Part 14 (1/2)
Among the students in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N.J., in 1860, was my intimate friend L----. He was at the time poorly clad, but was a devoted Christian, and is at present a successful foreign missionary.
One day when on the Seminary campus, I heard two of the students very thoughtlessly criticising the exceeding shabbiness of L----'s wearing apparel, his short pants, old shoes, and socks with no heels in them. At almost every step L---- took when playing ball, his bare heels could be seen. That day, after evening prayers, I took L---- by the arm, for a walk to ”Orthodox point,” a tree about a mile distant from the Seminary.
During our walk, I gently told him of the criticisms I had heard, and learned more fully than I had ever done of his dest.i.tution of wearing apparel, especially of under garments. I offered him a share of mine, or the loan of money, so as to meet his present wants, but this he declined to receive, saying, that he ”would take it to the Lord in prayer,” and that G.o.d would in good time supply all his wants. I, too, bore his case to the throne of grace. The next day after this, on going into his room, he laid before me an empty envelope, and a five dollar bill, and asked me the question, ”Did you throw that envelope with that bill in it, through that ventilator?” I a.s.sured him that I did not. ”Well,” said he, ”when I came in from recitation a short time ago, I found this envelope on the floor and that five dollar bill in it. It has evidently been thrown in through the ventilator.” We both recognized G.o.d's hand in the provision made and mentally gave thanks to our Heavenly Father. Soon after this, ”a missionary box” was sent to the Seminary, and my friend was therefrom well supplied with under garments. Frequently afterward did he say to me, in substance, ”Prayer is the key to G.o.d's treasury.
Trust in Him and the Lord will provide.”
UNEXPECTED RELIEF.
Henry Badgerow was a man about seventy years of age at the time of the incident, and a resident of Steuben county, State of New York. This was in the year about A.D. 1830-31. He had been for many years an invalid-- so much so that he couldn't walk--the result of a horse running away with him. In a forest, isolated from neighbors, the old man resided alone with an aged wife. They were quite poor, and wholly dependent upon the labor of a son who worked away from home for others. This son was at length taken sick with a fever, and unable to minister to his parents'
wants. This was in mid-winter, when storms were frequent and the snows deep and lasting. One evening when the storm was at its highest, this old couple found themselves without a particle of food in the house.
Matters were desperate with them. They could see but starvation staring them in the face. They resolved upon prayer, having a firm trust in their Heavenly Father, whom for many years they had been humbly serving.
They did not retire, but continued in fervent prayer that G.o.d would send them food. About two and a half miles distant lived a young married man in comfortable circ.u.mstances, by the name of Joseph Clason (the author of the story). He was not at this time a Christian, although it was not long after this he was converted, and has since lived an eminently active and G.o.dly life. About 12 o'clock on the night of the snow storm above mentioned, young Clason awoke. His first thoughts were of old Mr.
Badgerow and his condition in that storm. His mind became so impressed with the thought of him, and so wrought upon that he could not again go to sleep, although trying so to do. At length he awakened his wife, told her that he was in trouble about Mr. B., for fear he and his wife were starving. She replied that if he would get right up and make a light, she would prepare something, and that he had better take it right down.
Young C. did so, taking with him a pail of provisions. After a jaunt through the storm and snow in the dead hour of night, he reached the old man's cabin. There he found a light burning. He knocked; the door was opened by the wife. The old man was fervently praying; but when he saw young C. with the pail of provisions, he held up both hands and said, ”Now I know that G.o.d heareth prayer. Not one mouthful have we in the house to eat. I know that G.o.d sent you here.” Young C. staid with the old couple until daylight. The conversation revealed that about midnight the old man perceiving that a storm had arisen, and that unless relief came, which was not likely, they would starve, resolved to appeal to his Heavenly Father, saying that G.o.d who sent the ravens to feed Elijah would feed him if he went to him in faith, and now G.o.d had heard his prayer, and he blessed G.o.d that he could do so in all trouble and trial.
The old man having asked C. how he came to visit them, he replied he didn't know, but supposed G.o.d had sent him, as he had awoke and couldn't again sleep on account of thought of him.
The incident made a serious and lasting impression on young C's mind.
In the morning, as C. was returning home, he came by his father's house; his mother, espying his pail, wished to know where he had been. He replied, ”To feed the hungry.” His father spreading the incident, the neighbors all turned out and brought in enough provision to last them during several weeks, the old man being greatly loved and respected by his community, on account of his sterling Christian life and character.
Mr. Joseph Clason is still living, now seventy-five years of age, in Bazine, Ness county, Kansas.
THAT BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT. HOW THE LORD USED IT.
A lady and gentleman were walking up Madison avenue, New York City, from church, when incidentally the lady said, ”We are trying to get up Christmas decorations and entertainment for our Mission School.”
”_Well, put my name down for anything you like_,” and then came into his mind a certain sum to give.
A day pa.s.sed on, it seemed forgotten; but a note from the lady reminded him of his promise, and he responded, giving the exact sum originally thought of, $25. Notice, now, the most singular disposition of it, which, by the hand of Providence, was made to go on its circuitous way to meet those who needed it most.
The next Sabbath, the lady and gentleman again meeting each other, she said, ”Your gift was too large. I cannot take so much from you. I shall give you back part.”
”But I won't take it.”
”Well, you must. I can't keep it.”
It resulted in the lady taking $15 from her m.u.f.f and forcing it back into the gentleman's hand.
The gentleman felt badly. ”_I intended this for the Lord, and now it is refused. It is the first time I ever heard that money ever given to a Sunday school was not wanted. I meant the whole for the. Lord_. If she don't want it and wont keep it, I will give the rest away. _It does not belong to me_.” Before night he had enclosed it in a letter and sent it out of the city to an invalid as a _Christmas present_. He had occasion not long after to visit the invalid, and was fairly astonished at the extraordinary circ.u.mstances connected with its use; and this is his story, told in his letter to the lady who returned the $15.
”The sequel to the $15 is far more beautiful and wonderful than anything I have ever known. This invalid had been praying for some money for a needed article of dress to protect her from cold. _The_ $15 _came the very next morning in answer to her prayer. But it was more than enough_.
As a consistent Christian, having asked the Lord only for enough to meet but one need, she felt as if the rest belonged to the Lord and must be used for Him. So in wondering how to use it, she thought of a poor woman who needed a new calico dress, and at once bought it and gave it to her.
She had but $5 left. A dear friend was in distress; his horse and carriage had been seized for failure to pay the livery bill of their keeping; he could not collect any money of the debts due him, to pay his bill, and had nothing. His wife and children were in New Britain, and here he was, no means to get there. The little Christian invalid sent him her $5, the last money she had, not knowing where her next was to come from, with these words: ”_The Lord has sent you this_,” and though he offered to return, or use only part, she said, ”_No, the Lord meant this for you_. You must keep it, I will not take it back.” Now see how beautifully all these incidents have been made to work for the good of many, by the managing hand of Providence.