The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-01-23

propped up with pillows on the bed
which had been brought into the
sitting-room.
She had gone to her school two
weeks before, had taken cold, had
returned Saturday night scarcely
able to ride; had taken her bed as
soon as she reached the house, and
the doctor had pronounced it a
severe case of pneumonia. She
reached out her hand, smiled sadly,
and said in whisper: Don't be
frightened, Johnny. | took cold
and came home to have mother cure
me. | shall be better in day or
two" In the morning l went down
to explain why | could not pay the
ten dollars of borrowed money. On
my way l met the professor of the
seminary who said that our appro
priation from the Educational So
ciety would be less this term than
usual, probably this would be true
through the year. 1t seemed as
though everything was failing me. |
went to my room and wrote three
| letters, one to the church for which
! | supplied during vacation, descrlb-
ing my circumstances and asking If
they could forward the amount due.
The second | sent to wealthy dea
con of the church in my native vii
lage. The third | directed to very
active Christian, member of the
same church. In these two [ asked
the loan of little money, till | could
complete my course and earn enough
to pay the debt with interest.
Nellie grew worse rapidly. The
doctor said there was great danger,
but the crisis would soon be over.
Three days after she seemed to
tremble between life and death.
The doctor had stood over her near
ly all the time for ten hours; the crl-
sis had come-we hoped it had pas
sed-she slept. 1t was then that |
stole away to my own room and took
from my pocket the three letters
VIII Oh had been placed in my hand
when we thought Nellie was dying.
opened the first. 1t was as fol-
lows:
"Dear Brother: l have spoken to
the other members of the committee,
and we will attend to the case very
soon."
This was all very kind, but
brought me no present relief. l
opened the second. Below is copy.
"Dear Sir: Yours of the 9Th is at
hand My funds are all invested
and it would not be convenient for
me to comply with your request.
Please accept my regards and best
wishes. Truly yours
The third was opened; it was as
follows:
"Deay Brother: l would let you
have the money If Thought it would
do you any good. You have studied
enough already to almost spoil you.
You had better leave the seminary
and go to preaching, if you are ever
going to preach"
| had slept very little for three
nights; I was nervous, anxious and
worn out, and / cried as I used to
cry in childhood. 1t relieved me.
I bowed there and again asked Je-
sus to help me.
My mother was SO anxious and
weary that it did not seem best to
consult her, and yet something must
be done. l had tried Christian men
and they had failed me. turned
next to unconverted men and asked
for help. Something seemed to say
to me, write to the President Of the
bank, he has kind heart and may
help.
But then | could not forget that
he was Mary's father and that would
be another step DOWN. r in her esti-
nation. But pride went down as
usual before necessity and | sat
down calmly and wrote him thus:
"Dear Sir: When l left the bank
and resumed my course of study it
was with the direct approval of my
mother and sister, and with the ex
pectation that we should have means
enough to carry us through comfort
ably till I could engage i'll my pro-
fession. But when we sold the cot
tage what little means we had was
invested in R. R. bonds which prov
ed to be worthless few weeks after
ward.
"That misfortune left us with
nothing. We have cut our expen-
ses as much as possible; we have
earned what we could; but we have
spent our last dollar; my sister Mel
lie is very sick; and we need some
money very much indeed. | have
no claim upon you, and | cannot Sc
cure you But if you will send me
500 | will send you my note. II I
live l will pay you. If die you will
lose it.
eff you can favor me l shall ever