g to get to a better place," and before
Abe could find time to thank him, he was gone again. In a twinkling
Abe was out of the place, and away over Almondbury common, like a fleet
hound just slipt from the leash. He went to his class-meeting and was
very happy there, but he did not forget in his own happiness to pray
for the man who in this instance had bowed to the better spirit within
him, and shown him such a mark of favour.

There is a heart in every man, however hard he may be, and when once
the Spirit of God assails that heart, He may break it, or at least
reason it into submission. We don't know all the power that God has,
nor the many ways in which He can exert that power on the minds of men;
we often hinder its operation by our want of faith. O Lord, increase
our faith! Then "all things are possible to him that believeth."

For some time Abe continued working at the coal-pit. Although he made
no complaints, he greatly disliked the employment, and looked forward
with intense longing to the time when he could again return to his own
calling. He told the Lord all his heart upon this subject, and often
implored Him to lift him out of the pit and bring him again to the
employment that was more congenial to his feelings. Nor did he pray in
vain, as the following incident will show:--One day a gentleman came to
the pit, and said, "Have you got a man here called Abe Lockwood?" On
being answered in the affirmative, he expressed a wish to see him. Abe
was at once communicated with, and fetched out of the place where he
was working. On seeing him all begrimed with coal-dust, the gentleman
said, "I'm sorry to see thee like this, Abe; I have been troubled about
thee for some time."

"Have you, haa's that, maaster?"

"Why, I hardly know, but I have felt for many a day that I ought to
come and offer thee work in my place, and now I've come, and if thou
wants to leave here, I will find thee something to do in my mill."

Abe's grateful heart was almost in his throat; his eyes swam in tears,
his face beamed with smiles, and he shouted, "Hallelujah! When mun I
come?"

"Come at once if you can."

"All roight," said he, "I can leave here ony time. I'll come i' th'
morning; bless th' Lord! I knew my Father would foind me another job
somewhere."

That night he went home singing with the usual lump of coal on his
head. When he got into the house he threw it down with a crash that
startled Sally, his wife. "Th