The Florida agriculturist., 1884-11-19
An Efectual Prayer.

''No," said the lawyer, 81 shan't
press your claim against that man; you
can get some one else to take your case,
or you can withdraw it, just as you
please"
"Think there isn't any money in it ~
"There would probably be some mo-
ney in it, but it would, as you know,
come from the sale OF the little house
the man occupies and calls home but
/ don't want to meddle with the matter,
anyhow"
"Got frightened out OF it, ell ?''
"No, wasn't frightened out of it.
81 suppose likely the old fellow begged
hard to be let Off"
''Well-yes, he did"
"And you caved, likely ~
''No, didn't speak word to him."
''Oh, he did AZ the talking, did he?'
Eyes"
"And ven never said word ~
Not a word
a What in creation did you do?'
~ 81 believe shed few tears"
''And the old fellow begged you hard,
you say?"
''No, didn't say so; he didn't speak
word to me"
"Well, may | respectfully inquire
whom he did address in your hearing? ?"
''God Almighty.
"Ah! he took to praying, did he? ~
"Not for my benefit, in the least. You
see"-the lawyer crossed his right foot
over his left knee, and began stroking
his lower leg up and down, as If to help
state his case concisely-"you see, l
found the little house easily enough, and
Knocked on the outer door, which stood
ajar, but nobody heard me, so stepped
into the little hall, and saw through the
crack Of another door, just as cosy sit
ting room as there ever was.
"There on bed, with her silver head
way up high on the pillows, was an old
lady who looked for all the world just as
my mother did the last time | ever saw
her on earth. Well, | was right on the
point of knocking, when she said as
clearly as conld be, "come, father, now
begin, Pm all ready"-and down on his
knees by her side went an old white
haired man, still older than his wife, l
should Judge; and | couldn't have
knocked then for the life of me. Well,
he began first he reminded God they
were still his submissive children, moth
er and he, and no matter what He saw
fit to bring upon them they shouldn't
rebel at His will of course it twas going
terrible for them to 60 out homeless in
their old age, specially with poor mother
so sick and helpless, but still they'd seen
sadder things than ever that would be.
He reminded God in the next place how
different all might have been if only one
of their boys had been spared them ;
then his voice kind of broke, and thin
white hand stole from under the coverlet
and moved softly over his snowy hair ;
then he went on to repeat that nothing
could be so sharp again as the parting
with those three sons-unless mother
and he should be separated. But at last
he fell to comforting himself with the
fact the dear Lord knew it was through
no fault of his own that mother and he
were threatened with the loss of their
dear little home, which meant beggary
and the almhouse house, place they
prayed to be delivered from entering, ii
it could be consistent with Gods will ;
and then he fell to quoting multitudes
of promises concerning the safety OF
those who put their trust in the Lord
yes, l should say he begged hard; in
fact it was the most thrilling plea to
which / ever listened and at last he
prayed for Gods blessing on those who
were about to demand justice
lawyer stroIed his lower limb in silence
for moment or two, then continued
more slowly than ever:
"And-I-believe- rather go to
\ the poorhouse myself. Tonight, than to