davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
Conscience not a Rule of Duty.

We have often been surprised to hear
persons, and especially professors of religion,
appeal to their conscience as a rule of duty.
They seem to think that if their conscience
does not disturb them, all is we'll This de-
fusion is far more general than we could at
first imagine; and the influence of this false
standard is felt in all. our churches God
has nowhere made conscience the rule of ac-
tien; and the Christian who has merely the
appreciation of his conscience may be far
from the path of duty. For conscience.
like every other faculty of our moral nature,
was perverted in the fall 1t was indeed,
impossible to have preserved its purity, when
the understanding, upon which it depends,
was blinded by sin. tits not only pervert-
ed, but may be unenlightened and hardened,
| insensible to the odiousness of sin /: and
through long course of trangression may
lose its power, so that it viii oppose no OBJ
stacle to the sinner in his downward course.
Yes. the conscience may be come so harden
ed that it will be past feeling, lost to all per-
ception between good and evil. The apostle
| Paul, before his conversion, followed the die
/ tates of his conscience in opposing the relig-
| ion, and prosecuting the disciples of Christ,
and the unbelieving Jews had zeal for God,
but not according to knowledge. Conscience
may, and often does err, through ignorance
hence said Christ, IF therefore, the light
that is in thee be darkness, how great is that
darkness r If conscience be the light here
referred to, and if it be darkened by sin and
error, as is often the case, how unsafe would
The tofollow its dictates? If conscience BIZ
our guide, then Paul was right in prosecuting
the church-many Of the Jews in rejecting
Christ-in short, every man who is consci
entious is right, let him do what he may
This would at once destroy all distinction
between virtue and vice.
And yet many protesting Christians seem
to think that nothing more is necessary ii
the commission Of an act, than to have, mo-
the appreciation, but permission Of their con
science. The very thoughts of the mind
the affections of the heart, and the acts o
life, yea conscience itself, must be tested By
the infallible word of God. There is NJ
other standard Of truth, or duty, or practice
True Fitness
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
Aparody on the House That Jack Built.


License Law. This is The house that
Death built.
The price OF blood. This is the malt that
lay in the house that Death built.
King Alcohol. This is the rat that ate
the malt that lay in the house that Death
built.
The Maine Legislature This is the cat
! that cornered the rat, that ate the malt that
lay in the house that Death built
The wholesale Liquor Dealers. These are
the dogs that barked at the cat that clutche
the rat that ate the malt that lay in the house
| that Death built.
Public Sentiment. This is the OK with the
lefty horn, that hooked at the dog that growl-
ed at the cat, that muzzled the rat, that ate
the malt, that lay in the house that Death
bailt
Vacant Jails aud Poor houses. These are
the maidens all forlorn, that lost their full
/ pals by the upsetting horn, that maddened
the dogs, that snarled at the cat, that put the
screws on the rat, that lay in the house that
Death built
The Tipplers. These are the men all tat
tered and torn, that courted the maidens all
forlorn, that curse not the rum, but the Anti
Rum horn that worried the dogs, that bar
/ ked at the cat, that caught the rat, that ate
the malt that lay in the house that Death
built.
Retail Rumsellers. These are the priests
with their masks all shorn, that welded it
woe the man tattered and tom, that laughed
at the maidens all forlorn, that lost theil
cream by the ruthless horn, that tortured
the dogs, that frothed at the cat, that died fol
the rat, that ate the malt, that lay in tn,
house that Death built.
Author of the Maine Liquor Law. Thi.
is the cock that erowed in the morn, tina
woke up the priests to behold themseiye
shorn, that can make no more victims al
tattered and torn, that will need no NOR
help from the maidens forlorn, that are nov
good for naught save to tell of the horn, tha
mangled the dogs, that were clewed by tn
cat, that outwitted the rat and swept off th
malt, and demolished the house that Deaf
built.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
The Boy Preacher of louisiana.

