davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
Let lie Pray First.

A very intelligent little girl was passing
quietly through the streets of certain town
a short time since, when she came to spot
where several idle boys were amusing them
selves in avery dangerous practice OF throw
ing atonos. Not observing tho boys. ono OF
them, by accident, threw a stone toward
her. and struck her cruel blow in the eye.
she was carried home in great agony.
The surgeon vas sent for, and very pain
full operation was declared necessary. When
the time came, and the surgeon had taken
out his Instruments, she lay in her father S
arms, and he asked her if she was ready.
ono, father, not yet" she replied.
"What do you wish us to wait for, my
cbild2'
81 want to kneel in your lap, and pray
to Jesus frs';' she answered. And then
kneeling, she prayed few minutes. aud
afcerward submitted to the operation With a
patience worthy of a woman.
How beautiful this little girl appears,
under those trying circumstances Surely
Jesus heard the prayer made in that boar;
and he will love every child that calls upon
his name. Let every boy and girl learn to
pray; and let idle boys be careful how they
throw stones.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
Happy Home.
"And fast as my moments roll on,
They bring me but nearer to thee y

What a consoling compensation for the
rapid fight Of time, and its tendency to
separate US from beloved objects here!
There are seasons when we take but lit
tie note Of tines ccaseless and rapid flow.
Ere long, We find that we have been borne
far UPWARDS in the voyage Of life. Youth
has passed away. Gray hairs are upon our
temples. Much that We expected to do re-
mains undone; many OF our anticipated
enjoyments have lot been realized. Sad
and painful feelings steal upon the mind as
we contemplate these things.
But there is view of the subject which
banishes all such feelings. If heaven is
our home. if we are Gods children, we have
no reason to regret the rapid fight of time.
We have no reason to regret the swftness
OF the current which is bearing us to our
happy home to our beloved Fathers pres-
euce.
This view should behabitual to the Chris
tian. At the close of each day, instead of
saying, with q sigh, 81 am one day nearer
to my grave" he should say, with an emo
ton Of joy, 81 am one day nearer to my
home"
Reader, is the stream OF time bearing
you towards your happy home. where Christ,
your elder brother, has gone to prepare
place for you, and where God, your father,
waits to welcome your o. is it bearing
you to the gulf of despairl
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
POETRY.
Death Of the Christian Soldier.

TELL THEM THERE II NOT CLOUD BETWEEN ME
AND by SAVIOUR"
Dying Message Of an officer in Belmont. Missouri.
There's II t cload!' o precious words to f.
from dy NJ lips;
B,.wcen the Savi,urs fee AMI thine theso restesh
10 eclipse
There's not z cl5ui!" Then there's "a fear, TO
drinking, trembling ct;
No wave'i.g fifth no lingering doubt but trust and
love complete
"Eo cloud!' Thank God, no shadow steals athwart
the jasPer walls;
No mist o0scures the pearly gates-calm sunlight or
them falls;
No dimmiug VEIL with folds of gloom, shut, from thy
longing sght
The waving palms. the golden streets, the crystal
waters bright
No darkness hide, III, Shepherds h1ud, that leads
thee safe alorgi
NJ suleN roar breaks on thy ear to drown the an
CELLS scngi
No wheim pg waves dash Ger thy barque-ss,, ,ely
do,h it glide
Adown the stream to anchor safe beyond tao swelling
tide
There's no. a cload!' 0! ye VINO mourn for that
brave sodilr slaio,
Let words like these bring healing balm to s'Othe
your bitter pain.
Inflite Love now she ters him. all mortal strifs is
oeri
sickness or sorrow grief or woe, can never harm him
ore
No fiery shot no rendng shell, 'ick'ning clash of
steel,
No heavy roll of besting drum, or lannon's awful
pea;
No stau array in battles front Of fierce and vengsl
Can break the holy peace that marks the soldiers
last repos5.
There's not a cloud!' 0! blessed words: when all
Of fe iy given,
When earth rec, dee, and nearer draw the blissful
shores Of heaven,
Then may these words, in triumph tones, fall from
my dying hPF,
IA eclipse HELENA
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
SELECTIONS.
Tae Lord in the Church.

