Micah Clarke

Book Excerpt: he time, my brothers Hosea andEphraim were respectively nine and seven, while little Ruth could scarcehave been more than four. It chanced that a few days before a wanderingpreacher of the Independents had put up at our house, and his religiousministrations had left my father moody and excitable. One night I hadgone to bed as usual, and was sound asleep with my two brothers besideme, when we were roused and ordered to come downstairs. Huddling on ourclothes we followed him into the kitchen, where my mother was sittingpale and scared with Ruth upon her knee.'Gather round me, my children, ' he said, in a deep reverent voice, 'thatwe may all appear before the throne together. The kingdom of the Lordis at hand-oh, be ye ready to receive Him This very night, my lovedones, ye shall see Him in His splendour, with the angels and thearchangels in their might and their glory. At the third hour shall Hecome-that very third hour which is now drawing upon us.''Dear Joe, ' said my mother, in sootRead Mo