Mark Boatner Chapman is now in his
fourteenth year. He was born in Clinton,
louisiana, where his parents still reside
About two years ago he was received in the
church. Very soon after this be commenced
instructing his fathers servants on the af
terncon Of every Sabbath. His custom was
to read chapter and then comment upon it,
having first closely studied the chapter, con-
sulting Benson, Clark and Wesley on every
passsss.
He at length began, says writer in the
Memphis Adgocate, at the love feasts and
class-meetings, then to pray in the public
congregation. His appearance is that Of the
| merest boy, and he seems wholly unconscious
of any superior gifts or attainment He now
breaches regularly every Sabbath, at his IA
theirs place near town. His parents have
refused to allow him to enter the pulpit and
supply the place of the regular minister on
the Sabbath, although be is often solicited
to do so. He does nothing without permis-
sion from his parents Attends school, and
joins in all the amusements of the boys ofhis
own age; he is mere child everywhere,
save when preaching. On last Sabbath |
sat under his ministry, and have seldom been
more edited and delighted with a sermon.
His style is chaste, his words fitly and mcst
happily chosen The niceest critic would
not detect grammatical errer. His manner
is earnest, and his pathetic appeals reach all
hearts,
Occasionally his feelings overwhelm him,
and he gives way to floods of tears.
The most gifted lawyers, doctors and di
vines have heard him with astonishnent and
delight. | confess that it is most wonderful
and to me incomprebensiblc. When heard
him, he preached from the text, "How long
halt ye between two opinions!' He preach
ed from notes, sometimes seeming to forget
that his notes were before him. His subject
was arranged with perfect system, and mos
logically treated. When through with his
sermon he closed the book, and gave brie
and touching exhortatio1, under which
could with others weep. His public ad
dresses published have attracted mnch attcn
ton, and, should he live, he must, in his
onward course, leave broad wake or
the tide of morals. Such is the character Of
the boy Preacher" whose wonderful pre-
cocity is without a parallel.-Nep 0,-lean
Crescent.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
Picture ola Dead Infant.

Some few mornings since | was strolling.
with friend, through fne and conmodi-
GUS Daguerrean Gallery Of our city, recogniz-
ing here and there familiar physiognomy
the man Of business, with thoughtful brow
-dweller upon Change, with worried. care
worn aspect-numbers Of our city fathers
Mayor, Aldermen, &c,-divines, doctors.
attorneys, merchants, merchants clerks, city
beaux, moustachioed and be whiskered, some
of them full fiedged, some in the iueipiens
stage, others again callow City matrons.
city bellies, and yonder the man. | don't
know his name, whom | mentally and tacit-
ly identify with street corners and hotel
steps; hisis familiar face, have not gone
down town these seven years past without
meeting it-going or corning-it survived
the pestilence Of '55. and presented itself
fresh as ever to the first promenader in the
Main street region thereafter.
Ii. Slightly secluded position is group,
or rather collection Of groups. and here
surely we are not guessing in the dark now
is the counterpart Of one in Heaven. We
may speculate as we please upon the desti-
nies accomplished and pending of others here
and there, around. but This one is 10 Heaven.
1t is the child Of strange parents to us. their
names even unknown, but our sympashies
went out to them as we thought Of The large
vacancy in the home, in the Learts, which
the little one had left The stifened limbs
repose upon a snowy covered bier, pillow
supports the tiny head eRshrouded in close
fitting cap, the little eyes are lightly closed
for their long sleep, and rudy tint upon
the smoothly-rounded check almost cheats
the beholder into a dream of childhood $
healthy slumber. But alas for the artist
and his counterfeit eoloring so lfe-like =
There is q fearful limner and his name is
Death, and ye cannot paint over him i-veur
work is admirable--his is perfect. OF an
but the rigidity of feature, where be has set
bis seal, ye might beguiIe the bystander, but
His nameless touch is there, and even the
glorious sun, over whose rays your art holds
high power, must snccnmb to him till the
time when he is swallowed up in yic.ory.'
There are the tiny baby shoes somewhere
little fairy robes treasured up IN some
trunk or drawers small, pure whits scrap
Of paper, with q miniature curl Of the soft
es and silk;est hair that ever eas seer-a
vacant cradle carried away in . unfreauent
ed room, where somebody-strange incon
sistency Of grief!-sieals away 90 look at
and weep over it, again and again. There i.
this, that, and the other-ircasures which
were to have been given to baby, when /
grew up to mans or woman's estate. Tier,
are all these, somewhere. There Is rsieic
ing somewhere,-in Hesven-shither lab;
has gone, and the little representative of the
and these still occupies its niche in the pic
ture gallery
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08