The church recognizes the Lord as ajous
her membership With Job, she styles Him
"tbe God that is above" The church re-
cognizes the Lord as b, fare her mem bersbip
L Ike her great Head, she says, Il have set
the lord always before me-" TIE church
recognizes the Lord as ropnd nbo"t her mem
bersGip. She echoes the sublime pr0fes
sion OF the Psalmist, "As the mountains
are ronDd about Jerusalem, go the Lord is
round about His people, from hencefOrth
even for ever" But this is not the utmost
of her privilege. She may aspire to a still
more Intimate and endearjug connection
With tire Father OF lights. 1t is given to
her, to recognize the Lord as among her
membership. How often, in tae lapse ot
ages, have the words first addressed to
Israel after the flesh been repeated to
her "The inhabitants Of the land have
heard that thou, oh Lord art among this
people, and art seen face to face -
Yes, the Lord Is among His people. He
is there, not merely by the commission OF
His servants as guides to their fellow SER
wants, but in His own personal presence
and agency so that we are led, if by
Moses, also By the God of Moses. He is
there, clothed with authority, which hal
lows His name to reverence, and inspires
obedieece to His will. lie is there, breath
ing mercy more swift to meet our repent
snce than our repentance to approach it
He is there, the fountain of law, the bull
wark Of hope, the shield Of infrmity, the
pledge of eternal life. He is there, the
glory of all our public assemblies-our
companion and counsellor in the closet
Oh, unspeakable privilege! On, heaven
on earth
But the presence of the Lord among His
people may be forfeited by unbelief and
sin. He may withdraw Himself, in anger,
for season. AS distributor of blessings,
the special blessings of His grace, He may
90 away out of their midst, until the sense
Of His absence wrings from their lips the
cry of repentance-the cry that always
comes into His ear.
Ga, then for every church. in every Ell
gency, the question important above all
other questions, is that which was ssked of
old, SIS tie Lori among US, or S5t ?"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
FOR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
To the Ladies Of the Confederate
States.

ladies permit me to ask inst one q1es-
zion: ia, rs kaia,Eg jJf our Soldiers! Last
autumn we scarcely met With a lady who
was not busily plying the knitting needles,
for the bent6. of the soldiers. This may
be the case now, in s0ue parts Of the coun-
try. We sincerely hope it is. Bat in cur
neigh5orlood We have not seen q lady en-
gagged in t6is iaui2b,e occupation, except
for their orn families Why is this7 Have
we ceased to care for those who have given
no every coGJoyt ana goGe forth to breast.
tae chilling U;uGs aud SHOWS Of winter
the cannon balls, bcw5shei!s, anu oil the
horrible missiles of death for oar dcJtacc.
aud that of our beloved country2 "Oh no.
10! is the response, ihink hear from
many a heart and mouth; we hare not, we
cqnaot cease TO feel interested in them -
But we have not the means of supplying our
large army WITH these comforts Wool is
scarce and high priced, aud we can't pro-
cure enough to 90 any good" Bat sisters.
remember that the ocean is made up Of
drops Must we decline doing anything,
because We can't accomplish vast amount
Of good? No indeed Let each Of us re-
solve TO do little. Let US, who expect to
sit at orr comfortable ffe-5ides this winter,
while the poor soldiers are wading through
snow and ice, deprive ourselves Of Just one
pair Of stockings; aud with that yarn, knit
pair of gloves, and pair Of sucks, for
those who have not mothers and sisters to
knit for thea. And thus, by contributing
our mites, we shall add greatly to the cou-
fort Of our suffering brothers. And if it is
done in the right spirit, no shall have the
appreciation Of Him, who highly commend
ed one Of cur sex on a certain occasion,
and said of her Sic hath done ,ciqt she
could" Let us too, DO what we can, though
it be but a little. While we cherish the
hope, that others who have ample means,
will deal them out with liberal hands, let
us send in our huIe offerings, accompanied
WIKI Cur daily and earnest prayers, that
God may preserve the lives, and save the
souls Of cur faithful soldiers. MARTHA.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
CHLLDRENS' COLUMN.
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Don't Play CaI ds, Boys.

