The Nursery, August 1873, Vol. XIV. No. 2

VOLUME XIV.—No. 2 BOSTON: JOHN L. SHOREY, No. 36, BROMFIELD STREET. 1873.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by JOHN L. SHOREY, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. Boston: Stereotyped and Printed by Rand, Avery, & Co.
THE MOTHER'S PRAYER.

NCE there was a good mother whose chief prayer for her little boy in his cradle was that he might have a loving heart. She did not pray that he might be wise or rich or handsome or happy or learned, or that others might love him , but only that he might love.
When that little boy, whose name was Edward, grew up, it seemed as if his mother's prayer had been answered, and that, in making it, she had been wiser than she knew or dreamed.
She had not prayed that he might be wise; but somehow the love in his heart seemed to make him wise, and to lead him to choose what is best, and to remember all the good things he was taught.
She had not prayed that he might be rich; but it turned out that he was so anxious to help and serve others, that he found the only way to do that was to get the means of helping: and so he became diligent, thrifty, and prompt in business, till at last he had the means he sought.
Edward's mother had not prayed that he might be handsome; but there was so much love and good-will manifest in his face, that people loved to look on it: and its expression made it handsome, for beauty attends love like its shadow.
The prayer had not been that he might be happy; but—dear me! how can there be love in the heart without happiness? Edward had no time for moping discontent, for revenge, or anger. He was too busy thinking what he might do for others; and, in seeking their happiness, he found his own .