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to his appointments; and "his coming," says the Rev. C. D. Cahoon, "was always like the coming of Titus." His practice was to keep each Friday as a day of fasting and prayer, in especial reference to the Quarterly Meeting. On Saturday his sermons were designed for the edification of the Church, and were usually on the higher points of Christian practice and experience; for it was his sentiment that "a little band of holy, faithful Christians are stronger than a large church of lukewarm professors." In the evening he met the Quarterly Meeting Conference, while the private members held a prayer-meeting, to which, provided his health permitted, he always repaired if the Conference closed in time. The general practice was to hold the lovefeast on Sabbath morning before preaching, at the close of which he was accustomed, when there was need of it, to lay the wants of the minister before the people, and urge them to exertion. Often has the young and inexperienced heart been encouraged to endure the trials and privations of the itinerant life by the affectionate interest thus exhibited. On the Sabbath, when the congregations were large and mixed, his sermons were of a more general character, but always constructed with a view to the legitimate objects of the Christian ministry; nor was he ever content to preach without spiritual effect. Hence he wielded "the sword of the Spirit" in earnest; and in every part of the district, many were the trophies of his Christian prowess.

His intercourse with the preachers of his district was like that of a father with his children, or rather an elder brother's with the family circle. He was affable yet dignified. He studied in every way to profit the younger ministers, by exciting them to piety, and by correcting their faults. Yet he always reproved so judiciously and kindly as to secure esteem rather than give offence. Hence his company was invariably both agreeable and edifying. His conversation was cheerful, but spiritual; his example such as all might imitate. He took great interest in his preachers, delighting in their improvement, and rejoicing to tell it for their encouragement. Writing to a friend, he says, speaking of one of the ministers, "He is always at his business, and

works by day and by night. He preached yesterday one of the most interesting discourses that I have heard since Conference; and I must say, I heard but very few at Conference that equalled it, in my estimation. His manner is something like Bishop George's. He has, to be sure, his own impediments and hesitancy; but he fills and fills up, and runs over, and baptizes his whole congregation. O my brother, what a blessed thing it is to preach with the holy unction from above!"

It was not unusual for him, when more than ordinary interest was excited at the Quarterly Meeting, to remain a few days to foster the work, to which he never hesitated about sacrificing his own personal convenience or pleasure. On one of these occasions he wrote to Mrs. Fisk as follows:

"MY DEAR R.,

“Lempster, N. H., 13th August, 1823.

"I have been hoping, ever since I left Lyndon, to spend this week in Brattleborough and Guildford, from whence I designed to write you particularly, and for that reason have delayed writing until this time; but I have been disappointed in my calculation. The cause, however, I do not regret. I came to this town last Saturday to attend to the Quarterly Meeting for Unity Circuit. I found a good work of reformation commenced here, and it was greatly forwarded and increased by the meeting. The excitement became so general, and the call for labour so great, that I concluded to give up my visit to my friends for the present, and spend a few days with the people here. I feel myself obliged to forego every earthly consideration for the good of the Church and the salvation of souls. O how glorious is the work of saving souls! I feel my own soul fired anew in the work since I have been here. Old and young, parents and children, are inquiring what they shall do to be saved. I scarcely visit a house without leaving them all in tears. Last Sabbath, after sacrament, I invited those who were seeking their Saviour to come forward for prayers, and numbers came from different parts of the house, with sighs and tears, while a remarkable solemnity and much weeping

were seen throughout the whole congregation. I cannot tell how many are awakened throughout the town; but I must say, I have rarely seen a better prospect for a general work than is now discoverable in this place. Pray, my dear, that no adverse winds may scatter the clouds of mercy that hang over the people. This afternoon I have an inquiring-meeting for the serious-minded, and to-morrow I am to preach for the last time in the place. I leave the people reluctantly; but I must go to attend the Quarterly Meeting on Athens Circuit, after which I expect to spend a few days in Brattleborough and Guildford, and then return towards the north."

