FROM WEALTH, TO POVERTY.

A lady of superior culture and refinement, fell from opulence to extreme poverty, within four years.  No less ready when at the bottom of fortune’s ladder, than at the top, to do good as she had opportunity, she paid another poor woman’s way to a neighboring State, where employment awaited her, and did it literally with her last dollar-and a-half!  Supposing herself the possessor of a ten cent note, over and above the twelve shillings, she went with her somewhat feeble protege over Jersey city ferry, and saw her safely in the cars.  Starting back, she was dismayed to find no ten cents in her pocket-book, and, all too late, remembered having paid it for a quart of milk that morning; the sole breakfast of herself and daughter.  Night was approaching—­what to do she did not know.  She had a plain, worn, old gold ring on her finger; she took it off, offered it to the ferry-master, who would not take it, though she told him she found her money gone and would redeem it next day.  She went back in the ladies’ room and told it to the Lord, beseeching his assistance.  Just then, a girl passing, jostled against her and knocked down her parasol.  She picked it up, happened to turn it upside down, and out rolled a five-cent nickel! The Lord, then, hears prayer for even five cents to provide for the comfort and need of those whom He loves.

A PRAYER FOR FIFTY DOLLARS.

A clergyman writes The Christian as follows: 

“The Winter of 1872 I spent in missionary work, carrying the glad tidings of the kingdom of God into new fields in the ‘regions beyond.’  With my devoted wife, I labored ardently for the salvation of men ’from the wrath to come.’  We were full of comfort to be thus engaged, though without pledge from man for support, or promised salary for preaching.

“In spite of our rigid economy, I had contracted some debts for the necessaries of life.  I have since learned to go without what the Lord does not provide means to pay for at once.  I needed the money to pay the debts, and felt impressed to pray for fifty dollars.  I said to my wife:  ‘I am going to pray for fifty dollars.’  ‘Well,’ said she, ’I will join you;’ and we bowed before God and told Him our needs, and unitedly asked Him for fifty dollars; so that we might not bring ourselves or the truth we preached, into reproach, by being unable to pay debts.  We were agreed in asking, and thus claiming the promise:  ’If two of you shall agree as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.’ (Matt, xviii. 19).  We had the assurance that money would come; but from whence we did not know, nor care, for we knew the ‘silver and gold’ are the Lord’s, as well as the ’cattle upon a thousand hills,’ and he could easily cause some one to give or send us the money.