SEVERAL years ago there lived an aged Christian couple in one of the Highland glens. They had often been in very trying straits, but the following incident shows the goodness of the loving heavenly Father who cares for His people.
They lived in the days when tea was more of a luxury than it is now, and when steam locomotion was almost a thing unheard of. The old man was quite an invalid, and almost the only earthly comfort he craved was a cup of tea, morning and evening.
During a severe winter, when their little supply of both money and tea was exhausted, and when they had no immediate prospect of getting more of either for some time, the morning came when the old man received his last cup of teal His wife began to weep bitterly. On his inquiring the cause, she said, "I am now at my wits' end. That is the last grain of tea; it is a thing you cannot do without, and where am I to get more?”
“Don't distress yourself so," he said; "the Lord will provide.”
“Aye, but how?" she said.
“That is not for me to say, but I know He will.”
Despite all assurances from the word of God, the wife remained incredulous, and continued to bemoan their poverty and their misery. The day wore on, and with it the usual tea hour came, when the shrill sound of a passing coach horn was heard.
“Now," exclaimed the old man, "I knew the Lord would send us tea; there it is.”
“But perhaps that call is not for us," said the wife. "Yes," he said, "it is; go and see.”
And so it proved. A kind friend had sent them a chest of tea, together with many other comforts of which they stood sorely in need. Shortly after they received means which enabled them to spend their last days in comfort.
Fear the Lord, O ye His saints, for there is no want to them that fear Him. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but they that fear the Lord shall not want any good thing.
K. R.