Told by the Rev. Webb People, at a Conference.

When quite a young man, I was once in York Minster. I remember how, after wandering up and down the nave, marveling at the extent of that noble building, I at length sat down on one of the window seats; and after a time said aloud, ' This is indeed a wonderful building.'As I thus exclaimed, I was answered by an old man, whom I had not perceived, but who was sitting on the same stone.

"'Yes, it is indeed a wonderful building, sir.' (He thought that I had addressed my remark to him, as he told me later on.) " He was very old, very poorly clad, and very pale and feeble in appearance; so much so that, though I was not then wont to acts of charity, I feared the old man was starving, and under that impression, I took one shilling and sixpence from my pocket and put it into the old man's hand. My surprise was great when he quickly rose from his seat, and looking around while tears rolled down his face, he exclaimed, ' There is nobody near, sir, to make you ashamed; you will not refuse an old man's blessing, will you? Ah! you little knew what you were doing when you gave me that money, how you were saving an old man's life.' Then he stretched out his hands, as if to cover me with his love, and poured forth such a prayer of blessing on my behalf, as I had never heard before, and as I have never heard since. His language was wonderful, both for the knowledge of God which it expressed, and for the beauty of the wishes which he put forth on my account.

"When he had finished, I asked him to explain to me how I could be said to have saved his life. He then' told me as follows:'I live many miles from York, and had been summoned to a daughter, who is dying, at a village about ten miles on the other side of York. I arrived in the city with only four-pence in my pocket, and was offered a clean bed for fourpence, and a dirty one for twopence; I chose the clean one, and went to bed supperless, for I have not been accustomed to that which is dirty, and I thought my Father would be sure to take care of me. I came this morning as soon as the Minster was open and sat down here, for I felt sure God would send someone to look after me, and I have been waiting here all day, till He was pleased to send me what I needed. Yes, sir, I have been very hungry, but I was quite sure that my Father would send someone to help me when He thought right, and now you see, sir, His time has come, and He has sent you.'

" It was then seven o'clock in the evening, the Minster was just about to be closed, and that old man had been there from early morning without food since the day before. Was not this to ' let patience have her perfect work?'

" I then said, ' Do you mean to say that you have had nothing since yesterday?'

" 'No,' he replied, 'nothing.'

" ' Why did you not ask some of those who came to the services, or some of the visitors, to help you?'

" ' Because God, I knew, would send me help when He thought right, sir! and I have always thought it was my place to ask Him rather than man.'
" After a little more conversation, I was so astonished and so much overcome by this old man's simple faith, that I took out all the money I had, and showing it to him, I asked him to take as much as he wished or wanted. , But he looked at me almost reproachfully, and said, 'No, sir, God told you just how much you ought to give me, and I would not dishonor my Father by taking more than He sent me, for when I want it He can always find more.'

"After a few more words we parted, and I saw the old man go forth on his journey, with what he considered his ample provision, because God had sent him for that day his 'daily bread..'

"A few minutes after I met him again, as I was walking round the eastern end of the Minster, and once more he paused, and as I said ' Goodbye, old friend,' he repeated his former expression of humility, ' There is no one here, sir, to make you ashamed, let me offer up one more prayer for you, and again he poured forth a few words of blessing and entreaty for me, after which we parted to meet no more on earth. But that old man's blessing has, I believe, followed me from then all the days of my life, and I can never thank God sufficiently for the lesson on trusting Him wholly, which the incident of that day then brought home to my soul, and ever since I learned to look to Him as my Father in Jesus Christ."

"Trust in the Lord with all thy heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Prov. 3:5, 6.).

"The trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (i Peter 1:7, 8.). W. P.