270 II/sroi.T of Methodism 



the supposed neglect of his owner in leaving him 

 bound to a stake all night without food in a snow-storm, 

 or from some other motive quite satisfactory to him- 

 self, made his escape from the stable and ran away. 

 Mr. Richardson, going in search of him, passed by 

 where two men were clearing land. Being wearied by 

 his journey, he sat down on a log to rest and to make 

 inquiry of the men concerning the route his horse 

 might have taken. One of them abused him with 

 great bitterness of speech, threatened to kill him, and 

 with clenched fists struck him with such violence as 

 to cause him to fall from his seat, and he was perhaps 

 saved from death only by the intervention of the other 

 man. Having found his horse, it was necessary for 

 him, the next day, to pass by the house of the man 

 who had assaulted him with such violence. The 

 man's wife hailed him and requested him to stop and 

 come in. He told her that her husband had abused 

 him the day before and threatened to take his life, 

 and he did not, therefore, deem it safe to comply with 

 her request. She replied, " My husband is at home, 

 and says you must come in; he is very anxious to see 

 you; there is no cause for fear." Thus assured, he 

 went in and found the man in the deepest mental dis- 

 tress, and the tears streaming from his eyes. He 

 begged the preacher most importunately to pray for 

 him; said he, "I feel that I am a miserable and lost 

 sinner." After some words of instruction and en- 

 couragement they kneeled down in prayer, and their 

 united petitions ascended to heaven. The man was 

 most earnestly engaged, and after awhile was power- 

 fully converted. He sprung to his feet, threw his 

 arms around Richardson with such violence, being a 

 man of uncommon size and strength, that he came 