evils and horrors of rumselling, he dropped
asleep.
But he had scarcely forgotten his troubles
when his wife was startled from her slum-
bers by her husbands cries of %. Dear ! o,
Dear me! Have Mercy. o HAVE MER-
cYlr
Why, AbJah, what is the mattcrT asked
his wife.
. 'o-I-don't know. o, dear me! have
had an awful dream, replied the frantic
man.
'Dream Dream about what I? said Mrs.
Doty.'
As soon as he recovered little from his
nervousness and exhaustion, he related the
following remarkable dream -
4 dreamed was down where old School
crafts distillery used to stand, just, coming
up the bank from the stream, when suddenly
the blackest cloud ever saw hung over my
head 1t was in violent commotion, whirl-
| ing and tumbling about as if driven by
hurricane; and out oft dartcd forked tongues
of fire. When the light flashed out OF the
cloud, I could distinctly read in large letters
Of blood LICENSE! And while was look
ing and turning this way and that to make
my escape, heard the rattling of bones, and
just then | saw old SIN Baily coming towards
me with human skeleton in his hand, which
he threw down at my feet. He had on gar
ments which were made Of small fiery SER
pents, twisted and matted together, ard we're
covered with blue fame, which sent
out an odor like burning birthstone. The
head of each serpent (and there were thou
sand of them) vas turned towards me- and
thrust out long sharp tongue, e. enough to
make the knees of terror quake!') which
pierced my flesh, and gave me as much pain
as if had been on a bed of FIRE. Each hair
of his head seemed a serpent, kissing, spit
ting and writhing about as if frantic to be let
loose upon me. Baily's eyes looked ike two
balls of fire, rolling about as if anxious to
leap out of their sockets. From his mouth
and nose poured forth volumes OF dark
smoke with sudden flashes Of fire. Sudden
ly the skeleton, which had been lying quiet
ly, sprang upon its feet, and bright flame
flashed out fits mouth, and blazed out OF tht
end of its long, bony fingers. 1t danced ant
jumped about me as if moved by some infer
nal spirit, and suddenly sprang towards me-
and caught me by my arm, and cried ou
LICENSEP' with voice that shook tht
earth. Its grasp burned into my flesh Ike
red hot steel. 1t was this which caused me
to cry out, 20, HAVE MERCY r.
Oh cursed sin traitor to God
Mother of woei ruiner of man
Pollock.
DERRICK.
This is only common specimen of tn
many details given in the MYSTERIOUS PARcH
MEST; OR, THE SATANIC LICENSE" a new an
Gerry interesting temperance volume, and
world-renowned one.
Reader, if you wish copy, send dola
to the Rev. R. L. Abernethy. Happy HON
P. o., Burke county, N. c., principal of ths
fonrishing school, the Rutherford Academy
and he will send you one, postage prepaid.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08

A VOLCANO AT WoRK.-A correspondent Of
the Alta Californian, gives the following Incl
dent of a visit 10 the volcano Kileau-not the
celebrated Marna Loa-in the Sandwich
Islands, thirty-six miles from Hiio:
The most wonderful and Ito us) mysteri-
Gus phenomenon we witnessed. was on the
second day of our visit to the crater 1t was
noon, and we were sitting on high bank at
lunch. / had turned my face IN the direction
of the wind, to avoid the intense heat of the
lake | was startled by ansise like The rush
ing together Of vast bodies Of water. The
natives jumped up instantly, and raising an
unearthly shout, scarnpeFedof inan opposite
direction. Turning towards the lake beheld
scene which ! shah never forget I, too,
had to run on some distance TO escape the
great heat The whole surface Of the lake
was in slate Of the widest commotion.-
Wave clashed on wave, and all was confusion
Tremendous billows Of fire rolled from every
side Of the lake, and meeting in fierce conflict
around the island in the centre. broke with
fury over its black sides. Then, after re-
ceding again, they rushed to the onset once
more, with increased ferce, and, meeting to-
gether, shot UP into the air perhaps one hun
dred feet one vast spiral body of red liquid
lava, which finally combed over and fell in
graceful spray back into the lake again
When things had been restored TO Their usual
order, the surface Of the lake seemed to have
fallen at least ten feet.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08

