Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-05-22
The Seed that PrOspered.

If the Captain had not gone back for an
umbrella, he would not have taken that car.
And if he had not taken that particular car,
he might never have heard the story. The
Captains brain was Just then full Of a new
ship he was going to launch in few weeks,
and he was considering whether to send her
to Bombay with a cargo Of coal, or to load
her with petroleum for Rotterdam Just as
widow Dodson would consider whether to take
her eggs to the corner store and buy a calico
dress there, or TO wait tall she had chance
to 90 over to Mill Village. So he noticed
nobody in the car until man came over to
the vacant seat beside him, and, putting a
hand on his knee, said " Captain Harrng.
ton, may have a word with you ?"
Certainly" replied the Captain, who was
so well known that he was never surprised at
being recognized by stranger.
lou don't know me, Of course" began
the man, aud Of course you don't remem-
Der something you said at prayermeeting,
six years ago, at the Fountain Street Church.
1t was kind of an experience meeting, and
after several had talked of their progress and
enjoyment, you spoke, and said it was your
fortune once to make a very rough passage
across the Atlantic You had head winds
and gales all the way. The heavy seas
washed over the deck you lost your spars
aud masts, and for days and days made no
progress at ALL 1t was by the hardest that
you reached Liverpool, stormworn and dis
mantled, but safe at last At another time,
you made an entirely different voyage from
and to the same port. The winds were
favorable, the sun shone, the water smooth,
and it was like pleasure trip up the Hud-
son all the way. But you made your port
in the first case and you only. made it in the
last. Now said you, SO it is in life. One
may 60 quietly aud joyously on without
hardly any difficulties or conflicts, like ship
in fair weather. And another may have hi,
appetites, and his temper, and his habits tc
contend with all the way through. StTug-
Cling with this, and beaten back by that, he
may have hardly an hour Of ecstatc OF
peaceful enjoyment. And yet he may be on
the same voyage, bound for the same port
which he will reach at last Just as surely as
the other"
"At that time, continued the stranger, 1'
was almost discouraged because | did not
have the vivid and delightful experiences
heard others speak Of / ~as almost feAda
to give up but thought then | would keep
on, aud do the best | could with what had
And so | have, never wavering or doubling
from that time, But I've something more to
tell you" he added "Shortly afterward |
repeated what you had said at the Printemps
Street prayer-meeting. And a year ago,
when | was on a boat one day coming down
the Hudson gentleman recalled it to me,
and said he was then in the same despairing
state of mind, just ready to give up in dis.
couragemeDt, and he was helped just as had
been. He, too, has never gone back, aud il
now preacher of the gospel. So much may
be traced directly back to the influence ol
your words at that meeting, and we do not
know how much besides"
The Captain had forgotten his merchant
man aud its cargo aud his heart was full Of
grateful gladness that God had so blessed the
long.forgotten seed sown in such uncertain
soil. 1t is not often we may thus reap our
own haryests, but our lives are constantly
touching the lives of others, the most, per-
haps, when we are thinking least about It.
Let us then make our hearts the dwelling
place of the Holy Spirit and 60 our ways
with no anxiety whether shall prosper either
this or that, or whether they both shall be
alike good