Many years ago eight law students were walking one Lord's Day morning on the banks of a river not far from Washington, D. C. They were heading toward a quiet little park where they intended to spend the hours of morning service in playing cards. Each young man had a bottle of liquor in his pocket.
On their way, engaged in all sorts of frivolous talk, the church bells in a neighboring village began to ring. One of the eight young men, George Nesbit, suddenly stood still. With a serious face, he said to his friend who was walking beside him: "I shall go no farther. I must go back to church.”
His friend, thinking George was joking, called out to the other students who had gone on ahead: "Boys, boys, come back! George is turning pious; we must help him. Come, let us baptize him right here.”
They formed a circle round him, saying that the only way to escape a cold bath was for him to remain in their company and carry out the program of the day.
Quietly but seriously George answered: "I know you can do what you will, throw me in the water or drown me, if you like. But first I must say something to you. Listen, and then do what you may please.
“As you all know, my home is about 200 miles from here, but none of you are aware that my mother is very sick and helpless. She is bed-ridden. I am her youngest child. It was hard for me to leave her, and too, for her to let me go away to school. At last, after much prayer, she consented to my coming here, and the preparations were soon made.
“My mother did not speak another word about it till the day I was leaving. After breakfast she asked if everything was ready. I answered, 'Yes; and I am only waiting now till time to go.' Then she asked me to kneel beside her bed. With her hands on my head, she prayed for me. It was the most solemn hour of my life. I believe that till I die I shall remember every word of that prayer.
“Afterward she spoke to me these words: "My boy, you cannot know how my heart aches to see you go. Your father has not the means to let you come home during your two years study, and I may not live that long. In a strange city you will meet many temptations and your mother can only pray for you. Every Lord's day morning especially, 10 to 11 o'clock, I shall be praying for you. Wherever you may be when the church bells ring turn your thoughts back to this room and know that your mother is in prayer for you. But you must go! Good-by.”
“Boys, I may not see my mother again in this world. But with the help of God I hope to meet her above.”
When George ceased speaking, tears were pouring down his cheeks. He looked at his comrades and their eyes too were moist. The circle that had formed around George opened, and he went back to church.
His friends admired in him the courage they lacked. They followed him to church; on the way they threw away their cards and liquor. That was the last time they made such plans for the Lord's Day.
From that day things were changed for them. Six of them became Christians. George himself, destined to become a well-known lawyer in Iowa, lived for many years a worthy witness for Christ.
At the judgment seat of Christ that praying mother will learn in full the blessed results of her loving petitions for her boy.