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and yet deeply cheered and led far along their own heavenly path； by hearing such accents fall from the lips of a babe and a suckling。 I did not like being described as a suckling； but every lot has its crumpled rose…leaf； and in all other respects the report of the elders was a triumph。 My Father then clenched the whole matter by rising and announcing that I had expressed an independent desire to confess the Lord by the act of public baptism； immediately after which I should be admitted to communion 'as an adult'。 Emotion ran so high at this； that a large portion of the congregation insisted on walking with us back to our garden…gate； to the stupefaction of the rest of the villagers。
My public baptism was the central event of my whole childhood。 Everything； since the earliest dawn of consciousness； seemed to have been leading up to it。 Everything； afterwards； seemed to be leading down and away from it。 The practice of immersing communicants on the sea…beach at Oddicombe had now been completely abandoned； but we possessed as yet no tank for a baptismal purpose in our own Room。 The Room in the adjoining town； however； was really quite a large chapel； and it was amply provided with the needful conveniences。 It was our practice； therefore； at this time； to claim the hospitality of our neighbours。 Baptisms were made an occasion for friendly relations between the two congregations； and led to pleasant social intercourse。 I believe that the ministers and elders of the two meetings arranged to combine their forces at these times； and to baptize communicants from both congregations。
The minister of the town meeting was Mr。 S。； a very handsome old gentleman； of venerable and powerful appearance。 He had snowy hair and a long white beard； but from under shaggy eyebrows there blazed out great black eyes which warned the beholder that the snow was an ornament and not a sign of decrepitude。 The eve of my baptism at length drew near； it was fixed for October 12； almost exactly three weeks after my tenth birthday。 I was dressed in old clothes； and a suit of smarter things was packed up in a carpet… bag。 After nightfall； this carpet…bag； accompanied by my Father； myself； Miss Marks and Mary Grace； was put in a four…wheeled cab； and driven； a long way in the dark； to the chapel of our friends。 There we were received； in a blaze of lights； with a pressure of hands； with a murmur of voices； with ejaculations and even with tears； and were conducted； amid unspeakable emotion； to places of honour in the front row of the congregation。
The scene was one which would have been impressive； not merely to such hermits as we were； but even to worldly persons accustomed to life and to its curious and variegated experiences。 To me it was dazzling beyond words； inexpressibly exciting； an initiation to every kind of publicity and glory。 There were many candidates； but the rest of them；mere grownup men and women；gave thanks aloud that it was their privilege to follow where I led。 I was the acknowledged hero of the hour。 Those were days when newspaper enterprise was scarcely in its infancy； and the event owed nothing to journalistic effort； in spite of that； the news of this remarkable ceremony； the immersion of a little boy of ten years old 'as an adult'； had spread far and wide through the county in the course of three weeks。 The chapel of our hosts was； as I have said； very large； it was commonly too large for their needs； but on this night it was crowded to the ceiling； and the crowd had comeas every soft murmur assured meto see me。
There were people there who had travelled from Exeter； from Dartmouth； from Totnes； to witness so extraordinary a ceremony。 There was one old woman of eighty…five who had come； my neighbours whispered to me； all the way from Moreton…Hampstead； on purpose to see me baptized。 I looked at her crumpled countenance with amazement； for there was no curiosity； no interest visible in it。 She sat there perfectly listless； looking at nothing； but chewing between her toothless gums what appeared to be a jujube。
In the centre of the chapel…floor a number of planks had been taken up and revealed a pool which might have been supposed to be a small swimming…bath。 We gazed down into this dark square of mysterious waters； from the tepid surface of which faint swirls of vapour rose。 The whole congregation vas arranged； tier above tier； about the four straight sides of this pool； every person was able to see what happened in it without any unseemly struggling or standing on forms。 Mr。 S。 now rose； an impressive hieratic figure； commanding attention and imploring perfect silence。 He held a small book in his hand； and he vas preparing to give out the number of a hymn； when an astounding incident took place。
There was a great splash； and a tall young woman was perceived to be in the baptismal pool； her arms waving above her head； and her figure held upright in the water by the inflation of the air underneath her crinoline which was blown out like a bladder； as in some extravagant old fashion…plate。 Whether her feet touched the bottom of the font I cannot say； but I suppose they did so。 An indescribable turmoil of shrieks and cries followed on this extraordinary apparition。 A great many people excitedly called upon other people to be calm； and an instance was given of the remark of James Smith that
He who； in quest of quiet； 'Silence！' hoots Is apt to make the hubbub he imputes。
The young woman； in a more or less fainting condition； was presently removed from the water； and taken into the sort of tent which was prepared for candidates。 It was found that she herself had wished to be a candidate and had earnestly desired to be baptized； but that this had been forbidden by her parents。 On the supposition that she fell in by accident； a pious coincidence was detected in this affair； the Lord had pre…ordained that she should be baptized in spite of all opposition。 But my Father； in his shrewd way； doubted。 He pointed out to us； next morning； that； in the first place； she had not； in any sense； been baptized； as her head had not been immersed； and that； in the second place； she must have deliberately jumped in； since； had she stumbled and fallen forward； her hands and face would have struck the water； whereas they remained quite dry。 She belonged； however； to the neighbour congregation； and we had no responsibility to pursue the inquiry any further。
Decorum being again secured； Mr。 S。； with unimpaired dignity； proposed to the congregation a hymn； which was long enough to occupy them during the preparations for the actual baptism。 He then retired to the vestry； and I （for I was to be the first to testify） was led by Miss Marks and Mary Grace into the species of tent of which I have just spoken。 Its pale sides seemed to shake with the jubilant singing of the saints outside； while part of my clothing was removed and I was prepared for immersion。 A sudden cessation of the hymn warned us that to Minister was now ready； and we emerged into the glare of lights and faces to find Mr。 S。 already standing in the water up to his knees。 Feeling as small as one of our microscopical specimens； almost infinitesimally tiny as I descended into his Titan