JOHN Davies was but thirteen years of age when he purchased a Bible for himself with his own money.
Of course in our day many children younger than he have procured Bibles for their own use; but in his day, years ago, Bibles were much more scarce than they are now. Thus as will be seen, it needed considerable self-denial on the part of John Davies if he would obtain the desired volume.
He was the son of a poor widow.
One bitterly cold night he arrived at the book store at ten o’clock, and finding that the store was closed, he went to the house and knocked. The little circle within the house had gathered for their reading of the Scriptures and prayer, and he was at first unanswered.
But he continued knocking, and his perseverance was at length rewarded.
Opening the door the servant asked what he wanted.
He replied, “A Bible.”
“If you come in the morning,” said the store keeper, who had drawn near, “you can have one.”
“I cannot, sir, as I work two miles from Newton, and don’t return home until late at night.”
“Come in then, and you shall have one.”
In answer to further questions he told the bookseller that he heard that Bibles could be got very cheap at that store, and therefore had saved money in order to get one for himself.
Receiving the book he went off with his purchase, well satisfied.
The next morning his widowed mother came to the bookstore with the Bible in her hand. At first he feared that the money with which it had been bought had been got in some wrong way, but his doubts were soon dismissed.
“Did my little boy buy this Bible here last night?”
“He did, and told me that he saved the money for that purpose.”
“And how do you think he saved it?” “I cannot say.”
“Well, I will tell you. Having to leave home very early every morning, I cut him two large pieces of black bread, (for I cannot get anything better,) one for his breakfast and the other for his dinner; his supper he had when he came home at night; and with this I gave him a halfpenny each day to buy some milk, and told him to divide it into two equal parts, to drink with his slices of bread.” The mother paused, for her feelings almost overcame her, but with an effort she proceeded, “The little boy ate the black bread, and drank water in order to save money to buy this Bible.”
Such is the story. What do you think of it, my reader! Have you such a love for God’s Word?
In this day many are turning from truth unto fables.
May God give you to value the Scriptures, to hide them in your heart, to think over them, to feed upon them, and to esteem them more than thousands of gold and silver.
ML-06/27/1920