Page:Robert Carter- his life and work. 1807-1889 (IA robertcarterhis00coch).pdf/90

74 smile rippled over the congregation when Dr. McElroy announced from the pulpit that the Rev. Messrs. Begg and Robb were coming as a deputation from Scotland to tell the story of the disruption to their brethren in America. Dr. William Cunningham of Edinburgh came over at this time (1843), and Mr. Carter had a very pleasant and cordial friendship with him then, and afterwards in Scotland.

Mr. R. L. Stuart and Mr. Carter were appointed a committee to collect money, and have it ready when the Scotch delegation called for it. Mr. Carter subscribed two hundred and fifty dollars,—a large sum for him at that time. One of the elders, an excellent man, but with a good deal of the proverbial Scottish carefulness, came to his store to remonstrate with him for his prodigality. He told him that he had been very successful for a young man so short a time in business, but that such want of prudence would inevitably result in failure. The old gentleman had asked, when he came in, for a cedar lead-pencil, price six cents; and as he talked he was busily engaged in cutting it in halves. When the work was done, he held out the two pieces to Mr. Carter, saying, “Take whichever you like, and I'll give you the three cents for the other half.” To the end of his life, Mr. Carter had an occasional laugh over this object lesson in frugality.

Another member of the church was the possessor of a large fortune won by his own exertions. He was a good man, but it was sometimes hard for him to part with the money which was the fruit of so much toil and self-denial. His wife always co-operated with Mr. Carter in his efforts to make her husband see his duty in the matter of giving, and would add her persuasions to his. One time a large sum of money was needed for