57 CENTS
>> > > >Author ~ Dr. Russel H. Conwell
>> > > >
>> > > >A sobbing little girl stood near a small
church from which she had
>> > > >been turned away because it was "too
crowded." "I can't go to
Sunday
>> > > >School," she sobbed to the Pastor as
he walked by. Seeing her
>shabby,
>> > > >unkempt appearance, the Pastor guessed the
reason and, taking her by
>> > > the
>> > > >hand, took her inside and found a place
for her in the Sunday School
>> > > class.
>> > >
>> > > > The child was so touched that she
went to bed that night thinking
>of
>> > > >the children who have no place to worship
Jesus.
>> > > >Some two years later, this child lay dead
in one of the poor
tenement
>> > > >buildings, and the parents called for the
kind-hearted Pastor who
had
>> > > >befriended their daughter to handle the
final arrangements. As her
>> > > >poor little body was being moved, a worn
and crumpled purse was
found
>> > > which
>> > >
>> > > >seemed to have been rummaged from some
trash dump. Inside was found
>57
>> > >
>> > > >cents and a note scribbled in childish
handwriting which read,
"This
>> > > is to
>> > >
>> > > >help build the little church bigger so
more children can go to
Sunday
>> > > >school." For two years she had
saved for this offering of love.
>When
>> > > the
>> > > >Pastor tearfully read that note, he knew
instantly what he would do.
>> > > >Carrying this note and the cracked, red
pocketbook to the pulpit, he
>> > > told
>> > > >the story of her unselfish love and
devotion. He challenged his
>> > > deacons to
>> > >
>> > > >get busy and raise enough money for the
larger building, but the
>story
>> > > does
>> > >
>> > > >not end there.
>> > > >
>> > > >A newspaper learned of the story and
published it. It was read by a
>> > > >realtor who offered them a parcel of land
worth many thousands.
When
>> > > >told that the church could not pay so
much, he offered it for 57
>> > > >cents.
>> > > >
>> > > >Church members made large
subscriptions. Checks came from far and
>> > > >wide. Within five years, the little
girl's gift had increased to
>> > > >$250,000.00 - a huge sum for that time
(near the turn of the
>century).
>> > > Her
>> > >
>> > > >unselfish love had paid large dividends.
>> > > >
>> > > >When you are in the city of Philadelphia,
look up Temple Baptist
>> > > >Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300,
and Temple University,
>where
>> > > >hundreds of students are trained.
Have a look, too, at the Good
>> > > >Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School
building which houses
>> > > >hundreds of Sunday scholars, so that no
child in the area will ever
>> > > need to
>> > >
>> > > >be left outside during Sunday school
time. In one of the rooms of
>this
>> > >
>> > > >building may be seen the picture of the
sweet face of the little
girl
>> > > whose
>> > >
>> > > >57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made
such remarkable history.
>> > > Alongside
>> > > >of it is a portrait of her kind
Pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell,
>author
>> > > of
>> > > >the book, "Acres of Diamonds." -
a true story.
>> > > >
>> > > >Just goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57
cents.