American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-09-18
SAVING THROUGH COLLEGE.

|
There was young man in the back
woods of Michigan whose great dc.
sire was to preach the gospel. His
father and his mother gave him to God
in faith and prayer when he was born.
His father was poor and faithful
preacher, often very poor in the goods
of this world; but he had Il rich father
! in heaven, who supplied all his wants.
The young man saw his father was
poor while many Of their neighbors grew
rich. But he did not want q better
business than his father had-to preach
the gospel; and in Importance no knew
there was no calculating it, With the
Lords pay day by day, he could be
satisfied, and fully trusted him for the
heavenly reward hereafter.
How Rufus was to go though college
did not seem very clear; but he was
determined to set out. Maybe the
way would be clearer. When he left
home for college, he had stout shoes
on his feet, made by his father, a suit
OF clothes manufactured by his mother
and ten dollars in his pocket. As he
walked all the way, ninety miles | be
i HcVc, and as there was no tuition fec
at the college, his ten dollars remain
ed whole, until lie broke it to buy %
saw and wood horse after he arrived
there for he meant to saw his way thro'
as far as he could, and he did. Saw.
ing paid well; there was plenty Of it to
do, and it gave him vigorous exercise
after studying. After while party
OF Germans came in town and rather
unders0wed him. He was not discour-
aged, however. More ways than one
perhaps he thought.
a gentleman living in town owned
very spirited horse, which nobody
could manage. The horse had his likes
and dislikes, and used to cut droll ca
pcrs with the gcntlcman's hired men.
At last he gave out word that he want
cd to hire somebody who undcrstads IL
horse. Rufus heard of it and offered.
The gentleman gave him fifty cents q
week to water and curry the horse.--
Rutus and the horse were on good
terms. 1t was evident that they both
understood each other; and until it was
soidit replcnished Rufus's empty pock:
cts.
One Of the churches in town adycr-
tized for sexton. Rufus was on hand
to offer his services, which were accept
ed. The house was often used in the
evening. The poor student would o.
pen and light it, return to his studies,
and be back in season to shut it up and
take care of everything for the night.
But in spite of his energy and indus
try, short commons sometimes stared
him in the face. 1t was his principle
not to go in debt. Towards the close
Of one the terms, three dollars would
be due to the porter of the college, that
must be paid; college law was ncxora-
bic on that point. But one sixpcnso had
he that he could call his own, and that
sixpcncc had been his all for the last
two months. TO borrow would bc on
ly shifting the debt, not paying it.
Ills studies pressed hard upon him
Examination was drawing near. What
should he do ? Where could it como
from? The three dollars began to wor-
Try him.
| ThcH he thought, II will cast the
burdrcn Of my cares upon the Lord,
for he carcth for me, the Bible says So"
Rufus knew this Scripture truth be.
fore, but his faith became a little cloud
cd, as is too apt to be the case with Gods
people; they do not realize enough
that the Lord knows all their troubles
and anXictics, and care for those who
trust in him. Rufus knclt, and COM
mlttcd his case to the Lord; then put
aside his books, and went out to close
up the church, for there had been ser.
vice in it that evening, The people
had gone; and as the poor student pa.
ccd up and down The silent ailca alone
trying to trust as he had been trying.
to pray. his attention was suddenly
turned to something at the farther end
of pcw--a bit Of paper, or stick, or
something. 1t was small, hardly worth
noticing, only he did notice it; and he
opened the pew door, went in, and pick
cd it off the cushion. A bit of paper
1t was, which he unrollcd. J think tho
color must have flushed in his face. 1t
was three dollar bill. Tears Of iov
burst from his eyes, and rolled over his
sunburnt checks; and his Lord seemed
standing SO near him. The next nor.
ming he posted notices all around
"Moncy found, directing where tic
loser could call for it. Days passed
on, but nobody called for it. and when