At a great fire in the city of New York a hundred houses had been
burned. Dr. Ely overtook a colored woman who was carrying under one arm
a bundle of wood, and under the other a large Bible.
"Poor woman," said he, "have you been burnt out too?" "Yes, sir," said
she, "but blessed be God, I'm alive." "You are very old to be turned
out of house and home." "I'm well stricken in years, but God does it."
"Have you saved nothing but the Bible?" "Nothing," said she, "but one
trunk of things; but this blessed Book is worth more than all the rest;
it makes me feel better than all the rest. So long as I keep this, I am
content."