davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
CFNTRA PRESBY TERIAN.

army and the leA efficient labor of the
slaves during the war having cleaned out
the granaries and meat houses of the en-
tire population. Still more, the people
are absolutely without money. The god
and silver have gone to Europe or the
North, the State banks have ceased, the
Confederate money is worthless, and men
of large wealth formerly--hundreds of
thousands-have not had dollar for
months. Now add to this accumulation
Of deprivations, robbery and wanton de-
struction of what little is still left them,
and you can easily see how bitter their
reproaches. | am persuaded that all
other causes of arrangement will pass
away and be forgotten, long before this
one is forgiven, and because it has Meth
er justification nor palliation.
But our soldiers did not all engage
in such lawless violence, and cannot the
robbed people make the distinction, and
charge the crimes upon the bad men that
will be found in every army" So |
asked and argued till | found it was of
no avail. Such conduct as | have de-
scribed above, was witnessed at every
farmhouse for miles upon miles where
our army marched through parts of North
Carolina. Whole districts were laid waste
thus, and when officers standing near the
General himself were appealed to, to
know if there was no relief, the answer
was given: :" 1t is the Generl's policy
the destruction must go on"
"But surely our good and Christian
men in the army could not engage in such
defenceless rayage?' True, no high
minded, honorable man ever did so, but it
was done, and it must have been winked
at: for an army under such "splendid
discipline" as ours q have heard the
term applied an hundred times to our
armies by both federal and rebel could
have been restrained from all such ex-
cesses.
"At all events none but 'bummers
engaged in robbery such as YOU de-
scribe" Then, | answer, they must have
been very numerous to have accomplish
such fearful and widespread ravages
and, whether few or many, they should
have been driven from the army l know
of no excuse for such conduct.
And then, if anything were wanting to
fill up the cup of woe to these people, it
was found in the conduct of some Con-
federate soldicry-especially Wheeler's
cavalry, who were regarded as quite as
heartless as the worst of their enemies.
If rebellion against so good government
as ours was the sin of the age, so has
the punishment been the most fearful, and
by an memorable law of social liability,
the innocent suffer with the guilty.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
The Man of One Work.

There are people who seem to be men
of no work-there are others who appear
to be men of all work-there are others
who are men of one work. Men of no
work, are mere idlers, men of leisure or
men who will not work-mere loungers,
whom the devil is sure to employ in his
service. There are many such in the
world, and sometimes they are found in
the Church, -not only drones, but inju-
rious.
Men of all work would impress you
with their activity. They rush hither
and thither as if the earth was moved at
their tread, sometimes at one thing and
then at another-without purpose or
an object. Such seldom accomplish much.
They love variety, change-life is mo-
notous and burden, if their employ
ments are of the tread-mill ORDER
Hence they are ever on the alert for
new schemes, new sources of pleasure or
profit.
Men of one work, begin the year as
they begin each day, with an object suf-
ficiently elevated or important to make
the hum-drum labor of seeking it, pleas
ant and agreeable. Such is the work of
the true minister of Christ. It's sacri-
fees, its tolls, Its obstacles, its discour-
agements, were all taken into the account
when he entered upon it. Disappoint-
ments come not to him without prepara-
ton. His round of duty though follow
ed in the beaton path, is never tiresome.
He is often weary under the burden, yet
never weary of it. The object of his
pursuit may cost him groans and tears
and sweat, yet he pursues it with una
batting ardor to its end. His work is to
save souls. 1t is his one work, his only
work. Whatever else he may do, it is
subordinate to this one great work, all
other aims and purposes centre in this ::
to save blood bought souls. In order to
this:
LIST. He prays. He is man of prayer.
He lives in its atmosphere-breathes Its
spirit, and infuses its holy fervor into his
people. His whole demeanor impresses
YOU that he talks with God and holds fire.
quent converse with the King of Kings.
His strength lies in his power with God,
and he prevails by wrestling,
I'd. He studies. He studies books,
men and things. The minister must be
always student, ever filling the reser-
yoir to dispense it to others. He studies
to be wise to win souls.
Sd. He breaches. The message Of
salvation he bears to dying men. And
in order to success, he brings all his
knowledge, all his intellect and all his
heart into the work. He strives not
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
The Earnest Use of Life.

