THE CHOPPED BIBLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 286, 4 December 1886, Page 3

THE CHOPPED BIBLE.

A few years ago a Bible distributor,while passing through a village in Western Massachusetts, was told of a family in whose home there was not even the cheapest copy of the Scriptures, so intense was the hostility of the husband to Christianity. The distributor started at once to visit tha family, and found the wife hanging out the week's washing. In the course of a pleasant conversation he offered her a neatly-bound Bible. With a smile which, said " Thank you," ehe held out her hand, but instantly withdrew it. She hesitated to accept the gift, knowing that her hus-, band would be displeased if she took it. A few pleasant words followed, in whichi the visitor spoke of man's need of divina direction and of the divine adaptation of tha Bible to that need, and the woman resolved, to take the gift. . . Just then the husband came from behind the house with an ax on his shoulder. Seeing the Bible in his wife's hand, he looked threateningly at her, and then said to the distributor: " What do you want, eiryof my wife ? The frank words of the Christian mao, spoken in a manly way, so softened hia irritation that he replied to fcim with oivility; but, stepping up to hia wife, ho took tha Bible from her hand, saying: "We've almost had everything in common and will have this, too." . ■ •;. Placing the Bible on the chopping block he chopped it. in two parts with one blew of the axe. Giving one part to his; wife and putting the other in his pocket, he walked away. Several days after this division of the Bible he waa in the forest chopping wood. At noon he seated himself on a log and began to eat hiß dinner. The dits. severed Bible suggested itself. He took it from his pocket and his eyes fell on the last page. He began reading, and soon was deeply interested in the story of the piodigal son, but his part ended with the son'a exclamation: " I will arise and go to nay Father." At hight he said to his wife with affected carelessness "Lei me have your part of the .Bible. I've been reading about a boy who.ran away from home, and after having a hard time decided to go back. There my part of the book ends, and I want to know if ho got back and .how the old man. received him." ■ ' , The wife's heart beat violently, but she mastered her joy, and quietly handed her husband her part without a word. He read the story through,' and then ■ re-read ir. He read on far into the night, bat not a word"did he say to his wile. During the leisure moments of the next day his wife saw him reading the now joined parts, and' at night he said abruptly, , . - "Wife, I think that is the beit book I ever read." - -. .. VDay after day be read it. ■ His wife noticed his few words which indicated that he was becoming attached to it, One day be said: ■

" Wife, I'm gome _to try to live by that book. I guess it's the best sort of guide for a-man."