The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-05-09
A CHRISTIAN VOW.

The Pretty Story of y Faithful WON ms.
Conservation.
From the New York Presbyterian
At the close of the eighteenth century far
mer's daughter left her home in Yorkshire,
England, to 90 as servant in a farmhouse.
She had to fill the place at once of kitchen
maid, house maid, 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 spin
ming WOOL But with all that was lowly and
unpromising in this young woman's lite she
mad genuine piety. She had been brought up
with the Bible as her guide, and with the pure
and noble ides which belong to Christian ed
ucation. In the Course OF time she was en-
gagged to marry young weaver of Halifax,
whose name was John Grossly. They mar
ried at length and settled down to life of
honest industry. Crossley was frugal and
thrifty, He got on well, laid by his earrings,
and at length was able to rent wool mill and
dwelling house. When the couple were about
entering their new quarters holy purpose of
conservation took possession on the young wife,
On the day of entering the house she rose at
four O'Clock in the morning and went into the
door-yard. There, in the early twilight, be-
lore entering the house, she knelt on the
ground and gave her life answer to God.
She vowed most solemnly in these words: "If
the Lord does bless me at this place, the poor
shall have share Of it,
The grand act of conservation was the
germ of life of marvellous nobility. 1t was
the law of this home for many years, while
sons were born and grew up under its ennoo-
ling influence. John Crossley died leaving a
comfortable property and good name. The
widow lived on to old age and would concent
I'd 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 his mature life he said,
at is to this vow, made and kept with so
much fidelity, that attribute 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 kitchen-maid became owners
of mills which covered acres of ground.
These structures rose story above story, in
solid masses. The work-people were increaced
to the number Of four and five thousand. The
good old mother became alarmed, and said that
such large operation were dangerous and that
a crash would come. The sons answered
"No; we are we'll 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 insur-
ance."
In 1853 one of these sons was in America.
On seeing a fine landscape at sunset the
glory of the scene entered his hear and asked
himself. "What shall render unto the Lords"
The answer to his question was the purchase
of land for Peoples Park, after his return
home, at a cost Of $4,000. The park was
given to the town Halifax. AT length two spa
cious almshouses were built and Endowed by
two Of these brothers. Then came a row of
workmen's dwelling houses, then an orphan
age, and besides these any number of less con-
spicuou charities.