CHAPTER VIII.

W

INCIDENTS.

SERMON ON A WOOD-PILE.

HILE I was holding a series of union meet

ings in Manchester, N. H., in the early part of 1864, a boy, about fifteen years of age, who was living with a gentleman ten or twelve miles from the city, came to visit his widowed mother, and attended our meetings.

The second evening of his attendance he decided to give himself to the Savior. This he did, and at once became an earnest worker in the Master's service.

Soon after this the gentleman with whom he was living came to the city, and desired him to go back with him. "No," he said, "I cannot go while these meetings continue." (No wonder he felt so! The whole city and region around were being moved by the power of the Spirit; scores and hundreds were under conviction for sin; and, as the fruit of the work, it was thought as many as fifteen hundred

"Yes, I can carry

With this feeling country, where he

were converted.) But his mother advised him to return, telling him he could carry the Savior with him. This placed the matter in a new light, and, after looking it all over, he said, the Savior with me; I will go." he returned to his home in the soon had an opportunity for knowing and showing to others whether or not he had brought the Savior with him. In the course of the day he went out to split some wood; and, while he was thus engaged, several of his young associates, among whom he was a favorite, hearing the sound of his axe, gathered around the wood-pile where he was at work. And there, standing on that wood-pile, and holding his axe in his hand, this boy delivered a message for Jesus, which has already been the means of bringing hundreds into the church of Christ.

The boys began at once to question him: "We hear there is a great revival at Manchester; is it true?"

"It is so, boys," was the reply, “and I have given myself to Jesus, and wish you would give yourselves to him.”

They did not need long arguments and repeated appeals to move their young hearts, but responded at once to his invitation, saying, "We wish we were Christians."

He then asked them to go and get as many of their companions as they could, and come to his room, and they would have à meeting that evening.

At the appointed time a large number of boys came to his room. Our young brother said to them, "I will do just as Mr. Earle does at Manchester." He then read from the word of God and prayed with them. After this, he said, "Mr. Earle says at Manchester, if any would like to have Christians pray for them, he would like to have them rise; so, if you would like to have me pray for you, I wish you would let me know." Nearly all desired him to pray for them, and many of them prayed for themselves in that first meeting. God was perfecting praise out of those young lips.

At the close of this meeting they agreed to meet again on the following evening.

A larger number were present at the second meeting, among them a business man, who came to listen to the boys. God's Spirit moved upon his heart, and he was soon converted.

The work thus begun continued to widen until it had gone among all the churches in the village, and several of the adjoining villages; and over three hundred were soon gathered into the churches in that vicinity—all this, apparently, the fruit of that boy's sermon on the wood-pile.

But this was not all.

About six months after leaving Manchester, I was in a printing-office in Boston, and there found this same boy setting type. I asked him if he was learning the printer's trade. The reply is well worthy of record. Said he, "Mr. Earle, my father is dead, and my mother is poor; I am trying to earn money, that I may get an education and preach the gospel."

This moved my heart. I thought how many rich men have money enough and to spare, while this boy is working hard to earn a few dollars to prepare himself to preach Christ. Then and there I said, "Jesus, I will do more for thy cause than I have been doing." I left him to labor on long enough to satisfy himself that it was not excitement.

A few months after, I called there again, and finding he could leave at any time, said to him, "Go home at once, and ask your mother to arrange your clothes; go to school, and prepare for the work of the ministry, and send your bills to me; be prudent and careful in your expenses, and I will see to your wants, although it may require a sacrifice on my part."

This is now the third year since he commenced his studies. He has this summer entered Dartmouth College, and, although he is a member of a different denomination from myself, it has been my

privilege so far, with the assistance of kind friends, to see that his bills were paid, and I hope it will be in my power to continue to do so, until he is on the walls of Zion, preaching the glorious gospel to perishing men.

"We all must speak for Jesus,
Where'er our lot may fall;

To brothers, sisters, neighbors,
In cottage, and in hall."

"JESUS WILL TAKE CARE OF ME."

These were the last words uttered by Ella Gilkey, as she passed away from earth, to live with Him who said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

In the winter of 1860-61 I was holding a series of meetings in Watertown, Mass., during which a large number found Jesus precious many believing they found him in my room; thus rendering that room ever memorable and dear to me.

Among those who there gave themselves to the Savior was Ella. Coming in one morning, with tears on her face, she said, "Mr. Earle, I came up here to give my heart to Jesus. I feel that I am a great sinner. Will you pray for me?" I replied, "I will pray for you, Ella, and I can pray in faith