.

Next morning, which was Sunday, he went to the curate of the church and
politely offered to help him with the service. The curate, I am sorry to
say, was very rude, and refused to let Mr. Wesley take any part in the
service or to preach in the church at all.

This was a great disappointment, for Mr. Wesley loved the people of
Epworth, and every stone in the old church was dear to him. His father
had preached from that pulpit for nearly forty years, and he himself had
stood there more times than he could count, and it was very hard that he
was forbidden to take his place there now.

The people were longing to hear him, and when the afternoon service was
over, and all the folks were leaving the church, one of his friends
stood in the churchyard and gave out this notice:

"MR. WESLEY, NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PREACH
IN THE CHURCH, INTENDS TO PREACH HERE AT
SIX O'CLOCK THIS EVENING."

It was this picture of Mr. Wesley preaching that the Magic Mirror showed
us. I expect the curate was very angry at being so "done;" but he could
not stop Mr. Wesley preaching _outside_ the church.

For a whole week John Wesley preached every evening from his father's
tombstone. Crowds came to hear him, and hundreds were converted and
turned from their evil ways. They saw how sinful they had been and
prayed aloud for forgiveness. Drunkards became sober men, and those who
cursed and swore were turned into peace-makers.

So dear old Mr. Wesley's prayers were answered, and the people who had
treated him so unkindly, and whom he had forgiven and loved, now took
his Saviour to be their Saviour, and his God to be their God.

Indeed Mr. Wesley's visit to his old home, that began so unpleasantly,
ended very happily, and when his last evening came, both he and his dear
people found it hard to say "Good-bye."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XXV.

No one like mother.--Sad days at the
Foundry.--Mrs. Wesley goes Home through the
Beautiful Gate.--A sorrowing son.--Preaching at
the open grave.--At work again.--Satan in
opposition.--Fireworks, cows, stones, blood, and
broken windows.

A GOOD mother is a boy's or a girl's best earthly friend. John Wesley
knew this, and thought there was no mother like _his_ mother. You
remember how, as a little boy, he always went to her for advice; and
when he was quite a young man he used to