Generosity of a Little Girl: 57 cents.
A sobbing little girl stood near a small
church from which she had been turned away because it ‘was too crowded’.
«I can’t go to Sunday School,» she sobbed to the pastor as he walked
by.
Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason
and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her
in the Sunday School class.
The child was so touched that she went to
bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship
Jesus.
Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor
tenement buildings and the parents called for the kind-hearted pastor,
who had befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements.
As
her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse was
found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.
Inside
was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting which
read,
«This is to help build the little church bigger so more children
can go to Sunday school.»
For two years she had saved for this offering
of love.
When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly
what he would do.
Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to
the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.
He
challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger
building.
But the story does not end there!
57 Cents
A newspaper learned of the
story and published it. It was read by a Realtor who offered them a
parcel of land worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not
pay so much, he offered it for a 57 cents. Church members made large
subscriptions.
Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the
little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000.00 – a huge sum for that
time (near the turn of the century).
Her unselfish love had paid large
dividends.
Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, «Acres of Diamonds.»
