The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-04-24
THE r1MEs NEW BLooMF1ELD, Pa, APRIL "a. ls77

tlon to the Word of Life, as read by the
man of God, who had penetrated the
dense moral wilderness in which they
had so long dwelt.
Let US pray"
How strange these words sounded
They seemed spoken as from theheavens
above them, and by voice that they
could not disregard.
Brief, yet earnest, and in fitting Ian
guage, was the prayer, then tearfully
made, and responded to with tears.
When the "amen' was said, and the
pious colperteur arose from his knees,
what change had taken place The
raging lion had become a lamb. The
strong, wicked contemner of the good,
was gentle and teachable as little child.
Once more the colporteur read from
the holy Book, while the man and his
wife listened with bent heads, and ear
nest, thoughtful faces.
"Shall 1 leave you this Bible ?" said
he, rising at length and making mo-
ton to retire.
"If you will sell 1t to u.s." said Dick
Jones.
" 1t is yours on any terms you please.
The price is low. 1 have other good
books; but this is the best of all, for IL
Is Gods own Book, In which he speaks
to his erring, unhappy children, saying
to them, Come unto me all ye that la
Dor and are heavy laden, and l will give
you rest Read this first, my friends !;
read it in the morning, as soon as you
rise, and in the evening before you re-
tire. Read it together, and, If you feel
an impulse to pray, kneel down, and si-
lently, If you cannot speak aloud, say
over the words of that beautiful prayer
the Saviour taught his diciples,-the
prayer your mothers taught you when
you were innocent children Our
Father who art in heaven In few
weeks will pass this way again. Shall
l call to see youY'
go yes. Do CALL" said Jones, his
voice trembling; though it was plain
he struggled hard with the flood of new
emotions that was sweeping over him.
"May Gods peace rest upon this
houser" The stranger stood with lifted
hands and head bent reverently for a
moment. Then, turning away, he pass
ed from the door, and in few moments,
was out out of sight.
A month later the colporteur came
again that way. How different was his
reception at the house of Dick Jones.
The moment the eyes of the latter rested
upon him, it seemed as if sunbeam fell
suddenly upon his rugged features.
"All is well, see." The colporteur
spoke cheerfully, and with radiant
smile. "a Bible in the house is bless
ing to its inmates"
I" 1t has been blessing to u.s." said
the happy wife, her eyes full of tears.
so, sir, we can never be done reading
the good Book. 1t seems, sometimes, as
If the words were just written for us.
And the children ask me, many times a
day, if won't read to them about Jo-
seph and his brethren, the three Hebrew
children, or Daniel in the den of lions.
Often, when they have been SO ill-na-
tured and quarrelsome that 1 could do
nothing with them, have stopped my
work, and sat down among them with
the Bible, and began to read one of its
beautiful stories. o, it acted like a
charm All anger would die instantly
and when I closed the book, and they
went to their play again, would not
hear an ugly word among them, maybe,
for hours. And Richard, too" she
glanced towards her husband, who smil-
ed, and she went on. "And Richard,
tool haven't heard him swear an
oath since you were here; and he isn't
angry with things that can't be helped
near as often as he used to be. o, yes,
indeed, sir; it is true. A Bible in the
house is blessing to its inmates"
eff that were the only fruit of my
labor" said the colporteur,as he walked
slowly and thoughtfully away from the
house of Dick Jones, an hour later, cit
would be worth all the toll and sacrifice
I have given to the work. But this is
not the only good ground into which the
seed i am scattering broadcast, as it were
has fallen. Gods rain, and dew, and
sunshine, are upon it, and it itmustspring
up, and grow, and ripen to the harvest.
Let me not grow faint or weary"
And with stronger heart and more
purpose, he went on his way.
ALL BADLY SCARED.