'Martha,' he said, 'I am
glad you are awake. I want to tell you something--something wonderful!'
And I sat down by him, and he clasped my hand and said,
"'I was tired out with figuring and counting, and near midnight I went
out to cool and soothe my brain with the night air. And I suddenly
thought of Jacob on his mysterious journey, meeting the angels of God as
he slept in the wilderness, and wrestling with one for a blessing. And
with the thought the spirit of prayer came to me, and I knelt down in
the summer-house and prayed as I never prayed before in my life.
"'I told God all my perplexities and anxieties. I asked Him to
straighten them out. I told God that I had bought Ezra's mill, and I
asked Him to be my counselor and helper. I told Him I knew nothing about
buying cotton or spinning cotton. I told Him it was the loss of
everything if I failed. I promised Him to do my best, and I asked Him to
help me to succeed; and, Martha, I solemnly vowed, if He would be with
me and do for me, that His poor and His sick and His little children
should have their share in every pound I made.
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