HIS BOYHOOD. 
17 
father in one of his African letters. Ah me, yes ! 
Bow Lane, and that lazy son of yours who used to 
loiter along carelessly, linger at all the newspaper 
windows when you sent him on errands, and run hard 
back to try and regain lost time, and who was so 
seldom ‘blown up for it.’ Gracechurch Street, the 
Hall, Clerkenwell, the workmen’s train, Bryer’s, 
coffee-shops, &c. Dear me ! how different is my life 
now ; I wonder if I could fit a brooch pin, or estimate 
the weight and value of a diamond now ? ” 
Other friends besides Mr. Allport furnished him 
with material for reading, and guided him as to his 
choice of books ; particularly may be mentioned his 
pastor. Dr. Stanford, and Mr. Norton Smith, whose 
^counsels and help were of great advantage. 
At the age of fifteen he eagerly availed himself of 
the facilities for instruction afforded by the evening 
classes at Mr. Spurgeon’s college. From his tutors, 
Mr. Gracey and Mr. Fergusson, he received much 
benefit. His progress, as might be expected, was 
satisfactory ; not particularly striking for its brilliancy 
or marked by exceptional genius, but real and 
uniform. “ His course,” testifies Mr. Gracey, 
“ appeared in its very earliest as in its latest stages, a 
very even and gradual development of strength by 
means of industry and faith. He must have been a 
member of my evening class for at least from two to 
three years. Here he made his earliest acquaintance 
with Latin and Greek ; and had as companions city 
missionaries, Sunday-school teachers, street preachers, 
young men preparing like himself to enter college, 
and those engaged in country missions and other 
branches of Christian work. His character even then 
seemed so well rounded and balanced that I cannot 
point out any one feature as being very prominent 
Only this I felt about him, that he meant to advance, 
and to advance altogether.” 
On one of the important occasions — when Mr 
Spurgeon meets the most promising of the students 
B 
