OLD AB’ On the ridge of hills which divide Lancashire from Yorkshire there is a cluster of huge sandstone rocks, called, by local tradition, Robin Hood’s Bed. Standing on these rocks, with the face towards the setting sun, an irregular dale stretches out on the north-west side, about ten miles in length, bounded by broken …
Author: J. Ashworth
ANSWERED AT LAST I have often thought that John’s heavenly vision of golden vials filled with incense, the prayers of the saints, would contain many hundred thousands of prayers of parents for their children, especially of godly parents for ungodly children; for, amongst the millions of earnest petitions that daily ascend to the Throne, many …
LUCY’S LEAGACY J. Ashworth Strange Tales Those who are best acquainted with the young in our Sunday schools and churches, have often witnessed the deep concern of youthful converts for their unsaved friends and relatives, especially their parents. Pardoned themselves, they have the most intense desire that those they love should enjoy the same blessing; …
TWENTY POUNDS J. Ashworth Strange Tales To walk across the street, to turn the corner quickly or pretend to see something in a shop window because he beholds his creditor coming; to go a long way round for fear of passing his creditor’s house or hold down his head if forced to pass it lest …
PRISCILLA J. Ashworth Strange Tales I knew a young man who was struggling hard with a small business and a young family, trying to help his aged father and mother—dependent upon their children—and who regarded it as one of his many blessings that he was able to do a little towards making his aged parents …
THE TEST I am sure you will admit, with me, that as the Lord’s saving visit to Zacchaeus prompted him at once to assail his besetting sin of covetousness, by saying, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, …
JOSEPH OR THE SILENT CORNER The most melancholy part of the churchyard is the Silent Corner, where lie the remains of our nameless ancestors. It is sad enough to be told by the “storied urn or animated bust,” the polished granite or unpretending headstone, the names of departed friends; but it is sadder still to …
THE WIDOW AND FATHERLESS One of the noble replies given by Job to his “miserable comforters,” when they charged him with having sent the widows empty away, was, that he had not turned a deaf ear to their cry, but had caused their “hearts to sing for joy.” And one of the most touching scenes …
OLD ADAM One of our Rochdale doctors, being asked by a friend if some of his doings were not likely to exclude him from heaven, replied : “When I die, I shall take with me an old book I have, which is full of debts owing to me by the poor, whom I have never …