[[208]] (Acts of Kindness <that> cannot be forgotten)
When Bro- Ruter had determined to go to the South for his health, and, feeling a little at a loss for funds, Capt James Montgomery who then owned & commanded the S. B. (80) American Eagle, proffered him a free <passage> down & up, which he accepted, & for which he ever felt very grateful, it was worth at least thirty dollars. Heaven reward the donor. The Boat was safely at New Orleans & that afternoon Bro. R. went on shore to look for a suitable Boarding house, intending to remain till the weather should become warm, and wished to get good boarding if practicable, in a private family, where there would be few boarders, he went to several houses. He found boarding, would be obtained from five to seven dollars per week, according to quality, but the houses he visited appeared not to offer that quiet which he desired, and he made no ingagement +. but returned to the Boat intending to look further the next day,,
On the next morning Rev J. H. Lynn of the Missourie A[[202]] nnual Conf,-, who was spending the winter in New Orleans for the benefit of the health of his companion, and had taken charge of a small Church & congregation toward the upper part the City, came on board the Boat, & on meeting with Bro Ruter, & learning his wishes, said he thought that he could find a suitable boarding house in that part of the City, and as he wished to have him in his neighbourhood (being an old acquaintance) if he would wait a few hours, he would ascertain, and come and let him know, This he succeeded in doing, and in the course of the day Bro R,, went to the house, and found it indeed a pleasant situation, two Gentlemen with their Ladies being the only Boarders, it afforded that quiet which he so much desired, The keeper of the house, Capt [Charles del] T__ and his amiable Lady had but a small family, & kept the house in excellent order & Bro, R,, felt well satisfied to pay $7.00 per week for such accommodations & good fare. The Capt. owned a small S. Boat which he commanded, engaged in the coasting trade. Generally leaving on Monday morn[[202/203]]ing & returning on <Friday or> Saturday with a load of sugar or cotton, so that he was generally at home on Sabbath, and with his Lady, frequently attended Brother Lynn’s church. On the second Sabbath after his arrival, feeling in rather better health than usual, Bro- R.. consented to Preach, it was a pleasant day, a good congregation, and a time of refreshing indeed from the presence of the Lord (81). From that time Bro. R. was better known in that community, tho- he was able to preach no more while he remained there.
At the close of the first week he proposed to his host, that if he desired it, he would pay weekly, but he replied that he would prefer receiving it all together at the close of his sojourn there.. Bro- R.. remained there several weeks, spending much of his time in his room, though when the day was pleasant he generally spent part of the day along the levee, visiting the newly arrived Boats, that he might be cheered by meeting acquaintances & friends from the upper River, and often visited different parts of the City. on one occasion indeed standing near the Depot from whence the carrs + two or three times pr + day, ran to the Lake (six miles), [[203/204]] From whence a daily line of Mail steamers left for Mobile. While there he saw an unusually large man approaching him, whom he had seen on the Levee a few days previous, and who had been pointed to as Captain of one of the Mobile Mail Boats, He came directly up & extended his hand to Bro. R; who said as he took his hand. Captain Fullerton I believe?
Yes said the goodnatured + Boat-man, I see you dont + know me, but I know you well enough, your name is Ruter,
Yes said Bro. R. But perhaps you are mistaken in the man; I am not the one who follows the River (supposing the he was taken for his Bro. Capt. Ruter)
O no, said the other, I am not mistaken, I saw you several times some years ago at Louisville, you are the Preacher;
Yes, said Bro R,, I try to preach sometimes but am on the invalid list now, and am staying here a few weeks hoping to recruit my health,
Said the other. “Have you ever been at Mobile?
No said he I have never visited [[204/205]] Mobile,
Well, said the Capt, suppose you take a trip and see the country it will do you good,
Bro. R, replied that he should like to visit Mobile, but thought perhaps it would not be convenient for him to do so this season, (secretly thinking of his scantily filled purse, & knowing that the trip would cost some twenty dollars)
The Capt continued, when I get to Mobile I stay twenty four hours or more, which would give you an opportunity to see the City, and I wish you to understand that if you wish to go, my Boat is at your service I will gladly take you there & bring you back, all safe, & treat you as well as I can, free of cost..
Bro, R,, felt considerably surprised, and withal a little amused, at the earnestness imprinted in the rough good natured countenance before him and replied, I am grateful for your kind offer and I think will try to profit by it, but I cannot go to day.
