TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS NEEDED AND GIVEN AT THE LAST MOMENT.

“At the time of her husband’s death, there were two hundred dollars due an institute, for board and tuition of their two little boys.  His death was the flood-gate opened, which let in a successive torrent of perplexities, losses, dilemmas, delays, law-suits, etc.  She had not been able to pay that bill; the principal was importunate, persevering, bitter, and, at last, abusive.  She cried to the Lord for a week, day and night, almost without ceasing.  Then, a gentleman whom she had taken to her own house and carefully nursed through a dangerous illness, three years before, called to say good-bye.  He was on his way to a Bremen steamer, and all other adieus were said, all his baggage on board, except the valise in his hand.  Might her boy ride down to the wharf and see him off?  Of course she was glad to consent.  When her son returned he brought back a letter, which opened, she found to contain two hundred dollars and the words, ’Not that money can ever express my gratitude, but the enclosed may be useful for gas-bills or some other little household matter.’”

HOW THE LORD REPAID A GENEROUS GIFT.

“Some gentlemen, urged to contribute to a most worthy cause, said, ’Go first to Mr. Z.—­whatever he gives, we will.’  Mr. Z., upon application, concluded to make his neighbors do something worth while, and, as he was expecting a thousand dollars in a very few days, subscribed the whole of that.  Upon the arrival of the vessel which was to pay his subscription, he found the difference in exchange between certain countries, had swelled his thousand dollars to twenty-two hundred.”

THE ASTONISHED GIVER.

“A gentleman, not marching in the ranks of ‘cheerful givers,’ was urged to bestow five dollars toward the ‘Fresh Air Fund.’  ’He could not; business wretched; poor enough himself,’ and all the well known line of excuses.  The friend assured him, if the Lord did not more than make it up to him, before the end of the week, he himself would return the money.  To those terms he agreed, quite sure he should call on Saturday and get back the $5.  But, the very next morning, he ran to the office of his friend to say that an old debt, given up long ago, and for which he would have taken one hundred dollars any moment, was paid him about an hour after the friend left his store.  So astonished was he, that he even doubted the check, which was for five thousand dollars, and sent it to the bank to test its genuineness before he would give a receipt for it!”

ALL SAVED.