar.'

as

"I quite admit, uncle," replied Atkinson, "that every man ought to pray, and nobody can read the Bible without being sure that it is God's will we should pray. There is a great deal in it about secret prayer, and a great deal about public worship; but I don't remember ever meeting with any command or direction about family prayer."

Mr. Raine reflected a moment, and then said, rather slowly, "Well, George, I cannot say that I am able at this moment to recall any express command on the subject; and perhaps there is not one which, in so many words, enjoins upon us to assemble our families morning and evening, and to pray with them. One reason may be, that the necessity

and advantage of it are so obvious. A man who has felt the value of prayer for himself will be very anxious to bring up his children, and all else entrusted to his care, in the habit of prayer; and he will see that one of the best ways of teaching them to pray for themselves is to pray with them. But I cannot admit that God has not made it very clear that it is his will. I think a great deal of instruction is given us on many points by the examples of good men. Now we find the patriarchs both instructing their households and offering worship with them. You will remember that noble appeal of Joshua to Israel, just when he was about to give up his charge of them: " : 'Choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."* It was a day of great rejoicing when

David removed the ark from the house of Obed-edom to its resting-place in Zion; but it is said that when all the public solemnities were over David returned to bless his household.' The title of one of his Psalms‡ is, 'A Psalm and Song at the Dedication of the House of David.' We read in one of the Psalms,§ that the Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob.' He specially loves 'the gates of Zion,' because there is offered within them the united worship of his assembled people; but then he does love the dwellings of Jacob, and it is implied, I think, that he loves them, too, because they are the scenes of holy instruction and of united worship. It is mentioned to the praise of Cornelius, the centurion, that he was one that feared the Lord, with all his house.' I think, George, that without much trouble I could find a good deal more that indicates God's approval of household worship."

6

"Well, uncle," said Atkinson, "I must admit that there is a great deal more about it than I had thought. Still, after all, what can little children understand about such things?"

"Whether your children can understand much or not," replied Mr. Raine, "at all events your wife and your servant are old enough to understand them. Besides, little children often understand a great deal more than we are sometimes disposed to give them credit for. They can certainly see this, that if you pray with them and for them, you deem prayer a very solemn duty; and if you pray as simply as every one who has little children should try to do, they * Josh. xxiv. 15. + 2 Sam. vi. 20. + Psa. xxx. § Psa. lxxxvii. 2.

|| Acts x. 2.

will understand a great many of your prayers. Besides, at family worship you will read God's word, and there are many parts of the Bible in which they will soon learn to take a deep interest."

"" for

"That I'm sure they will," said Mrs. Atkinson; nothing pleases the children better when I am alone with them than for me to read to them scripture stories; and I always find them willing to say such prayers as I teach them."

Then, you know," said Mr. Raine, "they will not be always little children. They are growing up very fast; and I can tell you that if you leave it till they can enter fully into everything, you will have hard work to begin. You believe, George," he continued, after a moment's pause, "that God hears prayer, don't you."

66

"I can't say anything against that, uncle," was the reply. Well, then, see what blessings you turn away from your children, if you do not pray for them. There is no telling what good gifts he bestows on children because of their parent's prayers, and on households because of their united supplications. On the other hand, there can be no doubt that he is greatly displeased with those who do not thus honour him. Besides, George, your children will not be always with you. They will very likely have to go out into the world; and in these days of travel and enterprise they may go to the very ends of the earth. Depend upon it-to say nothing of such mercies as God may give in direct answer to your prayers-the very remembrance of them will prove a safeguard and a blessing when your children are no longer beneath your eye."

"I see, uncle," said Atkinson, "that my neglect has been very wrong; but I don't think I could do it. I never prayed in my life before other people, and I am almost sure I should break down."

"I scarcely think you would do that, George. There is no need, you know, for you to offer very long prayers. Just think what blessings you and your family need, and ask for them in the simplest language you can find. The work will become easier as you go on. But if you really find that you cannot pray extempore, get a book of family prayers. Do without if you can, but it is far better to pray that way than not at all."

"We

"But I've so very little time," said Atkinson. allow only half an hour at the shop for breakfast; and I

must not take much longer, for if I do, something is sure to go wrong."

"Make the service the shorter, then," replied Mr. Raine; “and indeed, so far as the children are concerned, it is never well to be long. You know the old proverb, Where there's a will there's a way?' Besides, you're not so pressed for time in the evening."

"Not generally," was the reply.

"You are fond of singing, I know, George; and I could not help hearing on Sunday morning that your wife is a good singer too. Now it would be a pleasant and profitable addition to your reading and prayer if you would also praise God in some simple hymn that your children could enter into."

66

Well, Mary," said Atkinson, turning to his wife, "what do you say?"

"There's nothing I should like better, George," replied his wife. "Indeed, I have often felt as though we were sadly wrong in neglecting it; you know I was always used to it at home."

Suppose then," said Mr. Raine, "we begin to-night. The children have been in bed a long time; and I dare say the servant is too, by this time; but we three can have prayer now, and you can gather them all together in the morning."

The good old man then read a chapter from the Bible, and implored God's blessing very earnestly on his nephew and his wife and children. Both Atkinson and his wife were deeply moved.

"I am afraid, Mary," said Atkinson, after Mr. Raine had left them, and they sat at the fire-side by themselves, "that we shall have to go further back, and begin at the beginning. At any rate, I feel that I have really to learn to pray for myself. After all, that has been the great secret of our neglect of family prayer."

"I have no doubt you are right," said his wife. "Well, dear George, for our own sakes and the children's let us turn over a new leaf."

The following morning family prayer was established in George Atkinson's house, and it has been kept up ever since.

your

house

Are the head of a family, reader, and has you been hitherto without prayer? We entreat you to take into most serious consideration the duty of family religion.