(Whilst being removed into the hospital he was heard to whisper “I hope they’ll all get saved.”) But he goes on, “When I became conscious I found myself in the hospital with a painful head and body; but it was well with my soul.  The grace of God constituted my soul’s happiness, so much so, that when I thought about Paul and Silas being taken to prison, and how they praised God and sung His praises, my heart sang within me.  I could not sing aloud for the pain I was suffering.  Could I have done so, I would have made the place ring for the victory the Lord had given me in the battle.  Glory to His Name!  I remember I had no sleep until twelve o’clock the second night I was in.  The first night was an all-night of pain.  At the same time it was an all-night with Jesus.  He was indeed very precious to my soul.  I thought of the sufferings of Christ for me—­even then—­the chief of all sinners until saved by His grace.  Hallelujah for His love to me.  My suffering was nothing (though I suffered thirteen weeks) compared to Christ’s.  Should my blessed Saviour want me to do the work over again, I should do it to-morrow.”

“The General,” says one of his chosen associates of those times, “always reminded me so of the captain of a vessel in a stormy sea.  Perfectly calm himself in a way, yet going resolutely ahead with unerring aim, quickly deciding whenever a decision was needed, and always ready to take all the risks; he trained his folks how to go through everything that came, to victory.”

One of the weakest of the many women whom in those days he taught how to rise up out of their ease and go to battle and victory, says of her first sight of him, more than forty years ago, “He gave me the impression in that Meeting of a man of God, whose only aim was the Salvation of souls.  I got saved at one of Mrs. Booth’s Meetings, when I was still a girl only twelve years old.  They used to call me ’Praying Polly.’  But, never having had a day’s schooling, when he wanted me to become an Officer, I feared my own incompetence.  Mrs. Booth said ’You will see God will punish you.’  She had seen something of my work in Meetings where I had to take up collections and turn out roughs, and so had no doubt told The General what she thought I could do.

“Sure enough I was laid up completely, lost the use of one limb, and had to use crutches.  But just as I came weak out of hospital and penniless, I saw a shilling lying on the ground, picked it up, and with it paid my way across London to The General’s house.  I thought, ’Oh, if I can only see Mrs. Booth, I’ll get her to pray for me, and get help from God.’  When I arrived at the door, she was just coming out to go off to the North of England; but she sent her cab away and stayed for a later train, to attend to me.  She helped me up the steps and said:—­

“‘Now then, are you willing to follow God?’

“I didn’t feel fit for anything; but I said, ’Yes, if God will only help me, I’ll go to the uttermost parts of the earth for Him.’