Prayers in the Train

A mother and her five children were traveling from their former home in Illinois to where the husband and father had taken a claim in the West for their future home. The mother looked worn and tired, yet interested in her family—all clean and neat, though plainly dressed. When bed-time arrived, and the youngest—a boy of about four years—was beginning to nod, the next older began tugging at him to keep awake, and looked appealingly at his mother. The others began whispering among themselves, and then to the mother, and the passengers’ attention was attracted. Quietly, without ostentation or display―yes, even with timidity―the mother and children knelt together there while the evening prayers were said. Just a moment, but traveling men, politicians, business, and newspaper men, all paid a silent tribute to the civilizing agent of all ages—the Christian religion―by removing their hats.