The Fannie Bolton Story

106/152

Extract from Fannie Bolton’s articles in Review, April 13-May 11, 1897

[See E.G. White’s comments on these articles in the next selection.] Mrs. Morehouse [Mrs. McKenzie] took a roomer, partly for the rent it would bring her, and partly because she had heard that Miss Ashbury [Fannie Bolton] was a Christian girl, and in her backsliding, she felt the need of a hand of help. Miss Ashbury had eyes, ears, and a heart; and it soon came to pass that the poor, nervous, overworked mother, the struggling, pharisaical father, the worried, uncomforted children, all found a place in her heart. What could be done? The first thing was to pray for them; the next was to seek to win their confidence by presenting in her own life something of the loveliness of the image of Christ. Often she sighed, as the sound of cross words and cruel blows came to her ears, and she knew that not only were the children receiving a false impression of her beautiful, loving Lord, but the unbelieving neighbors were saying, “What an exacting man! What a very unpleasant woman!” and were congratulating themselves that they were not Christians, and were so much pleasanter to live with than those who had family prayer and went to church. She heard the man next door, who was an infidel, exclaim, “From all that is religious, deliver us!” FBS 75.6

Miss Ashbury had charge of a children’s meeting, and by dint of coaxing and tact finally succeeded in gaining permission for Alma to attend; but it was on condition that she carry the baby, and take charge of the two older children.... Realizing something of the troubles of childhood, Miss Ashbury led the meeting with a sympathetic understanding of matters, and applied the Scripture to the children’s circumstances in such a way that they were impressed with the Saviour’s love and compassion toward them. Many a time teacher and pupils wept together. They learned many beautiful songs that crystallized the lessons of the hour, and erelong the children’s songs began to echo between the words of faultfinding in Mrs. Morehouse’s home. FBS 76.1