Catherine Booth

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eir children to learn anything which could n

Derbyshire, on January 17, 1829, and God gave to her the ve

nly one lived to be a man. But her dear mother more than made up for every lack, and from her

ther who had just died; and, though she was not more than two years old at the time, Katie never forgot that first lesson. Spiritual things were eve

evening sobbing bitterly in her little cot long after she should have been asleep. She had told a falsehood, and conscience would not let her rest. When she h

with just a little help over the very long words. And this love for God's Word grew deeper every year, so that by the time she was twelve years old she had read it through eight times. In later years people often wondered how it was that Mrs. Booth knew he

lly; black, flashing eyes, and such a warm heart, and strong, impetuous nature that she

uld sew and toil, and never rest till she felt she had in every way done her duty to them. She loved animals, too, especially dogs and horses, and could not bear to see any one ill-treat them. Oh, how she suffered one

ifferent child, who can see suffering and not care or be distressed over it, would make a hard woman; a

to different newspapers, for there was no 'War Cry' nor 'Young Soldier' in those days; and she also became the secretary of what

preachers to be sent to them; and in order to get more money she would deny herself sugar and other small luxuries. No one told Ka

found out how straight and truthful she was. 'You'll never get her to tell a lie,' the girls said, 'nor even to exaggerate, so it's no use trying.' Every one knew also that Katie felt for the backward girl

iet, and liked to read better than to play; and at such times, instead of being patient, she would flare up into a passion, and sa

ng up with the other girls, she had to return home, and for three long years to lie nearly all the time on her back, often

nd sew. She could not, of course, hold heavy needlework; but little things, like babies' socks and hoods, pin-

of couch made on purpose for her; but she invented a contrivance by which, even then, she could read her Bible, though still remaining in the position that the doctors wished. Then, too, she would read good books–explanations of the Bible, about Holiness, soul-saving,

hought that novels and silly story books made people discontented with their own homes and duties, and put wrong, hurtful ideas

een tempted to feel that God was hard in not letting her be strong like other girls; but we now see that all the time He was fi

expressed in books, has been very helpful to me. Had I been given to gossip, and had there

here alone on her bed, what she never could have learned in the ordinary way. And He will train you, too, in