A WIDOW'S MITE.

North Otago Times, Volume XX, Issue 965, 25 August 1874, Page 4

A WIDOW'S MITE.

The " New York Times" of the 18th ultimo tells the following good story : — " There was quite an affecting scene at the afternoon session of the Presbyterian Woman's Board of Missions in Detroit, Michigan. A collection was taken up by children, and among tbe bills and currency collected was found a plain gold ring, worth, perhaps, 3 dols., accompanied by a note stating that the donor had nothing else to give; that it was the widow's mite. The president held up the golden circlet, read aloud the words upon the scrap of paper, and in a voice trembling with emotion, and with tears-dimming . ifer—fiyea^-stated tbat~here~waa— -the. greatest offering of, aU,.a widow's mite, 1 — h'er weeding ring.' Nothing 'was' more precious to a woman than her wedding ring, and when such treasures--were parted with, it, showed how deeply the cause of missionary work was implanted in the heart of ihegiver. Such deeds could not fail ofc, bringing forth good frnit The speaker continued until emotion chocked her voice, and ''as'sh'e turned from the audience there | were but few dry eyes in the church, ?piany women gazing upon the wedding rings- upon their own fingers, and sobbing outright. ~ ~ "A ~ lady "from" Chicago, mastering her emotion for a moment," arpse, ' 'and addressing- ' the audience,. said she looped, and, felt that the ladies ( would ..not permit this , sacrifice y would purchase the ring at a good price, and return it to the giver ; 'and; -that this might be done, she rela^ggig.'T fltot- the dgpfir «f»nd up w name to the treasurer. Before this speaker had concluded, scores of dainty geiierouB hands held" "Well-fined portemonhaies] and the owners were opening them in ekger haste|»contrib t utq to the purchase ; pf L the ring; Tovii tneir action was_arrested by a- lady who rose, and, addressing, the- president, said thatlas she was the giver, she desired to correct an errqr. The ring was not her wedbut was one she could well spare, and was all that she was able to "give. She hoped if would be, accepted. To those haying even a ' fair appreciation of the l^tuaiion~and tfyey wer4 J numerous, — it : was ludicrous in the extreme. Elegant i handkerchiefs., were removed from tearful eyes that now twinkled with suppressed merriment, The portemonnaies slipped back into their wonted places, .and , there , wai apparent everywhere a strong propen- ' sity tar laugfy but. the r time and ; place caused all to refiain. T^e president stood speechless for a moment, and then with an ' ahem ! ? proceeded t& the next order of business. The ring, however, was returned to the donor, the Ladies' Foreign Mission Society pledging 25 dollars for its redemption."