Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-28
A SIMPLE STORY.
OF an English Mansion whose stone
steps Were stepping stones to
Christian Character.

A certain English mansion, noted
through many years for its hospital
tiles 20 clergymen, has history
which is interesting and unusual.
a young bricklayer was one day
passing along London street, when
he saw servant maid in front of
one of the houses, cleaning the steps.
Her appearance pleased him, and he
noticed that she did her work well.
After a time he succeeded in learn
ing her name and where she attend
ed church. Then he became an at
tendant at the same place of worship.
although his motive was merely to
meet her.
In Dissenters' chapel they were
first introduced to each other; and
an acquaintance began, such as so
often brings opposite forces face to
face till the stronger prevails.
The young woman was sincerely
religious, the young man was not.
Her faith governed her life and
sweetened her daily service. He saw
no good in its profession or its cere-
monial duties. But the girl was true
and wise, and she did not wait, as
too many have done, till her par
tiality for him weakened her best
influence. He had sought her as she
was, and her example and her loyal
plety once in his way, were kept
there by her friendly interest-noth-
ing moro.
He studied and questioned her, and
studied and questioned himself. He
20
stand her Worship; and then her
faith appealed to him. He admired
her firmness, and ceased TO wonder
why she could not love an unbeliever.
It is quite common to challenge
the sincerity Of spiritual conversion
in sentimental case, but the young
mason had genuine manhood, and
when he had a confession to make
It was an honest one. Led by the
gentle girl who became his wife, he
began career of Christian useful
ness that left its stamp on his gen.
Grafton.
He prospered in his business, and
after few years was able TO erect
handsome home of his own.
In the making Of it he carried out
his ideal He had determined that
1t should be "wayside inn" for
Christian ministers. 1t should never
lack a prophets chamber with the
Shunammite bed and a table and n
stool and a candlesticl" for any man
of God who came by Sabbath ap-
Pointment to his church, or who
journeyed that way on evangelical
duty. When the house was done and
the screen of scaffolding taken away
from the front door he invited his
wife and children to the place, and
made known his little surprise.
There, Mary, do you recognize
them?" he said. "Those are the
steps you stood on when I first saw
you. When your old EMPLOYERS
house was moved I bought them.
They were touched by the feet of
my good angel when she first came
into my life, and I wanted them at
home to keep me in mind"
Many years after the bricklayer
became wealthy brick manufac-
turer he lived to enjoy dispensing
the Inequalities of his home, and
the occasions were not far between
when bishops and doctors and mis-
sionaries, whose gifts and labors
gave luster to England's name, were
welcomed up those steps so long ago
consecrated by affection. Those
plain stone stairs were a constant
reminder of a young woman's faith
full diligence, and they recalled TO
her husband his first foothold of
Christian character, and his first up
lift to happiness and fortune. That
is why he cherished them.-Youth's
Companion.