ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  henceforth’ there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”  After speaking of the powerful effect of Paul’s life and teachings, in helping to transform the world, he eloquently appealed to the young men and women to turn their ambition to life’s highest object, to follow the example of that grand old hero, and live a life of true heroism in this world, and win honor and immortality in the world to come.

The house rang with that rousing old hymn, “Come, you sinners, poor and needy,” and eleven young men and women rose to their feet and confessed their Savior.

No sermon to which I have ever listened has impressed itself so deeply on my memory as that sermon twenty-nine years ago.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

REMINISCENCES—­CONTINUED.

In the spring of 1860 father rented his farm, so that he could devote his whole time to preaching.  He built a house in Pardee, that we might live near school and meeting until George should be old enough to do the work on the farm.  There was plenty of open prairie to pasture the cows, and George and I tended them, while mother made cheese to help support the family.

Father traveled and preached almost constantly that summer, sometimes alone, sometimes in company with Bro.  Hutchinson.

At many of the points at which he organized churches, the old members are now either dead or scattered.  But Bro.  John A. Campbell, of Big Springs, where he built up a strong church, writes as follows of his work there: 

He told me that his first visit to Big Springs was in May, 1858.  My first recollection of him was that he preached there on the 4th day of July, of that year, when he organized the church with twenty-eight members, my father (L.  R. Campbell) and C. M. Mock being appointed elders.  His subject on that occasion was the “Unity of all Christians,” and he spoke with great power.  He again preached there on the 29th day of August, 1858, and his subject was “Faith.”  On that day the first addition to the church was made by baptism.  He continued to preach for the church about once each month through 1858-9, and a part of 1860.  During that time very many were added, but I have no means of knowing the number.  In the fall of 1859 he held a successful protracted meeting, and another in the winter with Bro.  G. W. Hutchinson.  In 1860, he was at the State meeting at Big Springs, at which the ground plan of our present co-operative plan of missionary work was laid.  There was also raised at that meeting money to buy a large tent, with which Bro.  Butler was to travel and preach as State evangelist.  Again, in the year 1877 or 1878 he preached once per month at Big Springs and some adjacent points—­once on the Waukarusa, oft the subject of the Seventh-day Sabbath, out of which grew a correspondence for a debate, but it was not; held, owing to a failure to get a suitable house.