.57

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church from which she had
been turned away because it "was too crowded." "I can't go to Sunday
School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.
  Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason
and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for
her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found
room for her, that she went to bed that night thinking of the children who
have no place to worship Jesus.
  Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement
buildings and the parents called for the kindhearted pastor, who had
befriended their daughter, to handle the final arrangements.
As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled purse
was found,  which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside
was found 57 cents and a note scribbled in childish handwriting
which read, "This is to help build the little church bigger so more
children can go to Sunday School."  For two years she had saved for this
offering of love.
  When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.
But the story does not end there!
    A newspaper learned of the story and published it. It was read by a realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered it for 57 cents.
    Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to
 $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividend.
   When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist
 Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300   and Temple University, where
hundreds of students are trained.
   Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday
School  building, which houses hundreds of Sunday Schoolers, so that no child
in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.
 In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the
sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved,
made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her
kind pastor, Dr. Russel H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of
Diamonds"                                                                                                                  A true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD, CAN DO WITH 57 cents.