WHO IS THIS SPURGEON?

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knew any bounds. This feeling does not abate, for we find, by the public papers, that he is preaching in some part of England almost every day, and in some cases in two different towns in one day. Unlike most chil

dren, play had not the charm for the youthful Spurgeon which a book had; and when he had learned to gather the sense of a book, his desire for the acquirement of knowledge amounted to a passion, so that considerable restraint had to be exercised to prevent injury to the mind of the young scholar. In this respect there is a remarkable parallel between Mr. Spurgeon and the late Duke of Wellington. Of the latter we are informed, that while his school-fellows enjoyed their games, he often stood aloof, his mind apparently occupied with something less volatile than play. As the child, so, generally, will the man be. Before the child was six years old he could read well, with a tone and emphasis beyond his age. Give him his book, and his liberty, and when he was wanted, he was always found in seclusion with his book, enjoying that which was, to most children, only a drudgery. Here it was that he laid the foundation of that varied and extended acquaintance with the writings of good old John Bunyan, R. Baxter, and others of that period. There is a charm about the works of the tinker of Bedford which has captivated millions of people, young and old. Dr. Johnson has written, that there are three books which every man can take up with the same relish for the second as for the first reading: these are, the Bible, the Pilgrim's Progress, and Robinson Crusoe. No wonder then that our

young friend was captivated with these works, and read

them with eager delight. Christian fellowship is one of the great privileges of all the children of God. During the early years of Mr. Spurgeon's life, spent in the family of his grandfather, there were many occasions on which various members of the church met at the residence of their pastor, and there taking sweet counsel together, enjoyed the "communion of saints." On many of these Sabbath meetings, which are remembered with delight by the friends at Stambourne, the grandchild of the pastor astonished many by his questions and conversation. Often he would propose a subject, and offer remarks upon it, which astonished much older and experienced persons. From infancy he was remarkable for decision of character. And his decision was taken for God. There was no halting between two opinions. He boldly and steadfastly maintained his choice. When under six years of age, he saw in the village, a man who professed religion mixed up with a number of others known to be ungodly men. He felt a desire to reprove the professor, and in the name and in the strength of the God he served, he boldly went up to the man and addressed him in these words: "Elijah, what doest thou here?" The man was dumb under the reproof; and the boy came away with a conviction that he had done his duty. God always rewards those who serve him faithfully. Self-possession is a feature strongly marked in Mr. Spurgeon. His cool and collected behavior during the unfortunate Surrey Gardens catastrophe was

FORMATION OF CHARACTER.

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the astonishment of many. Shortly before that event, while preaching to a large audience in Islington, he made a sudden pause in the service, and remarked, with great firmness of manner, "There are two persons near the door, if they do not behave better, I must desire the police to remove them," and went on with the service as though there had been no interruption. And, again, with an audience of some 10,000 persons before him, only a few weeks ago, in the Surrey Hall, after expounding the first of two lessons, he announced the chapter of the second lesson, and then said, "If I make a short pause between the lessons, it will give an opportunity for those persons who have their hats on, to take them off in the house of God." He preached that morning from the text, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" And one more suitable to describe the persevering and untiring labors of this devoted servant of God could not well have been chosen. Young men Young ministers! let the same mind be in you! Decision for God and boldness in his service, will bring to you a present reward, great or small in proportion to your zeal.

During the seven years passed so happily at Stambourne, the education of their grandson was not a subject of great concern to the grandparents of our youthful divine. His mental development was already considerably in advance of his years, and his moral faculties were of a character to cause but little concern for the future. For most of this information respecting the early years of Mr. Spurgeon we are indebted to his

grandfather. But there are two sentences in the ac count furnished by the Rev. James Spurgeon, relating to his grandson, which deserve to be written in letters of gold. Of the great and good George Washington we read, that when charged by his father with doing a mischievous, though only a boyish, action in his garden, the noble boy said, "It was me, father, I dare not tell a lie." Of Charles H. Spurgeon, his grandfather writes, "I do not remember ever hearing of his speaking any thing but the truth." And again: "I can not remember that we had ever an occasion to correct him for any false tale." Here, then, is a model for children to imitate. Always speak the truth: fear a lie. Nothing makes a man a greater coward than falsehood; and tale-bearers are always nervous and in fear. Mr. Spurgeon is fearless of man in his denunciations of sin. This righteous boldness is traceable to a source which is a tower of strength to any minister-he is a man of

TRUTH.

When about seven years old, Mr. Spurgeon returned to his father's home. During his residence at Stambourne, his parents had removed from Kelvedon to Colchester, in which town Mr. John Spurgeon was occupied. He was at once placed in a respectable school, conducted by Mr. Henry Lewis. The head usher in the school was Mr. Leeding, who afterward removed from Colchester to Cambridge, and there opened a school for young gentlemen. Four years

were spent in the school at Colchester, and here the ready mind of the pupil soon attracted the special atten

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tion of Mr. Leeding. To this gentleman our young friend is indebted for nearly all the knowledge he acquired which could be there communicated. In every branch of knowledge to which he devoted his attention, C. H. Spurgeon was sure to become master of it; and invariably at the examinations, our young friend was the successful prize-man.

When about ten years of age, he was spending a vacation with his grandsire at Stambourne. The anniversary sermons for the Missionary Society were preached in his grandfather's chapel while he was there. The preacher was the late Rev. Richard Knill. This earnest and devoted servant of God has left behind him a memory for good which will be cherished with much affection for many years. Inscribed on the portrait of this self-denying missionary is the motto which indicated the intensity of his love for his work. It is, "Brethren! the heathen are perishing; shall we let them perish? God forbid. Richard Knill." Knowing this of the preacher, it is not wonderful that he discerned in the grandson of the venerable Spurgeon the germs of his future distinction. Mr. Knill remained with the village pastor on the night of the anniversary.

The following particulars we give from a communication kindly supplied by the Rev. James Spurgeon, of Stambourne. "Before family prayer," observes the delighted grandfather, "my grandson read a chapter out of the Scriptures, and our friend Knill was very much pleased, and said, 'I have heard old ministers and young ones read well, but never did I hear a little boy read so