ally on Saturday noight I mun be up i' th'
morning at half-past four. Well, wod yo' believe it, I waked abaat
five minutes to five. I wor aat o' bed in a wink, and shoved my feet
in my stockings, and then on wi' my breeks, scratted up my booits"
(boots) "i' my hand, and off I ran in my stocking feet. When I gat
hoalf-way up th' Braa th' clock struck five, and I pushed one fooit in
my booit, fastened up my gallasses, and ran on agean panting up th'
hill, and just as I came t' th' gate I saw th' chapel door shut in my
face, so I wor locked aat; but I wor noan baan to looise my meeting.
While they insoid wor getting ready, I finished dressing mysen.
By-and-bye I hears one on 'em give aat a hymn, and I clapped my ear t'
th' key-hoil and listened for th' words, and then I put my maath to th'
hoil and sang with 'em, and so I kept on until they began to pray.
Then I listened, and shaated Amen through th' hoil, and kept on while
iver they prayed. At last my owd friend Bradley stopped in th' middle
of his prayer,--'Oppen that door,' he said, 'I canna pray with that
chap shaating in at th' key-hoil that road;' so they oppened th' door,
and I went in and had my meeting after all,--but yo' moind I wor niver
late agean."
Our little friend will be remembered as a lovefeast man for many years
to come. His name had quite grown to be associated with the Conference
lovefeast of the Methodist New Connexion, and many are the affectionate
references to our brother in these grand annual gatherings even to this
day. His voice is not now heard as it once was, along with that of
Thomas Hannam, John Shaw, and men of like spirit and notoriety; but his
name is still fragrant in the affectionate memories of those who are in
the habit of attending our Conference lovefeast.
"BREED 'EM YOURSENS."
Although Little Abe was no narrow-minded sectarian, he still loved to
foster in the minds of his own children a preference for the people
that had, under God, saved his soul, and made him what he was, and he
tried to bind his family to the Church of his choice. Spending a
Sunday in the town of Dewsbury, in company with a devoted brother and
local preacher who is now in heaven, they were led to converse about
the Community to which they both belonged. Abe said, "I was born in
th' New Connexion, never aat of it, and by God's help I'st die in it,
and I hope my children after me." And then, taking up an incident
which his own words had called to
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