The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1860-03-21
TIE BROWN ToWgL.

One who has nothing can give nothing
said Mrs. Savers, the sections wife, as ihe
ladies' Of the sewing society were busiiy en-.
gagged packing the contents Of large box
destined to a Western Missionary.
:" A person who has nothing to give must
be poor indeed" said Mrs. l., as she depus
tied pair Of warm blankets 10 the aiready :
well filed box.
speaker with glance which seemed to say,
You, who never have known self-denial,
cannot feel for me-" and remarked. /" You
surely think one can be too poor to give"
once thought so. but have learned from
joyful experience, that no better investment
can be made, even from the depths OF poverty,
than lending to the Lord"
Seeing the ladies' listening attentiyely to
the conversation, Mrs. i. continued, +" Per-
haps, as our work is finished can do no
better than TO give YOU my experience on the
subject. II may be the means of showing
you that God will reward the cheerful
giyer.
During the 6rst twenty eight wears Of
my life, ! was surrounded with wealth and
not until had been married for nine wears,
did know want which money could satisfy,
or feel the necessity of exerti0n. Reyerses
came, with fearful sujdenuess and befure
had recovered from the blow, ! found myself
the wife Of very poor man, with five little
children. dependent upon our exertions.
/" From that hour lost all thought Of any-
thing but the care Of my family. Late hours
and hard work were my portion, and 10 my
unskllful hands il seemed at lirst bitter
lot. Nv husband stroye anxiously t, gain a
subsistence, and barely succeeded. We
changed our place Of residence several times,
IN hopes OF doing better, but without i'm.
proyement.
" Everything seemed against US. Oar well
stocked wardrobe had become 50 exhausted
that felt justified in absenting myself finm
the house Of God with my children fsr want
of suitable apparel. While ii this low con-
dition, went to church one evening. when
my poverty stricken appearance would es-
cape notice. aud tonk my seat near the door.
An agent from the West preached, aad beg.
ged contributions for the Home Missionary
cause. His appeal brought tears Co rny eyes.
and painfully reminded me oi my past days
OF prosperity when | could give from NV
abundance 70 all who called upon ne. Ii
never entered my mind that tue appeal lnr
assistance in any way concerned ne, with
nv poor children banished from the huuse of
God BY poverty, while ] could only venture
out under the friendly protection Of dark.
ness. left the church more Submissive 10
my lot, with prayer in my heart that those
whose conscienees had been addressed might
respond. tried in vain 70 sleep that night.
The words Of the tex, Give, AMI il salli
be given unto you, gnpl measure, pressed
down, and shaken together AMI running over,
shall men give unto your bDsUn,' seemed
continually sounding ii my ears. The pio-
quent cntreaty nf the speaker 70 all, however
poor, 20 give mite 10 the Lord. and receive
the promised blessing. seemed addressed 10
me. rose early the next morning. and
looked over al my worldly gopis 10 search
Of something worth bestowi,tg, bI. ID vain;
the promised blessing seemed beyond my
reach.
Hearing that the ladies' Of the church
had liled box lur the missionary's family,
made one more effort iu spare something.
AL was poor and thrcadharc what should |
do Az las, thought q my towels. ! had
six Of coarse brown linen. worn. they
seemed sCanty supply (or family cf seven, /
aud yet ! tOuk one from the number, ahd /
putting il il my pocket. fastened 10 the
house where the box vas Kept, aud quietly
slipped il 10.
~ returned home with lgh; heart. feel
ing that ms Saviouf's eye had seen my sac
rifice, and would bless my effort 10 do
right.
. From that day, success attended all my
husbands efforts in business. Ia a feH
months our means increased So that we we're
able TO attend church, and send our children
to Sabbath school. aud before ten wears had
elapsed. our former prosperity had returned