The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-18
Seleff Sfarp.
JOHN ASHWORTII.

The Barefoot Boy, whose early story
is told in the following article from SIM
dag at Home, London, stood at the head
of the list of delegates, for Great Britain,
at the great Conference of tie EvangrI-
ical Alliance which met IN New York in
1873. 1t ought to be read in every fam
lily and Sabbath School in the land:
John Ashworth was born at Cutgate,
n small hamlet now enclosed within the
recently enlarged borough OF Rochdale,
on the Sth of July, 1913, and was the
second son and fifth child of his parents,
who were hand loom weavers. There
were altogether eight chiIdrcn-thre
sons and five daughters. Early in his
life the family removed from Cutgate to
Simpson Clough. near Banford.
On the outskirts of RochdGIe, On siIe
side of the highway leading to Manchcs-
ter, at n place called Sparth, there form
erly stood large stone table supported
by three thick stone pillars. Here, in
bygOne days, country farmers met with
milk for their town customers. Hence
its name-the Milestone. One hot sum-
mer day, poor woman was seen tOiling
up the hill called Fletcher Round with q
flannel piece en- her back. a little boy
was walking by her side. On reaching
the Milestone she laid down her heavy
burden, and leaning on the piece fnr
support, she wiped tha swrat from ner
face with her check apron. With alook
of affection, the boy gased into the face
of his mother and said:
"Mother, when l get a little bigger
you shall never carry ano.h.r piece. /
will carry them all, and you shall walk
by my side"
That little lad was John AslIworth, aud
when he grew bigger he redeemed lis
promise, and carried the pieces to Mr.
WhitwCrth's warehouse without calling
at the Milestone to rest. ltwRs on that
very dey there flashed on him the truth
that he was only the poor child of very
poor parents-the young son cfGn hnm-
bic, toiIing, bind and affeetIonate moth
er. He says, not without humOr: con
awakening to a sense of our social pO-
sition as family, found we were not
amongst those considered respectable in
our neighborhood. The test of respect
ability consists in having n set Of mahog
any drawers, and an eight-day clock in
a mahogany ease; n holiday shirt for thc
Young men, and printed dress with a
large f.ounce for the young women.
Mary of the flannel weavers in cur vii
lage could beast these possessions; and
they held up their heads above Others
racy were those who used tablecloths,
had knives and forks to eat with and
displayed n muslin window-blind on u
Sunday. One family had room they
called II parlor, the floor of which was
covered with a carpet; a secondhand
table piano also figured largely, which
was looked upon by us rs mark of great
wealth and respectability. This family
held quite distinct position. None Of
usever presumed to be on King terms
with such great folks"
Facts in detail are more impressive
than any general description, however
careful and comprehensive, and the fol-
lowing incident in his own words will
give a clear though painful idea of the
deep poverty of those earlier years, Of
the love which tempered it, and of the
way in which John Asllworth was pre-
pared for the work of sympathy and
mercy in which he afterwards engaged.
-''On Saturday evening was playing
with my companions, when my mother
gently laid her hand on my head and re
quested me to go with her into the house
took up my marbles and quietly follow
ed her
''What do You want me for, mother
1t is not time to go to bed yet; let me
play Il little longer, will you!"
81 know it is soon to call you from
your play; but l can't help it. Your
trowsers want mending, and want TO
wash your shirt; for though We are poor
we ought TO be clean. intended to get
you pair of clogs, but 1 am not able
am making you pinafore out of part
of a wool sheet; it will cover your ragged
clothes, and you will then look little
better
The quiet way in which she spoke,
and the sad look which accompanied her
words, subdued my objections. silent
ly walked up stairs to allow her to begin
washing and patching; and while my
playfellows were still laughing and
shouting in the streets, l crept naked into
my humble bed-not to sleep, but to
think and to weep. Ny mind wandered
far into the future that night. What
air-eastles did buildi Thought grew
to be a man, entered into business, made
money, built new house with a white
door and brass knocker to it, planted