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respectfully when she saw Mr。 Irwine looking at her and
advancing towards her。 He had never yet spoken to her； or stood
face to face with her； and her first thought； as her eyes met his；
was； “What a well…favoured countenance！ Oh that the good seed
might fall on that soil； for it would surely flourish。” The agreeable
impression must have been mutual； for Mr。 Irwine bowed to her
with a benignant deference； which would have been equally in
place if she had been the most dignified lady of his acquaintance。
“You are only a visitor in this neighbourhood； I think？” were
his first words； as he seated himself opposite to her。
“No； sir； I come from Snowfield； in Stonyshire。 But my aunt
was very kind； wanting me to have rest from my work there；
because I’d been ill； and she invited me to come and stay with her
for a while。”
“Ah； I remember Snowfield very well； I once had occasion to go
there。 It’s a dreary bleak place。 They were building a cotton…mill
there； but that’s many years ago now。 I suppose the place is a good
deal changed by the employment that mill must have brought。”
“It is changed so far as the mill has brought people there； who
get a livelihood for themselves by working in it； and make it better
for the trades…folks。 I work in it myself； and have reason to be
grateful； for thereby I have enough and to spare。 But it’s still a
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bleak place； as you say； sir—very different from this country。”
“You have relations living there； probably； so that you are
attached to the place as your home？”
“I had an aunt there once； she brought me up； for I was an
orphan。 But she was taken away seven years ago； and I have no
other kindred that I know of； besides my Aunt Poyser； who is very
good to me； and would have me come and live in this country；
which to be sure is a good land； wherein they eat bread without
scarceness。 But I’m not free to leave Snowfield； where I was first
planted； and have grown deep into it； like the small grass on the
hill…top。”
“Ah； I daresay you have many religious friends and companions
there； you are a Methodist—a Wesleyan； I think？”
“Yes； my aunt at Snowfield belonged to the Society； and I have
cause to be thankful for the privileges I have had thereby from my
earliest childhood。”
“And have you been long in the habit of preaching？ For I
understand you preached at Hayslope last night。”
“I first took to the work four years since； when I was twenty…
one。”
“Your Society sanctions women’s preaching； then？”
“It doesn’t forbid them； sir； when they’ve a clear call to the
work； and when their ministry is owned by the conversion of
sinners and the strengthening of God’s people。 Mrs。 Fletcher； as
you may have heard about； was the first woman to preach in the
Society； I believe； before she was married； when she was Miss
Bosanquet； and Mr。 Wesley approved of her undertaking the
work。 She had a great gift； and there are many others now living
who are precious fellow…helpers in the work of the ministry。 I
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understand there’s been voices raised against it in the Society of
late； but I cannot but think their counsel will come to nought。 It
isn’t for men to make channels for God’s Spirit； as they make
channels for the watercourses； and say； ‘Flow here； but flow not
there。’”
“But don’t you find some danger among your people—I don’t
mean to say that it is so with you； far from it—but don’t you find
sometimes that both men and women fancy themselves channels
for God’s Spirit； and are quite mistaken； so that they set about a
work for which they are unfit and bring holy things into
contempt？”
“Doubtless it is so sometimes； for there have been evil…doers
among us who have sought to deceive the brethren； and some
there are who deceive their own selves。 But we are not without
discipline and correction to put a check upon these things。 There’s
a very strict order kept among us； and the brethren and sisters
watch for each other’s souls as they that must give account。 They
don’t go every one his own way and say； ‘Am I my brother’s
keeper？’”
“But tell me—if I may ask； and I am really interested in
knowing it—how you first came to think of preaching？”
“Indeed； sir； I didn’t think of it at all—I’d been used from the
time I was sixteen to talk to the little children； and teach them； and
sometimes I had had my heart enlarged to speak in class； and was
much drawn out in prayer with the sick。 But I had felt no call to
preach； for when I’m not greatly wrought upon； I’m too much
given to sit still and keep by myself。 It seems as if I could sit silent
all day long with the thought of God overflowing my soul—as the
pebbles lie bathed in the Willow Brook。 For thoughts are so
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great—aren’t they； sir？ They seem to lie upon us like a deep flood；
and it’s my besetment to forget where I am and everything about
me； and lose myself in thoughts that I could give no account of； for
I could neither make a beginning nor ending of them in words。
That was my way as long as I can remember； but sometimes it
seemed as if speech came to me without any will of my own； and
words were given to me that came out as the tears come； because
our hearts are full and we can’t help it。 And those were always
times of great blessing； though I had never thought it could be so
with me before a congregation of people。 But； sir； we are led on；
like the little children； by a way that we know not。 I was called to
preach quite suddenly； and since then I have never been left in
doubt about the work that was laid upon me。”
“But tell me the circumstances—just how it was； the very day
you began to preach。”
“It was one Sunday I walked with brother Marlowe； who was an
aged man； one of the local preachers； all the way to Hetton…
Deeps—that’s a village where the people get their living by
working in the lead…mines； and where there’s no church nor
preacher； but they live like sheep without a shepherd。 It’s better
than twelve miles from Snowfield； so we set out early in the
morning； for it was summertime； and I had a wonderful sense of
the Divine love as we walked over the hills； where there’s no trees；
you know； sir； as there is here； to make the sky look smaller； but
you see the heavens stretched out like a tent； and you feel the
everlasting arms around you。 But before we got to Hetton； brother
Marlowe was seized with a dizziness that made him afraid of
falling； for he overworked himself sadly； at his years； in watching
and praying； and walking so many miles to speak the Word； as
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well as carrying on his trade of linen…weaving。 And when we got to
the village； the people were expecting him； for he’d appointed the
time and the place when he was there before； and such of them as
cared to hear the Word of Life were assembled on a spot where
the cottages was thic