ng customers and making up parcels, and he at once
hastened into the shop to give them assistance, and thus it continued
all day. _Never, in all his experience_, could Loest remember such a
ceaseless stream of customers as poured, on that memorable Monday, into
his rather out-of-the-way shop. Cooking dinner was out of the question;
neither masters nor maid had time for that; coffee and bread, taken by
each in turn, served instead of the accustomed meal, and still the
customers came and went; still three pairs of hands were in requisition
to satisfy their wants.

Nor was it for new purchasers alone, that money came in. More than one
long outstanding account, accompanied by excuses for delayed payment,
and assurances that it had not been possible to settle it sooner,
enlarged the contents of the till; and the honest-hearted debtor, on
whom this unwonted stream of money flowed in, was tempted every minute
to call out, "_It is the Lord_."

At length night came, when Loest and his literally worn out assistants,
after having poured out their hearts in thankful adoration in family
prayer, sat down to the first meal they had that day enjoyed in common.
When it was over, the brother and sister set themselves to count over
the money which had that day been taken. Each hundred thalers was set by
itself, and the result showed _six hundred and three thalers, fourteen
silver groschen_.

This was sufficient to pay the first debt due the next day, and leave
but ten shillings and eight pence over, a trifle less than they
commenced the day with. Loest was lost in wonder and grateful emotion at
this gracious testimony of how faithfully his Lord could minister to him
in his earthly necessities.

"How countless must be the host of his ministering servants, seen or
unseen, since He can employ some hundreds of them, and send them to buy
of Daniel Loest to-day, or pay him that bill which thou owest. What a
wondrous God is ours, who in the government of this great universe, does
not overlook my mean affairs, nor forget His gracious promise, 'Call
upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee.'"

Tuesday was a repetition of Monday's splendid business, and brought in
the five hundred thalers which he needed the next morning to pay off the
mortgage of his friend's house, due that day.

Wednesday's sales gave him five hundred more thalers, which he was
obliged to have ready to pay on Thursday morning into the court of
trustees.

T