Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-03-18
THE PRAYER OVERHEARD.
A "Grnce" That Was Said Over n Very
Humble Table.

n "GruCe' Tnut w M Sa1u over n very
Humble Table.
AS Rev. Henry Bromley. city mis-
sionary in Brooklyn, n. Y, was one day
passing through dark hall in tumble
down tenement house, he saw through
4 broken door n woman and three chill
dren sitting ut bare table, on which
there was only loaf of bread.
As he paused an instant, arrested by
the evident indications of refinement in
the quiet little group, they all bowed
their heads and repeated in concert:
"God bless our going out, nor less
Our coming in, and make them sure.
God bless our daily bread, and bless
Whate'er we do. whate'er endure:
In death unto His peace awake us,
And heirs of His salvation make u.s."
The visitors eyes were dimmed with
tears as he made his way down the uh-
certain stairs. A few bours later, at q
supper in the conference-room of the
church with which he was connected.
he was called upon to TASK a blessing"
With the scene in the chamber of pow
erty fresh in his mind, he repeated
Prince Albert's translation of q German
hymn, as the poor woman and her chill
dren had done over their half-dime loaf;
and afterward he related the incident of
the afternoon.
All the persons ut the table listened
with attention and interest, but
stranger in the city, who had come in
with n business acquaintance by what
seemed the merest chance, was so i'm
pressed by the story that he could not
keep silence. Heapproached Mr., Brom-
ley, and inquired particularly MS to the
appearance of the family, and il they
lived far away.
"Oh, no." said Mr.. Bromley. "By n
short cut, entirely familiar to me, we
may reach them in few minutes. If
you would like TO visit them in the way.
of bencvolence, we can go after supper"
LET us go now" said the gentleman.
'But allow me to explain.
Long ago, in a country home in
Scotland, my grandmother taught my
sister and myself to repeat that grace.
The old grandmother died, the sister
married when very young, and went I
knew not where.
1T Is years now since lost sight OF
her, but always in my own American
home in the west that grace is said, and
| have the feeling that il my sister is
living it is said in her home, also. May
not this be n clew"
at may, indeed" said the missionary;
and making their excuses, the two mem
hurried away.
The evenings entertainment was not
over when Mr.. Bromley returned and
described what he had seen to the in
terested group that gathered around
him.
"lt was one of the most remarkable
instances Of Gods guiding hand l have
ever known" said he. "The brother
and sister recognized each other inn
mediately. 1t seems that the poor wom-
al has been through all phases Of pow
erty, from decent home to restitution
in garnet. For time she forgot God,
and ceased to say her grandmother's
grace. 1T seemed mockery,' she said,
when we had so little to eat But the
words, 'whate'er we do, whate'er en-
dure,' brought it back to her heart, and
she resolved: If God can bless what 1
endure, / will keep on saying the
prayer
This purpose she followed, and in it
found reason for increased faith in the
Divine faithfulness and love"
The clew that leads one back to lost
friends and fortune is not always an
act of piety or an Unconscious virtue;"
but we are sure that n soul, however
deSOlnte that never forpetS it's duty to
its conscience and it's God lives nearest
to the Guiding Hand.-Youth's Com
panion.