and it germinates, blossoms, fructifies, and brings forth glorious fruit,
which has cheered the hearts and upheld the hands of many thousands of
the most self-denying and arduous laborers in God's vineyard.

James, the eldest of the three lads mentioned, was a youth of
considerable promise. He had one of the most retentive memories I have
ever met with. Having reached the age of seventeen, his parents placed
him with a Methodist in a neighboring town, as an apprentice. For twelve
months after his removal, he stood aloof from all connection with the
Church and people of God; after which period, as he remarks in a letter
to his brother, "at the request of the superintendent of C---- school, I
became a teacher in that school, and for four years remained as such."
James continued as a teacher in the school for about twelve-months
previous to his becoming a member of society; at the expiration of which
time, he was induced, by the persuasions and invitations of his
fellow-teachers, to meet in class. From this period he became a steady
and devoted follower of the Lamb, and was at all times anxious to do what
lay in his power to further the cause of the Redeemer. From his first
connection with Sabbath-schools, when about five years old, he had
conceived a love for them; and as he grew up his love and attachment to
them increased, and his delight now was to devote all his energies to
their promotion. As he more than once remarked to me, he conceived he was
greatly indebted to Sunday-schools for the benefits he had received from
them, and he determined, so far as in him lay, to discharge the debt of
gratitude he owed.

His qualifications as a teacher were of no mean order. To an earnest
desire for the salvation of his young charge, he added a large store of
Scriptural and general knowledge, all of which was brought to bear upon
the edification of his class. He was firm and resolute with his children,