The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-01
INSTRUCTIVE ANECDOTE.

! INSTRUCTIVE ANECDOTE.
A respectable merchant in one of our prin-
cipsl cities was travelling some years ago, in
a certain county Of New York State. He
arrived on Saturday evening at a public
house where ne had been accustomed to stay
in travelling that way. After he had taken
some refreshments he Immediately began to
distribute some religious tracts to those
among whom be found himself surrounded,
presenting these tracts in respectable man
ner, recommending the same from the pleas
ure and advantages which he had derived
from their perusal. Among those who re-
ceiyed these tracts were some families who
were removing to the new settlement. He
gave several tracts to those to be carried by
them to the place of their future destination.
Before this gentleman had completed the
circuit of his distributions he offered tract
to poor man, who declined receiving it,
saying, 1t is of no use giving me one, sir,
for | can't read.
"Well," said the merchant, +" it is proba-
ble you are married man, and if SO, per-
haps your wife can read it to you
"Yes," said he, "my wife can read, but
have no time hear it read"
Tomorrow" said the merchant, Il" is the
Sabbath; you certainly can hear it read
them
(" Sir" said he, Il have no more time on
the Sabbath than on any other day. I am
so poor that am obliged to work on the
Sabbath. 1t takes six days to provide for
my family, and on the Sabbath 1 am obliged
to get my wood"
=" If you are SO poor as that" said the mer-
chant, "you must be very poor.
liam" said he, and then proceeded to
state that he had no cow, and that his family
were very destitute.
/" 1t is no 49, tiI-.s you are eepoor,"L "Lsc
piled the merchant, if you work on the
Sabbath. God won't prosper those who thus
profane his day. And now" said he, "my
friend, Ihave proposition to make to you. :"
You, landlord, will be my surety that my
part of the contract will be fulfilled. From
this time leave off working on the Sabbath
If you have no wood with which to be com
Portable tomorrow, get a little the easiest
way you can, and then on Monday morning
provide supply of wood for the week, and
hereafter leave off your other labor every
week early enough to provide full week 8
supply of wood on Saturday. Quit all your
work on the Sabbath-reverence that day
and at the end of six months, whatever you
will say that you have lost by keeping the
Sabbath, will pay you to the amount Of
one hundred dollars"
This poor man solemnly confirmed the
contract, and the landlord engaged to be re.
sponsble for the due payment of the money.
With this the interview closed. sa
About FIVE months afterwards, this same
merchant stopped again at the same public
house, and before he retired to rest, he be-
gan as before to distribute to each person
present tract. He observed plain, but
well. dressed man, who seemed to be watch
ing him with special interest, and who, when
he approached, said: did you never dis.
| IL ~.
"Probably have; am not unfrequently
distributing them
did you not give one to man who said
he worked on the Sabbah day
The merchant replied that he recollected
the circumstance very well.
"Well, sir, continued the other, 81 am
7 that man. l carried the tract you gave me
home, and told my wife every word of oul
conversation. She said you were right; and
we sat down and she read the tract aloud
So much affected were we with the tract, and
with what you said, that We scarcely slept
any all night. In the morning we rose;
WeHG duu pioOuIou ucuuiui VI WOOu Will
which to get our breakfast, and after break
fast vas over we sat down and read the trac
again. By and by one of our neighbor,
, came in, as was usual, to loiter away the day
{ in vain conversation. We told him what haC
happened; he said, too, that you were right
: and my wife read the tract again to him ant
a myself. Other neighbors came in, and w
. did the same by them. They came the mex
e Sabbath and We again read the tract to them
and now, sir, as the result of your distribut
8 ing this little tract, we have at my hous,
/; every Sabbath day religious meeting
= This same tract has been read every Sab
: bath since l saw you, and the reading of i
. is now accompanied with religious converse
: ton.
!, "Well," said the merchant, "if you hav,
J, kept your promise, perhaps you would b.
o glad to have your money; how much have
d to pay?"
0 ooh, nothing, sir" replied the man 81
i have never prospered so as have since I OBJ