Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1851-06-07
So Many Calls.

y was then ascrloed 10 Mrs. Harriet Beecher
Stowe. 1t is now travelling abroad as an or
phan child, but il has lost none of its early
beauty:
1t was a brisk clear evening in the latter
part of December, when Mr. a returned
from his counting house TO the comforts of a
bright coal ire and warm arm chair in his par
lor at home. He changed his heavy boots for
slippers, drew around him the folds of his eve-
Ming gown, and then lounging back in the
chair looked up 10 the ceiling and about with
an air of satisfaction. Still there was cloud
upon his brow. What could be the matter of
Mr.. A.? To tell the truth, he had that
afternoon in his counting room, received the
agent of one Of the principal religious charities
of the day, and had been warmly urged to
double bis last years subscription, and the
urging had been pressed by statements and
arguments to which he did not know well how
to'reply. People think soliloquized he to
himself, 'that am made of money believe.
This is the fourth object this year for which
have been requested to double my subscrip-
ton, and this year has been one of heavy fam
lily xpenses-building and fitting up this
house, carpets, curtains-no end to the new
things to be bought do not see really how
am TO give cent more to charity. TLen
there are bills for the boys and girls; they
all say they must have twice as much now as
before we cane to this house; wonder if /
did right in building it?' and Mr.. A. glanced
uneasily up down the ceiling, and around on
the costly furniture, and looked into the fire in
silence. He was tired, harrassed and sleepy
his head began to swim, and his eyes closed
He was asleep. In his sleep he thought he
heard tap at his door, and there stood a plain,
poor looking man, who in a voice singularly
low and sweet, asked for a few moments con-
Versation with him. Mr. A. asked him into
the parlor and drew him chair near the fire.
The stranger looked attentively round, and
then turning to Mr.. A. presented him with
paper: 1T is your last years subscription 10
missions, said he; you know all the wants of
that cause that can be told you; l came to see
if you had any thing more to add to it,
This was said in the same low quiet voice
as before; but for some reason unaccountable
to himself, Mr.. A. was more embarrassed by
the plain poor, unpretending man, than he had
been in the presence of any one before. He
was for some moments quiet before he could
reply at all, and then in the same hurried and
embarrassed manner he began the same ex-
cuses which had appeared SO satisfactory to
him the afternoon before-the hardness of the
times, the difficulty of collecting money, fami-
ly expenses, DC.
The stranger quietly surveyed the spacious
apartment with its many elegancies and lux
uries, and without any comment took from the
merchant the paper he had given, but imme-
diately presented him with another.
This is your subscription to the Tract Soci-
ETY.; have you anything to add to ii? You
know how much it has been doing, and how
much more it now desires to do, if Christians
would only furnish the means. Do you not
feel called upon to add something to it!'
Mr. A. was very uneasy about this appeal,
but there was something in the manner of the
stranger that restrained him; but he answer
ed that, though he regretted it exceedingly,
his circumstances were such that he could not
conveniently add to any of his charities.
The stranger received back the paper with
out any reply, but Immediately presented in
its place the subscription to the Bible Society,
and in few clear and forcble words remind
ed him of its well known claims, and again
requested him to add something to his dona-
ton. Mr.. A. became impatient.
Have not said,' be replied, that can do
nothing more for any charity than l did last
year? There seems to be no end to the calls
these days. At first there were only three
or four objects presented land the sums requir-
ed moderate. now the objects increase every
day, and call upon us for money; and all after
we have given once, want us to double and
treble, and even quadruple our subscriptions
There is no end to the thing. We may as
well stop in one place as another
h. H., I
fixing his eye on his companion, said, in voice
that thrilled to his soul:
One year ago tonight you thought that
your daughter lay dying-you could not rest
for agony-upon whom did you call that
night?'
The merchant started and looked up-there
seemed a change to have passed over the
whole form of his visitor whose eye was fixed
on him with calm, intense penetrating ex-
preston that atsubduedhim-he drew back, COW
cred his face and made no reply.
Five years ago. said the stranger, when
you lay at the brink of the grave, and thought
| if yon died then, you would leave family un-
provided for, do you remember how you pray
ed Who saved you them
The stranger drew yet nearer, and said in
still lower and more impressive tone. DO
you remember fifteen years since, that time
when you felt yourself SO lost, so helpless, SO
hopeless, when you thought you would give
the world for one hours assurance that your
sins were forgiven? Who listened to you
then?'
1T was my God and SAVIOR said the mer-
chant with sudden burst of remorseful feel
ing; % yes, it was he.'
'And has he never complained of being
called upon too often?' inquired the stranger,
in voice of repToachful sweetness. Say
added he. ARE you willing to begin this night
and ask no more of him, if he from this night,
will ask no more from you?
o, never, never said the merchant, throw
ing himself at his feet; but as he spake the
words, the figure seemed to vanish, and he
awoke with his whole soul stirred within him.
% God and Savior! what have l been do
ing?' he exclaimed. Take all-take every
thing-what is all that have to what thou
hast done for me?'