I can still remember plainly the circumstances under which I
finished it. (“Uncle Tom’s Cabin.”) I had got well into the
second volume. It was Thursday. Sunday was looming up before
me, and at the rate at which I was going there would not be
time to finish it before Sunday, and I could never preach till
I had finished it. So I set myself to it and determined to
finish it at once. I had got a considerable way into the second
volume, and I recommended my wife to go to bed. I didn’t want
anybody down there. I soon began to cry. Then I went and shut
all the doors, for I did not want any one to see me. Then I sat
down to it and finished it that night, for I knew that only in
that way should I be able to preach on Sunday.--HENRY WARD
BEECHER.
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