St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-03-06
Her Offering.

com and closet, Miss RandIlla Banks
fslt clad sense OF home coming every
fine she conquered that unruly lock.
She lit her lamp and looked about her.
On the floor lay an envelope that some
one had slipped under the door Miss
Banks picked it up and tried to CUES
What il contained before she lit her oil
etoye and put her supper on to cook
How frugal was that supper they can
gness who, after hard days work, have
cooked lonely suppers over an oil stove
Miss Banks sat down to wait for the
cooking and examined the envelope. 1t
contained stirring appeal for the caus,
If missions, and the statement that the
treasury was empty, also little envel
one TO receive Mss Banks thank-offer
inc to be given at the praise meeting on
Sabbath night. 1t was then Saturday
eVenil e
Miss Banks was seamstress; but for
the last three years repeated attacks OF
rheumatism and grip had lett her little
strength tor work. The last sick spell
had eaten up her small bank account;
now she lived from hand to mouth. She
was a tall, spare woman, with old agt
thinning and whitening her hair. Some
neopIe made unkind remarks about her
homely appearance.
Yes, nv hero ne was poor, and homely
and old, but to Him who Iooketh on the
heart, she was rich, beautiful and i'm
mortal. Poor and homely and old; yet
her taste in giving was roval. She
would like to pour gold into the Lords
treasury: she would like to heap dia
monds and rubies at the feet Of Him who
had been her stay and comfort though
long years Of poverty ami sorrow.
After supper Miss Banks laid her
weeks earnings on the table T e mon
ey was in small charge; one tenth of it
she put by itself as the Lords share-iI
wou d Just pay her pew rent No thank
oftrng could come out of that. The re.
malnder she separated into little piles; so
much tor room rent, so much for coal
and the rest for food. A very small a
mount OF food would it purchase, but
Mss Banks knew to a cents worth how
much food she would be obliged TO eat
during the comirg week. From her food
money she took bright dime. Could
she give that!
As she asked herself the question SHE
heard an ominous click, and long crack
went halt way down the chimney. 1t
might last another week, but likely not
Then she must have a bar of soap; she
had forgottt that. No Randilla Banks
could not afford even ten cent think
of,rng. Neither could she aft r
strength for a good cry" though FIVE
or SIX tears did roll down her sallow
chicks, tor she knew the importance OF
mission work. and sighed as she thought
OF the empty tt, asury, but what coul"
SIZE do o help the work OF her below, d
church?
Nothing apparently, nothing but to
90 to her Bible, to her chapter, the fifty
fourth OF Isaiah, to hunt Tor promises for
the d. solare al d solitary.
Then his solitary soul turned to tn,
psalms in search of something suited to
one who was too poor to give even
dime thank offering.
cast thy burden on the Lord and he
will sustain thee"-and sustain even tue
burden His work, she thought. Thou
telltst my wanderings; put thou my
tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy
book" One OF Miss Banks tears had
fallen on the thank firing envelope.
There it Law, little damp spot just
wi ere she would have been glad to write
$40 Would God accept that salty tear
toI thank, firing? Then Miss Banks
thought OF the ''golCen walls full OF odors
which are the prayers of the saints. y
Like hisper from the Holy Spirit came
the words: II have surely seen tn tfi'c
ton OF my people in Egypt and have
heard their cry; for l know their sor
rows And am come down to deliver
them "
Surely God might do something to de
liver His church in answer to her "cIy "
III mindful of her rheumatism she got
down on her knees, and | wish every
other mt mber OF the church could haN G
heard her PRAYER.
That Saturday evening, i'll another
house on another street, sat another
woman alone. She, too, held in fer
hand a thank-offtring envelope the coun
teTpart OF the one MISS B INKS had found
AMAZING her. 1t was still empty,
though the other hand held an optn
kelbook, whose contents had evid MT
y just been examined, and consisted OF
two silver quarters and a dime, beside
two twenty dollar bills.
Il must remember to ask Fred tor a
dollar or two. OF course, | suppose
could put in this change and let 1t go a
that but shouldn't like anyone t."
know that had given so little.
i know just what l shall do with
these two bills. unused their complaceut
owner, as she spread them out iii her lap
This one will buy me new tall jacket
the new cape collars are so handsome.
is sure to be ever 50 much more becom
ing TO me than the one bought last tall
Dear me. what a shame hat sty e
change so often! but do like to have
my clothes modtrn"
The other bill, continued the speaker.
sol qu'zing, will buy the hat l admired
at M dame Dupr,z's opening. | know
that have always said that it was 4
shame to put so much money INTO hat
nut that is beauty and l mean to in
duRe tor this ouce."
81 saying, the envelope and money
were slipped into this fortunate woman's
purse and the whole matter forgotten a.
ateegram came saying Fired" has been
called out OF the city and would not b.
back home before Monday. Asshe mad,
ready tor chuch the next evening. sh,
suddenly BET bought herself OF the thank
offering, and with half guilty flush OF
NOR ,i6cation, that the offering was to
be so little, she hastily placed the silver
pieces in the envelope and seal the end,
L IL 4. h.N al