M. A. L. was the daughter of an earnest Christian man, a shoemaker by trade, who sought to bring up his large family in the fear of God, accustoming them to strict discipline and earnest work. It was difficult in those days for a poor man to have his children taught to read and write, but he did his best; so, whilst the sons learned both, the daughters were taught reading only, the father considering writing unnecessary for them. The family commenced work soon after four o’clock in the morning, when M. A. L. helped her mother to bind shoes; and this habit of early rising she found invaluable through life, so much more being accomplished in the fresh quiet hours of the day, before the busy world is astir.
The Spirit of God worked in her soul from early childhood, telling her that she was a sinner, and at times filling her heart with anguish, but years passed on without M. A. L. obtaining the knowledge of salvation, until one night she awoke, as from a dream, and heard herself say, “Lord, now I will believe. Help Thou mine unbelief.”
The Lord so satisfied her soul that from that hour, not a doubt was allowed to trouble her as to the forgiveness of her sins: she knew the value of the atoning blood.
M. A. L. married a Christian man, who had a hard life at sea, being engaged in whaling off Greenland and elsewhere. When he was at home, they rose early on Sunday, and breakfasted at seven; after reading and prayer, several of their nine children were dressed for Sunday school, and were taker by the father, who also had a class, and who afterward took the children to chapel. The mother stayed at home with the little ones, and prepared their frugal meal. The afternoon was spent in singing hymns until the time came for Sunday school again, and in the evening the father stayed with the younger ones whilst the mother went to chapel. This truly Christian way of spending the Lord’s day was no doubt a great means of blessing in uniting the family, and in impressing them with the reality of their parents’ love to the Saviour: for these toiling, ones might have pleaded the need of rest upon one day in the week, as many now do, but their refreshment, even of body, was found in seeking the things of God.
Years passed away, and the good husband and father was seized with a lingering illness, during which the wife struggled hard to provide for the family. Many instances of God’s faithful care at that time can be told by her—one especially may be mentioned.
The rent was just due, and for the first time in their history it had not been possible to save it up. M. A. L. went up the street that morning, feeling sad, but still believing that she should see God’s hand to help. As she walked on, she saw something in a little puddle in the pavement, which she picked out and took home as a farthing. The husband took it from her, rubbed it, and exclaimed, “Why, it is a sovereign!” Thus the rent was more than met.
The last hours of the good man were singularly happy, and his children can never forget his testimony to the faithfulness of God as his Father in Christ.
When the writer of this simple story first knew M. A. L. she was 74 years old. She had much to tell of the Lord, as a Husband to the widow, and a Father to the fatherless.
All her children were converted to God but ore, and she was pleased to be able to say of that son, that his life witnessed to the moral influence of his godly parent. The writer also had an unconverted son, over whose soul she had yearned for many years, and it was agreed that they should unite in prayer for the unsaved sons. In due time, the dear old saint wrote to tell the joyful news that her son was truly the Lord’s, and some months afterward, the same blessing was vouchsafed to the writer in a very marked way, thus confirming the faith of both in Him, who has said, “Let thy widows trust in Me.”
M. A. L. is now 79, and still works for her bread, trusting that she may be allowed to do so until the end; but her loving children earnestly ask her to find a home with them, and she desires to put all into His hands, who has so carried her along, and who has said, “Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs I will carry you.”
M. A. L. told her own simple tale to the writer, ending it with, “When I go to bed, I think over all my mercies, and then I go to sleep, full of praise to God.”
D.