Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-25
The Power of a Burnt Bible.


al am going the round of my district p"
said Miss Lawton, to look after the wants
Of my people, aud particularly to inquire
whether they are well supplied with Bibles
At the mention of Bibles, Tom scowIed and
Jane turned pale, for She knew how her hus-
band dislikcd them, aud, indeed, he would
not even allow one TO be in the house
No one spoke, so Miss Lawton said, How
are you supplied with Bibles in your house,
Mrs Eyans2'
Jane was just ialterng out an answer,
when her husband relieved her by saying
grualy at once, " We haven't no Bible in om
house; and / don mean to have one either. "
" No Bible at all Z" answered Miss Law
ton "Well am sorry to hear this; because
think mo- house can be really happy without
the reading Of Gods book But why is it
that you have an objection to the Bible, Mr..
Evans I never heard of It's doing any one
harm, and am sure il has done great many
people much good"
" say what | say answered Tom. 81
haven't Bible in my house, and don't want
onc.'
Perhaps" said Mi-s Lawson you don't
like to spend money for one. Now, [ will
tell you what, Mr. Evans, | don't want you to
spend a penny upon what you don't like but
will make you o present of one. There,
said She putting on the table a nice little
roam Bible. | will leave this with you
you will take it as q present from me, will
you not 3'
Leave it or not as You please, maam,
answered Tom have said there shall
not De a Bible in my house, and there sban't
either
Wen, out surely you will let me leave
Oh, yes. leave it If you choose; but mark
you, you see that fire. As sure as you eros.
the threshold Of my door, that book goes into
the fire I'm man of my word.
Mr. Evans" said Miss Lawton, looking
calmly at him, while his wife tremhled with
emotion, will leave the book and you
may do with it what you like but may Cos
yet use the despised book for the salvation o
your sou' and she offered up a silent prayer
that lle in whose hand is all power, might
have mercy upon the poor inGdel, and use hi'
own Word as his instrument
Miss Lawton rose up and took her leave
She crossed the threshold and closed the door
Tom Evans Immediately moved to the tabl
and seized the Bible. There, said he
holding it out at arms length am man o
my word this book shall not stay in my
house to trouble me-, and he flung it on tn,
top Of the fire.
\ column of smoke then rose from the vol
umc then the flames caught it, and it blaze
with a bright glare up the chimney. Jan
went out Of the room, silently weeping to
Ineighbor's cottage As she opened the door
gust OF wind rushed ini and famed abou
the burning leaves The in6dcl stood owe
( the fire tin all appeared to be consumed, an
/ then sat down to his work.
/ The short day was soon over, and eyeuin
stole on Tom left his work, and desired hi
wife to light a candle then they sat owe
the fire together
/ fancy, he said to his wife, " that er
district lady as she calls herself didn't ex
pect | would keep my word about that book
But I'm a man Of my word, and hate th
book, and that's the fttest place for it, point
ing to the blackened leaves underneath th
CRATE. The fire has done its work well
but there's a bit here which has not bee
touched, and he took up small piece viii,
had been blown to one side, and so had e'
capel entire destruction. 1t was brown, an
scarcely told what it had been, but the prr
seemed to have been burnt out into bolder re
licfby the action Of the fire.
81 did say that would not read the bool
but | will Just see what the fire has left
~ l.. - .