Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-06-14
Pretty Story Of FaithfIl WOman'>
Conservation.

At the close OF the eighteenth century 4
farmers daughter left her home in York.
shire, England. to 90 as n servant IN IA
farm house. She had to fill the place Al
once of kitchen maid. house maid, milk
maid and cook. She milked six cows
morning and eve ing, besides all else and
when she found leisure beyondt hese serv.
ices she occupied herself in spinning
wool. But with all that was lowly and
unprOmisng in this young woman's 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
young weaver of Halifax, whose name
was John Crossley. lhey married at
length and settled down to life of honest
industry Crossley was frugal and thrifty.
He got on we'll, laid by his earnings. and
at length was able to rent wool mill
and dwelling house. When the couple
were about entering their new quarters a
holy purpose of consecration took posses
sion of his young wife. On the day of
entering the house she arose at o'clock
In the morning and went into the yard.
There, in the early twilight, before enter
ing the house. she knelt on the ground
and gave her life anew 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,"
That grand act of conservation was the
germ Of q life of marvellous nobility. 1t was
thel of this home for many years, while
sons were born and grew up under its
ennobling influence. John Crossley died
leaving a comfortable property and a
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 a baronet and a
member of parliament for West Riding.
In 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 in
creased to the number of 1000 and 5000.
The good old mother became alarmed.
and said that such large operations we're
dangerous, and that crash would come.
The sons answered. "No; we are we'll in
sured. Honor the Lord withithy substance,
and with the first fruits of all time in
crease; SO shall thy barns be filled with
plenty This is our policy Of insurance"
In 1853 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 l render
unto the I1ordP" The answer to this
question was the purchase of land for a
peoples park, after his return home, at a
cost of $4,000. The park was given to
the town of Halifax. At length two
spacious almshouses were built and en-
dowed by tive of these brothers. Then
came a row of workmen's dwellings
houses, then an orphanage, and besides
these any number of less conspicuous
charities. .--Nel0 York Presbyterian.