The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-07-15
WHAT PRAYER CAN DO.
.sGOD MOVES IN a MYSTERIOUS
WAY" TO SAVE FROM FORECLOS.
URE OF THE MORTGAGE.
A Warning Against Lending Money
to the Poor.

A Warning Against Lending Money
to the Poor.
"No," said the lawyer, 81 shan
press your claim against that man
You can get someone else TO take tht
case, or you can withdraw it, just a:
you please"
"Think there isn't any money il
it ?" -,
"There would probably he little
money in 1t; but it would come from
the sale of the little house the man
occupies and calls his home BuI
I don't want to meddle with the mat.
ter anyhow"
"Got frightened out of it, eh ?"
mot at ALL"
"I suppose the old fellow begged
hard to be let off"
"Well, yes, he did"
"And you caved in likely ?"
"Yes."
"What in creation did you do"
81 believe shed few tears"
1.-The old fellow begged you hard
you say?"
mo, T, didn't say so; he didn't
speak "OTu 10 me-.
"Well, may ask whom did he ad
dress in your hearing?"
God Almighty"
He took to praying, did he?
"Not for my benefit in the least
You see, found the little house easily
enough, and knocked on the outer
door, which stood ajar, but.nobody
heard me; so l stepped into the little
hall, and saw through the crack of the
door cosy sitting room, and there on
the bed, with her silver head high on
the pillows, was an old lady, who
looked for all the world just like my
mother did the last time [ saw her on
earth. Well, I was on the point o
knocking again, when she said
Come, father, now begin I am all
ready Down on his knees by bel
side went the old white-haired man
still older than his wife, I should
Judge; and ] couldn't have knocked
then for the life of me. Well, he be-
gan. First he reminded God that
they were still his submissive children
mother and he, and no matter what
He saw fit to bring upon them, they
should not rebel against his will. Oi
course, it was going to be hard fol
them to go out homeless in their old
age, especially with poor mother SC
sick and helpless and oh, how diff
ferent it might have been if only one
of the boys had been spared Then
his voice kind o'broke, and a thin,
white hand stole from under the GOV.
erlid, and moved softly over his snowy
hair. Then he went on to repeat that
nothing could ever be so sharp again
as the parting with those three sons
unless mother and he should be sepa.
rated! But at last he fell to comfort.
ing himself with the fact that the
good Lord knew that it was through
no fault of his own that mother and
he were threatened with the loss ol
their dear little home, which meant
beggary and the almshouse-a place
they prayed to be delivered from, il
it could be consistent with Gods
will. And then he quoted a multi
tude of promises concerning the safety
of those who put their trust in the
Lord. In fact, it was the most thrill
ling plea to which I ever listened
At last he prayed for Gods blessing
on those about to demand justice"
Then the lawyer continued more
slowly than ever, "And-I-believe ]
had rather 60 to the poorhouse my
self tonight than to stain my hands
and heart with the blood of such q
persecution as that"
Little afraid to defeat the old
mans prayer, e ?"
"Bless your soul man, you couldn't
defeat that prayer. I tell you he lefl
it all subject to the will of God; but
he claimed that we were told to make
known our desires to him. But. oi
all the pleadings I ever heard, that
moved me most. You see, I was
taught that kind of thing myself in
my childhood, and why 7 was sent tc
hear that prayer I am sure I don't
know-but I hand the case over"
IL wish" said the client uneasily
II wish you hadn't told me about the
old mans prayer"
"Why so?"
"Well, because / want the money
the place would bring. I was taught
the Bible straight enough when I was
a youngster, and I hate to run counter
to what you tell me about it. I wish
you had not heard a word about it
and another time 1 would not listen
to petitions not intended for my
ears"
The lawyer smiled.
"My dear fellow" he said, "you are
wrong again. 1t was intended for my
ears and yours, too; and God Almigh.
ty intended it. My old mother used
to sing about God moves in mys
terious way I remember.
"Well, my mother used to sing it
too," said the client, and he twisted
the claim papers in his fingers. "You
can call in the morning if you like
and tell mother and him. the claim
has been met"
''In ,mysterious way" added the
lawyer.