Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-08-12
FROM Arihur's Magazine.
The Last Dollar.

with a look Of resignation
" II is our last dollar. he said " But the
Lord will provide"
The Rev james Spring was minister in
the little mountain village of Thornvilc
Ae was poor and his congregation was poor.
Often before he had been very near his last
dollar, but he had never actually got to il un-
til to-day.
50 you've been always saying" sobbed
his wife "but what is to become Of US when
this is gone? They won't trust us any more
at the store; aud your salary won't be due
these three weeks, even if you get it then.
Why do you stay here, james, where the
people are so poor2 ?"
4" / have no other place to go to nor mon
ey to travel to it, if the Lord opened way.
My work, for the present, is here He feed
eth the young ravens; He will surely feed
us"
81 wish had your faith, but | hav'nt; !;
and il won't come to me. Oh what shall
we do, what shall we do - And she wrung
her hands despairingly. My poor chill
dren :"
s'Once | was young and now | am DID,
solemnly said her husband, speaking in the
words Of the Psalmist, 8" yet never have
seen the righteous torsaken nor his seed beg
ging bread"
/ As if in answer to this pious ejaculation
/ there came q sudden knock at the door. All
| the while the minister and his wife had been
talking, storm had been raging outside.
On opening the door, traveller, quite wet
through, entered.
81 was coming through the forest from
Maryyille," he said, and venture fax.stop at
the first house | see. My hofsg.jR in the
she'd DO take too great aiibsffy ?"
Not at ALL answered theimaster efsyh
house. We have but poor shelter, asr1fi
see but such as it is you are welcome Vvs
there is good fire ut any rate 4sN
For it was in the kitchen where bis edh.
yersation took place. Indeed, this humble
home boasted no parlor, and the kitchen was
dining-room, drawing-room, liying-room ant
all n
The stranger proved to be a man Of educa
tion and intelligence, and in conversation viii
him, tue minister forgot his trouble and wa
: reminded Of earlier and brighter days, whol
intellectual companonship had not been thu
rare thing it was now, up among these hills.
At last the storm abated, and the strange
rose to 20. His host accompanied him t.
the gate, and watched him till he disappeare'
behind a turn Of the road.
See here james, cried his wife, eagerly
when he returned to the house, " found thi
on the table, near where the gentleman sat.
, 1t was fifty-dolar greenback, wrappe
hastily in bit Of paper, that looked as if
had been torn from pocket-book, and on tn
inside of the paper was written the verse {
the Psalmist, which, it was now apparent, tn
e traveller had overheard.
81 thought he was writing the direction h
o asked for, said the minister. He means
It for us. Thanks be to the Lord Did | NJ
say, my DEAR He would provide p
IS His wife burst into tears.
God forgive me !" she said, ' will nev'
= doubt again. The Lord surely sent tn
r stranger to our aid"
" And he will still provide" replied h
oi husband. Whatever my lot may be, hei
< or elsewhere, in him | trust"
1. A month afterwards letter, a rare even
ID came to the Rev. James Spring 1t w
le as follows: Rev. and Dear Sir-Tl
,f Church at Maryville has unanimously call'
," YOU 10 ltS pdStOfdles lut Hdldil II hl'N'
re hundred dollars, and good parsonage-house
to The letter concluded by saying "Tl
writer of this first came to know you by yol
~ hospitality to him during storm few wee
ago. Ho overheard you, in n moment
n great distress, speak with such full faith, tn
g he feels you are just the person for this eharg
and on his Recommendation this call is made
ou Maryville was the county town, rich al
n, thriving place, in broad and fertile vale
. at the foot of the hills.
"a 1t was a far filter sphere of labor for m
Of the minister's abilities than the wild villa
Cd in the mountains.
he SO a young man, as yet without tamil
ia took the missionary church among the hi
ID and the Rev james Spring accepted the ca
But he does not forget the past, and oitC
when people show want of faith, tells the sto
Ia Of his Last Dollar