The Indianapolis journal., 1884-04-26

as Davie and we have now reached the cabin we
will go on with our story.
Il am very glad to see you, Davie How is
the good mother and the other children? So she
has sent me some doughnuts, has she2 1 thank
her very much, for | haven't had time to do any
cooking Since | came home. have brought
home some new flowers with me that want to
show you after finish sewing this patch on my
sleeve. The poor old coat and its owner are
growing old together and the old man paused
with slight sigh.
Father Perkins, why don't you buy some new
clothesN Dayie tmidly asked.
80, my boy can't afford to spend money
for clothes when | see so many poor and sick
people who need it, and the little have goes
such short way
Don't all the money in the world belong to
God9"
Eyes, my lad, the silver and the gold are his,
and he giveth it to whoinsoever he will to use in
making the world happier and better"
well, please, won't you ask him to give my
father great lot of it, as much as ahundred
dollarsl o, please, do"
why, Davie, what would your father do with
all that money!
"He would make me see."
And when the old man answered sadly that he
feared that could never be done. the child
eagerly explained how man had stayed over
night at their house few weeks before, who
said that in the city of Philadelphia there lived
famous doctor who had cured a great many
blind people.
Davie, "but it is so far, and the doctors
bill would be so large. that father and mother
said he might well have told them to go to
London or Paris just think! Father says it
would take hundred dollars But won't you
please ask God to give 1T to him some way"
Indeed | WILL said the old man, who knew
well that God could provide the necessary means
for the costly experiment.
I'VE will ask him now." and kneeling down
with Davie, he told the Lord with childlike sim
plicity, why they wanted the money, and asked
Him to send it.
DO you think it will be there when get
homer Davie asked.
II don't know; God answers us in many ways.
but he always answers.
But now, Dave, it is getting late. and after
you have looked at the flowers you will have to
start for home, or the good mother will wonder
what has become of her pet lamb.
1t was touching sight to see the blind child
tenderly touching with his sensitive finger tips
the pressed blossoms, while the old man, with
the enthusiasm of boy, explained to him their
botanical names and structure, colors and habits
of growth.
''There. my boy" he said, as he closed the
book. that makes the nine hundred and nine
tieth; hope | shall finish the thousand this
summer Ali many are the years that have
gone since | gathered the first one
You think more of your herbarum than of
anything else in the world, don't you!" Davie
said.
!, why, yes; it is the only treasure have in
rude furnishing of the cabin.
Davie went home to dream that raven flew
into the window with little bag in its bill full
OF gold dollars and he was not surprised when,
a few days later, his father brought letter from
the office containing nothing but q check for
500. But though Dayie took it as a matter of
course, his parents did not, and they tried in
every possible way to find out who sent it, but
without success.
Speaking of herbariums, 1 have a very fine
of nearly a Thousand Snaeimens / ShOui1 like
to show you, said Prof. Cummings to his guest
young professor from neighboring college,
who as he opened the book, read on the first
leaf the name Joseph Perkins,
With wandering look he turned to Prof.
Cummings and asked
Where did you get this2'
81 bought it, was the reply
From whom!n
'The collector himself. 1 got it a good many
years ago. An odd old chap he was, L remem-
ber"
81 knew him well, and wish you would tell
me all about it, for | cannot think what could
have induced him to part with it. l know that
he valued it above every earthly possession"
well, about ffteen-no, it was seventeen
years ago this spring, took trip through Ohio
and western Pennsylvania. One night stopped
with this Mr.. Perkins, minister, believe he
was. Our conversation turned on the wild
flowers of the region and he showed me this
herbarium. | had just lost fine one of my own
by fire. and offered him hundred dollars for
this He at once accepted my offer; though it
seemed to give him so much pain that in the
morning, before started, l proposed to take
back the money and leave him the book, but he
would not consent, saying that it was the answer
to a prayer, and so-but, what's the matteri Are
| you sickl"
"Do you know who amp was the only reply
| his young companion made.
| why, yes; you are Professor Keane, who oc-
cupies the scientific chair in T College,
| author of standard textbook on botany and"
hot do,
| ago this spring, was poor blind boy, and had
| just heard that there was hope that | might re-
cover my sight if could reach q skillful oculist
in Philadelphia. Almost insurmountable diff
fcuties lay in the way of my doing so, principal
| ly want of funds. | confded my trouble to
our old minister who prayed with me
! that the necessary one hundred dollars
! might be provided. After few days my father
| received the money through the postofice. l
have never been able to find the slightest cew to
! the human instrument God used in answering
our prayers, until your story this evening has
convinced me that to the sacrifice of dear old
| Father Perkns's only treasure | owe the great
| est blessing of my life"
well, tha$ is truly an interesting history.
| How little l ever dreamed that | was connected
in any way with your success in life But what
! became of Mr. PerkinsP
| Il never saw him again, for during my alb
senee at Philadelphia he went to visit sister in
! Virginia, where he sicllened and died. | have
| often wondered what became of this herbarium.
| Noble old man how much l owe to hm-not
only sight but it was from him that / caught
the enthusiasm for botanical studies to which at
tribute whatever success have attained"
If you visit the cemetery i'll Virginia where
the Rev. Joseph Perkins sleeps, you will be at
tracted to a solitary grave, covered with choice
| flowers, and marked by a neat stone bearing his
name and the single line, 'There fairer flowers
| than Eden's bloom;" and the loquaeious Old
negro in charge of the grounds will talk as long
as you will listen of the fine young gentleman
who erected the stone and pays him for keeping
the grave covered with flowers.
| Supporting Herself.
| Elizabeth Stuart Phelps in May St. Nicholas.
| "Girs. first make UP your mind that YOU will