all-constraining
motives to lead him to take such a step. When he sat down there was
neither shouting nor laughter: the great body of working-men, including
the obstructionists, seemed stupified; they looked at one another with
open-eyed and open-mouthed wonder, and whispered their amazement and
perplexity. Then the vicar, struck dumb for the moment by sheer
astonishment, after exchanging with his brother clergyman on the
platform a glance of deep thankfulness, rose, and addressing William
Foster, said, "I cannot tell you, my friend, how truly glad I am to find
that you have been guided to take such a step as you now contemplate;
most cordially shall I receive your signature in our pledge-book, and
welcome you to our society." Then the crowd of hearers rose to their
feet, and gave vent to their feelings in three hearty cheers; while the
opponents of the cause made their way to the door as quickly as they
could.

The next minute Thomas Bradly stood by the vicar's side, and all sat
hushed in attention as he addressed the meeting. Tears were in his
eyes, and half-choked was his voice as he began:--

"Friends, I've been at many a temperance meeting in my day, but never at
one that I shall remember like this. Some of us abstainers came here
to-night with doubting hearts; it seemed as if the evil one was a-going
to put a big stone or two in the way of the temperance cause, but
instead of that he's been and trod upon his own tail, as he often does.
O bless the Lord for his goodness! We've had a mighty large stone took
out of the way, instead of any new 'uns laid in our path. Ah! Why
should we ever be fainthearted? The cause is a good cause, and it
_will_ prosper, depend upon it. And now, friends, there's many of you
here to-night as came, I know, just for a bit of fun; you didn't mean no
harm, but you wouldn't have minded a little bit of a laugh against us.
But it's turned out just the other way: you've given us a help, and
stopped the mouths of them as would have upset our meeting; so let them
laugh as wins. And now, friends, I want to say a word to you about our
friend William here. We're all thinking about him; he has come forward
like an honest man to-night, and a right brave man too. I know he can't
have done it without having to pay for it. I know, and you know too, as
it'll not be all smooth work between him and his mates. Now, whether
you like or don't like what he has done to-night, you can't help
res