The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-05-16

I AuO0 W0O yOu 8fc. Ou B08{Vuus
selling good books and talking reli
gion to the people"
True enough, Mrs. Jonesp ssit
the colpor.eur, seriously, yet With ,
pleasant emile on bis face sshe spoke
I''And / have come to have littIs
talk with your husband. and See II
can't get bin to buy somd Of ny
good books. Have you Bibb :"
"No sir. My husband ys +,
hates the Bible. When we wire frs
married I had an old. Testam{nt, bu
be never could bear to see M read
ing it, Somehow, it got lost; l al
way thought be carried its4ay, OIL
threw it 10 the Ere. He Wol't tall
to you, sir. He won't have you
books. He's q very bad tempered
man. sometimes, and Pm sfrsM he'll
do you harm. O sir, wish you
you'd go away"
But, instead Of showing any slaru
or anxiety at Mrs. Jones' account o
her husband. the stranger compsnces
opening bis yalise, from whjet hs
soon produced plainly 6cah4 copy
of the Bible.
How long sin you were mar
ried % asked the colporteur, as bs
opened the Bible, and comnenced
turning over the leaves.
Twelve years come next May
sir,n was answered.
How long is it since you lost ths
Testament ?"
"Most eleven years.
"Do you go to church 2"
"To church ~ The woman looked
surprised at the question. @Dear
sakes mol l haven't ben inside of 9
church since | was married."
Wouldn't you like to go ?n
"Whss 'ud be the use wouldn'l
say church to Dick for the whole
world"
"Tben you haven't read the Bible
yourself. nor heard anybody else
read it. since you lost the old Testa
ment 2"
mo sir."
"You shall have that blessed priv
iIege once again in your life" said
the stranger, raising the book toward
his eyes, and making preparation te
read.
Indeed, sir, I'm afraid. Unlock
ing for my husband every minute. ;
interrupted the woman. Hes al
ways said he'd kick the FIRST Bible
seller out of his house that dared to
cross bis door. And he'll do it
He's very wicked and passionate
sometimes. Do sir, please go away
If l had any money I'd take the
Bible ana hide it from bim (; but
have not. Please don't stay any
longer. Den't begin to read If be
comes in and finds you reading, he'll
be mad enough 10 kill you"
But, for all this, the colporteur sal
uumoved. As the woman ceased
speaking be commenced reading to
her the beautiful chapter from our
Lords sermon on tie mount, begin
ping with-'take heed that you do
not your aims before men tp be seen
of them; otherwise We have no re-
ward Of your Father which is in
heaven" As be proceeded in low,
reverential voice, the woman's agita.
tion gradually subsidized. and she
leaned forward, listening more and
more 'ently. until all thoughts and
feelings wee absorbed in the holy
words that were filing her ear
When the coiporteur finished the
chapter, be raised bis eyes teihe face
of the woman, and saw thAt it was
wet with tears. At that instant a
form darkened the door. 1t was the
form of Dick Jones.
"Ha!" be exclaimed in a harsh
voice.
who's this? Who are your"
Comprebending, now, the scene
before him, Jones began swearing
awfully, at the same time ordering
the stranger to leave his house
threatening to kick him from the door
| if be didn't move instantly. The
fearful wife stepped between her hus-
band and the object of his wrath but
he swept her aside roughly and with
clrses.
go before l fling you out into the
road !" And the strong man, every
iron muscle tense with anger. stood
Towering above the strangers sIen-
der form, like an eagle above its help
less prey.
How calm and fearless the stran-
ger sat, his mild. deep, almost spirit
ual eyes, fixed cn those of bis mad
assailapt.
BLESS the Lord, o my soul, and
forget not ell bis benefits"
Low, vet thrilling vas the voice in
which these words found almost spoL-
taneous utterance. He had taken no
forethought as to what be should
say. Hither be had come at the
prompting of duty, and now. when 9
raging lion was in bis path, be shrunk
not back in terror, but resting 10 d.
vine power, moved steadily onward.
"Clear out from here, | say :" The
voice Of Dick Jones was angry still ;
yet something of the evil purpose
was gone.
"The Lord my light and nv sal
vation; whom shall fear? The
Lord is my strength and INV life; of
whom shall be afraid :"
Neither loud nor in self-con6deDce
was this spoken else would /, not
have fallen on the ears of that evil
minded man with such power.
why have you come here to trou-
BILE me? Go now-go, before do
you harm" said Dick Jones, greatly
-ubdned 10 manner. and sinking into
his chair ss be spoke.
The colporteur, moved less by
thought than impulse, opened the
Bible which had been closed on the
enirauce Of Jones and commenced
reading All was sill, n,w, save
,be low. eloquent voice of the strau-
ger, as be read from the holy book.
His wife. who had stood half-para-
y zed with terror 10 a distant part Of
the room whittier an impatient arm
had flung her, seeing the wonderful
change that was passing, stole quiet
liz To his side and then handino har