Year: 1862

wheE asked


This, continued Lavater in his diary.
appeared to me so evidently and incontro-
yertibly to be the meaning of the verses
IN question, that | spoke with more than
usual warmth my wife made no further
reply than she would we'll consider these
things,


l had scarcely lett the dining room a
few minutes, when an aged widow desired
to speak to me and she was shown into my
study. Forgive me, dear sir, she said,
excuse the liberty | am about to take; |
am truly ashamed, but my rent is due to-
morrow, and | am short six dollars have
been confined to my bed with sickness, and
my poor girl nearly starving every penny
that l could save | have laid aside to meet
the demand, but six dollars are yet want
ing, and tomorrow is term day. Here
she opened parcel, which she held in her
hand and said; This is a book with
silver clasp, which my late husband gave
me the day we were married 1t is all |
can spare Of the few articles / possess, and
sore it is to part with it. am aware that
it is not enough, nor do see how | could
ever repay but, dear sir, if you can, do as
sist me-


{ am very sorry, my good woman, that
| cannot help you, / said; and putting my
hand into my pocket, acciHently felt my
purse, which contained about two dollars !;
these said to myself, cannot extricate her
difficulty, she requires six; besides, if even
they copld, have need of this money for
sonic other purpose. Turning to the wild
ow l said: Have you no friend, no rela-
ton, who could give you this tyife?'


NO, there ie no one, | am ashamed to go
from house to house would rather work
day and night. My excuse of being here
is, that people speak so much of your good
ness If, however, you cannot assist me,
you will at least forgive my intrusion ind
God, Who has never yet forsaken me, will
not surely turn away from me in my six
tieth year -


At this moment the door of my apart
ment opened and my wife entered | was
ashamed and vexed. Gladly would have
sent her away; for conscience whispered,
Give to him that asketh thee and from
him that asketh of thee, turn not thou
away. She came up to me and said, with
much sweetness, This is good old wo-
man; she has certainly been iii Of late; as
sist her if you can


Shame and compassion struggled in my
darkened soul L have but two dollars
| said in aghisper, and she requires six +;
III give her trifle in her hand and let
her &c


Laying her head on my arm and smil-
ing, my wife said aloud, what conscience
had whispered before: 'Give to him that
askcth thee and from him that would bor-
row Of thee, turn not thou away


l biushed, and replied, with some little
vexatlon Would you give your ring for
the purpose


With pleasure answered my wife, pull
ling off her ring.


The coed widow was either too simple
or too modest to notice what was going on,
and was preparing to retire, when my wife
called her to wait in the lobby. When we
were left alone, asked my wife, Are
you IN earnest about the ring?'


Certainly, how can you doubt it? she
said: do you think that I would trife
with charity? Remember what you said
to me bat half year ago Oh my dear
friend, let us not make a show of the gos-
pei; you are in general so kind, so sympa
thising, how is that you find it so difficult
to assist this poor woman? why did you
not, without hesitation, give her what YOU
had in your pocket ? and did you not know
that the quarter will be paid US in less than
eight days? She then added with much
feeling: Take no thought fer your life,
what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink
nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.
Behold the fowls of the air; they SOW not.
neither do they reap nor gather into barns
yet your heavenly Father feedeth them


Il kissed my wife, while tears ran down
my cheeks: Thanks, thousand thanks,
for this humiliation | turned to the
desk, took from it six dollars, and opened
the door to call the poor widow-all darken-
ed around me at the thought that / had
been SO forgetful of the omniscience of God
as tosay to her, I cannot help you Oh
thou false tonguel thou false heart IF thou,
Lord, shouldst mark iniquities, oh Lord,
who shall stand ''Here is what you need
l said addressing the widow


'At first she seemed not to understand
what [ meant, and thought was offering a
small contribution, for which she thanked
ne, and pressed my hand but, when she
perceived that l had given the whole sum,
she could scarcely find words, to express
her feelings. She cried: Dear sir, I can
not repay all l possess is this poor book,
and it is old


Keep your book said I, and the mon
ey too, and thank God, and not me, for
verify | deserve no thanks, after having SO
long resisted your entreaties go in peace,
and forgive an erring brother


| returned to my wife with downcast
lnnks. hut she smiled and aid L..