The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-03-16
THE EFFICACY OF PRAYER.
Inosdenta In the Lives or tro Well Known
Carolinians.


70 ne Editor IF ne Sunday Mers.
The following beautiful incident in the
history of Mrs. M. 6. Harley, who died
recently in Darnweli, may inieFes; some
OF the readers Of your Sunday paper.
In 1866, Mrs. Harley, in dire distress
on account of her poverty caused by the
civil war, went to consult with her friend
the Hon. w. Perroucau Finley, OF Aiken
South Carolina. Mr. Finley, who for
many years was president of the Charles.
ton College, had retired TO Aiken ON ac.
count Of his health, and forced BY neces.
sity in his old age, had resumed the
practice of law. which for many years he
had abandoned. He was conspicuous for
learning and much beloved on account
OF his eminent virtues, and life long
piety.
Mrs. Harley confided to him her sor.
rows and asked his advice as to some
mode OF her obtaining livelihood. He
consoled her by telling her that her daily
bread was secure, rs God had promised
1t, and urged the necessity of constant,
earnest, special prayer, and in iliustra.
ton gave her an incident in his own life
somewhat in this wise: when wae l8
years of age | was coming home from
Princeton College on horseback, when in
the eastern wilds of North Carolina l
lost my money. knew it would take
$l8 to carry me 10 Charleston. was
young, sensitive and inexperienced, and
though Mt this time such n misfortune
would appear little matter, l never
suffered keener anguish In my life.
rode for miles in this condition of mind.
Al last ] remembered that the good
Father had promised to help his children
in distress. Immediately rode into the
woods, tied my horse, and knelt down
and prayed earnestly to God to give me
SiS to carry ME to my home. I felt re-.
lievod, remounted my morse, and had not
proceeded half mile when / discovered
a silk purse lying in the road. On open.
ing the purse | found to my JOY $lS. But
soon reaction took place. knew Il
was not my money, and, though the
Devil had tempted me. Immediately
put spurs to my horse and overlook q
wagon in charge of two white men. |
held out the purse to them and told them
its history, and asked them il they had
dropped it. They said it did not belong
to them. | hurried on and overlook n
gentleman on horseback, showed tho
purse and repeated the story and received
a similar reply. 1t wns long distance
to the next town, and met no other on
the way. This money carried me home.
afterwards published for the owner of
the pune, and not finding claimant,
gave 1t TO charity. have always looked
upon this as direct answer to prayer. /
Know you have been a good Christian,
but have you used all the efforts you can
think OF for support? By the way. what
has become of your old uncle, the Eng
lish sen captain, who use to sni TO
Charleston2 Perhaps he can help you"
She replied: ooh he is dead. He was
80 years old in 1860. l wrote to him
then and got no reply. Six long years
have passed since then, aud l know he
Is dead" "Oh but you have not done
your duty. Write again"
Mrs. Harley hurried home and wrote
q letter to her uncle. The old sea cap.
tain was on his death bed. The news
brought light TO his eyes and 10Y to his
heart. He exclaimed: "My dear niece,
| Mary, is still alive! am coo feeble 70
change my will. Wife, send her s2OO
forthwith, and when you die give her
half my estate" The noble old captain
died in few days, and soon afterwards
Mrs. Harley received the s2OO.
About lwo years afterwards meek
beautiful and sain,-like lady of about
forty years of age came into my oilice
with her attorney, Col. William Wallace
to execute before me rs notary public
some papers to send to England to ge
possession Of legacy. was 80 pleased
with the appearance Of the lady I in
quircd of my friend, Col. Wallace, the
particulars of the transaction, and re-
ceived the substantial facts above re-
cited.
Mrs Harley received this legacy, abou
$4,000, with which she has done count
less acts of Christian charity, and afte,
returning 10 the Lord this special gif
has gone to the mansion prepared for hel
above.
If this little incident gives any comfort
to the praying saint, ] will not regret
communicating il to your paper.
+. w. MCM AsTER
Cotumbia, S. c., February % .JS2.