Milford chronicle., 1908-04-03
AN AUcTlONEER's STORY.
Told Before Asking For Bids on
Copy Of the Bible.

] kOpV OF kNG
The auctiOneer took down as the
book lie would offer next copy Of the
Bible. But before inviting bids upon
It he talked about it briefly.
This was a copy bound in flexible
morocco. gilt edged over red, and it
contained a concordance. And then
for moment he spoke Of the Bible IL
self. telling what the Old Testament
contained and what the New and how
for ages it had been the guide and
comforter of millions. There were
some who picked flaws in the book.
but even these TRUSTED those who be-
lieved in it and followed its teachings
And then the auctiOneer told "a little
story.
"a man." he said, "who was travel
ing in a remote and sparsely settled
part of the country found himself over
taken by nightfall at an isolated farm
house II was not the most inviting
looking place in the world, but 1t was
there or nowhere for him, and so he
knocked ON the door and asked If he
might stay there for the night, and the
farmer said he could.
$50 he went in, and the farmer and
his wife gave him supper, and after
time he was ready to go to bed.
And, as a matter of fact, the trav-
eler was troubled in his mind, as he
had been, for that matter, from the
moment he saw the farmer This was
a remote and lonely spot, and the farm
er was a tall, gaunt silent man with
furrOwed face, and he and his wife
were all the people in the household.
And as the traveller dwelt again upon
how far away he was and upon the
gaunt. silent farmer he recalled all the |
stories he had read of men who had |
been murdered and robbed in just such |
out OF the way places, and as the time
came for retiring his fears increased,
and when the farmer showed him at
last to his room the traveller was much
troubled, and be prepared for sleep
less and watchful night and to defend
himself the best he could if need be.
He barricaded the door with all the
movable furniture in the room for one
precaution, and he didn't disrObe him
self for he wasn't going to bed. He
was going to sit up all night and
watch. And when he had made all
his preparations he put out his light
and sat down TO keep guard for the
night
His own light out. the traveller saw
a little beam Of light coming into his
room through a crack in the wall on
the side toward the room where he
had left the farmer and his wife, and
to be sure he pretty soon had his eye
to that crack to see what they were do
ing. and there he saw them, the farmer
sitting on one side and his wife on the :
other of the table, and both silent.
But presently the traveller saw the
old man get up and go TO shelf and /
take down a big book, which he laid
upon the table and opened, and then,
bending over the book, the farmer read
from it aloud a chapter from the Bible. I
And the reading finished, he closed the {
book. and then the farmer and his wife
knelt at their chairs, and the stern :
faced man prayed.
"And then the traveller, his fears all T
gone, took down the barricade from the
ioor and went to bed to Sleep peace
July and refreshingly, for he knew c
hat there or anywhere under the roof I
II those who believed I'm the book and
ived according TO its precepts he was .
afe from all harm"
The auctiOneer paused. and for mo-
nent the room was still, and then the E
uctioneer spoke again, saying this VI
ime as he held the book in his hand
p into view:
Gentlemen. how much am bid for
be Bibe2"-New York Sun.
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