Meetings you will hear later on.

Miss Mumford was very anxious that The General should improve himself
with plenty of hard work. She saw what he might become, and she also knew
that unless he did _his_ part all those wonderful powers which God
had lent to him would be thrown away.

'Do assure me,' she writes, 'my own dear William, that no want of energy
or effort on your part shall hinder the improvement of those talents God
has given you.'

So that, with his constant travelling and preaching, he might get time to
read and think and learn, she suggested a little plan to him in his
billets.

'Could you not,' she says, 'provide yourself with a small leather bag or
case, large enough to hold your Bible and any other book you might
require--pens, ink, paper and a candle? And, presuming that you generally
have a room to yourself, could you not rise by six o'clock every morning,
and convert your bedroom into a study till breakfast time?... I hope, my
dearest love, you will consider this plan, and keep to it, if possible,
as a general practice. Don't let little difficulties prevent your
carrying it out.'

You must remember that at this time neither Catherine nor Mr. Booth ever
dreamed of the wonderful work they were to be called to do. He was then
preaching and getting souls saved, mostly in country places, and had many
a 'hard go,' but _that_ was no reason why he should not improve.

Did The General like this advice and counsel? Or did he feel, as some men