The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-11-25
An Answered Prayer.

Mr. Jennings had passed his three.
score and ten, and had come to time
OF enforced inactivity. A long illness
kept him for months in bed, and when
he recovered he had dropped out Of
the procession; every one recognized
his breakdown as the unmistakable
sign that hia days oe work we're over.
Mr. Jennings was not altogether hap
py. He almost resented the fact
that the church and community could
get on so we'll without him, and it
seemed hard that his manly vigor,
carried so finely into old age,
should waste in unwilling idleuoss,
with nothing to look forward to but
final helplessness and death.
II stay at home and play" he said,
"but l can do nothing to answer my
own prayers. [ cant get out to meet
ing, and / have little chance to iu-
fuence any one for good. The world
has gone'by while have been resting
by the way, and 1 can't catch up
Mrs. Jennings oomforsed him, and
the aged pair sat down together, max
ing the most of each Others com.
panionship and daily praying for the
Lcrd's work, which was going on with
out them.
One morning the two old saints fin
ished their breakfast, read their chap
ter iu tho Bible, and kneeled down,
according to their custom, to thank
God for their blessings, to ask his
guidance and care for the grown-up
and scattered family, and his bene-
diction on the work which others were
doing and in which they no longer had
g share.
While they were on their knees o
ladder rose against the open window,
and u man began to ascend. The old
couple were little deaf, and prayed
on. The carpenter, who had come to
repair the roof by the bay window,
assembled two rounds, and stopped.
he stood for minute, at least, un.
decided whether to go up or down, or
60 stay where he was; when he de-
scended quietly, and etole away.
A little way from the house the car
penter sat down in the shade and
waited. The prayer was not short
one, end its tones still came. He re-
called the words which he had heard
on the ladder, and his eyes filled with
tears; he brushed them away, but
they came again; he thought Of anoth-
or gray-haired couple, new dead, who
never failed, while they lived, to pray
to God for an absent son.
He remoun.ed the ladder as length,
but the accents Of that prayer rose
and fell in his ears with the tapping Of
The hammer; aud wheu Mr.. Jennings
came out and leaned onshis staff and
inquired about the repairs which the
roof needed the carpenter felt as
though he had received the benedic.
tion.
All this was eight months ago, in
Chicago. A few days ago Mr.. Jen-
ning'e dcorbell rang, and man en-,
tered and said
~ am the carpenter who repaired
your roof last spring. I.had godly
parents, but I entered the army, and
led g hard life. I had not been 20
church NOR heard o prayer 2or yeaTs.
/ heard your prayer when I put up tho
ladder. For eight months, by the
help Of God, I have lived new life."
Then Mr.. and Mrs. Jenninge knelt
down again and thanked, God for en-
unexpected answer to theiE prayer
Sincere goodness 10 never ''out Of
word" It's employer finds triumph
and trophies for it in the retirement
and rest, as we'll % in strepuous sctiv.
skx.- -VnOkhso Nox,, ce vsor f-ss.