"I just can't seem to get hold of it!" Mrs. Barnes wiped the tears from her tanned face. "Oh, I wish I could! I want to be saved!" Brother Rivers, the evangelist, had given a powerful gospel message in the Hill's farmhouse. Mrs. Barnes had been under conviction of sin for some time and her close neighbor, Mrs. Hill, had invited her with the thought that surely this meeting would make salvation clear to her. Bitter disappointment! Earnest blue eyes met Mrs. Hill's as the distraught woman squeezed her hand. "I'll let you know if I ever get it," she whispered.
After prayer for her, the Hill family retired. It would be necessary to get an early start in the morning to meet the 10:00 train in the nearby village.
At breakfast Brother Rivers announced that he felt he had to visit Mrs. Barnes for one more try. A few corners were cut, and 8:30 saw them seated among the dirty dishes in the Barnes' kitchen. Carefully the wonderful message was rehearsed. Almost immediately, the dear woman gasped, "Oh, I see it! God put my sins on Jesus. The work is all done! I've got it now!" and she gave Mrs. Hill a rib-crushing hug.
Not only did that humble farm kitchen ring with joy, but heaven itself echoed with rejoicing. After some joyful, instructive conversation, Mr. Hill pulled out his watch. "You know, folks, that train—."
As Farmer Hill put it later, "I had my foot to the floorboard trying to make that train, only to see her rolling out just as we arrived."
"Well, Brother Hill, better too late for the train than too late for salvation," the evangelist calmly remarked. "Now we'll just lay this matter before the Lord. It may be He will send me a ride into the city."
Off went the well-worn Stetson as Farmer Hill prepared to pray in the car. But already Rivers was outside, about to kneel in the road. Feeling awkward and conspicuous, Hill knelt quickly by his side.
After prayer, the two entered the local bank. "'The preacher is lucky," said the banker. "Joe Stricker, over yonder, is about to go to the city."
"Luck can't be the right word," answered Farmer Hill. "It's no less than a direct answer to prayer."