The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1882-07-07
miscellaneous.
How God Could Get His Share.

A charming illustration ofconsecrated liv-
ing appeared many years ago in London
periodical. 1t was the story of the Crossey
family in its very humble beginnings and IN
its marvellous attainment in Christian benc
ficence. The main points of the narrative are
as follows:
"At the close of the eighteenth century n
farmers daughter left her home in Yorkshire
England to go as servant in n farmhouse
She had to fill the places at once of kitchen
maid, house maid, milkmaid and cook. She
MIXED six COWS morning and evening, be.
SIDE all else; and when she found leisure be-
yond these services she occupied herself in
spinning wool. But with all that was lowlv
and unpromsing in this servant girls 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 n Chris
| tian education
In the course OF time she was engaged to
marry young weaver of Halifax, whose
name was John Crossley. They married Mt
length and settled down to life of industry
John was frugal and thrifty; he got on well.
laid by his earnings, and at length was able
to rent wool mill and dwelling house
When the couple were about to enter their
new quarters holy purpose OF conservation
took possession of the young wife. On the
day ofentering the house she arose at four
O'Clock in the morning and went into the
door yard. There in the early twilight be-
fore entering the house she kneeled on the
ground and gave her life away to God. She
vowed most soemnly in these words: "If
the Lord does bless me at this place the poor
shall 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 some sons were
born and grew up under its ennoblinr infu.
cnce.
John Crossley died. leaving u comfortable
property and good name. The widow liy-
ed on to old age, and would never consent to
remove from her first home to a better one
Sons carried on their fathers business, educat
ed and controlled by the spirit of the mothers
early vow. One of the younger sons became
n baronet and 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 al
ways looking how she could best keep her
VOW to God"
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 increased to
the number of four and five thousand, The
good old mother became alarmed, and said
that Il crash would come The sons answer
ed, mo; we are well insured. This is
our policy of insurance: Honor the Lord
with thy substance and with the first fruit of
all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled
with plenty
In 1858 one OF these sons was in America.
On seeing llnc landscape at sunset the glory
nj In oil pntar 10 l,nnn
himself, "What shall render unto the Lord9n
The answer of this question was the purchase
of land for peoples park, after his re-
turn home, at cost of 100000 The park
was given to the town of Halifax AT length
two spacious almshOuses were built and en-
dowed by two of those brothers. Than
came row workmens dwelling houses, then
an orphanage, beside these any number of less
conspicuous charities"
This story carries its lesson on its face
This magnificent benefcence was the outcome
of proportionate giving. 1t was the fruit of
systematic benevolence-of the regular allot-
ing of a certain portion of ones income to
Christian charity. 1t was simply dealing
honestly with God and giving him the fair
reckoning of His own husbandry. Put this
Christian squareness into thousand bust
ness men give them the VOW of the Young
wiz Si'e 'hoh cho nucilty vi tnaC mOtnef
who was always looking to see how she could
keep her vow; give them spirit of abso-
lutte, persistent conservation, and the results
would be startling. The Lords treasury
would be full. He would then be able to
give the increase of n hundred fold, and not
have it wrested from His service by the
selfishness ola half conservation. Fill our
churches with women as noble as that kitch-
en- maid, and stores with such boys as she has
reared, and the Salvation of God would soon
sweep round the earth in a tidal wave, wrap
ping redeemed world.