THE ScuooLaAsTFR's DiFfIcrLTY-At theS
annual meeting Of the friends Of school in
the South, one Of the teacllers, illustrating
difficulties and 4 sces.ra gements thrown in
the way Of the schoolmastcr BY parents, who
weaken his authority ard hinder his success
by their folly am. neglect, related an snecdote
of a country dcmiEic who ehsd hundred boys
and no assistant. ] vordcr how you man
aged theni,' said a friend. .witheuz help
'Ahp was his answer, . could manage the
hundred boys well enough; its the two hun
dred parents that trouble mc-thcre's no
managing Them
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08

FLIES SERVING THE .C2UsE OF AnzRrcAS
LIBERTy.-In the last volume Of Randairs
Life of Jefferson, the following aneedote is
given:
While the question of Independence was
before Congress, it had its meeting near
livery stable. Its members " ere short hreeches
and silk stockings, and with handkerchief in
hand. they were diligently employed in lash
ing the flies from their legs. So very vexa-
tious was this annoy and to so great an i'm
patience did it arouse the sufferers, that it
hastened if it did not aid, inindncing them to
promptly afix their signatures to the great
document which gave birth to an empire Re-
public.
This anecdote heard from Mr. Jefferson,
at Monticello, who seemed To enjoy it very
much, as well as to give credit to the iniu-
ence of the flies. He told it 10 mewith great
glee, and seemed to retain vivid recollection
Of the severity Of an attack, from which the
only relief was signing the paper and flying
from the scene.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
"DOTY's LICENSE TO SELL RUM

! on the parchment. 1t was then folded up
ard written upon in large characters,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08


The OLDEST MasoS II THE UNITED STATES.
In reference to paragraph published in the
Herald some days since, which stated that
Mr.. John johnson, Of Cincinnati, was the old I
est Mason in the United States, a .correspoa=
dent writes as follows: George Campbell, who
now resides in Fifty-first street, was born on
ST. Johns Day. lTT2, is a Royal Arch Mason,
and is an older mason and man, beth by two
years, than Col. John johnson, Of Cincinnati;
He is an old merchant Of this city, and was
on intimate visiting terms withs both Hamil-
ton and Burr, and after that fatal duel. and
when Burr needed concealnent from the min
ions of the law, he went 10 the house of Mr..
Campbell, then at Hackensacl1, n j., and was
concealed and got out Of the country by him.
while Robert Campbell, his own brother, was
State Attorney, living il tie same town, andl
would have given five thousand dollars to have
secured the arrest Of Burr.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY, BY
ALEX ANDER NJ. G0RMA n
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
TERMS:

TERMS:
Single Subscribers 81 80 per annum.
To clubs OF 3 and upwards 81 90 each;
sB INyARIABLY ADVANCE. Is
No paper Will be sent longer than the time for which
1t has been paid and paper sent unless the cash
accompanies the order.
Advertisements inserted at the usual of adver-
tising.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-08-08
Original papers,

TOR THE sPIsIT OF THE AGE.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-15
o. T.. n.
Bereavement.

