What Does it Mean to 'Live on Purpose?'

Elli could easily have enjoyed the fruits of being a child of Texas "royalty" (since both her grandfather and great-grandfather had distinguished roles in the Republic of Texas) but instead determined that she needed to prepare for a life of purpose. After all, her mother always said she should not rely on her ancestors' greatness but instead use every opportunity given to her.

When she arrived, Eli's education didn't all happen in the classroom. She began to watch the college president's wife, Anne Luther.

Ms. Luther was diligent in ensuring that young women could afford to attend school. She insisted on finding them jobs so that they could have an education. Years later, when Elli was invited to return to teach at Baylor Female College and saw the struggles of young women who believed that education was their only hope for a more positive future, she was burdened by those who couldn't afford to attend.

Shortly after the college moved to Belton, Elli began making plans to help these young women. The trustees denied her first attempts to build a cooperative-living house on campus, but generous donations, along with the use of her own life savings, paid to have a small house built where students in need could live rent-free.

Elli eventually resigned from her teaching role to give full attention to the Cottage Home where 12 girls lived and worked and received a 20-percent discount in tuition. She sacrificed personally, selling many precious family possessions to ensure the continuance of the Cottage Home. Many young women learned to train their minds and character and to put their absolute faith in God by watching the living faith of Eli.