Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-29
So Many CalIs---A Sketch.

So Many CaIls---A Sketch.
ny MRS. II. n, STOWE
II was brisk, clear evening, in the latter
part Of December, when Mr.. A. returned
from his counting house to the comforts Of
a bright coal fire, and warm arm chair, in
his parlor at home. He changed his heavy
boots for slippers, drew around him the folds
of his evening gown, and then lounged back
in his chair, looked up to the ceiling and
about with an air of satisfaction. Still
there was cloud on his brow-what could
be the matter with Mr.. Ar To tell the
truth, he had that afternoon received in his
counting-room the agent OF one of the prin-
cipal religious charities Of the day--and had
been warmly urged to double his last years
subscription, and the urging had been pressed
by statements and arguments, to which he
did not know well how to reply. "People
think" soliloquized he TO himself, "that |
am made of money, believe; this is the
fourth object this year for which | have
been requested to double my subscription,
and this year has been one Of heavy family
expenses building and fitting up this
house-carpets- curtains-no end to the
new things to be bought do not see how
| am to give a cent more i'll charity-then
there are the bills for the girls and boys
they all say they must have twice as much
now as before we came into this house
wonder if did right in building itP" and
Mr.. A., glancing uneasily up and down the
ceiling, and around on the costly furniture
and looked into the fire in silence-he was
tired harassed and drowsy, his head began
to swim and his eyes closed-he was asleep.
In this sleep he thought he heard a tap at
the door; he opened it, and there stood
plain, poor.looking man, who in a voice sim
gularly low and sweet asked for few mo-
ments' conversation with him. Mr.. A. asked
him into the parlor and drew him chair
near the fire. The stranger looked atten-
lively around, and then turning to Mr.. A.,
presented him a paper. at is your last
years subscription to missions" said he,
"you know all the wants of that cause that
can be told you | called to see if you had
anything more to add to it"
This was in the same low and quiet voice
as before, but for some reason, unaccount-
able to himself, Mr.. A. was more embar-
raised by the plain, poor and unpretending
man than he had been in the presence of
any one before. He was for some moments
silent, before he could reply at all, and then
in a hurried and embarrassed manner be be-
gan the same excuses which had appeared
so satisfactory to him the afternoon before
the hardness Of the times the difficulty of
collecting money, family expenses, etc.
The stranger quietly surveyed the spa
cious apartment with its many elegancies
and luxuries, and without any comment
took from the merchant the paper he had
given, but Immediately presented him with
another.
"This is your subscription to the tract
society, have you anything to add to it
you know how much it has been doing, and
how much more it now desires to do, if
Christians would only furnish means-do
you not feel called upon to add something
to it 2"
MIR. A. was very uneasy under this appeal
but there was something in the STILL mild
manner of the stranger that restrained him
but he answered, although he regretted it
exceedingly, his circumstances were such
that he could not this year conveniently add
to any of his charities.
The stranger received back the paper
without any reply, but Immediately pre-
sented in its place the subscription to the
Bible society, and in a few clear and for
chile words reminded him of its well known
claims, and again requested him to add
something to his donations. Mr.. A. became
impatient. $500
Have not said," he replied, d" that can
do nothing more for any charity than | did
last year There seems to be no end to the
calls upon us in these days. At first there
were only three or four objects presented,
and the sums required were moderate-now
the objects increase every day, all call upon
us for money and all, after we give once,
want US to double and treble and quadruple
our ription-there is no end to the
thing-we may as well stop in one place as
another"
The stranger took back the paper, rose
and fixing his eye on his companion, said in
a voice that thrilled to his soul.
One year ago to night you thought that
your daughter lay dying-you could not
sleep for agony-upon whom did you call
that night"
The merchant started and looked up
there seemed change to have passed over
the whole form of his visitor, whose eye was
fixed on him with calm, intense, penetrat-
ing expression that awed and subdued him
he drew back, covered his face and made
no reply.
"Five years ago." said the stranger,
"when you lay at the brink of the grave,
and thought that if you died then you should
leave family of helpless children, entirely
unprovided for, do you remember how you
Prdyeu-WHO sdVeu you Lnen
The stranger paused for an answer, but
there was a dead silence. The merchant
only bent forward as one only overcome, and
rested his head on the seat before him.
The stranger drew yet nearer, and said in
still lower and more impressive tone, "Do
you remember fifteen years since, that time
when you felt yourself so lost, so helpless,
when you spent days and nights in prayer,
when you thought you would give the whole
world for one hours assurance that your
sins were forgiven you-who listened to you
then Z"
1t was my God and Saviour p said the
merchant with sudden burst of remorseful
feeling" Oh, yes, it was he"
"And has he ever complained of being
called upon too Often" inquired the stranger
in voice of reproachful sweetness say"
he added " are you willing to begin this night
and ask no more Of him If he from this hour
will ask no more of you Z"
"Ob, never, never, neverl" said the mer.
chant throwing himself at his feet, but az
he spoke these words the figure seemed to
vanish, and he awoke with his whole soul
thrilled within him.
"Oh God and Saviour what have ]
been saying? What have | been doing 2"
he exclaimed "Take all-take everything
what is all have TO what thou hast done
for me 2"-Selected