Henry Asking a Blessing by Madeline Leslie
A young boy named Henry has never witnessed his father pray. When a Christian family friend visits their home, he leads the household in family prayers and says grace at mealtimes, leaving a deep impression on Henry, who wishes his father would adopt the same practice. One evening, Henry finds himself at the supper table with only his younger brother and his elderly grandmother, the rest of the family having gone to visit neighbors. Moved by a simple and sincere desire, Henry asks his grandmother if he might say grace before the meal. His grandmother, herself a devoted and longstanding servant of God, agrees with tears in her eyes. Henry offers a brief, heartfelt prayer, asking God to bless their simple meal of bread and milk, requesting that he and his brother be made good children, and asking for a blessing upon his parents and grandmother. The prayer is modest and childlike in its expression, and Henry thinks nothing more of it afterward. His grandmother, however, is deeply moved by the moment and shares what happened with Henry's father upon his return home. The father finds himself profoundly affected by the sincere faith demonstrated by his young son. Convicted by the example of a seven-year-old child who thought it natural and necessary to seek God's blessing, the father resolves that his household will no longer be without prayer. Not long after this incident, he himself becomes a Christian. The story presents this episode as a testament to how even the smallest, most unassuming act of faith, performed without any intention of influence or display, can carry remarkable consequences. Henry had no awareness of the significance of what he had done, yet his simple prayer set in motion a transformation in his father's spiritual life. The narrative draws attention to the idea that genuine, unpretentious piety, even in a very young child, can serve as a powerful witness and catalyst for others, including adults who might otherwise seem beyond such influence.
By Madeline Leslie · First published 1872 · Genre: Children's Literature, Religious Fiction, Moral Fiction · 206 words
First lines
HENRY had never heard his father pray. A Christian friend, while visiting at the house, was invited to conduct family prayers, and also to ask a blessing at table. Henry wished his father would do so every day.
One evening, only Henry and his little brother and his aged grandmother sat at the table, the rest of the family taking tea with a neighbor.
"Grandma," said Henry, "may I ask a blessing?"
"Yes," she replied, her eyes filling with tears, for she had long been a true servant of God.
What this Textopian page supports
Henry Asking a Blessing is listed on Textopian as a short story by Madeline Leslie, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Madeline Leslie
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Religious Fiction, Moral Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Educational Fiction
- Length: 206 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Henry Asking a Blessing by Madeline Leslie
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Genres
- Children's Literature — Madeline Leslie was a prolific author of children's books, and this title suggests a domestic scene involving a child and a blessing, typical of 19th-century children's moral literature.
- Religious Fiction — The explicit reference to 'asking a blessing' indicates religious themes, likely focused on prayer, faith, and Christian moral instruction, which were central to Leslie's work.
- Moral Fiction — Madeline Leslie's works were predominantly didactic, designed to teach children virtues and proper behavior through narrative, making moral instruction a primary genre element.
- Domestic Fiction — The scene depicted in the title suggests a home setting and family life, which are characteristic elements of 19th-century domestic fiction.
Tags
Christian fiction · children's literature · religious instruction · moral education · prayer · faith · family life · childhood · virtue · obedience · piety · Sunday school