The late Dr. Talmage was once in the company of some theological
students. They were fresh from the study of church history, and were
laughing over the old question so much discussed by the schoolmen in the
Middle Ages, "How many angels can stand on, or be supported by, the
point of a needle?"
They put the question to Dr. Talmage, "How many angels can be supported
by the point of a needle?" and Dr. Talmage promptly answered, "Five."
When they wanted to know how he knew, he told them the following story:
"One very stormy night I was coming home late, and noticed a light in
the window of a room where I knew a poor woman lived whose husband was
lost at sea. I wondered what kept her up so late and I thought I would
go and see. I found her hard at work sewing at her lamp, while her five
rosy children were sound asleep beside her. And that is how I happen to
know that five angels can be supported by the point of a needle."