Let us think how little we use life thor
oughly, how little we really live our life,
how seldom we are in the humor to carry
out life's great and solemn purposes, how
we let its opportunities fly by us, like
thistledown on the wind. Why is Gods
love but a rare wintry CLEAN, and never a
steady summer in our soul? Think, for
instance, of such thing as prayer: what
a wonderful thing it is. To kneel, an
atom in creation, at the throne of the AL
mighty; to be able to bear our hearts to
him, and to feel sure that the least throb,
as we'll as the great spasm, is perfectly
appreciated, felt, understood, sympathised
with, by that awful yet loving being!
And yet how wintry our hearts are in
our prayers! how seldom they burst into
cheerful praises how constantly the sky
above us seems pale and heavy, and dull
and impenetrable, and our hearts beneath
aiding in their winter Sleep Or if a
snowdrop here and there wanders out,
and now and then a pinched primrose,
there are not flowers enough to fashion
into existence the poorest garland.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
Velvet Tongues.

When I was boy, | and number Of
nv playmates had rambled through the
woods and fields till, quite forgetful of
the fading light, We found ourselves far
from home. Indeed we had lost our way.
1t did so happen that we were nearer
home than we thought; but how to get
to it was the question. BY the edge Of
the field we saw man coming along,
and we ran to ask him to tell us. Whe-
Their he was in trouble or not | do not
know, but he gave us some very surly
answer. Just then there came along
another man, near neighbOr, and with a
merry smile on his face. "Jim, said he,
"man's tongue is like a cats; it is either
a piece of velvet or piece of sand-paper,
lust as he likes to use it and to make it ;
and / declare you always seem to use
your tongue for sand-paper. Try the
velvet, man, try the velvet principle -
Blind Amos.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19

THE EcHo.-Hear the story of the
child that went forth into the mountain
ravine. While the child wandered there
he cried aloud to break the loneliness,
and heard a voice which called to him in
the same tone He called again, and, as
he thought, the voice again Knocked him.
Flushed with anger, he rushed to find no
one. He then called out in anger, and
with abusive epithets, all of which were
faithfully returned 10 him. Choking
with rage, the child ran to his mother,
and complained that boy in the woods
had insulled him with words. But his
mother took the child by the hand and
said: "My child those names were but
the echoes of thine own voice. Send
forth sunshine from thy spirit, and thou
shalt never have another clouded day.
Carry about vindictive spirit. even
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
HYMN OF CONSOLATION.
AUGUST Is, 1856.

AUGUST Is, 1856.
Written by Jean Friedrich (the Magnanimous,
Elector of Saxony, the friend of Luther MelanC
thon when captive in Austria.
As t pleases God, so it pleases me;
Nor am led astray-
Though heavy clouds are DER my way,
And biting smoke confound my eyes,
And all's obscure
Yet am sure
That God doth clearly see it:
As He may send,
So must it end;
If't must be-then, so be it!
As t pleases God, am content,
care not for the rest
What not to be-why, let it go
Tn obedient heart is blest.
Although my mind
Be scarce resigned,
His grace will grant assistance
firmly trust
What must be must;
'Gainst God there's no resistance!
ILL.,
As t pleases God, so let it pass;
The birds may take my sorrow;
If Fortune shuns my house to-day,
I'll ,cdi until tomorrow
The goods have
] still may save,
Or if some part forsake me,
Thank God, who's just!
What must be must:
Good luck may still o ertake me!
As t pleases God, so l accept,
For patience only pray;
IT'S He alone, whose arm can help,
Can reach me, though lay
In anguish sore
At Deaths dark door.
There rescue for the sinner;
] am but dust:
What must be must
So be it, Still I'm winner.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
Old and New Churches.

