Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-12-11
The Last Dollar.

J
with look of resignation.
1t is our last dollar he said. But the
Lord will provide
The Rev James Spring was minister in
the little mountain village of Thornville. He
was poor, and his congregation poorer. Of
ten before he had been very near his last
dollar, but be had never actually got to il
until to-day.
SO you've been always saying, sobhed
his wife; but what is to become of us when
this is gone They won't trust us any more
at the store, and your salary won't be due
for three weeks, even if you get it then.
Why do you stay here, James, when the
people are SO poor
have no other place to 60 to; nor mon
cy to travel to it, if the Lord opened way
My work for the present is here. He feed.
eth young ravens; He will surely feed u.s.
L wish l had your faith, but | haven't
and it won't come to me. Oh what shall
we dor' and she wrung her hands despair
ingly My poor children
Once l was young, and now I am old,
solemply said her husband, speaking in the
words Of the Psalmist, yet never have
seen tie righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread
As if in answer to this pious ejaculation
there came sudden knock at the door AL
the while the minister and his wife had been
! talking, storm had been raging outside
One opening the door, a traveller quite Wei
through entered.
/ was coming through the forest from
Maryville,' he said, and ventured to sto1
at the first house l saw. My horse is in the
shed. Do take to great liberty.
Not at ALL answered the master of tn,
house. We have poor shelter, as 70,
see; but such as it is you are welcome to it
there is good fire at any rate
For it was in the kitchen where this con
versation took place. Indeed this humble
house boosted no parlor and the kitchen wa
dining-room, drawing room, living room ant
all.
The stranger proved to be man of edu
cation and intelligence, and in conversation
with him, the minister forgot his trouble
and he was reminded of his earlier ant
brighter days, when intellectual companion
ship had not been the rare thing it was now
among these hills.
At last the storm abated, and the strange
arose to 60. His host acc ,mpanied him t.
the gate, and watched him till he disap
peared behind turn of the road.
See here James, said his wife, eagerly
when he returned to the house. I foune
this on the table near where the gentleman
sat-
1t was fifty dollar greenback, wrapped
hastily in bit Of paper, that looked as if i
had been torn from a pocket book. and OF
the inside of the paper was written the vers'
Of the Psalmist. which it was now apparen
the traveller had overheard
| I thought he was writing the directions
he asked for said the minister, He mean.
it for US Thanks be to the Lord Did
not say, my dear, he would proviaeF'
His wife burst into tears,
God forgive me z she said, 4 will neve1
doubt again The Lord surely sent thi
stranger our aid.
Aud he will still provide replied hc1
husband. Whatever my lot may be, herr
or elsewhere, in Him ! trust
A month after, letter, rare event
came to Rev James SPRING It was a
follows: Rev, and dear Sir-The churcl
at Maryville has unanimously called you tt
its passionate. The salary is fifteen hundre,
dollars anda good parsonage house The let
ter concluded BY saying: The writer Of thi
first came to know you by your hospitait,
to him during storm few weeks ago II
overheard you. ip a moment of great distress
speak with such full faith, that he feels 20,
are just the person for this charge, and Of
his recommendation this call has been made.
Maryville was the county town, rich AM
thriving place in broad and fertile valley
at the foot of the hills. 1t was far ftte
sphere of labor for man of the minister
abilities. than the wild village in the NOM
tains,
So young man as yet without famil
took the missionary church among the hills
and the Rev James Spring accepted tn
call
But he does not forget the past and often
when people show want of faith, tells ther
the story of his Last Dollar