The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-11-28
WESLEY
ABSENT MINDED.

twenty-one of whose songs are sent
forth anew in the Methodist Hynlnal,
was perhaps the mast winning per-
sonalitv Of all that gifted family. A
writer in the London Wesleyan Mag
azine gives some traditions Of his
dailv life and its association with
NIarylebone church. where h" now
lies buried When in middle life he
fe1r the call 10 leave Bristol and take
Up mission work in the city OF Lon
don. he and his beloved wife were
much troubled for want OF house
to live in. They at last betook them
selves to prayer. The answer to that
PRAYER is one OF Ehe romances OF
Methodis1n. 1t came in the shape OF
a letter from rich widow who offer
ed them her house in Marylebone to
be used as their own.
With his devoted wife, Sarah, and
his two little sons settled III his home,
Wesley used to ride about the lanes
of the village Gas it was them on a
plump gray pony, busy with his mis-
sion work and composing his famous
fvrnns as he rode He was SO absent
minded that he was likely to cut his
best friends when they met him. The
sight of his rosy. handsome face and
his stout figure, clad in the blue coat
which had served him many years,
was a signal for those who knew him
best to run out and forcibly seize his
bride, and thus insure the merry,
fatherly greeting which he was ready
to give once his attention was arrest
ed.
When a special inspiration came to
him during one OF his rides, he would
drop the reins, place his hands on
his hips and, turning his blue eyes
to heaven, become oblivious to all
around him, his pony following mean
while it's own will. If one spoke to
him he did not heed, but looking
blanklv at the speaker and rode on
If he came to house he would sud-
denly dismount, tie his pony to the
ratings, and, entering, whether he
knew the people or not, violently de-
n1anded paper and pen to set down
his precious thoughts. When this
was done he would awake to con-
sciousness Of his surroundings and,
turning, would say Peace 10 this
house" so sweetly that all hearts
were won and all breaches OF etiquette
forgotten.
In spite of his seeming dissent, he
came to be one OF the beloved cele-
brities of the place, as he spent his
busy life in mission work, preach
ing in the open air, and singing his
own hymns in his sweet baritone
voice on the streets at the outdoor
services. His personality was ex-
tremely attractive. He was larger,
stouter, more genial than his brother,
Tohn. but with the same handsome,
.cIear-cut features. His wife and chill
dren adored him and thought nothing
too hard 70 do for him or to bear
from him. The rector Of Maryle--
bone himself was quite won by the
charm of the "Methodist'' preacher,
Aand came to visit him constantly. In
n deed. the delightful musical evenings
U at the Wesley home drew many v1s1-
tors. The two played exqulsltely up
on Hande1's own iarpsichord, wf1ca1
had been given to them, and Mrs.
Wesley was also an excellent musl-
. clan.
It was in the churcqlyard at Mary
1ebone that the singer was buried by
his own wish when he died, at eighty
wears of age. A grave had already
been provided for him in City Road
Chaoel. but he chose rather to lie
ar the feet of the church that he had
loved although she had spurned his
Offices and despised his services. HIS
memory brings now hundreds every
wear to visit the prim little church
whose only hold on fame is that there
raets the dust of true poet and