1t is as importont to sustain and
strengthen the old churches as to plant
new ones. The work of inauguration
should be carried on in both. Neither
can be neglected without damage to the
whole body. The old churches are
nurseries for the new. They are raising
up men and women for the settlement of
our unoccupied territory, and thus are
sending out influences which must be
widely felt, and felt for succeeding gene
rations. Old churches are weakened by
the emigration of the young; and if they
are neglected, these young people will
carry with them an indifference to the
gospel and its institutions. But let these
old churches be sustained-let the young
in them be trained for usefulness where
they may go-and they will carry with
them love for the gospel, and be pillars
in the new churches which they will help
to organize and sustain in their new
homes. Then let the old churches be
sustained. There is blessing in them.
They are sending out constant streams of
blessing to other places; they are exert
ing an influence for good on new and dis
tant felds.-Evangelst
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
The First Step.

The first step towards the abyss of in.
fidelity is doubling or skeptical state of
mind in regard to some parts, or the whole
of the Scriptures, the next is either into
the wilderness of universal doubt, or into
the abyss itself. Skepticism is most
dangerous state of the mind. Like mod
crate drinking, it leads on its unhappy
victim from bad to worse, till both mind
and heart are ruined and damned forever.
1t is the moral inebriation of the man in
its incipient stages. Beware of it, We
young men, as We would the contagion of
death. It's administrations to the soul
are those of sorrow. Break away from
the first symptoms of its deadly approach.
Let not corrupt and unbelieving heart
beguile thee with the promises of proud
and vain philosophy. There is no safety
in a cultivated intellect, nor in all the re-
sources of Christian education, and the
watchfulness and teachings of friends
no, not even under "the droppings" of
the sanctuary. In the faith of Jesus only
there is safety. Believe in him to the
salvation of the soul, then will you "know
the truth, and the truth shall make you
free"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
Narrative.

THE Synod Of Tayini;a, to the Churches
Under its case, hereby presents Mario
tire Of the facts and testimonies bearing
upon the state Of religion acithin ITS
bounds, during tie SyaOdjcal gear nor
closed.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19

We publish below letter which we
clip from the New York Observer, written
by Rev. ]. NJ. Stevenson, DID,, Secre-
tary of the American Tract Society. 1t
is sad picture, and is in striking con-
trast with the statement made by the late
Northern General Assembly, that "the
national honor is untarnished by acts OF
barbarism or cruelty" The letter Is
headed thus:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19

in the flowers shall lurk curses. Thou
shalt receive even what thou givest, and
that alone. Always is that child in the
mountain passes, and every man and wo-
man is that child.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19

TERMS.
FouR DOLLARS year in advance; TWO DOL
LARS for six months
ADvERrIsEMENrs.-Pcr square Of eight lines,
first insertion, rs cents subsequent insertions,
each square, so cents.
MARRIAGES AND DEArns.-N Offices inserted
without charge.
discharged as advertisements
payment in advance.
Personal---very. cents ycar-to be paid at
the office where the paper is received.
COMMUNICATIONS AND LETTERS on BUSINESS,
should be addressed to Rev. WILLIN BEoWS,
Box 452, Richmond, Va.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1865-10-19
Central 4resbpterian,
TERMS S.

Office on Main street, near Fourteenth, No. 96,
third story over Mr.. Lumsdens Jewelry store.
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25
''Thee has provoked my evil passion, Dea-

''Thee has provoked my evil passion, Dea-
con Pugh, Shouted the stalwart Quaker, -
and I will chastise thee" .
And into the Deacon's wool went the Qua
kcr. The Deacon, nothing 10th, entered into
the thing, and we leave them thus to " nip
and tuck" to look to the stranger and Bob
Carter, who fought and fit, and fit and fought
until Squire Catchcm and the constable came
up, and in tho attempt to preserve the peace
and arrest the offenders, the Squire was thrust
thro' the window of neighboring watchma-
ker, doing heap of damage, while lawyer
Hooker, in attempting to aid the constable
was struck by the furious blacksmith IN the
short ribs, and went reeling down Gumbo's
cellar with frightful velocity. The friends and
fellow churchmen Of Deacon Pugh took sides
AGAINST the Quaker antagonist, and the shop
bows of Abraham, seeking their employer
thus beset, came to TIE rescue, while two
Irishmen, believing it to be 'free fight" tried
their hands and sticks upon the combattants IN
Discriminatory, SO that in less than haitian hour
the happy village Of Frogtown was shaken
from propriety by one grand, sublmely ride
ulous and terrific battle.
Heads and windows were smashed, children
and women screamed, dogs barked, dust ieV'
labor ceased, and so furious, mad and excited
became the whole community, that aquiet
lookeron, if there had been any, would have
sworn the evil ones were all in Frogtown.
A heavy thunder storm finally put an end
to the row, the dogs were all more or less
killed child severely wounded, man scald-
ed, wagon broke, the horse ran himself te
death, his owner badly beaten by Bob Garter
whose wife and the wives of many others were
dangerously scared, the painter was crippled
dry goods ruined; Quaker and Deacon
two Irishmen, Joe Tucker, town constable
lawyer Hooker, Squire Catchem, and som'
fifty others most shamcfully whipped. Law
suits cnsued, feuds followed, and tho entlr'
, peace and good reputation of Ffogtown an
. initiated, all by remarkable dog fight:
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

