WHAT A PENNY CAN DO.
Willie’s penny made heaven rejoice. It would not have bought more than a stick or two of candy or given much help to a starving family. What did he do with it? His sister was a missionary’s wife in Africa, and the family were filling a box to send her. As one after another brought their gifts Willie said, “I want to give my penny.”
“What shall be bought with it?” was the next question. It was decided to buy a tract and write its history on the margin, and with a prayer for its success send it on its distant errand.
The box arrived on the mission ground, and among its valuable contents Willie’s gift was laid away unnoticed and for a while forgotten. But God’s watchful, all-seeing eye had not forgotten it. One day a native teacher was starting from the mission station to go to a school over the mountain. He knew the language well and was a great help to the missionaries, but he was not a Christian. He had resisted everything the missionaries had done to make him one.
In looking over some papers, Willie’s tract was discovered, with writing on the margin, which said that prayer was offered in America that it might do good. It was handed to the native teacher. He read it on his journey, and what years of labor by the missionaries had not done was now brought about by the penny tract. The man became a sincere Christian. Those who put the tract in his hand were overcome with joy, and there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents.
So you see how Willie’s penny made heaven rejoice.