“WOODFULL” .

Taranaki Daily News, 25 July 1930, Page 7

“WOODFULL” .

A CRICKETER’S STORY. HOW A. PARSON HELPED. A story about Woodfull, captain of the Australian team, is printed by the “New Zealand Methodist Times.” It was written by B. Vernon Bird, and first appeared in the “Baptist Times”: When the Australians were here in 1926 I happened to be preaching one Sunday where Mr. W. M. Woodfull was spending the week-end with a cousin of his father’s. And there he was in the pew. I was invited to tea. A choice house for a man from one of the dominions to be visiting—it was given by William the Conqueror to his son, Rufus. The chat over the teacups, between my host’s sons and their distinguished kinsman, was delightful. Presently Mr. Woodfull fell into reminiscent mood, and told us a story which is well worth repeating here. I repeat it only from memory. One* day, many years , ago, a young Wesleyan minister was driving his buggy'down a long, dusty road towards Melbourne. Far in front, he noticed a lonely man trudging along the road. He overtook him, and saw him to be a young fellow, obviously down and out, wretched and woe-begone. The minister draws up and calls: “Care for a lift?” The young doctor: “Oh, thanks,” and gets L up. Off they go, raising clouds of dust, and passing the small change of friendly talk. In an hour or two they come to the young minister’s, house. Pulling up his horses, he says: “Here we. are; you’d better stop and have a snack of tea with me.” As they enter the house, the minister, in a glance, looks his shabby guest up and down. He sadly needs a good wash. “Perhaps you’d like a bath before tea?” The stranger, evidently surprised and gratified: “Thanks; I just should!” Our youg minister hands him a towel and shows him the bathroom. Mean while, a good, solid “tea” is prepared—grilled chops. They have their hearty tea. and a lively chat; and after tea shake hands as if they were old friends, and the young man continues his lonely way into the city.. Some 40 years passed. All the world was found’ in the nightmare of the Great War. Australians had come 12,000 miles to stand ,by the Motherland in the . great .struggle for justice and the liberty of small nations. Num-

bers of them had been home in “Blighty” on sick leave. A dozen: or so were on their way back to the front, at one of the south-eastern ports. An elderly gentleman, with white hair and a kindly face, finds them lying on the grass. “Australians, eh? What are you doing here?” “Going back to the front;? but our boat has not turned rip.” “How. long have you to wait?” “Two or three hours.” “So you’ve time to have something to eat. Come along, all of you.” Up they get, and march off with him to a large, pros-perous-looking house. ■ ; The meal prepared, the 12 hungry Austrax-ans do it ample justice. The kindly host keeps up up a lively conversation, plying them with questions, one after another. “Your name, sir?” One young giant answers, “Watkins,” another “Brown,” and so on. Presently he says to another: “And your name?” “Woodfull, sir.” The old man, deeply interested, exclaims: “Woodfull! Do you know whether ypur family is related at all to a man who was a young Wesleyan minister in Melbourne some 40 years ago?” “Yes, sir, he’s my father!” There’s a silence. The old gentleman looks round the trfble, and with trembling voice, exclaims: “Ah, boys. Had it not been for that young Wesleyan minister, neither you nor I should have sat at this table to-day.” Then he tells his story. He had gone out to Australia as a youth. There he “wasted his substance,” and fell upon evil days. Everything gone, self-respect gone! Grim despair had him in his grip, and was driving him to the quayside at Melbourne — anthe deep water. He tells them of a buggy that overtook him, the lift that he°had, the welcome meal; yes, and the bath. “Bovs,” he said, “it was the bath that did it. To think that that young parson should offer me a bath! ami hand me a g 00.., cleci towel. Yes, it was the bath that did it. I came out of that bathroom a new man. From that moment hope revived, self-respect, courage, resolve; something iq me lived again. I made good. See this house, this table, all around you! By the grace of God I owe it all to that young parson, Woodfull.”

“A man in England, when asked why he did not pay a debt, stated that ho could not because hits son had been too lazy to go and collect his . dole. Wc don’t want that position-jn New Zealand,” remarked Mr. W. T).‘ •Bysriar in the House of Representatives.