“What shall we do, Marie?” “Do? Why, let the poor maid come and live with us,” answered his wife.
“But it is hard enough to make ends meet, and what will it be with another mouth to feed?”
“Fear not. It is but little we can offer her — only a roof over her head and a share of our bread — but it will be a home and a shelter for the poor girl.”
So it was settled, and Anna Braden, homeless, almost friendless, found a home with the poor working man and his wife who lived on the seacoast.
She could have been happy in her new home with her warm-hearted friends, but the thought of their poverty weighed on her. She could not bear to think how she added to their burdens, but she knew to whom to go for help. She would go down to the seashore and pray to her heavenly Father.
“Oh, God, send help to my poor friends in need,” she prayed.
No voice spoke in answer to her cry, but in her heart a still small voice whispered, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:2222And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22).
Then as she looked out over the sea she saw a bottle floating in the water, coming nearer and nearer the shore. In a little while she laid hold of it. She saw there was something in it and she drew out the cork.
There were no less than thirty slips of paper, each one containing a prose to the finder of the bottle. By sending her name and address to the different addresses written on each slip, she would receive the various gifts mentioned. Anna read:
“Ten sacks of flour will be sent to the address of the finder of this bottle on application to...”; then followed a merchant’s name and address. On another, five kegs of butter; on another, ten cases of eggs, and so on. In wonder and amazement Anna read the thirty promises. Anna thought, “It is too good to be true, but I will just try one promise.”
Choosing the slip promising ten sacks of flour, Anna sent the slip and her own address to the merchant whose name was on it. Then she waited; but not a word did she utter to Carl or Marie of her strange discovery lest they should be disappointed.
A few days later a message came from the stationmaster, “There are ten sacks here waiting for you; bring a wagon and take them away.”
The little cottage was a place of joy and praise and thanks to God on that wonderful day. Carl borrowed a horse and cart from a neighbor and brought home the treasure, while tears of joy ran down the women’s faces.
“Anna, Anna, what a blessing you have brought!” said Marie. And Anna remembered her prayer to God and the wonderful answer, and thanksgiving and worship went up to Him.
Poverty was now a stranger in the little house by the sea. One sack supplied their needs, and the rest were sold and brought in a welcome sum of money. But this was not the end. Anna took her precious slips of paper twenty-nine now — and sent them all to their addresses.
A few days later the little station was a scene of great excitement. The stationmaster was astonished to find his platform covered with huge stores of provisions of all kinds, and of the very best quality.
“Well, well, it is very strange — and they are all addressed to Anna Braden. Truly it is wonderful!”
But there was no mistake, and Anna Braden was a rich girl in the eyes of the wondering villagers. Excitement increased when a little later a gentleman arrived and was directed to where Anna lived.
He explained the mystery of the bottle to them. He said: “You have heard of the new canal which has just been opened in K.? Well, it was to celebrate this event that thirty of us merchants met at a banquet. There it was agreed — as a joke — that we should each put our promise on a slip of paper, and placing it in a well-corked bottle, commit it to the waves and see where it would land.”
What these merchants had done purely for their own amusement, God had overruled for His own purpose and blessing of His children, and the waves of the sea had brought it to the very feet of the child of God, even when her prayer was going up to Him. Truly before she called God had answered.
And God has a most wonderful blesng for you too, worth far more than the great things that Anna received. He offers you and me, without money and without price, a full pardon from all our sins, and an eternal home in heaven. I really think that if all those provisions that were given Anna were offered you, you would surely accept them thankfully and at once.
Do accept then, thankfully and at once, that which God offers you and me, for your need is greater than Anna’s, if you are unsaved.
ML 01/08/1956