American literature -- 19th century -- Periodicals; Sunday schools -- United States -- Periodicals
When Annie Williams’ name was called she said, “I do not know how much
I can give. I am sure to have something, but I have not found out yet
how much He wants me to give.”
“Who wants you to give?” asked Lou.
“Why, Jesus; I asked him, but he has not told me yet.” The girls were
hushed and awed; how many of them had thought to ask Jesus about it!
Lou laid down her pencil and her voice trembled with emotion as she
said,
“Girls, boys, we have made a mistake! We have begun wrong! Let us pray
about this too!” Dropping upon her knees, while the others followed her
example, Lou’s voice led them in a prayer for God’s direction in this
matter which they had been considering, and for his blessing upon all
their efforts as well.
“That was what they call ‘a new departure,’” said Tom Mason. Another
boy remarked,
“It is queer that with so many of us belonging to the church, we should
have band meetings without an opening and closing prayer! but that
little mouse stirred us up, so that I reckon we shall do better after
this.”
Annie Williams came to the next meeting with a bright face; when her
name was called she walked over to the treasurer and laid down a bit of
paper which read after the usual form of bank checks: “Pay to the order
of Annie Williams five dollars;” and was signed “John Williams.”
“Papa showed me how to write on the back—‘endorse it,’ he called it,”
and turning the paper over she brought to view, “Pay to the order of
Louise Brandt. Annie Williams.” And she added, “Papa said if you took
that to any bank they would give you the money, only you would have to
put your name under mine.”
“What business women we are getting to be!” said Tom Mason.
“Do you want to hear about it?” asked Annie when the laugh at Tom’s
remark subsided.
“Of course we do!” said Lou.
“You know I staid a long time out at uncle John’s last spring; one day
uncle brought in a little lamb and said ‘See here, Annie, if you will
save this lamb’s life you may have it. The poor thing’s mother will not
own it, and unless you feed it it will die.’ Aunt Mary showed me how
to feed it, and it grew; and before I came away it was a big lamb. I
used to feed it with a spoon out of a bowl, and I grew real fond of it.
The other day uncle John wrote to me that he was going to sell all his
flock, and that he was sorry, but he thought he must sell my lamb too.
He is going to Florida next winter, and there would be no one at the
farm who could take care of it, so he sent me five dollars! You can’t
think how glad I was; I knew right away that Jesus had answered my
prayer.”
I cannot describe all the ways by which the money came in, but you will
not be surprised when I tell you that when the money on the mortgage
came due, the “Industry Band” were ready to become the purchasers,
and that Grandma Frink was made the happiest woman in the village of
Danvers.
FAYE HUNTINGTON.
SIX O’CLOCK IN THE EVENING.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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