MORE CRY THAN WOOL.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 126, 24 June 1876, Page 2

MORE CRY THAN WOOL.

Some time ago I was listening to Mr Spurgeon preach in a popular and fashionable watering place in Wales. A. well-dressed, and apparently well-to-do man sat next to me. Indeed, he seemed such an important person that I immediately rose and gave him my chair, and betook myself to a form close by. I don’t think that ever I saw a man evince more intense interest, more delight, more strong and fervid feeling while hearing the discourse; and all throughout the service he was deeply interested. He joined in the singing with great enthusiasm. Mr Spurgeon’s well-known rousing comment which he gave as he read the Scripture, so delighted him that he knocked the platform vigorously with his walking-stick, and several times cried “ hoar, hear.” During the prayer, I was much disturbed by him in his pious ejaculations. Then came the sermon, and a good sermon' it was, as Mr Spurgeon’s generally arc. My neighbour was a great study to me. I fear that I was more observant of him than mindful of the minister. The preacher was humorous—my neighbour laughed out heartily. The preacher was pathetic—my neighbour took out his pockethandkerchief and wiped the streaming tears from his eyes. The preacher was eloquent—my neighbour heard the lesson in an eostacy of wonder, admiration, and joy; and three times ho blessed God, and cried out, “ Amen.” Mr Spurgeon, in his discourse, said some seething, scalding things about illiherality, which seemed especially to approve themselves to my neighbour, who repeatedly looked round towards mo, and said : “ Good, good; that is good, very, wry good.” When Air Spurgeon spoke about meanness, selfishness, and ungratefulness, my neighbour seemed to be horrified and indignant at the thought of such. The sermon over, then came the collection. I watched my neighbour. This was an unmannerly tinny to do, hut I did it; and my apology is this. That partly at inv request Mr Spurgeon had 'ravelled for a charitable object in which 1 was interested, so I watched my success in this neighbour. I did not expect much, however. I thought on the proverb “ More cry than wool.” Still 1 thought a man that seemed so deeply to enjoy the discourse, and had very distinctly declared in my hearing, ami in the hearing of many others, that wore the whole universe his, it would not be too much to give, would bo liberal. I saw my neighbour take from t a handful of silver and gold a singly shilling and put it into the plate, while at the same time he lifted a sixpence and five pennies one by one, which he returned to his pocket, and then he took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and roared out, “ Bless the Lord.”—The Rev. H. S. Brown, from “ Plain Talk.”