davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Care for the Lambs.


''He shall feed his flock ike shepherd, he
shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry
them in his bosom. "-Is. X: IL.
One of the most beautiful names of our
Saviour is the one he gave himself-"the
good Shepherd" He saw the sinful chill
dren of this world as weak, defenceless,
ignorantsheep-"as sheep going astray, 7"
who had wandered very far in the paths
of sin and folly-in fact as lost sheep
who could never find their way back to
God. And what did he do for them?
He "gave his life" for them; and now
all who are willing to do so have him as
their Good Shepherd.
And all the care, and pains, and toll,
which faithful earthly shepherd bestows
upon his BODYBUILDING, protecting,
feeding them, leading them to right pas
lures, guarding them from beasts of prey
from heats of summer or colds of win
ter,-au this is but a faint emblem of
what jesus has DONE; nnd viii always do,
for every poor sinner who puts his trust
in him.
But good shepherd will take special
care of the young and feeble of his flock.
What trouble he often must take with
them, in cold, and wet, and storm, or
when the mother dies and they are left
entirely in his care?
Now God makes use of this beautiful
emblem to teach US the tender love of our
gracious Saviour for young believers. is
it not sweet to think that the very young
est child, as soon as he is old enough to
understand at all about Jesus and prayer,
may become one of his lambs, whom he
will carry in his bosom? Some are lambs
even when they are born-those who
have cody parents.
And now let each child who reads this
ask himself-"Have ever thought Sc
riously about this precious text? Am l
now one of the lambs of Jesus, the Good
Shepherd? Have / any thing of their
gentle, holy, happy character? Do l
know, and love, and follow Jesus as my
Saviour, my Shepherd? Then surely |
may go joyfully on, and trust that he will
carry me in his arms, through all dangers
and trials Happy those who belong
to his flock here, and still happier those
who have gone up to him in the blessed
land above, where he shall more than
ever make them to lie down in green pas
lures, and lead them beside the still wa
tiers. o may and all whom love be
found among them at last
See Israeps gentle Shepherd stands,
With all engaging charms;
Hark, how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
East Wind.

Why should the wind coming from the
east over an ocean of water depress the
human body, while that which comes
from the west across continent, enlivens
the spirits and gives courage and vlgor |!
Be this as it may, it seems as if some
people never felt any wind that was not
east. They are always tout Of sorts. "
The weather is always just what they
don't want. [ met one of these men a
while ago, farmer, who raised all man
ner of crops. 1t was wet day, and l
said:
"Mr. Nayling, this rain will be fine
for your grass crop"
Eyes, perhaps; but it is bad for the
corn, and will keep it back. l don't be-
lieve we shall have a CROP"
A few days after this, when the sun
was shining hot, [ said:
"Fine sun for your corn, sir
eyes, pretty fair, but it's awful for
the rye. Rye wants cold weather"
Again on a cold morning, | met my
neighbor and said:
''This must be capital for your rye,
Mr.. Nayling."
eyes, but it is the very worst weather
for the corn and grass. They want heat
to bring them forward"
So the man lives in a perpetual east
wind. Nothing suits him, and it would
be impossible for Providence to give him
weather about which he would not grum-
BILE. I know one man who feels that our
country is on the very brink of ruin, the
government curse, and everything to
be destroyed. And he has felt and talked
thus for at least thirty years, and yet his
property has been increased in value all
this time, amid this gathering RUM
The fact is the man lives in an unchang.
ing east wind. And there is Mr.. Slow
who lives in the hollow under the Long
Hill; he has been mourning for many
years over the degeneracy of the times,
and always telling what wonderful law
yers, and doctors, and ministers there
were when he was young He can sleep
under any preaching he now hears, and
the lawyers seem to be young upstairs,
or too old to practice. He longs for
the good old times. All! Mr.. Slow, does
your weather vane ever point anywhere
but to the east?
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
A Summer Mornings Song.

