X. A PRAYER MEETING AT TOMMY KNILL'S. XI. FATHER HYDE LEAVES THE CHURCH MILITANT XII. OPPOSITION FROM AN UNEXPECTED QUARTER XV. CHARLES GARFIELD RECEIVES A HARD BLOW 84 88 XVIII. THE LEAVEN AT WORK IN THE DENNIS FAMILY XIX. MY FIRST ATTEMPT AT PREACHING 100 . 105 PAGE 113 119 . 122 . 132 XXII. OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY XXIII. A GRAND TEMPERANCE MEETING IF Eve CHAPTER I. HATHERCOTT. 6 F the locality where Father Adam and Mother Eve resided, before heaven's curse fell on everything beneath the sun, had not been situated, beyond all controversy, somewhere in the East, I should call Hathercott Paradise.' If the angels are lovers of beautiful scenery, and have permission to visit some of the brightest spots on earth, surely they do not pass by without inspecting our lovely village. Learned men tell us that considerable alterations have taken place from time to time in our charming neighbourhood since it became a part of Mother Earth. Originally, they think, it was a fine open tract, the length and breadth of it being about equal; but far back, in some remote period of the world's history, it was torn and rent by some mighty agent of nature, that destroyed its table-land appearance, and made it what it now is, one of the most lovely valleys in the western part of our muchloved and far-famed England. Flowers, plants and shrubs, of exquisite form and colour, are here to be seen in abundance, with trees of stateliest growth and richest foliage; while sweetest music is made by the songsters of the woods and fields-the thrush, the blackbird, the lark, and the linnet. Hathercott lies in this lovely valley, which is formed by a hill rising rather steeply to the south, and another nearly as steep to the north; thus making an entrance at the western side of the village for a small but clear stream of water, in which may be seen the sportive fish, and by which the old mill-wheel is turned early and late, to the intense satisfaction of the old miller, who hears no sweeter music than that made by his mill, with its continual humdrum sound, while the corn is being ground to supply the wants of man and beast. On the east you have an outlet, through which the water of the brook flows,-now appearing as though too lazy to move, in some quiet shady spot; and again, in some more open and shallow place, with ripples of laughter running merrily onward, as though rejoicing at the near prospect of helping to swell the mighty river, and make a highway for the commerce of nations. Well wooded, possessing a rich soil, with here and there springs of cool, clear, sparkling water, Hathercott, we repeat, is a charming village; nature seems to have done her best to make it such. There are but few buildings in the place that make any pretensions to what is termed architectural design and beauty.' Foremost is the old church; and although a portion of it is modern, having been built within our recollection, it has, nevertheless, an ancient appearance. The tower especially, standing at the west end of the pile, is worth a visit from persons who make old buildings a study. I paid a visit to this time-worn, monkish-looking place not long since. The strange, uncouth figures were there as I had seen them in my childhood ; only they seemed to have grown older, and appeared much grimmer than formerly. Some were horrid in expression, with large wide-open mouths: others looked sad and solemn; and you might fancy you heard them say, in sepulchral tones, 'We keep watch over the dead.' How well do I remember walking beneath those grim and solemn figures, when the shades of evening were coming on, and I, having played truant from school in search of birds' nests, was returning home! The eyes, mouths, and unearthly appearance of those frightful images made my blood run cold and my hair stand on end. Not many of us boys cared to pass through the old churchyard when night had come on. Had not spirits been seen walking among the graves? Were not the villagers obliged to send for the old vicar to 'lay' them? He was held to be the only person possessed of learning and power sufficient for the work. But that was before my time; and yet, in that churchyard, with the daylight fast fading away, and those awful eyes watching you, it required no great stretch of imagination to see and hear the supernatural. This quaint, old-fashioned pile stood in the centre of Hathercott, and was within easy distance of most |