in the cottage of one of the
members. Abe was there among a number of others, and they were having
a very lively time together. As one after another engaged in earnest
intercession at the throne of grace, the feelings of all present became
very elevated, and they shouted for joy. At length, while one brother
was praying, another got so happy that he could remain on his knees no
longer. Springing to his feet, therefore, he began to jump, and in one
of his upward movements he brought his head into sudden and violent
contact with a basket of apples, which hung by a nail to the ceiling;
the basket oscillated a time or two, then slipped over the head of the
nail, and spilt its contents on the head of the man that was praying.
This singular event was deemed by him a sufficient reason for
suspending his exercises, and opening his eyes to ascertain the cause.
As soon as Abe observed the suspension of prayer, he exclaimed, "Pray
on, lad! it's nobbut th' owd woman's apple-cart upset," on receiving
which timely exposition of the state of things, the good man resumed
his intercessions, and the meeting returned to its former happy flow of
feeling. The time came when Abe was looked upon as the life and soul
of these little meetings: his quaint sayings, his earnest prayers, his
happy experience, always animated and strengthened those who were
present, and made the meetings real means of grace. Then Abe was
always there; he could be relied upon whoever might fail, so that they
all began to depend upon him, look to him, and follow him, till, almost
without knowing it, he had become greatly responsible for the spiritual
life of the little flock in Berry Brow, and mainly instrumental in
laying the foundations of the cause there, which has now grown to very
interesting and influential proportions.

CHAPTER VI.

"For Better, for Worse"

Marriage is a most important step in the life of any person; happiness
or misery in this world depend on it far more than many young people
think. Nothing demands more careful thought, discrimination, and
prayer, than the choice of a life partner. Especially professors of
religion should consider this, lest they be tempted to break the
apostolic injunction, and become "unequally yoked together with
unbelievers."

It is painful to see how little regard is paid to this subject by some
who profess to be disciples of Jesus, and yet allow their affections to
be centred upon someone of the world