Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-04-20
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Last Dollar.

u
look of resignation.
at our last dollar" he said. "But the
Lord will provide"
The Rev. Jhnes Spring was minister in
the little mountain village of Thornville.-
He was poor, and his congregation poorer.
Often before he had been very near his last
dollar, but he had never actually got to it
until to-day.
$50 you're 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, and your salary won't be due for
three weeks, even if you get it then. Why
do you stay here, when the people are so
poor"
II have no other place to go to; nor money
to travel to it, If the Lord opened the way.
My work for the present is here. He feedoth
the young ravens He will surely feed u.s."
II wish l had your faith. but 1 haven't
and it won't come to me. Oh what shall
*e I" andsh wrung her hands despairIngly.
My poor children"
Once l was young. and how | am old"
solemnly said her husband, speaking in the
words of the psalmist. ''yet never have [ seen
the righteous foresaken, nor his seed begging
BREAD
AS if in answer to this pious ejaculation,
there came u sudden knock at the door. All
the while the minister and Ills 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 Ma
ryvile," he said, ''ventured to stop at the
first house l saw. My horse is in the shed.
Do take too great liberty Z"
mot at ALL" answered the master of the
house. I'VE have but poor shelter, as you
see; 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 parlcr, and the kitchen was
dining room, drawing room, living room and
ull.
The stranger'proved to be man of eHuca
ton and intelligence, and in conversation with
him. the minister forgot his trouble, and was
reminded of his earlier and brighter days,
when intellectual companionship had not been
the rare thing it was now, among these hills.
At last the storm abated, and the stranger
arose to go. His host ACCOMPANIED him to
the gate, and watched him until he disappear
ed behind turn of the road
"See here James, said his wife, eagerly,
when he returned to the house. Il found
this on the table near where the gentleman
sat-"
1t was a fifty dollar greenback, wrapped
hastily in bit of papet, that looked as if it
had been torn from pocket-book, and On the
inside of the paper was written the verse of
the Psalmiat, which was now apparent the
traveller had overheard.
Il thought he was writing the directions
he asked for" said the minister "He means
it for us. Thanks be to the Lord Did 1
not say, my dear, he would provide 7"
His wife burst into tears.
"God forgive mel" she said, al will never
doubt again. The Lord surely sent this
stranger to our aid"
And he will still provide" replied her
husband. "Whatever my lot may be, here
or elsewhere, in Him trust"
A month after, letter, rnre event, came
to the "Rev. James Spring" 1t was as fol-
lows "Rev. and dear Sir-The church at
Maryville has unanimously called you to its
pastorate. The salary is fifteen hundred dol
lars aud good parsonage>house." The let
ter concluded by saying: 1.-The writer of this
first came to know you by your hospitality
to him during storm few weeks ago. He
overheard you, in moment of great distress,
speak with such full faith, that he feels
you are just the person for this charge,
and on his recommendation this call has
been made" Maryville was the county
town, rich and thriving place in broad
and fertile valley, at the foot of the hills. Is
was far filter sphere of labor for man of
the minister's abilities, than the wild villags
in the mountains.
So young man as yet without a family
took the missionary church among the hills,
and the Rev. james Spring accepted the call.
But he does not forget the past, and often
when people show want of faith, tells them
the story of his Last Dollar.
An illiterate correspondent, who is Civ
en- to sporting, wants to know when the IAN.