Part 6 (1/2)

He was below the average height and of slender build, yet withal a tough little reat fatigue, as er and stouter made Abe used playfully to say, ”Good stuff is reat deal bigger than a sovereign, but yo' all knohich to tak' when yo' have your choice” ”I'h for th' Holy Ghost to dwell in” ”I doan't tak' upas Berry Braa Church” ”I'reater than all”

His face was one of the happiest it was ever our good fortune to meet with A smooth, round, ruddy, comfortable face, over which the razor had almost unlimited sway; his ht blue colour, and twinkled with life and vivacity; his hair was always brushed back behind his ears, ter behind in a pretty little natural curl and whether it had the black gloss of his younger days, or the snohite of old age, it was always neat and orderly In early life he was very proud of his hair, and bestowed a great deal of care in its cultivation and arrangement When he becae The beautiful locks which had been so hly taken off by the family scissors and thrown into the fire, and while they frizzled into s down every idol and putting away every mark of pride Many and many a time in after years would he say to his wife, ”Naa then, lass, where's th' shears? Thaa at clipt by his wife, and he orth nought after, but thy shears ently snip the ends of the curling fringe all around, while Abe, by way of encouraging her, would put in, ”We mun shun th' appearance of evil, thaa knows; cut a bit more, lass;” and then she would very reluctantly sever another lock or two, until he could be persuaded enough was taken off

Abe was in the latter part of his life particularly neat in his attire, wearing an orthodox suit of black cloth, and cut in the Methodist preacher style He wasn't at all sparing in white neckcloth, for he wore one that travelled around and around his neck in such profusion, that it ainst the loss of his head Altogether he was quite the type of an old-fashi+oned Methodist preacher In the pulpit his appearance was exceedingly prepossessing; he always had a shly enjoyed the good news he was telling to others In beginning to speak, or when about to say soood, he had a way of holding his head a little over on one side, and clapping his hands together Theseof his shoulders, were aood time, and when Abe was happy in his work, everyone that heard him had a liberal share of enjoyment and profit as well But of course, like otherin what he quaintly and appropriately called

”THE TIGHT JACKET”

Taking into account the want of education fro for his public duties, as well as other occasional depressing circumstances, we cannot wonder that he should sometimes have been the subject of the ht jacket” There was a wonderful difference in his preaching when he had one of these ”hard times,” and when he enjoyed liberty If in the latter ue was like the pen of a ready writer, and strea with pious huinal illustrations, would pour froht jacket” on, he could scarcely say anything, and it was a pain to listen to him

Poor Abe had one of these ”pulpit fevers” in Salem Chapel one day, and Sally, his wife, was there; she sat all the time in a nervous torment, and as soon as he had finished, she rushed off out of the place ashamed of him Dear woman, her homely criticisms were sometimes very severe upon him, partly because she was jealous for his reputation, and partly because she so loved hi the ardour of her affection; she used a liberty which by soht of all affectionate wives whose husbands are preachers, and she occasionally said sos to him about his sermons On this particular day, therefore, Abe knew pretty well that when he got ho besides his dinner He winced as he thought about it, andas he could, in the hope that soo in, so, shrinking into the slided silently into the house, hung up his hat, and sat down Sally was in a flutter, she was full, itto do thishard at hioa a bit soood oa, thaa niver gat her on her feet”

Abe made no response, but satin, which made her feel as if she had allowed her ardent affection for hi about preparing the dinner, and when all was ready, she went over to hiet th' dinner, and don't moind what folk say; thaa'll do better next toime, th' Lord help the'” Abe was healed by a touch

Ah, but he didn't like those dry, hard tiive to the Lord's dear sheep, and it would trouble hireen pasture, whereas he had only brought the rocks and stones Then the old enemy would beset him, and say what an old fool he was to think he could preach; that the people only laughed at hiive up preaching, and try no more But Abe would say, ”Why, devil, thaa 'rt vary ; if I'm such an old fool as thaa mak's aat, I canna do the' so much harm” But all the banter and strife he had with the devil did not conquer that arch-ene to him is mostly waste tiood o to God in prayer

This was Abe's sure refuge; here he vented his trouble, here he got coth, and when he cale to the pulpit work he was another h one of these temptations, he was almost sure to tell the people, the next time he preached, how the devil had harassed hi, but how the Lord had bidden hio and did; his restraints were broken, his tongue loosed, and his soul fired, it was a joy to hear hiained liberty, when he said, ”Aye, bless yo', I wor as fast as a thief in a et away till th' Lord ca upon the unsaved part of his congregation, he used a siant Said he, ”Yo' h, but let me tell yo', not hoalf as fast as some of yo'

sinners Yo' are like a flee” (fly) ”in a treacle-pot; the more he kicks the faster he sticks” And there was truth in the saying, and although the figure ht aht

THE BLACK CLOTH SUIT

When Abe had been soood naan to be felt by h Street Chapel, Huddersfield This was before the present splendid sanctuary was erected Accordingly when the next plan ca service Many a time did he tell of the consternation both he and Sally felt onat the end of the table one evening with the plan in his handin the room, when, all at once, Abe exclaimed, ”Eh, lass, what dost ta think they've done?”

Sally looked rather startled and said, ”Who? what?”

”Why, they've plann'd asped Sally, co to look at the plan herself; ”where is it?”

He placed his finger on the number which indicated his work, and she saas a fact

”Well,” she said, ”thaa canna goa; thaa has no claathes fit to wear aiven his clothes a thought if she had not brought the matter before his mind in the way she did; noever, he remembered his coloured suit and his thick boots, and felt they were scarcely befitting the place he was called to occupy, however well they th he said, ”But if I'oa, and if they don't loike h Street event drew near, and the following Sunday would find ”Little Abe” at his post of duty

He was far more anxious about his work than his appearance, so that all the care on this matter fell upon his wife She was bothered sadly about his clothes Saturday ca especial attention upon his old coat, , shaking, and scrutinizing the old gar they were sitting together, just before Abe went out to the Band Meeting in the Chapel; a loud knock came to the door In a e parcel, si, ”That's for Mr Lockwood,” and immediately went away

”What's this?” exclai the parcel

”Nay, lass, don't ask me; thaa mun open 't, and then I'll tell the'”

A table-knife soon severed the string by which it was tied, and the good wo, and out came a black cloth suit for her husband Neither of them could speak for a moment or two; she lifted her apron to wipe her eyes; Abe's lip quivered, and his eyes bri round tears fell on his clasped hands as they rested on the table; both of theth said Sally; ”thaa'll look loike a travelling praacher naa, lad”

That broke the spell Up ju his hands, and blessing the Lord All the children joined the chorus, laughing, juot so up one gar, ”Well I niver!” ”Law me!” ”Eh, dear!” Abe's heart was full, and he must needs empty it before Him who had inclined some unknown friend to send this handsoht tioing up to God in grateful acknowledgment of His kindness; and the children were hushed into quietness hushed,--hushed while Daddy was praying The next day Abe appeared in his new clerical attire, and from that time was never without the requisite black cloth suit in which to go about his beloved Master's work Oh, how much we may learn from a little incident like this--how much of humble trust in God under all the circumstances of life, how much assurance that ”your heavenly Father knoweth ye have need of these things,” and that ”My God will supply all your need!”

CHAPTER XV