An Australian missionary was addressing a band of children on
the needs of the people among whom he was working. A little one
slipt a sixpence shyly into his hand with the request that he
use it for something special. He bought with it a prayer-book,
and gave it to a poor workhouse girl who had been sent from
England to go into service on an Australian farm. She promised
to read it faithfully. Several weeks later a rough-looking man
came and asked him if he were the person who had given his
servant a prayer-book. His wife was very ill and wanted to see
him. Altho it was twenty miles inland, the clergyman went and
ministered to the poor woman. A little while later the man came
once more to the minister and said that he and his neighbors had
built a little church and paid for it and wanted him to come
and conduct services among them. Thus an entirely new work was
opened as a result of the little child’s sixpence.
(1864)
See CHILD’S GIFT.