Up, sleeper dreamer up; for now
There's gold upon the mountain brow
There's light on forests, lakes, and meadows
The dew.drops shine on flow ret bells,
The village clock of morning tells.
Up, men out, cattle for the dells
And dingles TEEN with shadows.
Up to the fields through shine and stour;
What hath the dull and drowsy hour
So blest as this the glad heart leaping
To hear morn's early song sublime;
See earth rejoicing in its prime:
The summer is the waking time,
The winter time for sleeping.
The very beast that crops the flower,
Hath welcome for the dawning hour.
Aurora smiles her beck nings claim thee;
Listen-look round-the chirp, the hum,
Song, low, and bleat-there's nothing dumb
All love, all life. Come slumb rer, come!
The meanest thing shall shame thee.
Oh, happy, who the citys noise
Can quit for nature quiet joys,
Quit worldly sin and worldly sorrow;
No more midst prison-walls abide,
But, in Gods temple, vast and wide,
Pour praises ev'ry eventide,
Ask mercies ev'ry morrow.-Tollens.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

other, is gone slightly into; the few boys
who are in the Latin class are examined
more at length, and with more gusto;
the prizes are distributed, with a small
word of kindness to each recipient; then
an address is given to the school as a
whole, exhorting us to be good boys and
girls for evermore. "The master" is
thanked and congratulated on the eficien-
cy of his school. The parish minister asks
for whole holiday to the children on an
early day, for the sake of the ministers,
and at their request; and the examina-
ton day is over. But that whole holi-
day that followed; it still remained.
TO me that day was always one of the
brightest and sunniest days of my year.
l spent it usually in catching trouts :;
with no rod and fly, or falsity of a worm
on hook-but in fair, honest, stand
up fight between each special trout and
myself was the thing done. Stripped to
the shirt and trousers, with the trousers
rolled up above the knee and the shirt
sleeves to the shoulder head, in We went
to the "burns' -rivulets, | suppose, in
English-and cropping under the banks,
and beneath stones, with a marvellous
dexterity, and most rare relish, caught
the enemy in his lurking-place, cast him
to the bank, slew him, and pocketed him.
l have often caught, in holiday after
noon, from twenty to thirty delicious
fresh-water trout in that way; and, read
er, if you want a morsel sweet and deli
cate, trs to catch one of these trouts in
that way; clean him thereafter, fry him,
with little dash of salt, and eat him,
with piece of fresh oatmeal cake, well
buttered. Turtle soup at a lord mayors
dinner is nothing to it. Another way
used to spend these holidays was by go,
ing to the hill-the distance was about
two miles in all from our house to its
very top. 1 used to go to the top of thai
hill, and roll down the steepest places
then up again to the top, for the pleasure
of rolling down again; and then, wher
tired, used to lie down on my back OF
the heather, and look up at the glorious
clouds as they foated and basked, anc
bathed in the glorious sunshine, row after
row, and swathe after swathe: I lay there
and dreamed; lay and built castles in thu
air; the sheep feeding around me, tn
wild cry of the plover in the distance
and all besides still, with that speaking
mysterious silence of nature that makes
you feel one with her, and part-an es
sential part, though only a minute uni
of her vast. whole. have no holiday
now. I do not expect to see any more
holidays in this world. The days arr
all now so short. The days get shortel
as they get fewer; the speed of the aigh
of time seems ever more rapidly to in
crease, as the weary journeyer approache
the confines of eternity.
London Leisure Hour.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
INSTITUTIONS AND OFFICERS
OFTHE
Presbyterian Church in the United Stattce..,
oLERKs OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.

CLERKS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Rev. Joseph R. Wilson, D. D., Stated C1erx
Augusta, Georgia.
Rev. VIM. Brown, d. D., Permanent Clerk,
Richmond, Virginia.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF sUsTENTATIoN.
Rev. j. Leighton Wilson, D. D., Secretary,
Columbia, South Carolina.
Rev. Prof James Woodrow, Treasurer, Co.
lumbia South Carolina.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Rev. j. Leighton Wilson, D. D., Secretary,
Columbia, South Carolina.
Rev. Prof James Woodrow, Treasurer, Co
lumbia, South Carolina.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.
Rev. E. Thompson Baird, D. D., Secretary,
Richmond, Virginia.
G. Gennet, Esq, Treasurer, Richmond, Va.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF EDUCATION.
Rev. E. Thompson Baird, D. D., Secretary,
Richmond, Virginia.
Z. Gennet, Esq, Treasurer, Richmond, Va.
TRUSTEES OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Hon. Thomas c. Perrin, Chairman. Rev. B.
M. Palmer, d. d., Secretary Joseph 81. Viii.
son, Esq, Jesse Fl. Lindsay, Esq, Robert Ad.
ger, Esq, j.: A. Ansley, Esq, John A. Craw.
ford, Esq, DR.. James B. Walker, Hon. j. A.
Inglis; John Whiting, Esq, Hon. R. NJ. Patton,
Rev. DR.. George Howe, Rev. DR.. ]. l.. Kirkpa.
trick, w. l.. Mitchell, Esq.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
Two Pictures.

