This was a great disappointment, for Mr. Wesley loved the people of Epworth, and every stone in the old church was dear to him. His father had preached from that pulpit for nearly forty years, and he himself had stood there more times than he could count, and it was very hard that he was forbidden to take his place there now. The people were longing to hear him, and when the afternoon service was over, and all the folks were leaving the church, one of his friends stood in the churchyard and gave out this notice: "MR. WESLEY, NOT BEING ALLOWED TO PREACH IN THE CHURCH, INTENDS TO PREACH HERE AT SIX O'CLOCK THIS EVENING." It was this picture of Mr. Wesley preaching that the Magic Mirror showed us. I expect the curate was very angry at being so "done;" but he could not stop Mr. Wesley preaching _outside_ the church. For a whole week John Wesley preached every evening from his father's tombstone. Crowds came to hear him, and hundreds were converted and turned from their evil ways. They saw how sinful they had been and prayed aloud for forgiveness. Drunkards became sober men, and those who cursed and swore were turned into peace-makers. So dear old Mr. Wesley's prayers were answered, and the people who had treated him so unkindly, and whom he had forgiven and loved, now took his Saviour to be their Saviour, and his God to be their God. Indeed Mr. Wesley's visit to his old home, that began so unpleasantly, ended very happily, and when his last evening came, both he and his dear people found it hard to say "Good-bye." [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XXV. No one like mother.--Sad days at the Foundry.--Mrs. Wesley goes Home through the Beautiful Gate.--A sorrowing son.--Preaching at the open grave.--At work again.--Satan in opposition.--Fireworks, cows, stones, blood, and broken windows. A GOOD mother is a boy's or a girl's best earthly friend. John Wesley knew this, and thought there was no mother like _his_ mother. You remember how, as a little boy, he always went to her for advice; and when he was quite a young man he used to hope that he would die before her, for he felt he could not live without his mother. You may think, then, how sad he was when, at last, the message came to him that she was dying. He was at Bristol when he received the news, and at once set off for London. Arrived at his home at the Foundry, he found his five sisters watching round the bed of the dear old mother. Though she was too ill to speak to them, they could see she was quite happy and peaceful, just waiting to be taken Home. Before long the call came: "Come up higher."