Around the World in 88 Years -E Book - Arthur Burt

“Oh,” he sputtered, “of course I do.”“Well then,” I remarked, “you will understand the attitude mostpeople have when they come into this office. Their whole desireis somehow to escape paying one penny more than they have to.Now I have it settled that I do choose before God to be truthfulwith you.”So the tax man started questioning me about my income. I toldhim I have no guaranteed income except my old age pension.That’s all I have. Also, I have living with me a son and his familyand we live by faith — not faith in the people of God but in theGod of the people. I make no appeals in my ministry, write noletters appealing for money, no gimmicks.“But,” he objected, “excuse me. You have written a number ofbooks.”“Yes, but I do not charge for them. If people want to give mesomething for them, that’s fine, but I don’t charge for books.”“What about tapes?”“I don’t have any. If I ever do, I give them away.”“What about this big house you live in? Twenty-one rooms!”“We run it for God’s people,” I explained. “We don’t chargeanybody who comes. We’ve a box in the hall if they want to giveus anything toward expenses, but we do not run our house commercially.”“Oh,” he said. “Well, let me have a look at your books.” I handedthem across the table. “These look interesting. I’d like to readthese.”“You’re welcome to have a copy of each,” I offered.“Thank you very much. How much do I owe you?”“Listen,” I retorted, “you’re not going to catch me with that! Itold you I don’t sell my books. You are welcome to them.”The tax man resumed his questioning, and as far as I knew beforethe law, I answered his questions properly. The more I did so, themore mystified he was.227