Every-day Incidents. II: The Treasure

EVERY-DAY INCIDENTS. II. THE TREASURE. Sometimes little things change the whole course of our lives. You have all heard how Newton discovered the law of gravitation by the accident of observing a falling apple; and how the tea kettle led to the discovery and application of steam. President John R. Winder was led to investigate the gospel by picking up a bit of printed paper upon which he found the words "Latter-day Saints." And so we might go on relating how little things in themselves often end in important results. Small causes often produce great effects. I have often thought how strange are the stories many of the Latter-day Saints could relate on this subject. I knew a family of boys and girls whose father was born in an obscure village in Europe. The Elders of the Church 'came inci- dentally, in early days, and preached the wonderful story of the angel visit to Joseph Smith the Prophet. Their grand-parents heard the message, and took the little boy over the sea and the plains to Utah. Here was born a little girl years after, whose father had come from Scotland and whose mother was an English lassie. This little boy and girl were married and became father and mother to the family of boys and girls that I am speaking of. All these results are based upon the cause which led Joseph Smith to seek the Lord in prayer, in answer to the Bible injunction, ' 'If any man lack wisdom let him ask of God." But you can all think of so many important results in your own lives, in this line, that no more need be said on this subject. I want to tell of a little incident which occurred some days ago, however, which I think will be of interest to you. I happened to be in one of the settlements of Southern Idaho, and there met

' . 803 IMPROVEMENT ERA. a childhood friend whom I had not seen for many years. We re- newed our acquaintance, and talked of old times and people. "I remember you specially," said my friend, "because of a little cir- cumstance that turned my whole career. You know 1 was a wild young fellow, and very indifferent to any religious restraint. You had a tiny little book of a few small pages containing 'Christian stories for the pleasure and instruction of the young,' compiled and published by a children's friend, and printed in 1853. You said it had been given to you by your mother in 1864, when you left Europe for America. You must have been only very young at that time. I remember these details because of the impres- sions made upon my mind. Well, you read a story entitled, 'The Treasure in the Bible, ' from that book to me, which changed my actions entirely. I had never before taken any interest in reading the Bible, but from that day on I read the Bible, and received the spirit of the gospel. I can see that the simple incident was a turning point in my life, and I have always felt grateful that you were led to read me the story. ' Now, it so happened that only yesterday, in clearing an old trunk, I found the little book of which he spoke. It is only three by two inches in size, 32 pages, and has twelve little stories Would you like to read the story which my friend in Idaho so prizes? Here it is: THE TREASURE IN THE BIBLE. Duke Carl of Wurtemberg often came, in his young years, and in the springtime, to Schwartzwald, and visited the little town of Fymfbrunn, where he staid in the home of a peasant. The Duke showed his appreciation for the peasant in this way: The peas- ant remarked incidentally, and as an excuse for his simple, brick stove, "Now I am going to get me an iron stove, since your high- ness has shown me the honor to be a guest in my house. " Im- mediately thereafter the Duke, on his departure, sent the peasant a fine iron stove as a present, which is yet found in Fymfbrunn . While the Duke was still the guest of the peasant, he saw a Bible on a shelf in the wall, and asked him: "Do you read your Bible industriously?"

" EVERY DAY INCIDENTS. 809 The peasant answered with enthusiasm, "Yes, your highness, a chapter everyday." The Duke, watching for an opportunity when the peasant and others were out of the room, placed a Louis d'or, (about $10 in gold) between the leaves of the Bible in a place carefully marked. When the Duke bade farewell to his host, he gave him this injunction: "Read your Bible industriously, and you will find a treasure in it." The peasant replied assuringly: "Yes, your highness, every " day a chapter ! In about a year from that time the Duke returned, and when he had inspected the new iron stove, he asked his friend: "Well, did you read your Bible industriously?" "Certainly, your highness, every day !" "Take down your Bible for me," said the Duke; and when he received it, he opened to the familiar place where he had enclosed the gold, and lo, his Louis d'or lay there undisturbed! Then he put the gol I in his pocket and said to the peasant: "Why have you lied to me? If you had read your Bible, you would have found the gold ! There is enclosed in every Bible a great treasure, not a per- ishable piece of gold, but a treasure of endless worth. He who seeks shall find; but he who seeks not shall never £ nd. Salt Lake City, Utah.