But now a strange stir and excitement rustled through the vast assembly as James Barnes, at the invitation of the vicar, mounted the platform, and stood unabashed before his fellow-townsmen. But scarcely had he begun to open his lips when a torrent of yells and shouts burst from a score or two of drunken throats; others cheered, many laughed, some shouted; then followed a thunder of clapping and stamping, whistling and shrieking, and it seemed for a few moments as though the triumph were to be on the side of disorder and intemperance. But, as a second whirlwind of uproar was beginning, the vicar again stepped forward, and, raising his right-hand as begging silence, smiled pleasantly on the excited crowd, while he placed his left hand on the shoulder of James Barnes, who stood his ground manfully. Then followed shouts of "Shame, shame!"--"Sit down!"--"Hold your noise!"--"Hearken Jim!" and the storm gradually subsided into a calm. "I'm one of yourselves," began Jim bluntly, as soon as order was restored, and not in the slightest degree discomposed by this rough reception; "you shouldn't make such a din. How's a fellow to make himself heard? Why, it's worse than half a dozen engines all whistling at once." There was a buzz of amused satisfaction at this professional illustration, and James Barnes had got the ear of the meeting. "I'll tell you what it is, friends," he went on; "it's true I ain't much of a speaker, but I can tell you a thing or two about myself as may be useful. I've got my Sunday coat on to-night, and it's my own, and it's never been to the popshop. I couldn't have said that a month ago, for I'd never a Sunday coat then. Another thing, I'm spending my own wages; that's more nor I've done for many years past, for the devil's been used to spend the best part of them for me and put 'em into the landlord's till. Now I takes 'em to buy bread and clothes for the wife and children. Another thing, and better still, I've got one or two good friends as pulled me out of the mire, and won't let me go. Tommy Tracks there, as you call him, he's one of them; and _your_ good friend the vicar,--for he _is_ your friend, think as you please,--he's another. And, best of all, I've got a clear head and a clear conscience, and a hope of a better home by-and-by, and a Saviour above all to look to; and I shouldn't have had none of these if I'd been going on in my old ways. So _you_ may laugh if you please when you say, `Jim Barnes has turned teetotaler;' but I mean to sing when I says it, for it's true, and he means to stick to it, with God's help, all the days of his life." Having delivered himself of this brief address, James Barnes hurried down from the platform, followed by a roar of hearty applause, which completely drowned the efforts of a few dissentient voices.