nding upon these important matters, because every
place in the land is not favoured with such an able, willing, and
acceptable substitute as the people of Berry Brow had in Little Abe.

Reference has already been made to the esteem with which he was
regarded by his fellow-work-people. As years went on this regard was,
if possible, intensified, and it was beautiful to see how the younger
men in the mill would strive to lighten his work, and make his duties
as easy for him as possible. Nor was this kindly feeling confined to
the mill operatives; his masters, gentlemen of high position in the
locality, held him in great esteem, for they knew him to be a honest,
upright man, and a faithful servant. He had, in his latter days, many
liberties and favours which could not be permitted to their employes
generally; often one or another of his masters would come into the
mill, and have a few minutes' conversation with him about his work as a
preacher, and his religious zeal, enlivened by his irrepressible
humour, almost invariably sent the master away with his face covered
with smiles, and his good opinion of the Little Bishop confirmed.

CHAPTER XXII.

Used Up.

As time went on, and year after year was added to his age, Little Abe
began to show, by unmistakable signs, that he was becoming an old man;
and although his lively temperament enabled him to hold up against his
infirmities for some time, the day came when he confessed he was an old
man and stricken in years; he began to speak of himself as being "used
up," "worn aat," "done for," and the like. All the marks were upon
him; his hair was snowy white, his face was furrowed with age, his
sight was dim, his step was slow and feeble, his voice tremulous, and
the signs were plainly seen that the Little Bishop was drawing near the
end of his journey.

One day he was unexpectedly called to go into his master's office, and
immediately he made his way there, when something like the following
dialogue took place. "Well, Abe," his master began, "I am sorry to
observe that you are getting so infirm that you cannot do a day's work
now. I have seen this for some time, yet did not want to turn you
away, but now I am sorry to say you will have to leave the mill, and I
must put another man in your place."

This coming so suddenly from the master was enough to stagger a
stronger man than Abe, and certainly he felt a little troubled at what
he had heard, but he could put hi