South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-26
The Last Dollar.

at 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
! Often before, be had been very near his last
dollar, but he had never actually got to it
until to day.
80. you've been always saying sobbed
his wife but what is to become of Ms when
this is gone They wont trust us anv 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
arc so poor
Il have no other place to 90 to nor mo.
ney to travel to it, if the Lord opens the
way. My work for the present is here
He feedeth the young ravens; He will
surely feed us
Il wish l had your faith, but haven't aud
it wontt come to me. Oh what shall we
do : and she wruDg her hands despairiugly.
My poor children
'Once | was young, and now l am old
solemnly said her husband, speaking in the
words of the psalmist, 'yet never have
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging bread
As if in answer to this pious ejaculation.
there came a sudden knock at the door. -
All the while the minister and his wife
had been talking a storm had been raging
outside. On opening the door, traveller,
quite wet, entered
Il was coming through the forest from
Mary7ilc,' he said, 'and veutured to stop
at the first house [ saw. My horse is in the
shed. Do take too great a liberty p
Not at all, answered the man of the
house 'We 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 parlor, and the kitchen
was dining room, drawing-room, living
room and all.
The stranger proved to be man of edu-
cation and intelligence, aud in conversation
with him the minister forgot his troubles
and was reminded Of his earlier and bright
or days when Intellectual mpanionship
had not been the rare thing it was now a
mong these hills.
AT last the storm abated, and the stran-
ger arose to 60. His host accompanied him
to the gate, and watched him until he dis
4
See here, James, said his wife, eagerly,
when be returned to the house. Il found
this on the table near where the gentle.
man sat
1t was $50 greenback, wrapped hastily
IN bit of paper that looked as if it had
been torn from a pocket-book, aud on the
inside of the paper was written the verse of
the Psalmist, which it now appeared the
traveller had overheard
q thought he was writing the direction
he asked for said the minister He means
1t for US Thanks be TO the Lord Did
not say, my dear, he would provide p
His wife burst into tears
God forgive me = she said, Il will ne.
yer 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
month after, letter, a rare event,
came to the rev. James Spring 1t was
as follows: Rev and dear sir-The church
at Mnryville has unanimously called you to
its pastoratc. The salary is fifteen hundred
and good parsonage house The letter
concluded by saying: The writer Of this
n'91 came to know you by your hospitality
to him few weeks ago He overheard
you, IN a momont Of great distress, speak
with such great faith, that be feels you are
just the person for this charge, and on his
rccommendation this call has been made ,
MaryyiIIc was the county town, a rich
and thriving place in a broad and fertile
valley, at the foot Of the hills 1t was a
Tar filter sphere Of labor for a man If the
minister's abilities, than the wild village in
the mountains.
10 young man az yet without family
TOOK thc missionary church among the
mills, aud tho Rev James Spring accepted
che CALI
But be does not forget the past, and Of
ten when people show want Of faith, tells
lAgm Tho story of tho Last Dollar-M