“‘“Why do you turn out of your way for these painted balls?” asked the boy.
“‘The old man looked up from under his shaggy brows, too much taken up with his task to talk, and simply growled out, “Rocks.”
“‘“Well, I would not turn out for those bits of wood,” said the boy; “I would go right over them.”
“‘The old man replied only by a look. “Poor, foolish lad,” it said, “how little you know about rocks!”’”
“Yes,” said Miss Marvin, “many a poor soul has looked at the buoys in the Bible, pointing out some danger, and said, ‘I know better; I shall sail right along,’ and has gone down in a sea of darkness and desolation. Remember, too, a good sailor studies his course: he is not content with a glance at the map or chart now and then. So, my dear boys and girls, let us study God’s Word, searching in it for hidden treasures, for only those who find its pearl of great price can ever be truly rich or wise or happy. Sceptics and unbelievers seldom search the Scriptures. They deny without examination and reject without trial. Their Bibles have no ‘pins’ in them like the old lady’s, of whom I read not long since. As her sight began to fail, she found it hard to find her favorite verses; but she could not live without them; so what did she do? She stuck a pin in them, one by one, and after her death they counted one hundred and sixty-eight. When people went to see her, she would feel over the page after her pin, and say, ‘Read here,’ or ‘Read there’; and she knew pretty well what promise was by this pin and what by that.”
“I think Aunty McFane knows her Bible almost by heart,” said Susy, with a tear in her eye. “And did you ever hear her repeat that beautiful hymn? I learned it from her one day, it was so pretty.”
“Tell it to us, please. I think there will be just time enough before the bell rings.”
IX.
AUNTY McFANE’S HYMN.
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”