Little George was sent by his mother one day to a store to buy soap. The store woman weighed the soap and then prepared to wrap it up.
On the table, among some old papers, lay a thick book which she took in her hand to tear off a page. George looked at the woman with surprise and cried out: “Why that’s the Bible!”
“Well, what about it?” replied the woman.
“It is the Bible,” repeated the boy, “what are you going to do with it?”
“Wrap the soap in it,” was the answer.
“Surely you would not tear up that beautiful book? It’s the Bible,” said the boy with special emphasis.
“What’s the harm in that?” replied the woman somewhat annoyed. “I bought it for old paper to use in the store.”
With greater emphasis, George said: “What! the Bible? O, how I wish it were mine! I would certainly not tear it up.”
“Good,” said the woman, “if you pay me what I paid for it, you. can have it.” She told George the price. It was only five or six cents, and being quite glad he said:
“I will run right home and ask mother for the money.”
With these words, George left the store and ran home at full gallop. Breathless, he said to his mother,
“Please, dear mother, give me some money!”
“What for?” she asked.
“To buy a Bible:” he replied. “The woman in the store was going to tear up the Bible and I asked her to please not; and she was willing to sell it to me. O please, dear mother, give me some money to buy it and she will not tear it.” The mother replied,
“I cannot, dear George. I have really no more money, George was sad, but the mother could not help him. He turned back to the store sobbing and said:
“My mother is poor, and cannot give me any money; but please do not tear the Bible, for there are so many beautiful things in it about our Lord Jesus.”
The real sorrow of the boy softened the heart of the store woman. She patted him kindly on the head and said:
“My dear, don’t cry anymore; you shall have the Bible, if you bring me as much old paper as it weighs.”
George had not expected that. He dried his tears and said,
I’ll do that willingly, and thank you very, very much.’.’
He ran quickly back to his mother and begged for old paper. She gave him all she had. Then he went to the neighbors’ houses, and asked the people for more. And when he believed he had enough, he hurried back to the store with the bundle of paper under his arm. Stepping in, he cried:
“Here is the paper.”
“Good,” said the woman; “let me weigh it.” The paper was laid on one scale, and the Bible on the other, and the scale on which the paper lay, went down, and with tears of joy in his eyes George exclaimed, “The Bible is mine!” He then ran home to his mother and holding up the Bible in his hand, cried, “I have it, mother! I have it!”
Now, are you pleased with little George my dear young readers? Do you also love the Bible? George knew there were beautiful and glorious things in it. It tells us of God, who dwells in heaven, and of the Son of God, who came down from heaven, and died for sinners on the cross, and to hear and read it was such a joy for George, that he spared no trouble to possess the old Bible.
“From a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
ML 01/30/1938