ll," says one of them as they gathered in their usual
place of resort one night, "I s'pose Abe Lockwood will be gone to
prayer-meeting to sing Psalms with the old women," at which the whole
company burst into a loud laugh at Abe's expense, and yet it cost him
nothing, which was more than any of them could say of the drink they
consumed that night.

Abe Lockwood had left them,--he was a changed man; he had been
converted on Amebury common; he had turned off into an entirely
different course from theirs; he was a better man than any of them:
many such thoughts as these would obtrude themselves on the minds of
his former friends, and linger there in spite of all their efforts to
keep clear of them.

Some time elapsed before any of these old associates were brought into
immediate contact with Abe; whether they purposely kept out of his way,
or he out of theirs, is not easy to say; perhaps both would be correct.
He no doubt felt safest and happiest away from his old companions and
everything which reminded him of them; they, too, had a misgiving that
whenever they did meet Abe, he would say something that might make them
uncomfortable; for they knew he would not beat about the bush, he would
tell them his mind about their ways: so on the whole it was best to
keep out of his way as long as they could.

Meanwhile, Abe was gathering strength day by day, for he was living in
the constant spirit of prayer, which is the way to be strong. Night
after night, a lone man might be seen kneeling at the root of a great
tree on Almondbury common, pouring out his soul in prayer to God, until
that spot became to the new convert the very gate of heaven; and for
long years after, when Abe was established in the faith, he still
frequently found his way there to pray; during the whole of his
subsequent life, he never passed that spot without turning aside to
hear what the Lord would say to him. Many of the most delightful times
he ever had were experienced at the foot of that tree; and a visit
there, where he breathed the native air of his spiritual life,
invariably brought the glow of religious health to his soul.

As weeks and months went by, the people of Berry Brow became used to
the fact of Abe Lockwood's conversion, and it ceased to excite any
particular remark, except such as might pass between neighbours on
seeing him go by.

"Aye, mun, what a change is in yon lad," one would say.

"You are roight naa," would be the response.