Fancy yourself, my dear reader, in a
darkened bed chamber scantily furnished.
Standing next the wall, at one end, is an
old-fashion bedstead, with tall posts and
folded curtains. Draw aside the cur
tains? There lies an aged man, with
thin gray hair and wrinkled skin. But
his brow is high and broad ; his deep-set
eyes are bright and piercing; smile
plays round his lips and, though feeble
anddying, he looks calm andhappy. Let
us speak to him and say:
"Do you think yourself dying, dear
sir p
He fixes his eye, SO calmly bright,
upon you, and slowly replies:
Really, friend, care not whether l
am or not; for if / die, I shall be with
God; if live, he will be with me-"
Now let us step into yonder mansion.
Entering richly furnished chamber, we
find a digni6ed parsonage, EMBODIED in
warm robes, and seated in large easy
chair. He, too, is feeble and dying but
the light in his eyes is unsteady, and he
looks like man i'll at ease with himself
Let usalso ask him question:
"Mr. Gibbon, how does the world ap-
pear to you now?"
The eloquent historian of the Roman
Empire-for he it is-closes his eyes a
moment, then opens them again, and,
with a deep sigh, replies:
Call worldly things are feeting.-
When I look back, see they have been
fleeing; when I look forward, all as dark
and doubtful"
Sad contrast While the humble
Scotch minister, in the first picture, holds
converse with death and eternity as with
his familiar friends, the celebrated and
honored author, in the second, holds
solemn vigil with DARKNESS and DOUBT.
Where the minister has light and conf
dence, the infdel has "darkness and
doubt" 0 happy saint! O miserable
unbeliever Precious are thy rewards,
O faith! Terrible are thy retributions,
O unbelief flood News.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
4nnsehula Nuras.
A Word to Mothers.
A LITTLE ONE, HAVE your

A beautiful first born, precious gem,
a priceless immortal a choice gift OF
heaven?
Well, mother, how are you going to
train this helpless babe-this little lamb,
now innocent, guileless? How will you
rear it, educate it? How? for God, for
life eternal, for glory immortal?
viii you begin nosV to bend the little
twig, in the first buildings of life, begin
nOw to impart saving grace, plant the
germ everlasting, seek for it the pearl OF
pearls, the hope that never dies?
VIII you watch every breath for God,
embrace every opportunity to instil the
preciousness of virtuous modesty and
purity? Mother, will you watch over
this little God-send, momentarily for good,
temporal and spiritual, guard it as the
apple of the eye against the first ap-
proach of evil, the least particle of con-
terminating influence, or vicious associa-
tons?
Meanwhile, beloved, will you water
these heavenly inculcations with prayer
as the dew of heaven?
Furthermore, will you walk softly,
redeeming the time-be careful every
step, to exhibit the temper and spirit OF
Christ, set living, perpetual example Of
love, mercy, and truth, day in, day out
Finally, mother, will you carry this
precious little jewel constantly in the
arms of faith, hope, and love-fold the
precious charge in the very bosom of the
Saviour?
''If be lay his hand on the children,
Ny heart viii be lighter, know,
For blessing for ever and ever
VIII follow them as they CO."
Nothing short of this continued, stead,
fast, Bible discipline will meet the emer,
gencies of the case. This unwayering,
ceaseless diligence in the path of duty
and holy living is what God indicates in
the precept, "Train up chiidin the way
he should 60: and when he is old, he
will not depart from it.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
Half of the Widows Mite.

A gentleman called upon a rich friend
for some charity.
eyes, l must give you my mite, said
the rich man.
EDO you mean the widows mite p
asked the solicitor.
Certainly" was the answer.
81 shall be satisfied with half as much
aA6e-gave," said his friend. Chow
much are you worth?
"Seventy thousand dollars"
"Give me, then, your check for thirty
FIVE thousand; that will be half as much
as the widow gave; for she, you know,
gave her ALL"
The rich man was cornered. Covetous
people often try to shelter themselves
behind the widows mite, and under the
cover of her contribution give meanly to
the Redeemer's cause. Her example.
indeed, rightly interpreted, would pluck
selfshness out of the soul, and fill to
overlooking the channels of true benevo-
lence.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
"A Doctors Line"

