He could only follow, for there was plainly no chance of five minutes with the Book he loved, and he felt that if he were to persist, he might do more harm than good.
"I'll not vex her. I mustn't wonder that she sees no need of Bible reading, when I remember that I have only just begun to care about it, I, that am forty years old. I must do what I can, and be patient and wait God's time."
Thus thought Adam, and he was comforted to some extent. He had learned several sweet passages of Scripture off by heart, and he could go over these if he could not add to them. Then Mr. Drummond, who understood something of the difficulties which beset a beginner at Bible study, had given him a little book as a help. It was quite a tiny volume, which Adam could slip into his waistcoat pocket, and on each page there was a text in good large print for the morning, and another for evening.
"It is not always easy, Adam," the manager told him, "to find time and opportunity for reading a whole chapter, or even a Psalm. But if you can just get a verse into your mind, a precious word of comfort, a sweet promise, or a something to make the way plain before you, as you go about your work, it often proves of more lasting benefit than a longer portion rapidly read over. You can make it your own, and think about it many a time whilst your hands are busy."
Adam had already derived much comfort from following this advice. He looked for his morning and evening messages as portions of bread on which his soul could feed during his hours of toil, or wakeful seasons during the night-watches.
One day there came the words, "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Adam had always been one to feel for and with others, but he was too shy and silent to express his sympathy. But these words gave him courage, and he tried to comfort a fellow workman who was in great trouble at the time. Thus, between two who had been as strangers, through seeing each other daily, sprang up a feeling of brotherly kindness and mutual good-will, which time only tended to strengthen.
On another occasion, Adam was taunted about his "new-fangled notions," and accused of "setting up for a saint." This was a tender point with the man. He was not ashamed of his profession, and he felt "joy unspeakable" as his mind dwelt on the love and grace of his Divine Lord. But these were holy things, and he could ill endure for them to be rudely spoken of.
He was tempted to answer sharply, but he found strength to resist through the sweet message: "If ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye."
"Trust in the Lord, and do good."