Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1852-01-21
THE SILVER DOLLAR,
OR, HOW GOD PROVIDES.


1t was season of great scarcity on the
bill regions of New Hampshire, when poor
woman who lived in hut by the woods,
had no bread for her little family. She was
sick, WITHOUT either friends or money
There was no help but God, and she betook
herself to prayer. She prayed long-she
prayed in earnest; for she believed that He
who fed the young ravens, would feed her.
On rising from her bed one morning her
little bare-footed girl opened the door to go
out. Something shining on the sill stopped
her. The child stopped down, and beheld a
silver dollar She ran and took it to her
mother. 1t really aOas new, round, bright
silver dollar. They looked up and down the
road not living person was in sight, and
neither footsteps nor wagon wheels were to
be heard
Where did the dollar come from? Did
God send it? Doubtless it was from His
hand but how did it get there? Did it
rain down? No. Did He throw it from the
windows qf heaYen? No Did an angel
fetch It yNo. God has wayss auu mean
for answering prayer without sending special
messengers. He touches some little spring
in the great machinery of His providence,
without the least disturbing its. regularity,
and help comes. sometimes we do not SEE
exactly hoaO, as the poor woman did not
then it seems to come more directly from
Him; while in fact, our all being taken
care Of, ever since we were born, comes ius
as directly from Him, only He employs sc
many people to do it, fathers, mothers, ser
wants, shop-keepers, that we are apt to lost
sight of Him, and fix our eye only on them
But how did the silver dollar get on tn,
door-sill somebody may ask. 1t happened
that a pious young blacksmith was going
down to the seaboard in quest of business
1t was several miles before he could takc
the stage-coach; so instead of going in tn,
wagon which carried his chest, he said h,
would walk. Come ride" they said, 81
will be hot and dusty" He kept answer
/ ing, NO" to all his friends urged, "I'l
walk, and take short cut through tn
pines" and off be started with a stout walk
t ing-stick. AS he was jogging on through
; piece of woods, he heard voice from lit
tie lonely hut by the roadside 1t dre7
| his notice, and he stepped towards it on tip
toe; then he stopped and listened, an
, found 1t was voice of prayer, and h
gathered from the prayer that she who Of
, tered it was poor and helpless.
"What can do to help. this poor We
, M" thought the young man. He di
not like to go into the hut. He clapped hi
hand into his.pocket and drew out dollar
) the first silver dollar he ever had-and
e dollar was big sum for him to give, for
l was not rich then as he is now. But n
matter, he felt that the poor woman mu:
i have 1.-THE dollar being silver and likely t
n attract notice as soon as the door was oper
f he concluded to lay it On the sill and 90 ava
Y but not far !; for he hid behind a large roc
e near the house, to watch what become of i
e Boon he had the satisfaction of seeing Ii
y little girl come out and seize the prize, whe
o he went on his way rejoicing. The silv,
d dollar came into the young mans hand fl
+ THIS 0ery purpose, for you see paper dell;
: might have blown away and he was to ,cal
I instead of ride-why, he did not exactl
/ know, but God, who directed bis steps, d;
e know. So God plans. and we are the il
, struments to carry on his plans. Ofter
e times we seem to be about our own busines
: when we are about his, answering, it ma
! be, the prayers of his people.
0 The young blacksmith is now in midd
b life; ne has been greatly prospered, an
d gwen away bis hundreds since but perha,
t be never enjoyed giving more than when
d gave his first silver dollar.
d Mrs. FL. G. KNIGHT.
e Tr1kh cannot hn Gn,,r.L H.. - ! :,