Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/70

Rh the words, "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever," Who shall say what influence and inspiration for a life of devotion to the uplifting of fallen and broken humanity flowed from the calm, consecrated loving mother into the very soul of the youngest child, so soon destined to take up her life work?

Not long after this the family moved to London. The Reverend Charlesworth was made Vicar of the Limehouse parish, and the two eldest daughters married clergymen. Maud, left without their companionship, commenced to look for a field of endeavor in which she might be of service. When the opportunity was presented she was quick to grasp it and at the early age of sixteen commenced her public speaking.

In France there was great need for reformative influence. It was just at the time that in the great city of Paris "untamed revelry reaped a toll of shadow." To these impulsive yet sympathetic people the girl of faith carried a message of the higher ideals of life. Her knowledge of their own language, so thoroughly gained from the nurse of her baby days, gave to her appeal an added touch of personal understanding, and hundreds upon hundreds responded to her message.

From France she went to Switzerland, always working for the uplifting of others. Just before her return to England a call came to her from the great University at Upsala, Sweden. Here she realized her greatest successes and led the most inspiring and helpful of her services on the continent. Winning the attention of the students she commanded their respect and appreciation. It has been said that never before or since in the history of the University was such a powerful influence for good felt. Even to this day there are in all parts of the world those who still speak of the Upsala gatherings and look back to them as the turning point in a life experience.

It would be impossible to recount the rapidily varying events of the following years in so short a biography as this; to tell how she met Ballington Booth and of the courtship which followed; of the time of separation necessitated during