Don't play cards even for amusement.
You could fad some better employment; and
tine is too precious to be wasted in man
ner SO Improbable. You had better con-
verse with your friends Oh some interesting
topic, than spend so many hours of every
day in such complete idleness. Cultivate a
talent for conversation, and see il you can
not learn how to impart instruction to your
felow-meu, or at least to divert and in5Ss.e-ssss
them, when they are sad and low-spirited
Let me give some reasons, why you should
not play cards.
l. You may become gambler, if you
do. GA! but you DO not play for money,
and never intend to DO so. Butyo will play
for money after awhile, just to give interest
10 the game: and when you have become
passionately fond Of playing cards, you will
play for larger and still larger sums Of
money, until You are ruined man. You
will insensibly become gambler by play
ing a little every lay, until the habit gets
complete mastery over you. Then you will
disregard all considerations Of prudence, and
break all the good resolutions yop have
ever formed. The tears of your mother, or
the entreates of your wife will have no
power to draw you from the gambling table.
You will place so Il u.h reliance on your good
luck, or on your skill, as good player, that
you will have no fear of losing. When you
have gambed away all your property, then
you will be sorry that you ever touched
card. Temperate drinking makes oil the
drunkards in the land; and playing cards
for amusement makes all the gamblers, who
do so much mischief in our country. Judge
Curry of Cynthiana, Ky, once told me, that
when be was boy, his mother said to him,
''my son, don't be a gamblers" and he said
to himself, eff never learn to play cards,
l shall never be gambler" So he never
learnt to know one card from another. His
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
ali Conscriptg.

Consumption has become familiar to us
these days. Oar dear country's necessities
have called for all she young vgOr and
strength of our nations manhood. Our
people seeing the urgency Of our situation,
have cheerfully consented. At first there
was Earring, the old plan did not easily
join with the new; out soon we trust all
vil work smoothly and already we see the
wisdom that planned the measure. Posi-
bly, the CONSUMPTION may be extended. but
at It's tarfhest reach many will be exempted,
through sickness, old age, infancy end all
females of course will be passed over
Only, as the census tables sEow, about one
sixth part Of the white population can be
included. These, with the few exceptions
above noticed are liable to be called out for
the war. EIen If at home for awhile, they
actually belong to tie army of the Con-
lederaie States, their names are enrolled,
lhey may at any limo be commanded to
the camp or battle field.
Nov there has been ordered another
CONSUMPTION of our people which is nos
mach talked about. 1t has been made bY
the highest and most lawful authority. 1t
is like the other, in that all enrolled ara
liable any day to be called upon. But it is
unlike it too. La our Confederate con-
scription some Of the conscripts may posi-
bly, not be required for service. Bat in thiu
other all must sooner. later be summoned,
Oar army CONSUMPTION applies TO those
oflv hot al IKE :poluda,
all. The feeble, grey haired man and the
infant, all have their names set down; the
females too are enrolled aud there are no
exemptions whatever. No State or Con-
federate ofi;er, however high in rank, nor
minister, nor workman, nor even those who
give millions for a substitute not the bed
ridden, or bliad or deaf and dumo-all are
cOnscripls and must go.
= 10 the Confederate CONSUMPTION there is
a probability that their time of service will
be brief. a few years at most at war, and
then happy return home, perhaps before
then discharge on account of sickness or
q wound. Bat in the GREAT CONSUMPTION
there is no discharge. The chief authority
has published that "there is no discharge
in that war" f :clesiasles S.
Reader your name is enrolled, you are
conscript. God has set down your name.
Are you preparing so as to be all ready
when Jour summons comes! Are you set
ting your sFIirs in order? Providing and
proving your arms2 Ephesians 6: IS.
Are you ready to take your place with
them who will have "the victory 2" Co.
rinthiaus, 10: So. Or will your place be
in that vast division Of deaths army, which
shall assemble only to be defeated, accursed
and punished forever ?-SOuAera Presby-
ieriun.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

