Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/112

96 them on important committees; but on the majority of them he and his wife would go out together to visit the poor, the sick, and the afflicted. When the ear heard them, then it blessed them; when the eye saw them, it bare witness to them; the blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon them, and they caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy; the cause that they knew not, they searched out. The Psalmist's blessing on him that considereth the poor came upon them.

The following narrative from his own pen may find a place here:—

“I was standing by my desk after the opening services of the Sabbath School were over, when the door opened and a little girl looked in, as if afraid to enter. I went up to her and asked if she wished to attend the school, to which she replied, ‘Yes.’ ‘What is your name?’ ‘Kate. On this, one of the teachers came up and said, ‘I want Kate in my class.’ ‘Very well,’ said I, ‘she may go.’ This was to poor Kate a new life. She was the daughter of a brave pilot, whose business it was to conduct ships into the harbor of New York. Kate was his only child, One day when a fearful storm was raging, he offered his services to go out on his dangerous work. He went, but never returned. His wife and child looked out impatiently for his return, but in vain. After selling some of the articles which they thought they could dispense with, the poor mother went out and washed and scrubbed to gain bread for herself and child. One day she was washing at the house of one of my teachers, when the bell rung and Kate came to see her mother. It was a wet day, and the teacher took Kate and dried her by the fire and gave her something to eat. Her heart was unaccountably drawn to the child. After a little talk