Chapter Fourteenth.

CONVERTED AND REFORMED THIEVES.-THE HADDOCK-SMOKER. - A Reformed THIEF.-AN UNCONVICTED

THIEF.-A LITERARY BURGLAR.-A REFORMED IMPOSTOR.

LETTER FROM A RESCUED MAN.

Chapter Fourteenth.

ALTHOUGH very much of the good done by Ned

as an evangelist among the lowest classes of society must, of course, ever remain unknown, except to the God who enables him to scatter the seed of Divine truth, yet, happily for his encouragement, he has many mementoes of the saving power of the gospel as preached by him. Many degraded thieves have been restored to their friends, made decent members of society, and converted to a new and higher life. Statistics of spiritual results are delusive, if not obnoxious, to a Christian reader. Remarkable cases of usefulness may, however, be given with propriety.

A haddock-smoker has been a changed man for a few years. He was a convicted thief at nine years of age, and he states that from that time to his conversion he was in and out of prison all his life. "I am now twenty-five years old; I have been a drunkard, gambler, wife-beater, and great swearer and scoffer at God and the gospel. used to attend fairs and races for illegal purposes. I did not believe there was a hell, but now I know that Jesus Christ died to save me, a great sinner, from going there. It was on the 2nd of March that I went to a house with Mr.

I

K—, where he got some bills. I said, 'Shall I give some away?' He said, 'No, it will do you no good, because if anybody was to ask you whether you loved Jesus- 'Then,' said I, quickly, I should say No.' Then I went to Flint-street schoolroom with him and my mate. My mate was converted the same night. What struck terror to my heart was my mate crying loudly. When Ned Wright had done preaching, he came to me. He saw my eyes full of tears. He said, 'Now, old fellow, how is it now?' I said, 'No how.' Can't you believe?' I said, 'I am too bad.' 'He (i.e. Christ) died for the like of you and me, who have been so bad.' Then I said, 'I will believe.' heart was broke, and I was crying. Mr. K- said, 'Now, you have professed to believe; I hope you will.' I cried all the way home, but I got up next morning rejoicing in Jesus as my Saviour. Then I prayed for my wife, and the Lord answered my prayer; for on the 19th of the same month she was converted."

He said,

He said,

My

One poor fellow who attended a soup supper for male thieves, in a letter to Mr. Wright, says: "I write to you to express my thanks for the supper I received on Wednesday night. I have come to the determination to alter my mode of living, if possible. I have been living an honest life these last six years; but, falling out of work about a month ago, I have been compelled to return to my old habits. I would gladly avail myself of your kind offer of work, to save myself from further trouble. You spoke in your discourse about Arthur and you said there were some among us who knew him. You were right. I knew him well. He was a pal of mine, and I felt

the force of your remarks, so much so that I would gladly avail myself of this opportunity of saving myself from his fate. The first of my career was twenty-one days at Brixton for orchard-robbing; the next was six months at the Old Bailey for uttering [base coin]; then fourteen days at Wandsworth for an attempt; then two months for an assault ; then six months at Coldbath Fields, of which [charge] I was innocent; next twenty-one days for an attempt, at the same place; then twelve months at the Old Bailey for an attempt at uttering; besides no end of remands. I should have applied to you on Thursday, as you said, but I was so destitute that I was compelled to go to St. George's Workhouse to get three hours' work to supply my immediate wants. I had to walk about all last Wednesday night, and I refrained from wrong-doing, so that I might have a chance of communicating with you. I shall be very thankful if you will assist me in obtaining work before it is too late." This man is now in employment, and is a reformed character.

An unconvicted thief was at the same mournful meet

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ing. "I am," he wrote, a poor backslider from the truth. I have yielded to temptation twice, and stole, but I have had to suffer deeply for my sin. To-day I have been tempted to take my own life, for I am homeless and friendless." This man begged for Mr. Wright's prayers, and sought a helping hand to save him from destruction. He is now a happy Christian.

Ned's fame has evidently reached America; for we find that a burglar of literary pretensions has favoured him with the following amusing epistle :