In the beginning of the summer in 1856 a young bricklayer named Antonio, who was full of life and fun, left his home in the Swiss Canton of Tessin (on today's maps it is called Tecino) to look for work. The young man packed his tools and clothes into a bundle which he carried on a stick over his shoulder. He hiked over the mountains to German Switzerland.
As he walked along the mountainous trail, he met a lady. She spoke to him and gave him an Italian Bible. She begged him to read the Book because it was the Word of God. She said it pointed out the way to everlasting life.
Antonio took the gift hesitatingly. He didn't thank her, but he did push it into his bundle as he went on his way. Some troubling thoughts entered into his mind. His village priest had often warned him of the dangers in Protestant countries. The priest told Antonio and his friends not to read the "soul-destroying books of the heretics."
During this time in history much distrust took place among the various religions. Most people of that part of the world had long belonged to the Roman Catholic church. A Roman Catholic priest named Martin Luther had come to understand the doctrines of the Bible differently from his church. Martin Luther began to protest against the teaching of the Catholic Church; therefore, the Roman Catholic church called Luther and his followers protesters. We call those churches who follow the teaching of Martin Luther Protestants even today.
Most of the priests he knew had warned Antonio against the Bible. They told Antonio the Bible was very dangerous for the unlearned and that reading the Bible had deceived even Martin Luther, a Catholic priest! Now Antonio carried that "dangerous book" in his bundle. Antonio decided he would get rid of the Bible as soon as possible. In doubt as to whether to throw it away at once or to wait for a better opportunity, he decided to wait. The young man walked on until he reached the lovely little Swiss town of Glarus. Antonio soon found work there with others he knew from his home town.
Antonio worked on a fine, new building. One day while laying the bricks, he came to a gap in the wall. He had to put something in that gap. Suddenly, a clever idea came to his mind; he would fill the gap with the Bible that he had no desire to keep. "And," he exclaimed, laughing, "We’ll see whether the devil will get it out again in a hurry!"
Antonio's home town friends who worked with him thought his idea wonderful and amusing; so Antonio did it. He took the Book out of his bundle and tried to force the Bible into the gap. He gave it two or three hard blows with his hammer. These blows made deep dents in the cover. His friends roared with laughter while Antonio forced the Bible into the opening and covered it up with mortar.
Winter drew near. The brickwork on the building was finished, so the workers began to think about going home. Most of the men didn't have much money left from all their work because they had wasted most of their wages on drinking.