The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1892-11-12
The sKEPTlc's LESSON.
How tie Reading of "A Bible Opened al
InndeI's Ewes.

How tie Reading of "A Bible Opened an
InhdeI's Eyes.
Two men were Cnce travelling in
the lar west. One was a skeptic. the
other a Christian. The former was OH
every occasion ready TO denounce reli-
glon as an impOsture and professors as
hypOcrites. According 10 his W ac-
count Of the matter he always suspected
t4osc win made ~pretensions to piety.
fait particularly exposed in the
of Christians and took special are of
bis horse and watch when the saints
we're around him. They had travelled
l.4te one evening and were in the wilder
ness.
They at last drew near Z a solitary
hut and rejpiced in the prospect of a
shelter, however humble. They asked
admission and obtained it. But it was
almost as dreary and comfortless within
A. without. aud there was nothing pre-
possessing in the appearance Of its in
habitants. These were an elderly man,
bis wife and two sons, s%unburned, hardy
and rough. They were apparently hos
pitable. and welcomed our travellers to
such hOmely fare as the forest afforded;
bat this air Of kindness might be as
sumed to deceive them, and the travellers
became seriously apprehensive that evil
was intended. 1t was a lonely place
well suited TO deeds of robbery and
blood. No help was at hand.
The two friends communicated to each
o>her their suspicious, and resolved that
on retiring to their part of the hut they
would barricade the door against the en-
trance Of their host: that they would have
their weapons of defense at hand; that
they would alternate in watching, so that
one should be constantly on his guard
while his companion slept. Having has
lily made then arrangements they joined
tie family, partook of the hOlnely meal
and spoke Of retiring to rest. The old
man said 1t had been his practice in bet
ter times, and he continued it still, be-
fore lis family retired to commend them
10 God, and If the strangers had no OBJ
lection he would do SO now. The Chris
tan rejOiced to find a brother in the will
derness, and V the skeptic could MOI
conceal his satisfaction at the PROPOSE
ton.
The old man then took down a well
worn Bible, on which no dus5 had gath
cred. though age had marked it, and
read with emphasis a portion of the
sacred Scriptures. He then supplicated
the divine protection, acknowledged the
divine goodness, and prayed for grace,
guidance and salvation. He prayed,
too, for the strangers-that they might
be pr0spered in their journey, and when
their earthly journey was done they
might have a hone in heaven. He was
evidently d man OF prayer, and that
humble cottage was Il place where
prayer was wont to be made.
The travellers retired to their apart
ment. According to their arrangement
the skeptic vas to have the first watch
during the night, bUt instead of prim-
ing his pistols and bracing his nerves for
an attack he was for lying down 20
sleep is quietly as if he had never
thought of danger. His frierd reminded
him Of their engagement, and asked
where he had lost his apprehension Of
danger. All, the infidel fe't the force
of the question and all it implied, and
had til. frankneAs to con- IS that he
c0uld not but feel as safe IT'S at a Now
England fireside III any house or in any
forest where the Bible was read as the
old man read it and prayer offered as
he prayed.-Chris' ian Herald.