A CORRESPONDENT sends us the following
amusing incident concerning "hard-tack," for
the truth of which he pledges his word Of
honor.
"IIard-tack," or army biscuit, has risen, in
ordinary American parlance, to the dignitv
Of an institute on-that is to say, it is tslked
about, and has been joked over to degree
which would fill many volume like this
were all the Hard -tackiana collected. Per-
haps the best spoken pun--one devised by no
human brain, but strangely modelled by ma
ture or chance, once presented itself to me
under This popular name for military bread
Ga breaking open specimen of the article, !
( found o large iron tack which had been baked
in it by accident, and was, need not say,
several degrees harder even than the tack i'll
which it was imbcdded.
'Ihe tack in question is always packed in
square wooden boxes, generally bearing data
as we'll as the brand of the maker or baker,
anent which the following is told:
Zone day lot of boxes of peculiarly hard
crackers arrived in the camp on the james,
Several of the boys were wondering at the
meaning of the brand upon the boxes, which
was as follows; "B. G. 603."
"Various interpretations were given, l'u'
all were rejected until one individual deolaiea
it was all plain enough-could not be misun'
derstood.
"Why, how so3'' was the query.
"Ohr' he replied, 'that is the date wher
: tho crackers were made--six hundred ant
e three years B. c. COOS B. C")
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25
Ceught in His Own Trap.

A girl, young, pretty, but above all, gifted
with an air of adorable candor, lately presen-
ted herself before certain Partisan lawyer
Monsieur I come to to consult you upon
grave affair. want to oblige man Love-
to marry me in spite of himself. How shall
proceed e
The gentleman of the bar had Of course,
sufficient elastic conscience. lie reflected
moment, then being cure tl.at 20 third person
overheard him. replied unhesitatingly. Mad
onoiselo according to our law you always
possess the means Of forcing man to marry
YOU. You must remain on three occasions
alone with him, then you can go before a
Judge and swear that he is your lover"
"And that will suffice, Monsieur p
Yes Mademoisellc, with on further con-
dition."
"Well?
"That you will produce witnesses who will
make an oath to their having seen you remain
a good quarter of an hour with the individual
said to have trincd with your affections"
every we'll Monsieur, 1 will retain you as
counsel in the management Of thia affair, -
Good day"
A few days afterwards the young girl re-
turned. She is mystoriously received by the
lawyer who scarcely giving her time to sea-
herself, questions her with the most lively Gu
riosity.
"Well Mademosclle how do matters pros
per 2"
"Copital, Capital
"Perscvcre in your design, Madcmolselle
but mind the next time you consult me yo'
mus. tell me tho name Of the young man VI
are going to render SO happy in spite Of him
self"
{" You shall have it without fail"
A fortnight afterwards the young per5o
more quice and candid than ever, knocked a
the door Of her counsers room, No soone
was she within than she flung herself into
chair saying, that she had mounted the ster
too rapidly, and that the emotion made he
hreathless. Ter counsel endeayorad to re-a:
sure her. and made her irhale salts, and eve
proposed to release her garments
at is useless, Monsieur" eaid she' y
am much better
"Wen, now tell me the name of the fort
{ nate mortal you are going to expose :!
"Well, then, the fortunate mortal Be
known to you, is--yourself," said the youl
u beauty bursting into a laugh. " [ love 20
} I have been three times tctc-a-tetc with 70
and my four witnesses are below, ready al
:, willing to accompany me to the maglstr'
gravely continued the narrator.
- The lawyer, thus fairly caught, had
= good sense not to get angry. The most 81
al aular fact of all is that he adores his you
wife, who by the way, makes an excell'
house-keeper.
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

