57 Cents

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 a
>large dividend.
>
>When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up
>Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of
>3,300 and the 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.