Me Gib All | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, Cal. · Oct 25, 1883

Me Gib All.

ONE Sabbath in early June I was seated upon the ground in the tent of a missionary, partaking with them of their dinner, when an old squaw entered, and after looking earnestly all around upon us she disappeared. In a moment she again raised the canvas door, and in saddened tones inquired, "He no here? Preach no here?" The missionary was in a reclining position, and as there were a large number of persons in the tent he was unobserved by the inquirer. On hearing himself spoken of, he at once looked at her, and called her by name, just as she was disappearing. The poor old creature turned quickly around, went to him, and with one hand she placed something within his, and with the other she firmly closed it, and said, while the tears of love for the cause of her Saviour coursed in quick succession down her aged and wrinkled cheeks: "Me gib all—me hab no more," and then went to her wigwam.

Upon opening his hand, the missionary found one copper, which she had placed there as her contribution to the collection that was that afternoon to be taken for the support of the mission school. Upon inquiry it was ascertained that the day previous she had been to the missionary's wife for food, and as she had none to spare, she gave her a sixpence to buy something for herself and hungry little ones, to last over the Sabbath. Of this little gift she had expended five cents for potatoes; the remaining one she reserved to give for the cause of her Redeemer.

Like the woman mentioned in Scripture, she did "what she could;" and if we will but follow her example we shall be blessed and be a blessing to others.—Selected.