In not very populous district in the
neighborhood of Dumfries there rides q
carter named Brown, with his wife and
mother. One day the old lady was taken
alarmingly i'll; the son hurried to the
town and returned with a physician
The patient was examined and a piece
of paper called for, on which to note the
remedies to be administered. Not suit
able piece of paper was, however, to De
found in this isolated domicile, and, sim
gular enough, the doctor had not scrap
in his possession. "Have you piece
of chalk, then ?" somewhat grufhy IN
quired the NJ. D. He was answered in
the affirmative, provided with the article,
wrote the prescription out on the door,
and taking leave, told his employer to
get the parish schoolmaster to transcribe
it. Brown, however, was not disposed
to put himself under obligation to even
such genial parsonage as the village
dominic, and though he may never have
heard of Mr. Smiles's Self Help, he de-
termined on a course that showed he was
at least familiar with the adage, I" He is
best served who serves himself" The
fastenings of the hinges were immediate
" removed, the door taken down, laid on
the barrow, and wheeled into town with
all possible haste. Arrived at Dumfries,
he strobe into an apothecary's shop with
the door on his shoulder, and the aston.
ishment of the knight Of the pestle and
! mortar, when it was placed on the coun-
| with the words, There's line from
Dr." may be better imagined than
described. Apothecaries, however, are
not quite as particular as bankers as to
to what they honor, and our friend re-
ceived his medicine without being sub
| iected to many queries.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
Quarter of an Hour With a Bad Book.

About twenty-five years ago, | formed
most intimate acquaintance with a
young man of fine education, and COM
handing talents, and we soon became
bosom friends. One morning after school,
at street corner, he handed me book
which he said he could lend to me
for only one quarter of an hour. We
stood at that corner a few moments,
while | looked at the obscene pictures,
and read few pages in that polluting
volume. / handed it back to him and
never saw it again; but the poison took
effect, "the sin left its mark" cannot
erase the effects of the impure thoughts
which in that quarter of an hour that
vile book lodged in my heart, and which,
may God forgive me, harboured there.
l can and do pray against the sin, and
for Gods grace yet to conquer it; but it
is thorn in my flesh, and still causes
me great bitterness and anguish.
Young men, as lover of your souls,
1 tell you in all sincerity that there is
nothing which / would not willingly give
to have the veil of oblivion cast over the
scenes and the sentiments of that cor
rupt volume, which still haunt me like
foul spectres during my hours of private
devotion, in the sanctuary, and at the
communion table. Oh, what sad work
did that quarter of an hour make upon
a human soul. Young man, 6esCare Of
bad books, and Jes0are also Of era CON-
paRi0ns.
My early friend, after well-nigh ac-
complishing my ruin, became dissolute
man, imbibed evil sentiments, and at
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

A MOTHERS Love.-The intensity of
maternal affection was we'll illustrated in
the observation of a sweet little boy,
who after reading John Bunyan's CPL
grim's Progress, askedhis mother which
of the characters she liked best. She re-
piled, "Christian, of course; he is the hero
of the story" The dear child responded:
Mother, l like Christiana best, because
when Christian set out on his pilgrimage
he went alone, but when Christiana
started, she took the children aoith her.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

SMoKING.-The pupils of the Poly
technic school in Paris, have recently
furnished some curious statistics bearing
on tobacco. Dividing the young gentle
men of that college into groups, the
smokers and the non-smokers, it is shown
that the smokers proved themselves,
in the various competitive examinations,
far inferior to the others. Not only in
the examinations on entering the school,
are the smokers in lower rank, but in
the various ordeals they have to pass
through. In year the average rank of
the smokers had constantly fallen, and
not inconsiderably, while the men who
did not smoke, enjoyed cerebral atmos-
phere of the clearest kind.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26


Four DOLLARS year in advance; to Minis.
tiers of the Gospel, THREE DOLLARS; TWO DOLLARS
for six months.
ADvERrIsEMENrs.-Pers square Of eight lines,
first insertion, rs cents; subsequent insertions,
each square, 30 cents. For advertisements OF
longer than four weeks the terms will be-one
square $1s year, $40 for six months, Sc for
three months.
MARRIAGES AND DEArHs.-Notices inserted
without charge.
OB1ruARrss.-Charged at ten cents line.
The party sending can make the estimate by
counting eight words to line. Payment insa-
riably in Advance.
Personal---very. cents year-to be paid at
the Office where the paper is received.
CoMHUs1cArIoNs AND LETTERS ON BUSINESS
should be addressed to Central Resbyteriqn/
Box 462, Richmond, Va.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

