The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-02-01
HOW THE MONEY CAME.
A California Sketch.
gY BISHOP O. p. FITZGERALD.

driving on tue Alameda-that beautI
full avenue, shaded by the wide-branch
ing willows planted by the first Jesul
fathers of San Jose and Santa Clara
for which good work l hereby give
them my humble thanks-l had me
with an accident that nearly ended my
earthly experiences. The elong-llmoeu
four.year-old trotter, taking fright by
the collision of q hind-wheel of iht
buggy with heavily-loaded lumber
wagon, plunged forward, tearing OF
the entangled wheel, and then with
few frantic leaps came crash, and
found myself describing a circle In the
air. When | came down there was
a blank in my recollection of events
for I know not how long. When
repaiped my consciousness, a badly
dislocated shoulder, and many bruises
and wrenches attested the combined
effects of gravity, propulsion and con
cussion OH my corpus. l was taken
TO the house of my old friend, L. L,
McCabe, where Drs. Caldwell and
Thorne adjusted the dislocatiOn. and
Modified my bruises. Blessings on the
memory of the master and mistress
of that hospitable home, where true
hospitality always smiled welcome,
and from which no needy woman, or
child was ever turned away empty
handed.
Long weeks of pain followed the ac'
cideut, The surgeons of San Francisco
even talked of anlputation at the shoul'
der joint-doubIless very interesting
operation, scientifically considered,
but one that felt that l would rather
read of than endure in person. l ob,
jected, the doctors desisted, and this
Sketch is penned with that same right
arm, with al occasional twinge that
reminds me of that tide and smash.up
twenty years ago.
Twas Just able to move about the
house, with the arm in sling, walk
ing softly, and trying to exhibit the
,,atience I had so often commended to
xther persons. One day as / stood
looking out of the bay-winuow upon
the ever-restless, ever-chauglng sea,
It occurred to me that on that very DAY
] had TO make payment ut the Iank
Of $50. or serious trouble would result.
The money was not at hand; was
unable to 20 down into the city to at
tend to that or any other business mat
irr: there was nobody to send; the
bour for the bank to close for the day
would soon come what could | DO?
TONY inner ear voice seemed to
sneak: "You profess to believe III
prayer-so you have been teaching
others for many years-why not pray"'
Heading the voice still and small
this Voice is always still and small
sank into a chair, and bowling my
head upon the window-sill, prayed.
A calm, indescribably sweet, came
upon me. 1t was the answering touch.
Whose hath felt it will understand.
lifting nv head, J looked out, keep
inc nv seat by the window. Across
the fiat between the end of the street.
car line and my house I observed q
man and a woman walking slowly
along as if they were conversing on
some subject Of mutual interest.
When they reached the foot of the ter
race thew turned and began to climb
the steps that led up to our door. In
answer to their ring, the servant open
ed to them, and in answer to their In
auiry, told them / was ut home, usher
ing them into the room where l was
sitting. -.
said the man; by agreement We have
met here in San Francisco to he mar
ried, and We want you to perform the
ceremony"
"Yes," said the lady, who was a
rapid talker, 1--WE are both strangers
in the city, and when We left the Lick
House awhile ago to find minister
we were at loss, but your name sud
denly came into my mind Ill connec
with the recollection of some CORE
spondence between us when you were
Superintendent of Public instruction
and | was teacher in the public
school at Eureka. We agreed that il
we could find you, We would ike tC
have you marry us-anh here We are. .
She was very pretty, and smiled
very sweetly as she spoke.
''Do you feel strong enough to GO
through with it ?" asked the eXpectan
bridegroom.
A glance at the pretty schoolmarm's
beaming face inspired me with frest
strength and resolution. and replied
that I thought could 60 through will
the ceremony-and | did, he LOOKING
triumphant and she radiant at tht
close.
When the last words were said de
claring them to he man and wife to
pether. in the name of the Holy frin
ity. he thrust his hand into his pocke
and taking out what seemed to me s
whole handful of gold, with some
thing of flourish, he handed 1t to me
saying: :,
ty more where it came FROM"
I told him l thought it would do.
In few moments they left, as hap
py-looking pair as | ever met:
Retaining my curiosity until the.
had descended the first flight of steps
T then counted the marriage fee
There were just ten twenty dollar gol'
pieces-making the $3.50 / needed. ant
$50 more for good measure.
That is the way the money came.
At the very time my name student.
occurred to the mind of the pretty III
tie school-teacher l was bowed il
prayer in the bay window at Norti
Beach. Free agency is never over
borne, but by the processes of memory
by suggestive touches and solicitations
it. is moved upon by the Holy Spirit
A true prayer touches God, aud b
touches everything in the universe.
If there is here suggestion for som
reader, he will know what it is.
a.t...to 10 non 1900