d by a touch.

Ah, but he didn't like those dry, hard times, when he couldn't find a
handful of green-meat to give to the Lord's dear sheep, and it would
trouble him deeply to think that he had led the flock to expect green
pasture, whereas he had only brought them to feed among 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 him
and made sport of his sayings, and that he had better give up
preaching, and try no more. But Abe would say, "Why, devil, thaa 'rt
vary much troubled abaat my praaching; 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-enemy; talking
to him is mostly waste time and ill-spent breath; there is another way
which a good man has of finding relief; he can go to God in prayer.
This was Abe's sure refuge; here he vented his trouble, here he got
comfort, here he gained fresh strength, and when he came warm from the
closet struggle to the pulpit work he was another man. After passing
through one of these temptations, he was almost sure to tell the
people, the next time he preached, how the devil had harassed him, and
wanted him to give up preaching, but how the Lord had bidden him to go
on, and on he would go and did; his restraints were broken, his tongue
loosed, and his soul fired, it was a joy to hear him then.

He was one day rejoicing in his regained liberty, when he said, "Aye,
bless yo', I wor as fast as a thief in a man-trap; I couldn't get away
till th' Lord came and let me aat." And then turning upon the unsaved
part of his congregation, he used a simile, which, on his behalf, I
claim to be original if not elegant. Said he, "Yo' may think I was
fast enough, 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 might amuse, the moral would remain in many a mind
for after-thought.

THE BLACK CLOTH SUIT.

When Abe had been some time preaching, and was making a good name for
himself in the Circuit, a desire began to be felt by many of the
friends to hear him in High Street Chapel, Huddersfield. This was
before the present splendid sanctuary was erected. Accordingly when
the next plan came out, he was appointed to take a Sunday morning