Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-03-14
AN AUCTI0NEER'S STORY.
Told Before Asking For Bids on a
Copy of the Bible.

Told Before Asking for bios on
Copy of the Bible.
The auctloneer took down as the
book he would offer next copy Of the
Bible. But before inviting bids upon
II he talked about 1t briefly.
This was copy bound in flexible
morocco, gilt edged over red, and 1t
contained concordance. And then
for a moment he spoke of the Bible 1t
SELF telling what the Old Testament
contained and what the New and how
for ages II had been the guide ana
comforter of millions. There were
some who picked flaws In the book
but even these trusted those who be-
lieyed in 1t and followed its teachings.
And then the auctioneer told Il little
story.
"a man." he said, "who was travel
ing in n remote and sparsely settled
mart of the country found himself over
taken by nightfall at an Isolated farm
house. 1t was not the most inviting
looking place in the world, but IL was
There or nowhere for him, and so ne
knocked on the door and asked II ne
might stay there for the night, and the
farmer said he could
$50 he went in, and the farmer anu
his wife gave him supper, ana al'er
time he was ready to 80 to bed.
"And, as n matter of fact, the traV-
eler was troubled In his mind, rs ne
had been. for that matter, from the
moment he saw the farmer This was
remote and lonely spot, and the farm
er was a tall, gaunt, silent man win Il
furrowed face, and he and his WIG
were all the people In the househoiu'
And rs the traveller dwclt again upon
how far away he was and upon the
eaunt. silent farmer he recalled all the
stories he had read of men VINO hau
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 he prepared for sleep
loss and vatchful night and to DEFEND
himself the best he could If need be.
| "Ue 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. de
was going to sit up all night and
watch. And when he had made all
his preparations he put out his light
md sat down to keep guard for the
night
"IIis own light out, the traveller saw
little beam of light coming into his
room through a crack In the wall on
fine side toward the room where he
had left the farmer and his wife, and
TO be sure lie pretty soon had bis eye
70 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 ana
J take down big book, which he lad
upon the table and opened. and then
bending over the book, the farmer read
from il aloud a chapter from the Bible
And the reading finished, he closed the
book. and then the farmer and his vile
knelt at their chairs, and the stern
faced man prayed.
"And then the traveller, his fears all
gone. took down the barricade from the
door and went TO bed to sleep peace
fully and refreshlngly, for he knew
that there or anywhere under the rool
of those who believed in the book anc
lived according to its precepts he was
safe from all harm"
The auctloneer paused, and for mo
ment the room was still, and then ht
auctloneer spoke again, saying this
time as he held the book In his hand
up into view:
Gentlemen, how much am bid fol
the Bible?"-New York Sun.