he 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.'"

THE PRAYING SHOE-MAKER.

A shoe-maker being asked how he contrived to give so much, replied that
it was easily done by obeying St. Paul's precept in I Cor. 16: 2: "Upon
the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as
God hath prospered him." "I earn," said he, "one day with another, about
a dollar a day, and I can without inconvenience to myself or family lay
by five cents of this sum for charitable purposes; the amount is thirty
cents a week. My wife takes in sewing and washing, and earns something
like two dollars a week, and she lays by ten cents of that. My children
each of them earn a shilling or two, and are glad to contribute their
penny; so that altogether we _lay by us in store_ forty cents a week.
And if we ha