Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-29
The DeacOn's Prayer.

lherc was once good deacon, anu ne was
a farmer, aud among other crops one year be
had very fine harvest Of wheat. On Mon
day morning he expected TO carry his wheat
some twenty miles, to a neghboring market
and on the Sabbath previous he attended his
own church, and as he was in a peculiarly
grateful state Of mind, on account Of the
abundance Of his crops, when the collection
was taken up for foreign missions, as it
chanced to he that day, he put in five dollars
more than his usual amount. The next morn
ing bright and early he started off with his
wheat.
Having found purchaser to his mind and
given his terms at a full market price, be was
surprised little, and little pleased when
he counted over bis money to ind it just five
dollars more than he had expected it would
be. lie was pretty good arithmeticiau, but
he did not care just now, as he was in some
thing Of a hurry, to 60 over the amount. So
many bushels at so much. "The man knows
what he'- about Hes shrewd merchant,
aud doubtless has paid me no more than he
intended. Besides, | shouldn't wonder bit
if that five dollars Just came to me from the
Lord, because he knew and nobody else did,
that put an extra FIVE dollars into his treas
ury only yesterday" Yes, the deacon really
finished with that consoing self-benediction,
and drove his team home with light aud
well-satisded heart.
Years passed One day the deacon was in
an unusually tender and thoughtful state Of
mind He was looking forward, for he was
growing old, to future life, and as we often
DO, looking over the past, comparing what
had been, with what in the light Of coming
scenes he might wish it had been, when he
he was seized with desire to commit his
whole way, past and present and future, to
the Lord So he went into his closet, for he
had one, to pray And he really prayed.
What he asked God for in that prayer was
just what David once prayed for in the one
hundred and thirty-ninth psalm, aud very
likely the deacon used Dayids own words
" Search me, o God, and know my heart
try me, and know my thoughts; and see if
there be any wicked way in me, aud lead me
in the way everlasting"
That is a very solemn prayer to make but
the deacon really made it, and the Lord really
answered it. For, before he rose from his
knees, that extra FIVE dollars for the wheat h
had sold ten or fifteen years before, rose be-
fore his mind. 1t had never appeared to him
once before, in all these many years that had
passed since he had folded ii so satisfactorily
aud put it into his wallet, calling it a special
favor from the Lord But here it was now
He could see the ) in each corner. He
could see the little patch that had been
pasted over tear near the top, at the right
hand corner of the bill 1t stared him right
in the face 1t said, You took me, and you
had no right to me-" The deacon left his
his closet He went into his library aud took
up Baxters Saints Rest, bat on the first page
to which he opened, there lay an old, worn
five dollar bill He went into his garden aud
locked at the roses, aud marigods, but five
dollar bill futtered out from their fragrant
| blossoms What was he TO do All, his
prayer was being answered, and this was what
he did he went to the stable that very morn
ing, and drove to that neighbOring town, and
/ glad was he to find that very merchant there,
and at home.
owe you FIVE dollars with interest" he
said, after moments preliminary CONVERSE
ton, and then tried to recall to the astonished
merchants mind that bargain about the wheat
half a score or more years ago.
cannot remember it," said the mer-
chant. g. Are you not mistaken | am us
ually very careful in my dealings
was mistaken then but not now" said
the deacon laying the bill on the merchants
table. As you will not take interest | shall
leave this"
Why did you wait so ong?' asked ths
merchant, whose curiosity in comparative
strangers late honesty oyercame his delicacy
Then the deacon told him how it had only
come to his own heart, really, that morning
when be had asked for it to be searched by
One who, for US all, is the great searcher o
hearts, and how it had appeared to him il
the light of such an examination.-Mr Bal
lqrd, in Christian Weekly.