The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-16
WHOLE NO. 1915.


driven into the wilderness by the
hatred of the wicked King Ahab,
he was fed by ravens, which brought
him bread and meat morning and
night. We do not know where the
ravens got the food, but the same
Being who told them to take it to
the prophet could show them how
to get it. Thus God gave Elijah his
daily bread" You pray for your
"daily bread" every time you re-
peat the Lords Prayer, and he gives
it 10 you. Father pays for it, mother
prepares it, but God shows them
where to get it.
A girl about IL years old lived
with her grandfather. He was a
very good, but a very poor man, and
he was too old to work and so get
his living. His little stock of money
grew less and less, till he had spent
his last shilling in buying bread.
Soon that was all eaten up; and one
day, when dinner-time came, there
was not bit of bread or anything
to eat in the house. The child be-
came hungry and asked her grand
father for some food. He told her
he had none, but promised her some
by dinner-time. He made her set
the plates and knives and forks as
usual, and she did it, wondering
what grandfather could mean. Just
before dinner-tims he and the little
girl knelt down, and the old man
prayed for daily bread" and trust
ing the promice Bread shall be
given him, his water shall be sure"
Just as he finished, lady came
in, bringing bountiful meal with
her for them. God put it into that
lady's heart to wonder whether the
old man and his grandchild had
enough food.
The lady who brought food to
these poor people was a Christian,
and we do not wonder that God
should have used her to relieve his
servants wants. But sometimes
God sends food to his children by
the hands Of bad people, and even
by those who are fond of saving all |
they can, and rarely or never help |
their poor neighbors. Naturally the |
ravens would keep all the bread and I
flesh they could get for themselves, !
but God made them carry it to /
Elijah so now and then God puts 4
it into the thought of miseTlvmen to
give to those he loves.
\ poor man, named Thomas
Hownham. lived in England He
earned his living sometimes by car
rying Goals, and sometimes by sell
ing brooms made of the heath that
grew on the moors. He was 4 god
ly man, and believed God would
always care for him. Il expected
some money one day for his work
but the man that owed it did not
pay him. He went home at night
penniless. and found there was
nothing in the house 10 cat His
children cried for food, but he could
give them none.
He put them to bed and they
went to sleep, and their mother fell
asleep too. Then he went outside
the house, in the moonlight, TO a
place where no one could hear him,
and prayed that God would supply
his need. He stayed, thinking of
Gods promises, for an hour and a
half. When he reached his home, :.
he saw on q stool a large loaf and
Joint of meat ready roasted.
So God answered his prayer
How did the food come there?
That is TIE most remarkable part of
the story.
A farmer lived close by who was
so niggardly that folks had nick
named him "Pinch-me-near." Be-
fore he went TO market he ordered
his housekeeper to roast whole
Joint of meat and bake two large
loaves.
He came home from market in a
bad humor, and soon went TO bed.
Two hours afterward he got up and
told the servant to take the meat ,
and loaf to Thomas Hownham's
cottage. The man did as he was
told, opened the door the poor man
had left unbolted, and put the ,
bread and meat on the stool, not .
liking to disturb the sleeping fam
ily. ,
The farmer was yeXed the next
at what he had done, and
explained it in this way. He had
meant to invite some aequaintanees !
% supper, who often teased him be- :
cause he was miser. He thought
ne would wait till they passed his
loor and surprise them by the un- }
expected invitation but q sudden !
of rain fell, and they went :
nome another way. i,
This is what put the farmer into !
such bad temper.
When he got to bed, he dreamed
hree times that Thomas Hownham
md his family were starving, and !.
therefore, had sent the food.
He regretted his generosity, but it
vas too late to recall it.-Edrly :
DnlR.