The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1877-12-27
About . Bible in . Hotel.

A SMALL party of friends gathered
abont = COW tea-table were discussing
the propriety of the Bible Society plAc-
inc copies Of tie Holy Scriptures in
railroad cars, steamers, hotels and
other places of public resort
One or two of this party raised the
objection to the practice that in such
nuhIic places the Bible often received
rude and careless treatment at the
hands of irreverent and irreligious per-
sons.
After all the rest had expressed an
opinion, woman, the sweet graces OF
whose Christian character gave her
wide-reaching influence in the village,
| related this touching incident OF per-
sonal experience:
| It seems that two or three years after
her conversion and union with the
| Church, troubles came upon her and
her family. Instead of bearing her
trials with patience and submission,
she lost faith in the goodness OF God, In
| His eyerwatchful care, doubted the
| penuineness of her conversion, ceased
to pray, to read her Bible, or to even
think Of seeking Divine guidance.
While in this pitiable state circum-
stances made it imperative for her to
visit the City of New York on very
painful matter of business. She was
of a retiring disposition, unused to
travelling, and had never been in large
city.
While on her journey, in the cars, a
slight act of courtesy led her to make
the acquaintance of a gentleman and
his wife who took her under their
protection, and, after,iheir arrival in
the city, went out of their way to leave
her at the entrance of respectable
hotel.
She assembled the stairs oppressed
with an almost overwhelming sense o.
loneliness mingled with the conscious
ness of an utter inability to perform
the unpleasant errand she had ii
hand On being tishered into the ca
pacious and elegantly -furnished par
lors, she walked mechanically to /
comfortable, and opening the single
Book which lay on the marble-top,
her eye fell upon these words: g vii
never leave thee nor forsake thee
An emotion of tenderness bofn O
her old-time love of God and trust il
His promises suddenly stole into hel
heart. Still bending over the precious
book, the gathering tears beginning Il
dim..her eyes. she read farther on
i" Jesus Christ, the same Yesterday
to-day and forever" The comfor
which these passages of Scripture
brought to her it was impossible to de
scribe The black clouds Of tinhelie
and doubt sullenly but quickly rolled
away. The glorious sunlight of Divine
love and protection shone in upon hel
soul, and the bow of promise seemed tt
span the arch through which she looked
toward the behefieeht days that wer.
near at hand.
She was no longer alone; and this as
surance came to her heart like balm
and blessing. Her perturbed ano
distracted mind was at rest now; the
by=gune joy peace and trust sat agar
upon the throne of her heart and helt
more potent, loving sway than ever
Jesus Christ, the same yesterday,
to-day and foreverr' she kept saying te
herself over and over.
Il Quoted and perfectly seif-poiset
now, she gave her orders with the as
suranee of an experienced traveller
She ate hearty supper, went to hel
room, and in time to her bed with a;
great sense of security as il She hae
been in her own house. She slep
peacefully. and awoke at her usua
time in the morning thoroughly re
freshed.
| Unexpected facilities for transactins
her trying business opened up on al
sides. She was uniformly treated witt
respect. Her questions were promptly
answered. She was mafvelotisly aidet
in her quest, and her mission proved
successful.
Had it not been for that copy of the
Bible found so opportunely in her path
way she We. sure she would have taker
the next return train to her distafi
home without making an effort ever
toward the accomplishment of hel
mission. The Bible in the hotel wa:
in the right place.-Mrs. 4nnie A. Pres
ton, ia AineFtcdh Messenger.