Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-11-08

broken arm, half scared TO death.
But" says I, 81 shan't be burden
to you, for l have $40, 200 in the Ma
rine Bank at Hovervile, and guess
that will pay expenses. -
Well, she laughed and cried, and
sent for a doctor, and done all she
could for me. Edgar looked awful
sick, but he made me welcome, and
he prayed that night that God would
bless the dear sister who had come
so unexpected to them. | thought
to myself that he would not be SO
free with his prayers if he hadn't
heard me tell about the money in the
bank. They were dreadful poor, and
my money bought many comfort. |
| thought there was no use living
without money, but Edgar and Ruth
were always cheerful, but for the life
of me l could not see how they could
be. About two weeks after my ar
rival, | got a letter from Lawyer
Jones which contained the awful news
that the bank at Hoverville had fail
ed, and my money was all gone.
Well, that nigh killed me, for | had
not only lost my money, but here l
was dependent on Edgar. l raved
like mad woman, but he only pray
ed the harder that God would bless
my trials to my good, and they told
me as long as they had crust. l
should share it. Well, I can think
of that year without shiver. Ruth's
faith never failed. She says:
"Mirandy, the good Lord will pro-
vide. He has said he would never
forsake u.s."
Says I, 81 have always found that
He amt no objections to your using
your two strong arms to help along,
and one of mine is broke"
She said it might prove blessing
to me, but l could not see why, for
it gave me heap of trouble. About
that time a right smart Methodist
preacher came along and held meet
lngs in the school house. For a long
time I would not go, but at last for
the want of something to do l went.
The preacher invited sinners to 60 up
by the little desk for prayers, and he
walked down the aisle and spoke to
different ones. When he came to
me, says he:
'My deal sister, have you given
all to Christi"
Says 1, II havn't anything to give
all my money was IN the bank al
Hoverville, and that has burst, and
besides l can't work, for | have got
broken arm"
Says he, "Oh, then surely you
need the love of Jesus to comfort
you"
And as sure as [ live he kneeled
right down there and he prayed fol
the sister who had been so afflicted,
that she might be led to seek her hap
piness in trusting God. Well, he
prayed so simple and earnest, that
before l knew it tears were running
down my cheeks, and he says:
pray for yourself.
But l told him | never prayed in
my life, and l could not begin now
He said | could, and he told me tC
get on my knees and present my own
case. Well, / never could tell how
it was. l expect the Spirit of Goo
seized me, and l fell on my knees
and half aloud cried:
s'Oh, Lord, here is Mlrandy Hop.
kins. never did anything for you
/ have been cold and hard all my life
but now my moneys all gone and my
arm is broke, and | don't know what
to do, OF what to ask for, but if yor
have got anything to give that will
make me happier l want it,"
The preacher heard all | said, anG
the tears run down his cheeks, an6
then he prayed. Well, after that ]
went to meeting every night, but 1t is
hard to convert old sinners; but af.
ter while 1 saw my way clear, and
one evening the preacher rose up ano
said;
81 think it will do US all some gooc
if Sister Hopkins will relate her ex.
perience.'
Mercy, how scared | was! but my
heart was so full l got on my feeI
some way, and stammered out:
81 thank God that the bank al
Hoverville has burst, and that [ have
got broken arm" Then / trembled
SO that l was going to sit down, but
the preacher he called out,
|
"Oh, go on, sister. )"
So / made one more effort, and
says, "if these things had not hap.
pened to me reckon | never should
have got religion. l came out West
expecting to be killed by the Indians,
but In place of them / found Jesus. .
Well, some laughed, some cried
and some shouted, and thinks 1,
"Well,s Mirandy, you have done ii
now."
From that time everything went
better; my arm healed, Edgar inn
proved, and he IS now preaching in a
| large church farther west. About two
years from this time Lawyer Jones
wrote me that them town lots of nine
were very valuable for building
purposes, and if | wanted to sell
| q r 49,