New Hampshire Statesman

Moral and Religious.

THE LORD'S PRAYER

A friend tells us an anecdote of Booth, the great tragedian which we do not recollect having seen in print. It occurred in the palmy days of his fame, before the sparkle of his great black eyes had been dimmed by that bane of genius, strong drink. Booth and several friends had been invited to dine with an old gentleman in Baltimore, of distinguished kindness, urbanity and piety. The host, though disapproving of theatre and theatre-going, had heard so much of Booth's remarkable powers, that curiosity to see the man, had, in this instance, overcome all his scruples and prejudices. After the entertainment was over, lamps lighted, and the company reseated in the drawing-room, some one requested Booth as a particular favor and one which all present would doubtless appreciate, to read aloud the Lord's Prayer. Booth expressed his willingness to afford them this gratification, and their eyes were turned expectantly upon him. Booth rose slowly and reverently from his chair. It was wonderful to watch the play of emotion that convulsed his countenance. He became deathly pale, and his eyes, turned trembling upward, were wet with tears. As yet he had not spoken. The silence could be felt. It became absolutely painful, until at last the spell was broken as if by an electric shock, as his rich toned voice, from white lips, syllabled forth, "Our Father who art in Heaven, etc., with a pathos and fervid solemnity that thrilled all hearts. He finished. The silence continued. Not a voice was heard nor a muscle moved in this rapt audience, until from a remote corner of the room a subdued sob was heard, and the old gentleman, their host, stepped forward with streaming eyes and tottering frame and seizing Booth by the hand, "Sir," said he in broken accents, "you have afforded me a pleasure for which my whole future life will feel grateful. I am an old man, and every day from my boyhood to the present time, I thought I had repeated the Lord's Prayer, but I have never heard it before, never." "You are right," replied Booth; "to read that prayer as it should be read has cost me the severest study and labor for thirty years, and I am far from being yet satisfied with my reading of that wonderful production. Hardly one person in ten thousand comprehends how much grandeur can be condensed in a space so small and in words so simple. The prayer of itself sufficiently illustrates the truth of the Bible, and stamps upon it the seal of divinity." So great was the effect produced (says our informant who was present,) that conversation was sustained but a short time longer in subdued monosyllables, and almost entirely ceased; and soon after, at an early hour, the company broke up, and retired to their several homes with sad faces and full hearts.