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 scribble 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 a 57 cent payment.
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 at 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 Unknown
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