IT

CHAPTER VII.

A MEMORABLE MEETING.

T had been customary at the Methodist chapel at Hathercott for many years to hold what was called the quarterly meeting of the Classes' on a Sunday morning, the first Sunday in the quarter; and on that occasion the leaders with their members assembled in the chapel at seven o'clock in the morning, as Jimmy Templer said, ' to 'voke one 'nother to love an' good works.' Since the revival, two more classes had been formed, making six in all, four of which were led by men, and two by women, one of which latter my mother took charge of.

There was a strong muster at the first meeting after the glorious revival,' as it was and still is called. The leaders took their seats in the communion. Taking the old worn hymn-book, Jimmy Templer handed it to Father Hyde, remarking that 'Vather 'Ide waz tho mozt 'zperienced ov 'em, an' 'e 'ad bez tek charge ov tho meetin'. A venerable old man was Father Hyde,-a man of rich and varied experience. He commenced the meeting by

giving out the hymn so well known in the Methodist

world:

'Come, ye that love tho Lord,
An' let yo'r joys be knawn:
Jine in a zong we' zweet accord,
Wile ye zurroun' His throne.

'Let thoze revuze to zeng
Who never knew our God;
But zarvants ov tho 'eavenly King
May zpake thar joys abroad.

'Tho men ov graze 'av' vound
Glory begun below;

Zeleztial vruit on earthly ground

From vaith an' 'ope ma' grow.

'Then let our zongs abound,

An' every tear be dry;

We're marching drue Immanuel's ground
To vairer worl's on 'igh.'

'Brother Andrew,' said the old pilgrim, 'pra' we' uz.' He did; and while we were being led by him in our prayer that morning, heaven seemed opening, and the King came near to bless His servants. When he had finished, Father Hyde, feeble with age, rose and spoke as follows:

'Me brothers an' zisters, I'm moor'n thankful to be we' 'e thiz mornin' in tho Mezter's 'ouze an' zarvice. I 'av' look'd vor'ard to thiz da', but I'v' thought, many's tho time ov let, that 'E 'ood za', "Come up 'igher, yo' be wanted up 'ere among tho anjals and tho zperets ov tho juz' med parvect." Iz, vriends, I did thenk I zhud a bin we' 'em bevor now, but, blezz 'Im, I be willin' to sta' 'ere 'Iz own time. I 'av' bin a member ov thiz Zoziety an' Church 'ard on vor vivty years, an' I 'av' bin a leader ov a Clazz nigh on vor vorty years. I 'av' 'ad miny o 'counter we' tho inomy ov zouls; but, blezz 'Iz 'oly nem up

thar, I 'av' come ovv moor'n victor.

'Av 'ad vitin's

we'out, an' vears we'in; I'v zid miny val' on tho battle vield, an' tha' be jinin' in tho zhouts ov tho zev'd bevor tho throne. I 'av' zid o deal ov trouble; but it 'av' bin one ov tho bez thengs that cu'd 'av' teken plez; an' tho 'eavens be bright thiz mornin'. Praiz 'Iz dear nem! Me youth is 'new'd like tho agle's, an' zperetly I don't veel vaint. "I zee tho zaints' abode, tho 'eaven preper'd vor me." Jerusalem iz in zight! glory!

"Me 'ope iz vull– O gloriouz 'ope !—
Ov immortality."

'Wizh I war eighty, I'd kip 'e company to 'eaven,' said Jimmy.

'Me vriends,' continued the old man, 'I'v' axed tho Lord da' an' night for a long time to power down 'Iz 'Oly Zperit on thiz Zoziety an' plez, an' 'E 'az anzered me pra'er. W'at do me eyes zee, and me 'eart veel thiz mornin'? Wen I zee thez young volks-zome we' vathers in 'eaven, an' mothers az well-I'm 'lated to tho zkies. I za' to 'e al, "Mek a joyvul naize unto tho Lord, com bevor'n we a zong." Lord canz zper me now; an' I am not conzarned 'ow quick tho orders com vor me to pack up an' be Ovv : me eyes 'av' zeid Thy zalvation."

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Charles Garfield was the next to speak. He said Christian friends, I rise earlier than I generally do, to say a few words for my Master. Most of you know that I am accustomed to do a little on the Lord's day in the way of inviting sinners to the Cross. I have a journey of ten miles to walk before eleven o'clock; but I thought it would do me good, and prepare me for the work, if I turned in with you for a short time.'

'An' yo' 'ool vind it zoo, Brother Charlez,' said Jimmy.

'While Father Hyde was speaking,' continued Charles, and the gracious influences from above descended, I found myself saying:

"My willing soul would stay

In such a frame as this,
And sit, and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss."

'I am puzzled this morning, and I have been for some time past, but especially within the last two months. You all know me, and some here remember me when I was very young. You know that my parents were ungodly, and that I was a stranger to a family altar, or any kind of religious influence at home. And yet, through the earnest, faithful teaching given me in the Sabbath school connected with this place, I was led to the Saviour when I was twelve years of age, and I have met in Father Hyde's Class ever since; and with him I can say this morning :

"My hope is full-O glorious hope !—

Of immortality.'

'But how came it to pass that Benjamin Aubourn and some others I see here, that were so highly favoured, wandered so far from God? It seems to me, I have more to be thankful for than they have. I know they are all unfeignedly thankful that God did not cut them down in their sins; and I know that where there has been much forgiven, there will be, or ought to be, much love. But, my friends, I feel as though the Lord Jesus had laid me under a greater obligation than any other person in this chapel. Why should I have been saved in my boy

hood? Why was I walking for eight years in the light and favour of God sooner than some here who have had everything in their favour? All that I have I lay on His altar this morning:

While the friends were singing those lines, Charles Garfield left us, to go about his Master's work. 'Will zom' ov tho young vrien's tell uz 'ow tha' be gettin' on? It 'ool do uz good to 'ire 'em,' said our friend Jimmy. After a moment or two of waiting, Henry Russel, formerly drunken Harry,' rose, and, looking round on the brothers and sisters present, said:

'I'm two months ol' nex' Vrida': than tho ol' untho devil, I me'n-gid me up to Jazuz, me blezzed Zaviour. Tho devil 'eld me az long az ever 'o cud. Yo' ben't mizteken in me-be 'e? I am 'e that went be tho nem ov "drunken'Arry ;" an' iv any perzon ever dezarved tho 'andle to 'iz nem, I'm tho chap. Vriends, yo' zee one bevor 'e thiz mornin' that 'av' bin o bad un; drenk! drenk! vuz' theng in tho mornin' an' laz theng o' night; but double 'lowance on Zaturda' night an' Zunda' mornin'. kipt at it az long az ever I cud get any ov tho cuzz'd ztuvv. Yo' zid me 'oman an' little uns nerly bearvooted and bear-'eaded; tho 'uzban's an' vather's 'ard-earn'd money went to tho pubs.'

I

At this point Harry broke down, and was not able to proceed for some time; but, after wiping the tears from his eyes and clearing his voice, he said:

'Zom'times ov leat I 'av' velt that I cud zink awa' out ov zight iv 'twar pozzible. Yo' zee I'm 'ginnin'