n to do in there."

"Haa dost ta knaw?" said the man.

"Ne'r moind, I knaw;" and going close up to his ear and placing his
hand on the man's arm, he said, "My Father 'll gie the' this haase, He
telled me soa; I've been to Him abaat it, and I have His word on 't;
but afore thaa gets it, I want the' to promise me that while I live I
shall have my meetin' here."

"Yo' shall," was the ready response; "as long as thaa and me lives this
haase shall be oppen to the' if we get it."

"Bless the Lord," said Abe, rubbing his hands, "I could loike to shaat"
(shout) "but they'd hear me insoide. Ne'er moind, I knaw tha'll get
it;--gooid-noight!"

His friend then returned into the house, and immediately the drawing
began. Each drew one lot; then they all read them together, and as Abe
predicted, the house in which they were assembled fell to the share of
the man who lived in it. But this is not the end of the story: it
appears that one of the sons was not satisfied with his portion, and
began to complain. The fact is he wanted this house, and if he had got
it Abe and his class would have been turned out. So, rather than have
any unpleasantness in the family, they all agreed to cast lots again
and abide by the issue. This was done, and to the astonishment of all,
this house fell a second time to the same man, and though it was
considered the best lot, everyone felt it was fairly his, and he has it
to this day.

It may suit some people to say this was a mere accident; yes, just the
same as the world is an accident and a thing of chance. Perhaps it was
an accident, too, that "Little Abe" was able to foretell the issue of
that lottery with such confidence, and was so eager to make his bargain
for the use of the room before the lots were known. The chance that
can show such intelligence, foreknowledge, and power, that can
communicate its intentions beforehand, and afterwards verify them in
this manner, has the attributes of God, and must be Divine; a chance
that can hear and answer prayer, that can work out its own designs and
baffle those of others, that can reveal secrets to His favourites and
honourably keep covenants, deserves the faith and worship of all men:
this was Abe Lockwood's God, and He shall be ours for ever and ever.
There are some who say, "What is the Almighty that we should serve Him?
and what profit shall we have if we pray unto Him?" These scientific
theorists and unbelievers are intensely anxious to pro