An Egg That Grew Into a Bible by M. D. Wood

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Dec 25, 1913

An Egg That Grew Into a Bible

By M. D. Wood

M. D. WOOD

A FEW days ago one of our India Christian boys came to me with great glee to relate the story of a single egg. At first I did not pay much attention to what he said, but as he proceeded, it became so interesting that I stopped him and said, “Wait a moment till I get a pencil and jot down a few of those points. I believe they will make interesting reading for our youth in America.” So I shall give you the notes in full. This boy, whose initials are L. G. W., lives in the Central Provinces of India. He has a position as clerk in a native magistrate’s office. He is the only Christian in that court-house, and his family is the only Christian family in that town; so this young man is closely observed by all his Hindu associates.

This story of the egg that grew into a Bible has spread among the people of that town. He said he planned to keep a few hens so as to have fresh eggs to eat. Then, after his hens began to lay fairly well, he decided to set one of them and raise a few chickens. Choosing one of the larger hens, he gave her seventeen eggs. Like all boys who set hens, he waited very patiently for the time when that happy brood of chickens would leave the nest; for what in nature is more interesting to young and old than a whole brood of healthy youngsters just out of their tiny shells? In warm climates chickens often hatch before their twenty-one days are fully up. In due time, Mrs. Hen began to fuss in her nest a little more than usual, and then the smothered peep, peep, of little yellow, brown, and black chicks began to be heard. Our young friend left the mother hen quite to herself until she came off the nest with a handsome brood of sixteen young ones.

The seventeenth egg did not hatch. This was a disappointment to our young hero, so he gently cracked the shell of this unhatched egg and looked inside, and there was another chicken, alive and strong. He decided to pull off the whole shell, and at night tuck the weak little fellow under the mother so that it might be kept warm and snug. But before doing so he said to his young wife, “Let’s tie a red string about the leg of this poor little thing, and if it lives we will give it to the Lord.” He did not mean by that that none of the others should be given. Well, that chicken lived and grew to be a large fat hen. She always had some sort of tag on her so that no mistake would be made as to her identity.

After a while that particular seventeenth chicken began to lay eggs, and, strange to say, she was the first one of the whole brood to do so.

By this time she was really making history, so L. decided he would count her eggs and sell them. She would lay several clutches of eggs, usually sixteen in a clutch, and then stop for a while. These eggs were sold, and the money was placed in the bank. After a while it amounted to quite a little sum, and was gradually being replenished by the sale of more fresh eggs. In fact, our boy charged double price often for her eggs, so as to realize all he could from her.

In the court-house one day the magistrate had a conversation with L. about the Christian religion. Finally he said he wished he had a New Testament, as he would like to read more about Christ and this new faith. Now was the moment to strike while the iron was hot, so to speak. So L. said, “I have a little money that belongs to the Lord; I will get you what you want.” So he counted the cash, and saw to his surprise that he had enough to purchase a whole Bible, just from the sale of the eggs from that seventeenth chick. How happy he was! He sent for the Bible, and before presenting it to the judge, told this wonderful little story of the seventeenth egg and how the Bible grew from it. The judge accepted the Bible with very appreciative thanks, and said, since it had come in such a strange manner, he surely would read that Bible.

The judge still has the Word of God, and is now asking for other religious books to read. I think we all ought to pray that the Spirit of God may accompany the mission of that one Bible especially, and lead that young judge to the light of truth through Jesus Christ. Little things, when done with a right motive, often prove of great value in extending the work of Christ upon earth.