se; but, considering that
you are a merchant, and might have made some advantage by this money in
the way of trade, take these four bags, in every one of which are four
hundred ducats, and enjoy them as free gifts of your friend." These
Frescobald would have refused, but Cromwell forced them upon him. He
then took the names of his debtors and the sums they owed, and sent his
servant to demand their payment in fifteen days. In a short time, the
entire sum was paid. During this time Frescobald lodged at Cromwell's
house; and the latter would have persuaded him to remain in England; but
he chose to return to Florence. Here is a fine illustration of that
passage of Scripture, which says, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for
thou shalt find it after many days."

_Lending to the Lord_.

Solomon says, "He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and
that which he hath given will he pay him again." The following anecdote
affords a very striking illustration of the truth of this passage:

In the year 1797, as Mr. M.---- was travelling among the mountains in
Vermont he was overtaken by a thunder shower, and sought shelter in a
small house, on the borders of a great forest. On entering the house and
finding no one but a woman and her infant he apologized, and asked the
privilege of stopping till the shower was over. The woman said she was
glad to have him come in, for she was always terrified by thunder. The
gentleman told her she need not be terrified at thunder, if she only
trusted in God. After conversing with her some time on this subject, he
inquired whether she had any neighbors, who were religious. She told him
she had neighbors about two miles off, but whether they were religious
or not, she could not tell. She heard that they had preaching there once
a fortnight, but she never attended their meetings. She appeared to be
extremely ignorant on the subject of religion. The rain had now passed
over, and all nature smiled. The traveller, as he was about to leave,
thanked the woman for her kindness, and expressed to her his earnest
desire for the salvation of her soul, and besought her to read the Bible
daily, and give diligent heed to its instructions. But she, with tears
in her eyes, confessed that she had no Bible. They had never been able,
she said, to buy one. "Could you read one if you had it?" he inquired.
She said she could, and would be very glad of the privilege. "Poor
woman," said he, "I do heartily pity y