A 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, and 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. Her

parents called for the kind-hearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the

final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red

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. This story was read by a wealthy

realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the

church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church 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 large dividends.
When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating

capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students

are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which

houses hundreds of beautiful children, built 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 Russell H. Conwell, author of the book,
"Acres of Diamonds".

This is a true story, which goes to show

WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.