A COLPORTEUR in the State of Parahybe do Norte was traveling with a mule-load of Bibles when he came upon a troop of pack-mules encamped for the night, and for safety he begged the muleteers to allow him to join them.
After supper, he read aloud some chapters of Scripture by the light of the camp fire, and conversed with the muleteers about what he had read. Just as he was about to roll himself in his blanket for sleep, a well-dressed horseman rode up, and asked permission to join the company.
After the usual salutations, the stranger remarked that he had had a miserable journey. His wife had recently died, and he had been to a neighboring town to arrange for masses to be said for her release from purgatory; inveighing at the same time against the cupidity of the priest in charging him so much for the masses.
“And all for no service,” said one of the muleteers, “if what this man’s book says be correct.”
“What book is that?” asked the stranger, turning to the colporteur.
“The Word of God,” replied the latter, “and with your permission, I will read you some.”
The stranger listened for a time, and then said, “Allow me to examine it myself.”
By the red, flickering firelight he read on with deepening interest, and finally inquired, “Can you sell me a book like this?”
“Certainly,” said the colporteur, and opened out his stock.
The gentleman selected a copy, and placed it carefully in his saddle-bags the next morning when he rode away.
Some months later the same colporteur was told of a certain captain who used to invite people to his house to hear him read a book. He set out to call at this captain’s residence, a large mansion, surrounded by extensive plantations.
When they met, the captain proved to be no other than the stranger who had bought the Bible at the camp-fire, and by its means had learned the truth as it is in Jesus. He was so anxious that his friends and servants should share the same blessing, that he regularly invited them to listen to the Word of God.
ANON.