Very well, said the Capt: I go every third day, be here at two o’clock, the carrs + will take <you> right to the [[205/206]] Boat, I’ll be glad to see you, I’m in a hurry now, Good bye (another hearty shake of the hand) I’ll look for you next trip. And he was on the carr +, and away.--
Three days, + after Bro. R.. took the carr + as directed, and when he reached the wharf and stepped from the carr + the Capt,, came in haste to meet him, greeted him most cordially, and conducted on Board,, The Boat was a fine one, well fitted up, and the table loaded with all the luxuries of a southern clime,
When they arrived at Mobile next day, the Capt told him that the Boat would remain till one c clock, on the day following, to consider that his home, and enjoy himself as best he could. Shortly after, the Boat reached the wharf, while Bro- R,, was standing upon deck and looking off upon the City, [When del] a hand was gently laid upon his arm, he turned and met a stranger who bowed apologetically & asked is not your name Ruter?
It is.
The stranger remarked, may name is Carpenter, I saw your name upon the Clerk’s manifest, have been looking among the passengers & selected you, as the man , I heard you preach one night in Cincinnati, Eight or [[206/207]] nine years ago, I now reside in this City & hope you will consent to be my guest while you remain in the City,
Bro. R.. promised to call in the afternoon, which he did, took tea with the family, went with them to Church, heard a good Methodist sermon, returned & spent the night pleasantly with Brother Carpenter & after breakfast a carriage & horse was brought out, a pleasant ride to various parts of the City, and little before noon set down at the wharf.. at one the Boat left, Truly a crowd of Passengers, but the Capt- took Bro. R,, to his own quarters, a large room well furnished, and said, This is yours for the trip. Remonstrance was vain,
said the Capt,, I am at home & can take care of myself, you will not be interrupted here, & truly it was a good situation, a pleasant evening, good night’s rest, and awake in the morning to find the Boat safe moored at the return wharf, and after partaking of a good, warm breakfast, took leave of the generous hearted, commander, took the carrs + & returned to the City, May Heaven bless the Big Capt,, and his Big Soul, through the merits of the Crucifed & risen Saviour. [end of MS pages; text continued on 3 rd of loose leaves]
[[209]] After several weeks, the weather becoming warm Bro.. determined to return home, He observed to his host, on a Monday morning, when he was about to leave as usual, that he expected in the course of the week to start for home, and wished him make out his boarding bill, and he would settle it. Said the Capt. I have no bill to make out & you have none to settle here,
Why said Bro R; (with much astonishment) I expected to pay you the customary price for boarding,
Yes, replied the host, and I expected you would do so when you came here, but I did not know you then, but we are amply paid by your company, and the only charge I shall make, is that, when you come to New Orleans again, you will come directly to my house, make it your home, and that you use a little more freedom, and not keep yourself so distant from the family as you have done this time; and with a hearty pressure of the hand, and a tear glistening in his eye, he bid Bro. Ruter farewell, wishing him a safe return to his family.
With a full heart Bro. Ruter hastened to his room and there poured out his grateful acknowledgements to God for thus raising him up funds in time of need when far from home & among strangers, & invoked great & continued blessings upon his benefactors.
A few days after, having learned that the Boat, on which he designed returning, was in Port, & being about to leave he stepped to the open door of the family room & presented money to his hostess, to pay the woman who had done his washing [illeg. del. ] during the time he had been in the City.
No, said the Lady there is nothing to pay, the washing was done in my own family, and we feel that we are all amply remunerated by the + having you with us, you can pay nothing more here<and we only regret that you must leave> and as he extended his hand to say farewell, tears gushed from the eyes of that estimable Christian Lady. [illegible word(s)] blessings on the head of her departing lodger whom [[209/210]] she would consider as a guest, His baggage was sent to the Boat by a Drayman called for the purpose; and all safely deposited on board, the usual fee was offered, but the sable drayman drew back his hand, saying Oh! No Masser, Misses say all paid. Moses [?] take nothing from you Massa. Bro. R—with a full heart, retired to his state room & prayed Lord bless this generous hearted people, but as for me, what am I, that I should be thus favoured, & felt truly happy while thus humbled under a sense of his own unworthiness, and he has ever remembered those kind friends with feelings of true Christian affection, and feels a real pleasure in making this imperfect record of their unlooked for kindness & liberality, And if a cup of cold water given to one in the name of a disciple shall not lose its reward, (82) surely these acts of benevolence shall not be forgotten before God. And these <generous friends> shall reap a rich reward in that better land, Where he hopes to meet them when the storms of life are o’er. (83) [[revert to p. 183]]