"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.'"



More

;