The following notice of this revival is furnished by a friend:

"Of Dr. Fisk's usefulness while presiding elder on Vermont District, probably you are well informed. At Lempster, N. H., where I am intimately acquainted, he was instrumental, in connexion with Rev. Abram D. Merrill, in promoting the greatest revival which that place has ever witnessed. The effect of the doctor's sermon on the Sabbath at Quarterly Meeting was overwhelming. When the invitation was given for seekers of religion to rise in the congregation, there was a simultaneous movement throughout the house; and immediately subsequent to the Quarterly Meeting, scores of persons were brought to the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus."

His anticipations as to his secular prospects in this new region, and the manner in which he endeavoured to prepare Mrs. Fisk for her change of situation, may be learned from a letter which he wrote her about this time. The clergyman's wife has some things to learn and to suffer as well as her husband, for she marries the Church and its interests when she marries its servant. "When the pious Herbert," says his quaint biographer, "changed his sword and silk clothes into a canonical coat, immediately after he had seen and saluted his wife"-a noble lady, nearly related to the Earl of Danby-" he said to her, 'You are now a minis

ter's wife, and must now so far forget your father's house as not to claim a precedence of any of your parishioners; for you are to know that a priest's wife can challenge no precedence of place but that which she purchases by her obliging humility; and I am sure places so purchased do best become them and let me tell you, I am so good a herald as to assure you that this is truth.' And she was so meek a wife as to assure him it was no vexing news to her, and that he should see her observe it with a cheerful willingness."-But to the letter. Those of us who enjoy the greater advantages and comforts of the present day, may take a lesson from it.

"Lyndon, Sept. 4th, 1823.

"On my return to Lyndon this week, after having been absent nearly six weeks, I found a letter from you, which was the first intelligence I have had from you since I left Providence. I am sorry to hear that your health is so feeble; hope it is by this time improved. Give yourself no uneasiness about a preparation to come among strangers, as you term it; you will be as well prepared to come as we shall be to receive you; and both the preparation and the reception will be good enough, if we have a good share of grace and humility. The truth is, if you should bring nothing we should be quite comfortable, provided we can bring ourselves down to our circumstances. You must give up all ideas, my dear, of being very particular. This, I perceive, will be a hard lesson for you to learn; but, through grace, you will learn it. We live not for ourselves, but for the Church; and we must get along in that way that will make the Church the least expense, and ourselves the least trouble and the most time. What conveniences we cannot obtain this year, we will, if we should live, try to get next; at any rate, we will not so far inconvenience ourselves for the sake of conveniences as to injure our health this would be to frustrate our own object. And what if we should not procure, while we live, all the conveniences that appear desirable? the time will soon come that shall be the last of our earthly enjoyments and deprivations, and then, if we are

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found faithful, we shall be welcomed into the joy of our Lord-into the mansion prepared for us above-into the inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away.' What are all the little privations, the temporary trials, the light afflictions of this life? they are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall follow; no, blessed be God, they are not worth naming. Give me Christ and his cross here, and then shall I have Christ and his glory hereafter. The world looks less to me of late than it has done in months past; it is like a bubble, and the goodliness thereof like a fading flower. But Jesus and his love are permanent; they engage my soul, they fill my heart. My joy below is to feast upon a Saviour's love; my business is to recommend it to others; and you, my dear companion, must join me in this sacred work. O, may God fire your soul with the subject, and loose your tongue upon the theme."

In the month of October Mr. Fisk attended a meeting of the trustees of the Wesleyan Academy at Boston, and availed himself of this opportunity of taking Mrs. Fisk home to his father's at Lyndon, where he intended to reside while on the district.

There was no little romance in those days in the life of a Methodist itinerant minister. It was almost constantly diversified by incident, amusing, grotesque, edifying, and not unfrequently elevated. The variety of persons with whom he came in contact-lodging to-night in a palace, to-morrow night in a hut-afforded a fine field for the study of human nature the extent of their travels furnished high gratification to the lover of natural scenery. He was independent as the Calmuc, and free as the mountain hunter. True, he encountered some hard fare, but not more so than Washington Irving describes in his Tour to the Prairies. And then, how delightful, by contrast, was the clean hearth and cheerful fire of the substantial farmhouse, where every one vied in assiduity to show him kindness, after having been pelted by the mountain storm, or half famished among the semicivilized mountaineers to whom he had been carrying the Gospel of peace! These lights and shadows often diversified