“LENDING TO THE LORD.”

“A physician who is not a professor of religion, in a neighboring city, has for many years exhibited an unshaken faith in that declaration.  He told me that he has made many experiments on it, and the Lord has fulfilled his words, ‘That which he hath given will He pay him again,’ in every case.  One of his ‘experiments’ came under my observation.

“It was a bleak and chilling day in the Winter of 1847-8.  The doctor was going his rounds and met a poor colored boy in the street.  He was nearly frozen to death.  He accosted the doctor, and asked him most piteously for a little money, stating, at the same time, that his master, an old Quaker, had excluded him from the house, and compelled him to remain in the barn; he could stand it no longer, and desired to go home—­twenty miles up the river.  The doctor now had the materials for another test of the promise.  ‘You shall not suffer if I can help you,’ was his cheering reply to the boy.  He requested him to call at his office, and went to a neighboring hotel and told the landlord to keep the boy until farther orders.  Late in the evening the boy again appeared at the office, and stated that the landlord had said, ‘We don’t keep darkies over night.’  The doctor immediately started out in search of new quarters, and, after some difficulty, found a colored woman who was willing to keep the boy for a few days.  In a short time the river, which had been closed with ice, was open.  The doctor paid the bills, gave the boy a dollar, and bade him God speed.  That is what he calls lending to the Lord.  Now for the payment.  When he called at the house of the colored person to pay the bill, he ‘accidentally’ met an old lady, who scrutinized him closely, and at length said, ‘A’n’t you Doctor B——?’ ‘Yes,’ was the reply; ‘but who are you?’ ’No matter about my name; I owe you four dollars, which you have long since forgotten, and which I did not intend to pay you till I saw what you have done to that poor boy.  The Lord bless you for your kindness.  Next week you shall have your money.’  She came according to her promise and offered the money, but the doctor was unwilling to take it, as he had no charge on his books.  She forced it on him.  He afterwards simply remarked, ’My meeting that woman was not a mere accident; the Lord always fulfills his promise.  I generally get my capital back, with compound interest.’”

THE PRAYING SHOE-MAKER.

A shoe-maker being asked how he contrived to give so much, replied that it was easily done by obeying St. Paul’s precept in I Cor. 16:  2:  “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him.”  “I earn,” said he, “one day with another, about a dollar a day, and I can without inconvenience to myself or family lay by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes; the amount is thirty cents a week.  My wife takes in sewing