r theesen, and come on behind." So away they went, Abe taking
the lead, and the people mentally following.

He preached them such a sermon as they had never heard in their
lives--nor anybody else. Now they laughed at his odd sayings and
grotesque pictures, and then with melting feelings they praised God as
they listened to some of the simple yet truly beautiful sayings which
fell from his lips. As a sermon, there was enough to find fault with,
for he knew nothing about the art of sermonizing, and cared as little;
but it was so full of homely truth and spiritual feeling, that every
one, ministers not excepted, forgave the faults, and said it was a
means of grace.

In this way Abe continued for some time, occasionally preaching without
being officially recognized, but at length his name was placed on the
plan as a local preacher on trial. When the term of his probation was
almost expired, Abe was required to preach one week-night in High
Street Chapel, Huddersfield.

HIS TRIAL SERMON.

It was a terrible trial for him, which appears strange, considering how
easy he felt when the Circuit ministers heard him in the little room at
Paddock, yet so it was; and as the time came on, Abe thought he never
could show his face in High Street. Had it been anywhere else he would
not have cared, but he had a dread of the Circuit Chapel. He had gone
to several of the country places during the year, and sometimes did
very well; but then, he felt at home among the plain village people;
they could understand his broad vernacular, and make allowance for his
blunders, which he knew were not a few, but in High Street everything
was different. He thought they could not exercise the same forbearance
towards him, and so he shrank from the task.

But then he remembered it was not a place of his own seeking; that it
was a trial which other plain men had undergone before him, and would
do again, and he could not expect more favour than his brethren; so he
must go and do his best, trusting in the Lord for help. And that
evening Sally brushed him up, and had his clogs polished, and away he
went to Huddersfield. There was a good congregation to hear him, and
among others several local preachers. Abe was very nervous, and
everything around conspired to make him so. He was in High Street
Chapel, awful; he had to preach, worse; to preach a trial sermon, worse
than ever; before all these grand folks, and in the presence of the
Superinten