Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1882-06-08
CHRISTIAN VOW.
The Pretty Story of a Faithful WOman's
Conservation.
New York PRESBYTERIAN.

New York Presbyterian.
At the close of the Eighteenth century
farmers daughter left her home in York
shire, England, to go as a servant IN farm
house. She had to fill the place at once OF a
kitchenmaid, housemaid, milkmaid and
cook. She MIXED six cows morning and
evening, besides all else, and when she found
leisure beyond these services she occupied
herself in spinning wool. But with all that
was lowly and unpromising IN this young
womans life she had genuine piety. She
had been brought up with the Bible as her
guide, and. with the pure and noble ideas
which belong to Christian education. In
the course of time she was engaged to marry
a young weaver of Halifax, whose name was
John Crossley They married at length and
settled down to life of honest industry.
Crossley was frugal and thrifty. He got on
well, laid by his earnings, and at length was
able to rent a wool mill and dwelling house.
When the couple were about entering their
new quarters holy purpose of conservation
took possession of his young wife. On the
day of entering the house she rose at o'clock
in the morning and went into the dooryard.
There, in the early twilight, before entering
the house, she knelt On the ground and gave
her life anew to God. She vowed most SOL
emnly in these words: If the Lord does
bless me at this place, the poor stall have a
share of it,
That grand act of conservation was the
germ of a life of marvellous nobility. 1t was
the law of this home for many years, while
sons were born and grew up under its emo
bling influence. John CrOssley died leaving
comfortable property and good name.
The widow lived ON to old age. and would
never consent to remove from her first home
to better one. The sons carried on their
fathers business, educated and controlled by
the spirit of the mothers early VOW. One of
the Youngest sons became Baronet and a
Member of Parliament for West Riding. In
mature life he said: ut is to this VOW, made
and kept with so much fidelity, that | at
tribute the great success OF my father in
business My mother was always looking
how she could best keep her VOW
The Crossleys grew rich and great. The
sons of the kitchenmaid became owners of
mills which covered acres Of ground. These
structures rose, story after story, in solid
masses. The work people were increased to
the number of 1000 and 5000 The good
old mother became alarmed, and said that
such large operations were dangerous, and
that a crash would come. The sons answered,
''No: we are all well insured, Honor the
Lord with thy substance and with the first
fruits of all time increase so shall thy barns
be filled with plenty This is our policy of
insurance.
In 1858 one of these sons was in America.
On seeing a fine landscape at sunset the glory
of the scene entered his heart and he asked
himself, What shall I render unto the
Lord ?' The answer to this question was the
purchase of land for peoples park, after
his return home, at cost of $4,000. The
park was given to the town of Halifax. At
length two spacious aims houses Were built
and endowed by two Of these brothers. Then
came a row of workmen's dwelling houses,
then an orphanage, and besides these any
number of less conspicuous charities.