Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-11-12
SSunoap Ataonlg.
The Praying Collier.

I lilS hdLiC VI SolCDJ HO "US u COilClJ aiiu lfC
among the hills, between Abergavenny and Here
ford; had wife and several small children, an
walked seven or eight miles every Sabbath to hea
the Doctor. He was very pious man; his knowl
edge and understand ng were remarkable, consid
er his situation and circumstances. Bad wealth
er seldom hindered OaIeb's attendance at the hous,
of God, but there was a severe frost one winter
which lasted many weeks and blocked up his way
80 that be could not possibly pass without danger
neither could he work for the support of his fam
iiy. The Doctor and others we're concerned les
they should perish for want; however, no soone
was the frost broken than Caleb appeared again
DR. Stennet spied him, and as soon as the service
was ended, went to him and said:
"Oh! Caleb, how glad am to see you. How
have you done during the severity ofthe weatherl'
Caleb chs.rfally answered, "Never better in
all my life, not only had necessaries, but LIVED
| upon dainties the whole of the time, and have
some still remaining"
Ca eb then tod the Doctor that one night, soon
after The commencement of the frost, they had
eaten up all their stock, and not one morssl left
for tn morning, nor any human possibility of get
ting any but he found his mind quite composed
relying on provident God, who wanted neither
power nor means 10 supply his wants. He went
to prayer with his family, and then to rest, and
slept soundly till morning. Before he was up, he
heard knock at his door; he went, and saw a
man standing with horse loaded, who asked if
/ his name was Caleb. He answered in the afr
native; ;he man desired him to help him to take
! down the load. Caleb asked what it was. He
said provision On his enquirng who sent it, he
. said h believed God had sent it; no o her answer
: could he obtain When ne came to examine the
( contents, he was struck with amazement at the
quantity and variety of the articles-bread, flour,
oatmeal, butter ca ese, salt meat and fresh, &C.,
I which served them through the frost, and some
remaining to that present time.
/ The Doctor was affected with the account, and
after wards mentioned it, in hope of finding out
the benevolent donor, but in vain, till about two
years sfterward he went to visit DR.. Talbot, no.
/ ted phys clan in the city of Hereford This Dr.
! 7. was man Of good moral character and gene
| rous disposition, but an infdel in principle His
/ wife q generous woman, and member of the
church. DR.. Stennet used to go and visit her
now and then, and DR.. Talbot, though man of
no religion himself always received DR.. S. with
great poIteness. As they were conversing pleas
antly one evening, DR.. S. thought it his duty to
/ introduce something that was entertaining and
/ profitable. He spoke of the great efficacy of
! prayer, and instanced the circumstance Of poor
/ Caleb. DR.. Talbot smiled and said
"Caeb; shall never forget him as long as
/ live"
/ "What, did you know him. said Dr. S.
! Il had but very little knowledge of him., said
/ Dr.. T. "but know he must be the same man you
mean"
/ Then Or. Talbot related the following circum-
/ stances He said:-"The summer before the hard
winter above mentioned, he was riding on horse
back, SIS was his usual custom, when he had
leisure hour, and generally chose to ride among
/ the hills, it being more pleasant and rural. As
! he was riding along he observed number of peo-
/ pie assembled in barn; he rode up TO the door to
leaFn the cause, when he found, to his surprise,
/ that there man preaching to vast number
/ of people. He stopped and observed that they
were very attentive to what the preacher deliV-
| cred. One poor man in particular attracted his
/ NOTICE. who had little Bible in his hand, turning
to every passage of scripture the minister quoted
/ He wondered % see how ready man of his ap-
| pearslce was in turning to the places. When
| the service was over, he walked his horse gently
| along, and he poor man, whom he so particularly
/ noticed, happened to walk by his side.
| The Doctor asked him many questions concern
! ing the meeting an minister, and found him very
| in elligent. He enquired also about himseIf-his
| employment, his family, and his name, which he
/ said was Caleb. After the Doctor had satisfied
/ his curiosity, he rode of, and thought no more
! about him, till the great frost came the following
winter. lie was one night in bed-he could not
/ tell exactly whether he was asleep or awake but
/ thought he heard voice say, Send provision TO
/ Caleb" He was little startled at first, but con-
! cIuding it TO be dream, he endeayored to COM
pose himself to sleep. 1t was not long before he
! thought he heard the same words repeated, but
! louder and ronger. Then be awoke his wife,
/ and told her whot he had heard, but she th-ught
! it could be no other than cam, and she fell
asleep again. But the Doctor mind was 80 i'm
! pressed that he could not seep-st last he magi-
ned he heard the voice so powerful, saying, Get
up and send provision to Caleb" that he could re-
sist no longer. He got up and called his man, bid
him bring his horse, and he went to his larder and
| stuffed pair Of panniers as full as he could cf
Whatever he could fnd and having assisted the
/ man to load the horse, he bade him take tho pro-
! vision 70 Caleb.
"Caeb, sir!" said the man, "who is Caleb!"
81 know very little of him. said the Doctor,
"but his name is Caleb; he is collier, and lives
among the hills; 1t the horse go, and you will be
| surs to fld him
/ The man seemed to be under the same influence
as his master, which accounts for his telling Ca
! leb, &C. sent il, believe" ale feedeth the
hungry with good things English Presbyterian
/ Messenger
DR.. Alexander among Children
The following beautiful description of the domes-