s diligent and worked
hard.

The next thing they noticed was that he went to church regularly and
took the Sacrament. And here I must tell you how he behaved towards
these friends, and I know it will make you like Charlie more than ever.

I told you before how loving and genial he was, and now he did not at
all like to give up his old chums, and yet he knew that if he meant to
travel heavenwards he must have companions that were going the same way.
He longed for his friends to become Christians, and talked to them so
lovingly and so wisely that before very long he got two or three of them
to join him in fighting against the evils of their nature, and
encouraging and seeking after everything that was good.

You have all read in your English history how good King Alfred the Great
divided his time; well, Charles and his companions divided theirs in a
similar way. So many hours were spent in study, so many in prayer, and
so many in sleeping and eating. They made other strict rules for
themselves, and lived so much by what we call "method," that at last
they got to be called "Methodists."

Boys and girls are very fond of giving nicknames to their companions;
sometimes it is done in fun, and then there is no harm in it,--but often
spite and ill-nature suggest the nickname, then it is very wrong and
very unkind.

Most of the young men at Oxford thought religion and goodness were only
things to make fun of, so Charles and his friends were a butt for their
ridicule. Because they read their Bibles a great deal they called them
"Bible Bigots," and "Bible Moths," and their meetings they called the
"Holy Club."

But "Methodists" was the name that fastened most firmly to them, and,
as you know, after all these years, this is the name we call ourselves
by to-day. Just think; a nickname given to a few young men at Oxford,
more than one hundred and fifty years ago, is now held in honour by
hundreds of thousands of people all over the world.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER VIII.

The Christian band at Oxford.--How they spent
their time.--Mr. John and the little ragged
girl.--A very early bird.--Methodist rules, and
the Methodist guide-book.

WHEN Mr. John came back to Oxford, of course he joined the Christian
band, and very soon they made him their leader. He was cleverer and had
more experience than the others, and they all looked up to him for help
and advic