This story took place in the historic Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania, in the times of 1778. An aged father living in the mountains had asked his sons to go the next day to the mill in the valley with corn to replenish the meal chest. The boys prepared bright and early for the journey, expecting to spend the night as usual at the mill, and return the day after.

As the father came out in the morning from the closet of prayer and said to the waiting sons, “Not today!” The young men were greatly surprised. “But, father, our supply is used up, and why should we delay?” They said.

“Not today, my sons,” the man of prayer repeated with emphasis. “I know not what it means, but in my prayer my mind was deeply impressed with this word, ‘Let them wait until tomorrow.'” Without charging their venerated father with superstition, the obedient sons yielded, unloaded their horses, and waited for another morning to come.

That memorable night a horde of savages, with torch and tomahawk, entered Wyoming Valley, and began their work of destruction; and it is said that before their work was ended, not a house, barn, church, or mill escaped the flames; and few of the inhabitants escaped.

In the morning at sunrise the father and sons were watching the valley filled with ascending volumes of smoke and flames. The awful truth flashed upon their minds. The aged saint knelt down with his sons on the mountain top, and in adoring prayer thanked God for the warning voice of His Spirit. – OUR DAY IN THE LIGHT OF PROVIDENCE,

Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.

Thanks to WITandWISDOM(tm) – December 1, 1999 subscribe-wit-wisdom@xc.org

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