It was all done in a humble manner, so that he did not dream of buying any pulpit; but one day, as he was passing along the road, he saw that they were going to have a sale at the “count-house” of an old mine.  He went in, and the first thing which met his eye was a strong oak cupboard, with a cornice around the top.  It struck him that it would make a grand pulpit, if only it was-strong enough:  on examination, he found it all he could desire in this respect.  He thought if he could take off the top and make a “plat” to stand upon, it would do “first-rate.”  He “told Father” so, and wondered how he could get it.  He asked a stranger who was there, walking about, what he thought that old cupboard would go for?  “Oh, for about five or six shillings,” was the reply.  And while Billy was pondering how to “rise” six shillings, the same man came up and said, “What do you want that cupboard for, Billy?” He did not care to tell him, for he was thinking and praying about it.  The man said, “There are six shillings for you; buy it if you will.”  Billy took the money, thanking the Lord. and impatiently waited for the sale.  No sooner was the cupboard put up, than he called out, “Here, maister, here’s six shillin’s for un,” and he put the money down on the table.  “Six shillings bid,” said the auctioneer—­“six shillings—­thank you; seven shillings; any more for that good old cupboard?  Seven shillings.  Going—­going—­gone!” And it was knocked down to another man.

Poor Billy was much disappointed and perplexed at this, and could not understand it at all.  He looked about for the man who had given him the six shillings, but in vain—­he was not there.  The auctioneer told him to take up his money out of the way.  He complied, but did not know what to do with it.  He went over a hedge into a field by himself, and told “Father” about it; but it was all clear—­“Father” was not angry about anything.  He remained there an hour, and then went homewards.

As he was going along, much troubled in his mind as to this experience (for he still felt so sure he was to have that cupboard for a pulpit), he came upon a cart standing outside a public-house with the very cupboard upon it, and some men were measuring it with a foot rule.  As he came up, he heard them say, “It is too large to go in at the door, or the window either.”  The publican who had bought it said, “I wish I had not bid for the old thing at all; it is too good to ‘scat’ up for firewood.”  At that instant it came to Billy’s mind to say, “Here, I’ll give you six shillings for un.”  “Very well,” said the man, taking the money; “you can have him.”  Then Billy began to praise the Lord, and went on to say, “‘Father’ as good as told me that I was to have that cupboard, and He knew I could not carry him home on my back, so He found a horse and cart for me.  Bless the Lord!” Promising to bring it back very soon, he led the horse down the hill, and put the old cupboard into the preaching-house.  “There it is!” he exclaimed, “and a fine pulpit he does make, sure enough!  Now,” said Billy, “I want to see thee in it.  When will you come?” I could not fix for that day, or the next, trot made arrangements to conduct a series of services the next week, and promised to have them in that place.