A famous machinist was seated by his fireside. Near him, playing, on the floor, was his only child; a fine little boy of rare intelligence and gentleness. It was early the day’s work had not yet begun; and the father took up the daily paper to read. The child, climbing on his knee, and taking hold of the paper, exclaimed,
“No, no papa! the Bible first, the Bible first, papa!” — a recollection of his departed mother’s request. It was a fresh confirmation of the words, “Out of the mouth of babes... hast Thou ordained strength.” Psalms 8:22Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2).
The child’s hand was stronger than a man’s. The child’s words were—under God—the turning point (it is believed) of the father’s life. He there and then resolved that, by divine help, the Bible should be “first,” before any business of the day.
In the crush and throng and engrosent of a daily-increasing, and ulmitately enormous business, the father went forth to his daily work with recoition of a higher Master.
“The Bible first, papa!” was ever ringing in his ears. It became his watchword.
ML 05/13/1945