Prayer.


An exact parallel instance to the foregoing is given in the experience

of a correspondent of _The Christian_, which occurred in the latter part

of November, 1864, while traveling with her aged father and two small

girls:



"We started from New Hampshire on Thursday morning, expecting to have

ample time to get through to Indiana before Saturday night; but, after

we crossed the St. Lawrence River, the next da
, I think, there was a

smash-up on a freight train, which hindered our train about two hours. I

began to feel anxious, as I knew our limited means would not permit us

to stop long on the way. After the cars had started again, I inquired of

the conductor what time we should get to Toledo, fearing we should not

reach there in time for the down train. _He said it would be impossible

to gain the time._ Soon they changed conductors, and I made a similar

inquiry, getting about the same answer. Still I hoped, till we reached

the Detroit River. Here I found that, though they had put on all the

steam they dared to, they were _almost an hour behind time_, so I should

have to stay over till Sunday night.



"After getting seated in the cars on the other side, I ventured to ask

the conductor if we should get to Toledo in time for the down train. He

readily said, '_No, madam, impossible! If we put on all the steam, we

dare to, we shall be more than half an hour behind time._ If we were on

some trains we might hope they would wait; but on this, _never! He is

the most exact conductor you ever saw. He was never known to wait a

second, say nothing about a minute, beyond the time._' I then inquired

if we could not stay at the depot. He said, No; we should all freeze to

death, for the fire is out till Sunday evening.



"A gentleman sitting in front of us said he would show us a good hotel

near by, as he was acquainted there. I thanked him, but sunk back on my

seat. Covering my eyes with my hand, and raising my heart to God, I

said, 'O, God, if thou art my Father, and I am thy child, put it into

the heart of that conductor to wait till we get there.'



"Soon I became calm, and fell asleep, not realizing that God would

answer my poor prayer; but, when we reached Toledo, to the astonishment

of us all, there stood the conductor, _wanting to know the reason why he

had to wait_, when our conductor told him there was a lady with her

crippled father and two little daughters, who were going down on that

train.



"Soon as all were out of the car, both conductors came with their

lanterns and gave their aid in helping my father to the other train,

where they had reserved seats by keeping the door locked. All was hurry

and confusion to me, as I had my eye on father, fearing he might fall,

it being very slippery, when the baggage-master said, 'Your checks,

madam!' I handed them to him, and rushed into the car; but, before I got

seated, the car started, and I had no checks for my baggage. Again my

heart cried out, 'O, Thou that hearest prayer, take care of my baggage!'

believing He could do that as well as make the conductor wait. In a few

moments the conductor came to me with a face radiant with smiles,

saying, '_Madam, I waited a whole half hour for you_,--_a thing I never

did before since I was a conductor, so much as to wait one minute after

my time_.' He said, 'I know it was your father that I was waiting for,

because there was nothing else on the train for which I could have

waited.' I exclaimed, in a half suppressed tone, 'Praise the Lord!' I

could not help it; it gushed out. Then he said, '_At the very moment all

were on board, and I was ready to start, such a feeling came over me as

I never had in my life before. I could not start_. Something kept saying

to me, _you must wait_, for there is something pending on that train you

must wait for. I waited, and here you are, all safe.' Again my heart

said, Praise the Lord! and he started to leave me, when I said, 'But

there is one thing.' 'What is it?' was his quick reply. 'I gave the

baggage-master my checks, and have none in return.' 'What were the

numbers?' I told him. 'I have them,' he said, handing them to me, 'but

your baggage will not be there till Monday morning. We had no time to

put it on, we had waited so long.'"



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