Year: 1878

| a, when | first became acquainted with


Mr. and Mrs Elijah Lee" he said, " / was


hnlshlng my theological studies here in the


village with Dr. Mills and they had lust


married and settled down in their little


house yonder, which they had inherited
One day was sent for to preach on trial in
the adjoining town of Luxboro. Nv ONLY
coat was worn threadbare and extensively
| patched, and had no way of procuring
another. Feeling sorely grieved and dispir.
| tied started out for walk and for the
sake OF telling my troubles TO some fellow.
creature, and with no thought of receiving
any aid in the premises, turned into Mrs.
| Lees house and read to her the invitation
had had from Luxboro, and frankly told her
why could not go at present"


Leave it to the Lord" said the good wo.
man, and forthwith she proceeded to take nv


measure with piece of tape. "Go homeS
she continued, "write your sermon and come
here again Saturday morning"


obeyed. subsequently found that the
woman had actually taken piece of cloth
that she had laid by in the house for a cloak
Tor herself, and, tailoress as she was by trade,
had cut and made me coat from it. |
preached my first sermon in it, and shortly
received and accepted my first call"
On, dear" whispered Aunty Lee from
her seat by my side, i" he's paid me for that
coat every New Years Day since, and il
wasn't much for me to do, after ALL"


Major Sanford, the richest man in town,
was the next TO take the stand. The old peo-
pie smiled and nodded their heads but the
young folks looked at each other and
wondered what he could be indebted TO
Aunty Lee for.


when | was boy" the major began,
was bound out in H to very, very
bad master, from whom determined to run
away. l availed myself of an opportunity to
escape one Saturday afternoon, when was
sent to the pasture to salt the CATTLE
came straight over the mountain to this
place. l wanted to get out of the state as
soon as possible, 50 came directly TO the
bridge down here at the river, which is, you
all know, the New Hampshire boundary.
Just after had stepped upon Vermont soil
overlook, on the road Mr.. and Mrs. Lee,
young people then. They had basket and
spade, and had been digging up wild flow
ers to transplant in their garden. Although
an entire stranger, they accosted me kindly.
Noticing that | had been crying, Mrs. Lee
asked me my trouble. Before | knew it |
had blurted out the whole story, and had
been invited by her to go home with them
and stay over Sunday. | was, of course,
only too grateful to accept the invitation.
After supper we set out the plants, and then
Mr.. Lee took me with him down the hill to
the bank of the brook as we called it
then, and into his little machine-shop.
soon evinced my fondness for tools, and con-
tded to him an invention that had, in a
crude form, long had possession of my brain.
Being natural mechanic, he saw the utility
OF my invention at a glance. The subject
was not mentioned on the morrow, which
was quiet, restful day to me. Mrs. Lee
loaned me clean linen suit belonging to
her husband, and | went to church with
them. The next day Mr.. Lee went over to
H and made terms with my MASTER be-
cause Mrs. Lee said she could not allow me
to feel like a runaway Then Mr. Lee
took Inc into his employment and gave me
corner in his shop where | could, at odd
moments, work at my model. My invention
proved success and made my fortune, as
you all know. | am thankful, my friends,
that J am able to-day to repair the damages
done to the dear little homestead, and to re-
build my old friends shop" and Major San
ford sat down, wiping his eyes with his
handkerchief, while his delighted audience
applauded vociferously.


Dear heart" said Aunty Lee to me,
"what was he talking about He's paid us
over and over, and he's tried and tried to
make Elijah go into partnership with him,
but he wouldn't and would not let him."


Then followed one minute speeches by the
score. "They kept me three months when
was sick and homeless" said one. made
their house my home for weeks when was
out of work" said another Ten homeless
working girls were married in their parlor
and went out into the world with their bless
igg There was a great number OF touching
little speeches from those who had received
flowers and delicacies in illness and warm
garments in times of need.


And so from them all flowed out contribu.
tions of money, the greater part of which
was safely placed in the bank for the benefit
of the Lees when old age and failing strength
should overtake them.


Dear me-" said Mrs. Evans to Aunty
Lee, "youve been lendin to the Lord, and
he pays the int'rest, arter all. never could
understand before; but dew now"


There are none of us so poor that we
cannot give such as we have. A smile or
kind word even will come back to us in kind
ness" said Aunty Lee and we all brushed
away the tears that we could not suppress
while those touching speeches were being
made and went to our homes.