and Withheld il; has appointed ministers,
and removed them; he has waited to be
gracious az long as he pleased, and when
and how he pleased, has cut off the incorri-
gible. In other words, he has been 4
Sovereign, and, ns such, has done all his
pleasure.
2 There ia a state of punishment for the
wicked, in the future world By some, this
doctrine is disbelieyed. Mankind, it is pre-
tended, receive all the punishment in the
present life, which their sins deserve, and
consequently, when they are removed by
death, they are admitted Immediately to
the happiness OF heaven. But what became
Of those, to whom Christ by his Spirit
preached in the DAYS of Noah These de-
sceuded directly to the pri,on of hell : and
near two thousand years afterwards, we
hear from them by the Apostle Peter that
still they ere there, "sPirits in prison in
state Of confnement-a state of punish
ment. There is, then, state Of punish
mcnt for sinners in the future world.
s. The present life is the state of prOba-
ton, OF the period in which the long suffer-
ing of God traits upon sinners to repent
and accept of mercy. The long suffering
of God waited in the days of Noah, all the
while tie Ark was preparing. During
these hundred and twenty years Christ, by
his Spirit aud prophet, wao preaching, and
God was waiting upon hardened men
This whole period was allotted them as q
season of trjal.--a space for repentance,-
in shich they might turn from their sins
anu live. But when this period closed,
God would wait no longer. Their state of
probation was at an enc; the food came
and swallowed them Up; and their immortal
spirits descended to the prison OF darkness,
to enjoy the light Of hope, and to hear tae
voice OF mercy, no more. The passage,
therefore, which has so often been quoted
for very different purpose, teaches us that
the present life is the season of probation,
or the period in which the loug-suHering of
God waits upon sinners to turn and live.
Y. Y.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23
Fox THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
The ProfGcred Substitute.

In these days Of warfare this term has
become so familiar, tnat even our ltlle chill
dren can tel! that it means one who takes
the place Of another, and in every respect
answers the saue pprpose. Many Of our
country men, during the present var, have
been very sOlicitOus to get substitutes
Many poor, iuGcm, aud diseased soldier
has p,uea away, and died in our hospitals,
because unable to procure one to Ell his
place Many herd earned dollars have been
cheelEuly expended, in getting substitutes
for the few more fortunate ones who have
returned to be cared for at home; aud to
cheer their Ge5olate families. Aad who but
those WHO have leaEz d u, can have an
adequate IDEA of the self-denial, toe rigid
economy, and draining Of the gidOw's parse,
to the very last copper, to obtain one TO Gil
the place Of her delicate and tenGerly nur-
tured boy, "tG9 only son Of his mother -
The substitutes for Ills var are very expen-
siyo, and oileu prove fajthiess. A poor man
has to give nearly all ue possesses, thereby
reducing ais feeble wife, and helpless little
children to extreme poverty, that be may
stay, and toll gi;h them day By day for their
daily bread.
But there is a substitute, Of which aU can
avail themselves, aud which We wish to re
commoSd to all our toll worn, and suffering
soldiers; especially to the sick, the wounded
and the dying. Dear soldier, the Substitute
of which we wish to tell you, off.rs himself
to you, Without money ana without price
Nor viii heproye a deserter. He has already
filed your place; having lived life of per
feet obedience to God, aud fulfilled his law
to a title fer g0u. And as your Substitute,
he has borne the penalty of that law, for
your traasgressi2as Viii you accept him 2
Ga, listen 10 bis gracious Invitations: Look
INTO ne, and be ye saved, all the ends Of
the sarth;' and again ne says, Seek ye the
Lord while be may DE found, call ye upOn
him While ne IS near. Let TIE wicked for
sake his ways, and the unrighteou5 man bis
thoughts, and let hin return unto the Lord,
and he tgiH hare mercy upon him; and to our
God, for ne giH abaadaa'iy pardon"
The Bible abounds in precious promises
and invitations of mercy, to those who sim
cerely desire salvation. Then would urge
YOU to search the Scriptures" And may
he, who freely offered to become your sub
shtute bear the punishment of your sins,
and work out for you perfect righteous
ness, in which the piercing eye of holiness
can discern no spot or blemish That he
may enable you to accept him on his own
gracious terms, is the sincere desire of,
THE SOLDIEAs FRIEND.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

