midnight
There stood the preacher , one of those men -- and , thank God , their number is not few -- who , animated by the spirit of Christ , amidst much poverty , and , alas ! much contempt , persist in carrying the light of the Gospel amidst the dark parishes of what , but for their instrumentality , would scarcely be Christian England . I would have waited till he had concluded , in order that I might speak to him , and endeavour to bring back the ancient scene to his recollection , but suddenly a man came hurrying towards the monticle , mounted on a speedy horse , and holding by the bridle one yet more speedy , and he whispered to me , ` Why loiterest thou here ? -- knowest thou not all that is to be done before midnight ? ' and he flung me the bridle ; and I mounted on the horse of great speed , and I followed the other , who had already galloped off . And as I departed , I waved my hand to him on the monticle , and I shouted , ` Farewell , brother ! the seed came up at last , after a long period ! '