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A Drumer’s Dream

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Sep 9, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 35.

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A Drumer’s Dream

I AM not a strong believer in dreams, the drummer remarked, as he drew his chair closer to the stove, “but I can tell you a little circumstance that happened a few years ago, which has remained a mystery to me to this day.”
“I have been traveling for a large wholesale drug company in St. Louis for a number of years, and I have met all sorts of customers, and have a varied experience with many of my patrons. On my run in the Southwest, I had one very particular old friend whom I will call Brother Benton, because everybody in this section calls him by that name. He nearly always had an order for me; but whether he did or not, I always felt better after having made my call, on account of his cheerful ways and pleasant words. I could only see my customers twice a year, at best, and I looked forward to my visit to this old customer as one of my best days.”
“On one visit, I sold him a much larger bill than he had ever made before, but I did not hesitate to recommend the house to fill the order. I had learned that he was universally loved and respected in his town as a sincere Christian. He would not keep ardent spirits, nor would he hear for one minute of giving space in his house to tobacco in any shape. ‘My Bible,’ said he, ‘condemns both whisky and tobacco, and I will have nothing to do with them.’ No amount of persuading or liberal terms and discounts could induce him to deviate from his rule.”
“About six months after I had sold him the large bill, I was notified, by the house, that the bill was unpaid, and that I should call as soon as possible to collect it. I hastened over my territory, and called in person to see after the matter. I found a new face behind the counter, and I learned that a short time after I sold the bill, my old friend had taken the smallpox, and he and his family had been under quarantine for a long time. His sickness had lasted for several months, and he was still confined to his home. I did not see him, but he sent me word that the matter would come up all right in the end.”
“To make a long story short, he had suffered more losses than he thought, and six months went by and still the bill was not paid. I wrote the house and told them the condition of affairs, and they were holding up all proceedings against him.”
“Six months went by again, and I was ordered to go at once and collect the bill or to enter suit. I had but one thing to do, tho I confess I had some rebellious thoughts. The night before I arrived at his town, I spent several weary hours rolling and tossing on my bed, trying to contrive some plan to avoid closing out my old friend. He lived some eight miles from the railroad, and I should see him on the morrow. I knew that if I brought suit, in all probability others would do the same, and a good man would go to the wall for no fault of his own. While tossing on my bed, I must have fallen asleep. I thought that I had called upon my old friend, and we were sitting in his family room, with all his family about him. He turned to me and said, ‘We are just about to have our morning prayers, and we shall be glad to have you join with us.’ I replied, ‘With pleasure.’ He announced that he would read the Twenty-third Psalm. He began to read, but I was astonished at the words I heard. I had learned that psalm in Sunday-school when a boy, and, while I had not read my Bible as much as I should have done, still I will never forget that ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’”
“The words were read in a round, clear voice, and my heart rejoiced, tho I had never heard it that way before. He read:”
“‘The Lord is my banker: I shall not fail. He maketh me to lie down on gold mines: He giveth me the combination of His tills. He restoreth my credit: He showeth me how to avoid lawsuits for His name’s sake. Yea, tho I walk in the very shadow of debt, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy silver and Thy gold they rescue me. Thou preparest a way for me in the presence of the collector: Thou fillest my barrels with oil; my measure runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will do business in the name of the Lord.’”
“Having read his scripture, he knelt down and prayed. I thought I had never heard such a prayer in all my life. He fairly took my breath from me when he asked his heavenly Father to bless me, his friend.”
“With his amen I woke with a start. I concluded I would call on my old friend early in the morning at his own home. I arose in time to procure a team, and was knocking at his door just as the sun was coming over the eastern horizon. He met me at the door with a hearty handshake and said: ‘Come in; come right in. We are just going to have morning prayers, and we will be glad to have you join us!’ He took me into the room and introduced his wife and children. He took up his Bible, and said, ‘We will read the Twenty-third Psalm.’ He read it in a clear voice, but read it as it is written in the Book. I can not tell you my feelings and thoughts while he read. We then knelt in prayer, and he humbly made known his wishes, but it did not sound like the one I had heard in my dream, tho he appeared to go over the same thoughts. He told the Lord that he owed some money, and that it was past due, and he asked that a way might open for him to pay it that very day. He then prayed for me; and while on my knees, I resolved that for one time in my life I would disobey orders.”
“After prayers, we both went direct to the drug store; and just as we entered the door, a young man met us, and said, ‘Brother Benton, father sent me over here this morning to tell you that he would take that house and lot you spoke to him about a few days ago. He told me to hand you this money, and that he would pay the balance on delivery of the deed.’”
“The old man received the roll of bills, and tears began to roll down his cheeks as he turned away. He wrote the young man a receipt for the money, and gave it to him. He then turned to his ledger, and began to figure. He then turned to me, and said, ‘Will you please receipt this statement?’ I saw that he had added all the past interest on the bill. I told him I was ordered by the house to remit the interest. He declined to receive it, and said he desired to pay all of his just debts. I took the money, and sent it in. The house wrote him a very complimentary letter, thanking him for the remittance. In a great measure my dream came to pass.”
“At the time I was tossing on my bed, my old friend was on his knees in his closet pleading with his Banker for a loan. I am very much gratified to know that he got it; and ever since, in all discouragements, I apply the Twenty-third Psalm as the remedy.” — The War Cry.