It  still  stands,  that  quaint  old  cottage,  with  its  sunny-
kitchen  and  hospitably  open  door  :  the  last  house  in  a
quiet  court  that  ere  long  was  to  resound  with  children's
merry  laughter/  Across  the  street,  also,  may  still  be  seen
the  outside  stairway  leading  to  John  Taylor's  workshop.
It  was  a  steep  climb  for  little  feet,  but  doubtless  they  helped
to  wear  the  stones  so  smooth  with  many  a  journey  to  call
father  when  he  stayed  away  too  long.  For  the  cottage
overflowed  with  boys  and  girls  and  the  factory  with  business,
till  the  reed-maker  must  often  have  been  conscious  of  the
blessing  of  his  father's  God.^

In  the  Chapel,  too,  an  overflowing  blessing  had  been  given.
There  John  and  Mary  were  both  Class  Leaders  among  the
younger  people,  and  his  voice  and  musical  ability  were
greatly  valued.  "  Instead  of  the  fathers  shall  be  the
children  "  was  a  promise  so  abundantly  fulfilled  that  the
premises,  amply  sufficient  in  James  Taylor's  day,  were  all
too  small  for  the  succeeding  generation.  John  Whitworth
the  young  architect  increased  the  difficulty  when  he  started
an  excellent  innovation  known  as  the  "  Sunday  School."
Following  the  example  of  Mr.  Raikes  of  Gloucester,  he  set
about  gathering  in  the  untaught  children  of  the  streets.
Few  could  be  found  to  encourage,  and  even  he  had  no  idea
of  the  magnitude  of  the  work  he  was  undertaking.  But
when  on  the  day  of  opening  no  fewer  than  six  hundred
children  crowded  in,  all  eager  to  be  taught,  it  was  evident
not  only  that  the  school  was  needed  but  that  it  must  have
larger  premises.
And  soon  even  opposers  were  surprised  into  approval.
