Installment seven

Last time we saw Harold Wilson he had obtained a job on a ship sailing to
Japan. He is free on condition that he'd stay out of the country for five
years.
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Installment Seven:

Harold left the Hoffman home in Oakland for San Francisco, where his
ship lay at the wharf, ready to leave on the morrow. As he passed into
the waiting room at the Oakland mole, he observed a "Free Literature"
distributor. In one receptacle was a Bible; and seeing it, he was struck
with its likeness to the one his mother had given him.
Taking the good book from its place, he opened it and, lo, he found it to
be marked! And it was not only marked, but marked much as the other
had been marked!
Forgetting all else, - forgetting that he was waiting for the ferry boat,
that he was a man banished because of crime; and that he was almost
a helpless wreck of humanity, - he sank into a seat, and for a long hour
he searched back and forth through the Bible. Yes, many of the same
texts were marked; and opposite the message of Exodus 20:8-11 were
these words written in the margin: "God's blessing upon the Sabbath
is His presence in the Sabbath. He who keeps Sabbath has God's
presence in his heart; and all who have his presence will delight to
keep the Sabbath. Isaiah 58:13" How much this sounded like his
mother! And there was Psalm 107:23-31 marked with red ink, the
only text marked in red by his dear mother.
He was deeply stirred. A tear rolled down his cheek. A vision of a
new life floated before him. And in it all, his mother spoke again,
and the Christ she loved made His appeal to a lost soul.
"This Bible! Oh, mother, may I take it with me? How can I go
without it? It was marked for me. Surely it must have been. Mother,
did you mark this Bible, too?" That was the way he spoke out loud to
himself.
Then a voice spoke from behind. "Friend, take that book. It was
marked for you. Take it and God bless you with a knowledge of its
truth, and give you a Christian life."
Harold was startled and embarrassed. The man offered him comfort
with the kind face of a father.
Harold asked; "Do you mean it, sir? May I have this Bible? But, sir,
I have no money to pay for it."
"That matters nothing, my friend. I represent a people who love
God's word, and who are seeking to carry its truth to the whole
world. But what did you mean by referring to another marked
Bible?"
He was in the company of a true friend. Now with brokenness of
heart he told the whole story of his battle against his mother, the
Bible and God. In particular he told the story of how he had thrown
into the sea the sacred gift of his mother's sacrifice and love.
The two men only talked for a brief moment; but during that brief
time Harold Wilson was able to catch a glimpse of the plan of
salvation. He saw God's law in its completeness. He saw sin as its
transgression. He saw Christ as the one who redeems from the
curse.
The man prayed for Harold and he included in his prayer the
following line: "Lord, give him rest from all his evil habits."
Harold took this sentence to heart.

"On what vessel do you sail, young man?" asked the old
gentleman as they were parting. "The 'Pacific Clipper', sir."
"Ah, this is interesting! She sails tomorrow. Some friends of
mine are on the same ship. You will meet them."
With the treasured Bible on his grip, Harold was soon on
his way to the wharf. Great experiences were in store for him.
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To be continued.