"The old man sat in silence a few moments and said, 'Mary, I must go.' She knew her father too well to suppose that words would detain him, and so complied with his wishes. While she held the bag for him, she felt perhaps a little uneasiness to see the flour so liberally disposed of, and said, 'I wish you would remember that _I_ want to give a poor woman some flour, if it ever clears off.' The old man understood the intimation and said, 'Mary, give all you feel it duty to, and when the Lord says stop, I will do so.' "Soon all things were ready, and the patient oxen took their way to the widow's home, wallowing through the drifted snow, and dragging the sled with its load of wood and flour. About four o'clock in the afternoon, the mother had arisen from her work to fix the fire, and, looking out of the window, she saw the oxen at the door, and she knew that the Lord had heard her cry. "She said not a word--why should she? She was not surprised!--but, presently, a heavy step at the threshold caused the daughters to look up with astonishment, as Mr. M. strode unceremoniously into the room, saying, '_The Lord told me, Sister C, that you wanted some wood and flour_.' "'_He told you the truth_,' said the widow, 'and I will praise Him forever.' "'_What think you now girls_?' she continued, as she turned in solemn joy to her unbelieving daughters. "_They were speechless_; not a word escaped their lips; but they pondered that new revelation of the providential mercy of the Lord, until it made upon their minds an impression never to be effaced. "From that hour they learned to trust in Him who cares for _His needy_ in the hour of distress, and who, from His boundless stores, supplies the wants of those who trust in Him." A PAIR OF SHOES.--THE LORD'S REBUKE TO THOSE WHO "DIDN'T BELIEVE." The following incident occurred in Connecticut: In an humble cottage two sisters were watching over and caring for a much-loved brother, who, for many long months had been upon a bed of sickness. At length, the younger of them began to be discouraged. She was dependent, for her clothing, upon her labor; her shoes were worn out, and how should she get another pair, unless she could leave the sick bed and go away from home and work and earn some money. "Well," said the mother, "I know you need a pair of shoes, but don't worry, the Lord will provide." "_Do you think that_ THE LORD _will come down from heaven and buy me a pair of shoes_?" said the younger sister, with an expression of discouragement and vexation on her countenance. "No," said the mother, "but perhaps he will put it into somebody's heart to buy you a pair." "Perhaps He will, _but I don't believe it_," said the discouraged girl. "Well," said the other sister, who was a little more hopeful, "you won't get them any quicker by fretting, so you might as well be quiet." Then the subject dropped and the day passed as usual.