when the first agony Of bereavement has
sabSided 50 as to allow the succession of calm
CT gliought, memory often becomes to us
eeader and solemn pleasure. Sometimes peo-
p@S1ay fall into error Of surprising that there
has been no deep affection and but little real
grief, because, the violence Of sorrow passing
away, it is followed by Il calm cheerfulless.
But that state of mind may more truly honor
thc elemory Of the departed, than floods Of
tcags. For then, perhaps VIC just begin to
understand them, and truly to live with them.
Rcooiloctoi in the tender light of affection,
al! lis features gathered up in sympathy, cv-
cEy ioiblo soitencd away, and only TIE good
ulado prominent, the image thus rising before
us, sheds upon our hearts a stronger and bet
ter Influence than whenit was embodied amidst
ete evils of the world, and behold only in
ssagmoutary revelations. The worst of us
r0ay leave behind some gentle memory, that
to toad hearts will almost cancel the evil we
have done The most degraded may be re-
rnenbered by some good trait, awakening
here and there sympathy which will drop
la klndly dew upon his grave. Death makes
q beautiful appeal to charity. When We look
uEqB the dead form, so cold and still, the
&iadness and love that arc in us all come forth
despite the wreck and the wickedncss, the en-.
gaisy aud shame, to detect some trace of bet
Ter humanity. That life must have been in
deed, from which We gather one littlo flower
Of memory that we are glad to cherish, and
taat always sheds a fragrance around the de-
parted name. And If ever the worst may
dius create some good influence by dropping
4sGa our sight, how much more the noble and
she good As to the worthier OF our race,
1t is only after they are gone that they are
araly appreciated. Only when they have re-
eeded from earthly contact, and become orbs
sa the armament Of history, do we see their
saS3 proportions and receive their concentrated
Fight And concerning the moro obscure but
not less loved, has not many a home and many
4 heart some record Of its own, which becomes
a developing revelation of their virtues and
ehclr influence as time rolls on How little
we knew them, and how slightly their real
excellence touched us, when they sat by our
eI&e and ministered to our wants, and bore
witA accomplishing our irritabiity and our
mistakes. How well we understand them
new as they commune with u.s. in light fOm
acavcn, and with the endearing faithlulness
we did not recognize until nothing Of them
was left but what they did for us. Yes, Of
tcu Is it so that forms of affection and sacred
aIaty aust fail into the ground and die ere VIC
gather their blessed fruit.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-15
The Value Of Accuracy.

1t is the result of everyday experience,
that steady attention to matters Of detail lies
at the root of human progress; and that dill
igonce, above all, is the mother of good luck.
Accuracy is also of much Importance, and an
invariabe mark Of good training in man,
Accuracy in observation, accuracy in speech,
accuracy in the transaction of affairs. What
is done in business must be well done; Tor it
is better to accomplish perfectly small
amount of work, than to half do ten times as
much. A>yiso man used TO say, " Stay a
little, that We may make an end the sooner. -
Too little attention, however. is paid to
the highly important quality Of accuracy
Asa man Sminent in practical science lately
observed to u.s. 1t is astonishing how few
people [ have met in the course Of my. ex-
pcriencc, who can define q toct accurately"
Yet in business affairs, it is the manner in
which even small matters are transacted,
that often decides men for or against you
With virtue, capacity, and good conduct in
other respects the person who is habitually
inaccurate cannot be trusted his work has
to be gone over again; and he thus causes an
infnity Of annoyance ycXation and trouble.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-11-15
Old Age.

Now beautiful is old age The sun is
ever brightest when it is about to sink below
the horizon and hide its radiant brow behind
ahe curtains of peaceful sleep. 1t is in the
evening that the nightingale sings its sweet
est songs, and it is in the autumn time that
mature is brightest and most beautiful; how
GAG it be, then, that the sunset of life should
BE less joyous and cheerful than lis meridian?
Kvcry body says that old age is an evil, and
everybody believes it, too; for the words
Rave been drilled into the mind thousand
shines; but how many have found that the
fear of i'll exceeds the i'll we fear, and that
the enjoyment of life suffers no diminution
4rom the increase of years.
Age is mighty thing. 1t has triumphed
over The trials of life, and flushed with VIC
aory it awaits lis reward. From boodeSs
dips, the youth, as he sits gazing into the
Srinkled features and lack lustre eyes be-
Sore him, hears the experience Of the past
as Is warned Of the shoals and quicksapds OIL
life and directed to the nohleSt channels, and
needs the warning. Thus age is mighty again
fer iatO the hot blood Of rising generations
at sends its own genius and directs its course
Ago IS holy it is the sanctuary of vel
esscnt lives it is the temple at the top of tht
2addor of existence, where lettering limbs
.snA wearied hearts may fad rePose, whence
eaey may look back without regret upon the
gvcat world they are SO soon to leave, with
Smiles of encouragement to those who are
stall struggling amidst the stormy waves o.
aou4une, and then turn and gaze with yearn
ang eyes upon the portals of that wondrous
spirit realm that will soon unfurl and give
ahc,n entrance to the gories Of the Lord.