Treasure Indeed!

On a meandering drive, four summers ago, I saw the words: 'used books' on the side of a quaint trailer. There was nothing I could do but wander in, over the scruffy dog in the doorway, past the wonderful gray-frazzle-haired lady who rambled-like-old-friends over her glasses and knitting... and sort (for some time) through the racks and stacks of bound thought. My choice cost $1.75. A tiny burgandy New Testament treasure. Inside the front cover is the following message:

from the White House- Washington- 28th July 1917

“The Bible is the word of life. I beg that you will read it and find this out for yourselves, read, not little snatches here and there, but long passages that will really be the road to the heart of it. You will find it full of real men and women, not only- but also of the things you have wondered about and been troubled about all your life, as men have been always; And the more you read the more it will become plain to you what things are worth while and what are not, what things make men happy, -loyalty, right dealing, speaking the truth, readiness to give everything for what they think their duty, and, most of all, the wish that they may have the approval of the Christ, who gave everything for them, -and the things that are guaranteed to make men unhappy, -selfishness, cowardice, greed, and everything that is low and mean. When you have read the Bible you will know that it is the Word of God, because you will have found it the key to your own heart, your own happiness, and your own duty.” (signed by:) Woodrow Wilson