GEN. JACKSON "A correspondent of the
Augusta CoRattUtiORaIia says "A sick SOL
der from Stonewalls' ~ division gave us
some thrilling accounts of his brave General.
lie says when Jackson gives an order ne a.
ways raises his hand to express an invocs-
ton of Gods help, aud every man has
perfect assurance that success will follow
the order. With his hand uplifted, he says,
Charge that battery" lord give US the
victory" " Push on with vigor, but Lord
thy will be DONE" "Ooly Thy wish, Oh,
God but give us the victory
We asked the sick soldier if he was glad
to get away from the army, and how long
be had to stay. He said there was some
thing that always made sick man long to
see his mother; he was within few hours
of home, but he wished to stay there only
long enough to get strength to follow
" Stonewall" into Washington. When l
DO that, be said, | shall be perfectly will
ing to die, or when | know my country is
acknowledged.
Another soldier says:
" We have al seen terrible tlme IN eve
~ way, sometimes marching day after day
without food, except such as the cornfelds
and orchards furnished, and | have seen
many of orr men staggering along bare.
foot over the stony ground in the mountains,
sick and weak, but loud in their cheers
when "Od Stonewell" happened to pass.
| myself marched many a weary mile over
the awful mountain roads without covering
for my feet, till they were so bruised and
torn that could scarcely stand, but Manas-
sas and Harper's Ferry made ample amends
in every way. 1t was a splendid sig ht when
Jackson, dressed in plain, dirty, dust be-
grimed garments, and accompanied by
gaudy Yankee colonel and staff, rode around
the II 900 captured Yankees at Harper's
Ferry"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

much mischief may be done by lending the
fascination of their charms to vice, whose
seductive influence over the minds of our
young men is already too great. Alas they
may yet live to mourn over the fate of a
brother, or lover. who was ruined by his
a1sociating too Familiarity with drnnkards
and gamblers. j. J.W.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

COPS CHLD.-"Do you feel that you
are one Of Gods childrenl" asked Lady
of a Sabbath school scholar, Il do not
know, he answered; 81 only know that once
my Saviour was great way off, and l could
not see him. Now he is near, and l love
to do things, and love not to do things, for
his sake, like as do for uy fathers or my
mothers sake" Here indeed was that sweet
spirit of obedience which is the root of all
true piety in the heart.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

TELL THEM THERE Il NOT CLOUD BETWEEN ME
AND by SAVIOUR"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

mother said to him, "my son, never be a
drunkard." He thought within himself, ''if
| never drink whiskey, will never be a
drunkard." Thus he reasoned with himself,
when he vas a child, and when he was an
old man, seventy years of eye, he had his
first dram to drink, aud had never played
a game of cards. He remembered tn adj
vice Of bis mother, en- lived III the midst
Of temptations Of every kind, virtuous,
bameless and honorable life. Follow his
example, and every body will respect and
love you.
2 1t wastes too much time. Every body
ought to live for the accomplishment of come
good or great object, lie ought to try,
and make himself good mechanic, q good
musician, or good scholar; and if he is
anxious to add to his stock of knowledge,
he will fad something to learn every day.
Lie is too short to spend in idleness; aud
yet some men spend more than half their
lives, engaged in playing cards, or some
other game of chance. Is it not morally
wrong in an immortal and accountable be-
ing, to mlke such poor Improvements OF
the golden moments, which our Creator has
allotted to Us, as our portion beneath the
sun? "What time is WORTH ask death
beds, they can tel" ga world of wealth,
said Queen Elizabeth, when she was DYING
ga world Of wealth for an inch of time" I'm
prove the hOnra, as they pass;if you would
die at last in peace.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1862-10-23

HARD TASK-He who will stop every
mans mouth must have great deal of
neal.
Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-08-07
AIRS. B0ULES' CELEBRATED CoRsETs. BUsoI
anG DRESS PROTECTORS
I EAL ESTATE AGENT. The under

These articles have beftre been offered for sal
IN this city and invite your early attention TO then
Ladies are invited to cali as we slall endeavor TO max
ii an object for you to do So diff iv9