HE TRIED PRAYER.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1036, 22 May 1902, Page 3

HE TRIED PRAYER.

Great is the power of prayer, as the pious Scot knows. " Vanity Fair " tells of a village cobbler, who lived in an Ayrshire village. He was renowned for the melodious whistling with which he beguiled his labours. One day, the Minister missing the sound of the merry notes, put his head in at the door. " Toots, Sandie," he said, " what's wrong wi' you the day ? Ha' ye bad news ?" " Bad encueh, Minister. I'm tae flit. Little did I think I'd be turned oot o' the but and ben whaur I was born and bred."

I " And what's the reason of it, Sandie ?" " Naething ava, Minister ; but just that the Factor says he needs the cottage for that sweep laddie that's coming, and that I mun' tak' one of the bit houses in the street." " Well that does seem hard, Sandie. Ha'e ye tried the Laird?" "Ou 'ave. I've tried a' and it's nae guid. I'm tae flit gin Whit-Sunday." " Well, well, Sandie, try prayer and tak' ' comfort." And the minister went on his way. But three weeks later he again passed the cob bier's cottage, and was pleased to hear the well-known whistle once more. ' " Well, Sandie, and how's a' the noo ?" he said. " Oeh, cam' awa' ben, Minister, cam' awa' ben ; I'm real pleased tae see ye. It's a' reeht, ye ken. After ye went awa' last time I thocht ower your advice, and noo I needna' flit at a'. The Lord he prased! I trier] prayer and the sweep's deid,"

: A wealthy gentleman, who owns a country seat, on one occasion nearly lost his wife, who fell into a river which flows through his estate. He'announced the narrow escape to his friends, expecting their congratulations. One of them—an old bachelor— wrote as follow;: —" I always told von that river was >oo shallow 1"