MANY years ago, the committee of the Bible Society, at the suggestion of Mr. Hugh Stowell, unanimously resolved to present to every emancipated negro, capable of reading, a New Testament of a suitable size. A special fund was raised for this purpose, and public meetings were held in furtherance of this design. On the morning after one of these meetings, in a town where Dr. Steinkopff was the guest of a friend, one of his little daughters, accompanied by two or three of the younger sisters, presented him with a sealed package, requesting that it might not be opened until he should have left the house, saying, “We hope it may be accepted as a small contribution from four little girls to assist in the supply of the Holy Scriptures to the poor negro children.”
Her parents had left the room, but there was a gentleman present, who had breakfasted with them—an intimate friend of the family—who listened to the words of the dear child with marked interest. That gentleman was Dr. Steinkopff’s only companion in a long journey during the rest of the day, and shortly after taking seats in the coach, the seal of the little packet was broken, and to his surprise, the doctor found it contained nearly twenty dollars. On his alluding to the scene they had just witnessed, his companion’s eyes filled with tears, as he said, “Yes, sir, she is indeed an interesting child; but she is much more, for she is an earnest Christian.” And after a pause, he said, with evidently deep feelings, “To that child, sir, I am indebted for all my happiness upon earth, and all my hopes, for eternity.”
He added, that he had been in business with her excellent father, but, unlike him, was not a believer in the truths of the Bible, and had made no secret of his unbelief. On one occasion, this dear child, then only nine years old, was present when her father was endeavoring, but in vain, to convince this gentleman of his fatal error. When the painful conversation ended, and her father had left the room, she asked this gentleman to take a walk with her in the garden; and when no one could over hear them, she inquired whether she might ask him a question.
“Certainly,” he replied; “any question you please.”
“Then,” said she, “have you ever read the New Testament through with a desire to understand it?”
“No,” he answered, “I never have.”
“I thought so,” she said; “for I am sure you would not have spoken of it to my father as you did just now, if you had.” And in an earnest manner she added, “Oh! do read it, and do wish to understand it.”
His concluding words were, “My dear sir, that child’s entreaties and tears did far more than any argument had ever done; they led me to the Bible, and the Bible led me to my Saviour.”
ML 01/31/1909