Ezs-Gazlay's Pacific Monthly perpetuates
the following,
PsEu.s OF A REvIvALsT.-An anecdote is
told of Fcnny the ',revivalist." and a canaler
to the following effect:
lie was "holding forth" in Rochester, and
in walking along the canal one day, came
across boatman who was swearing furiously.
Marching up, he confronted him and abrupt
ly asked:
"Sir, do you know where you are goingf"
The unsuspecting man innocently replied
that he was going up the canal on the boat
Johnny Sands.
"No, sir, you are not" continued Fenny;
"you are going to hell faster than a canal
boat will convey you"
The boatman looked at him in astonish-
ment for minute, and then returned the
question:
"Sir, do you know where you are going p
II expect to go to heaven"
'No, sir, you are going into the cana! ~
And suiting the action to the word he took
Fenny in his arms and tossed him into the
murky waters, where he would have drowned
had not the boatman relented and fished him
| out.
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25
2oettu.
The Name of Mother.
BY FANNIE A. FooTE.

There are words that speak of a quenchlcss love-
Which burns in the hearts we cherish,
And accents that tell of friendship proved
That will never blight or perish;
There are soft words murmered BY dear, dear lips
Far richer than any other;
But the sweetest word that the car hath heard
Is the blessed pane of mother
Oh, magical word may it never die
From the lips that love to speak it;
Nor melt away from the trusting hearts
That even would break to keepit.
Was there ever name that lived like this2
Will there ever be such another?
The angel have reared IN Heaven Il shrine
For the holy name of mother
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT A naval officer
being at sea in dreadful Storm his lady was
sitting in the cabin near him, and filed with
alarm for the safety of the vessel, was SO sur
prised at his composure and serenity that she
cried out:
"My dear, are you not afraid? How is it
possible that you can be so calm in such
dreadful storm Z"
He rose from his chair, rushed to the deck
drew his sword. and pointing it to the breast
Of hie wife ex..aimet--
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

A LITTLE boy at school, when called upon
to recite his lesson. was asked, "Of what is
the German Diet composed 2" The boy re-
piled, "sour-krout, schnapps, larger beer,
and nix-co -rous."
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25
baltimore & OHIO RAILROAD

y mn ,,e
NEW SCHEDULE FOR PASSENGER TRAINS.
OsAYD AFTER NOVEMBER 9th 1864.
TWO THROU G Ii TR A ms.
u;1 trro;, Ieaves baltimore at 900 a. M
Cumb'd ut f.25 p. III.
Arrives at Wheeling c.5o a. NJ
DAILY except Sundays.)
rx,ress Train Leaves baltimore 9.40 p. M.
fu :. Cumb'd TBS q. In.
Arrives at Wheeling ITO p. IN.
.... (Daily.)
Va:I Train Leaves Wheeling at 1910 p. m.
&C g Cumb'd at 9.45 Il. m.
Arrives at Baltimore 6.I5 p. m.
DAILY except Sundays)
r-u,.os, Train Leaves Wheeling IL 30 a. m.
q Cumb'd ll.20 p. m.
Arrives at Baltimore a4o a. IN.
Through tickets for all the principal clties N9r.l
and w est of the Ohio River, may be procured al
'''i' ''' L. C. BGHM, Agent.
Cumberland Station, Nov. I, 1864. IL
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

If you don't wish to get angry nevss az
que with blookhead. Remember. the da'-
ler the razor the more you cut yourself.
Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-05-25

A RETIRED cheesemonger, who hated any
allusion to the business that had enriched him
said to Charles Lamb in the course Of dis
cussion on the power of laws: g. You must
bear in mind, sir that have got rid of that
sort of stuff which you poets call the milk OF
human Kindness"
Lamb looked at him steadily, and gave ac-
ouiescence IN these pithy words: " Yes, l am
aware of that you turned it into cheese sew
eral years ago."