Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-11-30

LIE PASTOR'S LAST DOLLAR.-lle gave
ii TO his wife with sigh, yet with look
of resignation.
ut is our last dollar" he said, "but the
Lord will provide"
Rev. James Springs was minister in the
little mountain village of Thornvtlle. He
was poor, and his congregation was poor.
Often before he had been very near his last
dollar, but he had never actually got to it
till to-day.
$50 you've been always saying" sobbed
wife ; "but what is to become of us When
it is gone? They won't trust us any more
at the store, and 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 poor ?''
II have no other place to go to or mo-
ney to travel to it, if the Lord opened the
way. My work for the present is here. lie
ieedeth the young ravens. lie will surely
feed u.s."
II wish had your faith, but have not
and it won't come to Inc. o! What shall
we do ?" And she wrung her hands de-
pairingly. "My children -
"Once was young and now | am old"
sole.nnly said her husband, speaking in the
words of the Psalmist yet never have l
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed
begging for bread"
AS if i'll answer to his pious calculations,
there came u sudden knock at the door. All
the while the minister and his wife had
been talking u storm had been raging out
side. On opening the door, u traveller,
quite wet through, entered.
II was coming through the forest from
Maryville, nhc said, land ventured to stop
at the first house l saw. My horse is in
the shed. DO take too great a liberty 7"
MOT at ALL" answered the minister of
the house. I'VE have but poor shelter as
as you see but such as it is, you are wei
come to it !; there s q good fire at any rate"
For il was in the kitchen that this con-
vcrsation took place. Indeed, this humble
home boasted no parlor, and the Kitchen
was dinng-roon, drawiuo-room, living
room, and all.
The stranger proved to be a man of edu-
cation and intelligence, and in conyersa-
tion the minister forgot his trouble, and was
I reminded of earlier and brighter days,
when intellectual cOmpanionship had not
been the rare thing it was now, up among
the hills.
At last the storm abated and the stran-
| ger arose to 20, His host accompanied
him to the gate, and watched him till he
disappeared behind turn in the road.
"See here, James, " said his wife eagerly.
when he returned to his house, Il found
! this on the table near where the gentleman
sat-"
! 1t was fifty dolla: grcenback, wrapped
| hastily it, Il bit of paper that looked rs if il
| had been torn from Il pocket book, and on
the outside of the paper was written the
verse of the Psalmist, which it was now ap-
| parent the traveller had overheard.
II thought he was writing the directions
I l.. al. a. I.
meant it for us. Thanks be to the Lord
Did | not say, my dear, He would pro-
vide.?"
Ills wife burst into teaga.
"God forgive me ~ she said; II will
never doubt again. The Lord surely sent
| this stranger to our aid.n
And he will still PROVIDE" replied her
! husband. whatever our lot tmay be, here
or elsewhere, in Him l will trust.'
y month after, II letter u rare event
came to Rev. james Spring. 1t was as
follows:
Re-. and Dear Sir:-The church at Ma
ryville has unanimously called you to its
pastoratc. The salary is fifteen hundred
dollars, and Il good parsonage house.
/ The writer OF this first came TO know you
| by your hospitality to him during storm,
a few weeks ago. lie overheard you in Il
! moment OF great distress speak OF that full
! faith, and he feels that you are just the per-
son for this charge, and on his recommen-
dation this call has been made"
MaryVile was the county town, rich
and thriving place, in Il broad and fertile
valley at the foot of a hill. 1t was far
! filter sphere of labor for man of the min
! ister's abilities than the wild village in the
mountains. So young man, without q
family, took the missionary church among
the hills, and Rev. James Springs accepted
the call.
But he does not forget the past and often,
when people show the want of faith, tells
the story of his last dollar.