Bendigo The Boxer
Krzysztof Z. Cieszkowski examines the life of the 19th-century prize pugilist-turned-preacher, William Thompson.
I have been a fighting character, but now I'm a miracle. What could I do? I was the youngest of 21 children, and the first thing that was done with me was to put me in a workhouse. There I got among fellows who brought me out, and I became a fighting character. Thirty years ago I came up to London to fight Ben Caunt and I licked him. I'm 63 now, and I didn't think I should ever come up to London to fight for King Jesus. But here I am, and I wish I could read out of the blessed Book, and I could talk to you better. But I never learnt how to read, though I'm hoping by listening to the conversation around me to pick up a deal of the Bible, and then I’ll talk to you better.
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