Ever since the dawn of religious liberty for the people in Italy, several Bible societies in England and France had taken advantage of this time of freedom. Perhaps this religious liberty would not last long, so they quickly spread the Divine Word throughout the whole country by sending out "Bible colporteurs." Colporteurs are sellers of goods.
One of these colporteurs heard of Giovanni's zeal and love for the Word of God. He had heard of Giovanni's stand against the priest. The colporteur told the Bible society friends who sent him out about Giovanni. They immediately asked Giovanni if he would like to join them for a few weeks and become a Bible-seller in Lombardy.
We must remember that Giovanni had by no means left the Catholic Church. While he read his Bible with excitement, he still went to mass regularly and took part in all the ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church. Giovanni had been taught since childhood to be a good Catholic. While he saw a precious beauty in Scriptures he had never seen before, he could not give up all he had been taught from his youth in such a short time. He had not yet come to a clear understanding of the truth. Also, he had little or no chance to talk with other Christians who read the Bible.
The idea of becoming a Bible-seller delighted Giovanni. In spite of the fears of his wife and the threats of his priest, he went to sell Bibles. He set off after a few days with a pack of Bibles and Testaments on his back.
A colporteur lives a difficult life, going from town to town, and stopping at each small village. At first Giovanni sold his Bibles very quickly. People kindly welcomed him wherever he went, especially in the towns. Giovanni usually put up his stall in the marketplace and offered his very uncommon goods for sale. He began with simplicity and sincerity to tell the people how great his Books were. The people eagerly listened, and his courage grew. One day he boldly decided to take his Bibles to Lugano, the capital of the Swiss Canton of Tessin. He knew Switzerland did not have the freedom to sell Bibles like Italy did, but he had many friends there whom he had met when working in Glarus. He decided to try to sell the Bible in Switzerland. Bravely Giovanni ventured forth.
Giovanni arrived on the yearly market day. The table on which he arranged his Bibles soon became surrounded by curious people. Most of these people did not approve of Giovanni trying to sell Bibles. Their feelings toward this kindly colporteur were more likely to be bad than good. Giovanni began gently urging those gathered around his table to buy the Word of God. He pointed out the low cost of the Bibles and showed the beautiful bindings of the Books. Giovanni told the people gathered around him what blessings the precious Book contained.
A young man in the crowd came up to him. He told Giovanni he could get a Bible for nothing if he wanted one. He boasted that he had plastered one up in a wall in Glarus five or six years ago. Surely, in spite of the fire, the devil had not been able to get it out again!
Much astonished and moved, Giovanni looked the man in the face. After a short pause, he replied, "Yes, that is true. In spite of the fire, that Bible received great care—it was saved almost by a miracle!"
Giovanni told the young man how God (not Satan) had permitted the precious Book to fall into his hands. He told how finding the Bible richly blessed him and afterward many others. Now it was the young man's turn to be surprised.
"What!" cried Antonio, "you mean to say you have found the Bible that I put in the wall at Glarus? Let me see the Book! From the dents I made in the cover, I will know it anywhere."
Giovanni took his beloved Bible from his pocket and handed it to Antonio. Shocked and surprised, Antonio stared in disbelief at the Book! He thought he had placed that Book beyond the reach of any human being.
"Besides," Giovanni continued, "every man that worked with me last summer in Glarus can tell you the same story. Come now, young man, buy the Bible from me. Do not hide it this time. Read it and learn from it how to be saved from your sins."
"Go away with your Bibles," cried Antonio. The old hatred towards this Holy Book was renewed and gained control of his heart. "We will have nothing to do with them. Who, I should like to know, has given you permission to come here?" With that he threw down the Bible. Turning to the crowd, Antonio stirred them up against our poor colporteur. Before Giovanni knew what had happened, they overturned his table and began hitting and kicking him. The crowd didn't rest until he and his Bibles left Lugano.
With a heavy heart Giovanni turned toward home to recover from his wounds and bruises. He gave a careful account of the sale of his Bibles to those who had hired him. The winter season had passed and spring had arrived. Giovanni soon took up his hammer and trowel and bid farewell to his home. Once more he began the long journey over the mountains for a summer job.