Having read with great interest the accounts given in “Messages of Love” of the many answers to prayer, I would like to add the account of a similar experience, which, though it happened many years ago, has often encouraged me to cry to the Lord for help or guidance.
I was taking a long and difficult journey, and being young and quite alone, it was with great consternation I discovered that we should arrive—owing to many delays on the road—at the rough frontier town to which I was going, before daylight. I knew that no conveyance would be at the station, and greatly feared the long, lonely road I should have to walk in the darkness to reach the one hotel the little town contained.
The only passengers intending to alight at this station were an old man and his wife, and they assured me their son would be on hand to meet them and take them at once into the country. Again and again my heart went up to the Lord, begging for His care and protection. At last the train drew up at the station; we got off, and in a few moments it was out of sight, leaving us, in the dim of an October morning, alone on the prairie.
On turning to my old companions, I found them in a more unhappy plight than myself; the son had not arrived, and they knew not what to do, nor where to go. I immediately told them of the hotel, and they were only too happy to be my escort thither, while I was their guide; and as we walked along that dark road I gave thanks to our gracious Lord, who had not forgotten His timid child.
After resting and having some refreshments, and seeing the old couple safely met by their son, I sallied forth to find my own friends. Alas! the house was empty! They had moved, I knew not where Once more I cried to the Lord fur direction, and then turned down the first street I came to, with a feeling of confidence that the Lord would lead me to the place. I inquired at one house with no success. The next appeared to be shut up, but a man with a wagon was at the door.
“Can you tell me where Mr. S—lives?” I asked.
“Why, yes,” he replied, “but it is a long way from here, and I don’t know how to direct you. However, as I am just going to the next house, if you will get into the wagon I will be happy to drive you there.”
I need hardly add that again my heart went up to the Lord in gratitude and praise.
Having received a hearty welcome from my dear friends, who were true children of God, and could rejoice with me over these manifestations of the Lord’s loving care, I began to think about my baggage; so, later in the day, Mr. S.— accompanied me to the station. On inquiry, I learned that not one of my three trunks had arrived. The station-master asked if I had seen them through the customs. “No,” I replied, “we passed the customs at night, and the porter failed to waken me, as promised.”
“Then,” the agent confidently affirmed, “you will never see them again, I have had many similar cases, and the baggage is almost invariably lost.”
This was discouraging; but had we not a Mighty Friend ready, as I had proved that morning, to help His weakest child? On returning to the house we made this a subject of prayer, and on my next visit to the station the trunks were there safe and sound, much to the surprise of the agent.
ML 07/05/1903