to
keep such Christian work in their control, whilst there is life and
vigour in it; but would subject it to the rule of the Church, as they
call it; that is to say, they will spoil your work and introduce
their pride, strife, and intolerance. So long as all goes well, they
will thrust themselves forward, exclaiming 'Behold us!' but if
anything should go amiss, they will draw back, protesting that it
must always be so when the people act upon their own judgment."

The old fire now came over him, and the elders looked round sadly one
at another, grieving that they should lose such a brother. At last
one said:

"But where will you go, if you do not accept the mission at our
hands?"

"I imagine," said Hans Nilsen, "that I shall have little difficulty
in finding heathens everywhere. But let us now separate for the
present, and may the God who enlightened our forefathers be with us
all, so that we may do His will."

Upon this he gave his hand to them all, one by one, and took his
departure.

It was a still, oppressive autumn afternoon, and the little gathering
broke up, the Brethren strolling across the fields towards the town.

The Haugian farm, as it was called, looked well in the evening light,
with its solid, well-kept buildings.

The soil was poor, but well cultivated; and small groups of trees
stood here and there, by the well-ordered stone fences.

When the little company of elders reached the gateway in the road
leading to the town, the old dyer stopped, and burst into tears; the
others gathered round him.

"Here stood I," said he, "in the spring of 1804, with my father and
Hans Nilsen Hauge; at that time, wherever you looked, it was all
heather and broken ground.

"My father and Hauge had been talking of purchasing the moorland
here, as was soon done. Hauge had given his advice and instructions
as to the improvements and the work he considered necessary, very
much those that have since been carried out.

"When we were about to return home, my father said: 'Yes, if God will
but give His blessing to it.' I suppose he thought most of the things
of this world, did father.

"It was a hazardous undertaking, and the Haugians had but little
capital at that time.

"Hauge smiled, and said, cheerfully: 'I am not in the least anxious
on that score, Ingebret, if you are alluding to worldly prosperity. I
would rather pray that those who come after us may be protected
against too great success and facility in th