But the holidays were approaching, and it was expected that I would spend a portion of them at Waupun, where, it was hinted, an event would transpire in which I might have a personal interest.  Anticipating the time several days, I went as far as Clason’s Prairie, and turned aside to assist Brother Holmes, the Pastor of the charge, for a few evenings in a protracted meeting.  Returning, I proceeded on my way to Burnett.  By arrangement, I met Brother Sampson here, and spent the Sabbath with him, it being his Quarterly Meeting on the Waupun charge.

The preachers on the circuit were Revs.  A.P.  Allen and Henry Requa, the latter being employed by the Elder as an assistant.  Brother Allen was a man of mature years, though he had been in the work only a short time.  He was a man of decided talent, but so full of queer ways and witty sayings that these seemed to give him his status in the general estimation of the people.  He filled several leading charges in the Conference, and served a full term as Presiding Elder on the Racine District.  But wherever he might be, the same tendency to create laughter was ever present.  If an exception ever came to my knowledge, it must have been the one that is said to have occurred on a former charge at one of his outlying appointments.  It is related that at this point the people had not shown much regard for the visits of the preacher or the sanctity of the Sabbath, spending the day either in rioting or in the pursuit of their secular business.  Becoming disgusted with this state of things, Brother Allen announced at the close of his services, that on the occasion of his next visit, he would preach his farewell sermon.  The day came, and the people, shocked at the idea of being left without meetings, came out in large numbers, leaving for once their business and sports.  The services were opened in due form.  On arising to announce the text, the Preacher told the people that he had come prepared to preach his farewell sermon, and he was glad that so many had come out to hear it.  He presumed they knew the reason of his purpose to leave them, and hence he need not consume time over that matter, but would proceed at once to announce as his text, the following passage of Holy Writ:  ’Oh, full of all subtlety and mischief, thou child of the devil, how long wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord.’  Having repeated the text with emphasis, he looked over the congregation very gravely, and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, you will perceive that I have chosen a pretty hard text.  Now it is not polite for people to go out of meeting during the preaching, and if any of you think that this text is too severe for you, you had better go out before we begin the sermon.”  As might have been expected, none were disposed to go.  “Well, then,” said the Preacher, “if you are not disposed to go, I will begin.  I intend to show, in the first place, that you are all full of subtlety and mischief.  In the second