PAYING THE PENALTY.-An intelligent
naturalist was recently visiting Hert-
fordshire farmer, who complained that
his crops of turnips were getting "worse
every day." On examination, it was
found that several aVire-oOrms were on
every plant Have you been killing
the small birds?" inquired the naturalist
L" My neighbor and myself killed 1900
sparrows this Spring" was the reply
This explained the mystery. The farmer
had killed his very best friends! The
poor little sparrows would have destroyed
all the wire worms
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

Committees of Education and Publication.
The General Assembly resolved that the Chair.
man of the Presbyterial Committees on Educs.
ton and Publication should be regarded as
corresponding member of the Assembly's Com
mittees on these subjects. We give below the
names of such members as have been appointed
by the Presbyteries.
EDUCATION.
E. Hanover Rssbyt~y-D. W. Shanks, Amelia
Aontgomey-D ]. D. Mitchell, Lynchburg, Va.
Tuscaloosa-D. D. Sanderson, Eutaw, Ala.
Florida-W. j. Mccormick, Gainesville, Flor.
Nacon-W. II. Hall, Columbus, Ga.
Roanoke. 81. Davis. Charlotte G. a., Va.
Cherokee-Dr. N. A. Pratt, Roswell, Ga.
Concord-G. Wilson McPhail, Davidson Col.
Charleston-w. E. Boggs, Columbia, S. c.
South Carolina-D. Mcneil Turner, Abbeville,
s. Carolina.
South alabama Watson. Selma, Ala.
East ALabama-G. R. Foster, Wetumpka, Ala.
Txscsmbia-7w. II. MITCHELL Florence, Ala.
Georgid-D. L. Buttolph, Mcintosh, Ga.
Memphis-D. 81. Cummins, Covington, Tenn.
North Mississippi-E. NJ. Richardson, Grena-
da, Miss.
Nep Orleans-R. Q. Mallard, New Orleans.
Western fsras-J. F. Martin, San Antonio, Tex.
Arkansas-I. j. Long, Batesville, Arkansas.
Ouachata-A. L. Crawford, Arkadelphia, Ark
PUBLICATION.
East Hanocer Presbyey-E. 81. Rutherford
Petersburg, Va.
Vest Hanocer-E. Woods, Charlottesville, Va.
Aomtgomny-L. b. Blanton, Salem, Va.
Roanoke-J. B. Shearer, Black Walnut, Va.
Florida-W. ]. Mccormick, Gainesville, Flor,
South Alabama-Dr. j. 81. Rice, Mobile, AIS.
East Alaban,Q-J. K. Hazen, PrattviIle, Ala
Concord-G. D. Parks, Charlotte, N. G. 'e'
fdyetteoiIs-Neill Mel Donald, Fayetteville, N G.
Orange-Rey. j. 81. Smith, Greensboro N. G.
Cberokse-Dr. N. A. Pratt, Roswell. Ga.
North Aissis'irpi-E. N. Richardson, Grena:
s: Carohna-A. A. Porter, Spartanburg, s. @.
New Qrlsans-R. G. More, New Orleans.
Western Teras-G. u moore, s.c."..:, tHsas.
Arkansas. W.. Davies, Augusta, Ark.
McNair, Pine Bluff, Ark.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26
Submission.

Oh, it is easy in ife's tranquil day,
When all around in peace, to kneel and pray
"Father! thy sciu be dons;" but when that will
Calls us to suffer and be patient still;
When Gods mysterious ways are all unknown,
When clouds and darkness veil His awful throne:
Oh! how we need His all.supporting hand,
To bow submissive to the high commands
To trust Him still in life's beclouded day,
And in meek resignation thus to pray.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

K1NDNEss.-"Can you manage your
donkey, my man, without using q whip?"
I inquired. go yes, sir, Neddy needs
no whip. I feed him well and treat
him kindly, so he gives me no trouble.
He's almost Christian, sir! He
knows the houses where to call, as
we'll as I do. He knows Saturday
night too, as.well as anybody, for he has
no work to do on a Sunday; that's has
restday, as we'll as mine. If donkeys
were rightly used, sir, they would rarely
want whip. Kind words and pats are
much better than curses and blows any
day!
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

PERsEvERE in earnestly striving to
conquer in yourself the annoyance little
daily vexations cause you; turn all your
attention to this point for the present !;
feel that at this moment God only re-
quires this of you; do not SOW the seeds
Of good desires in the garden of others,
but cultivate we'll your own. Do not
desire to be what you are not, but rather
desire to be we'll what you are; turn your
thoughts of perfecting yourself thus, and
to bearing the crosses, be they great or
small, which you may therein encounter.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1867-06-26

ARE you not surprised to find how in
dependent of money, peace of conscience
is, and how much happiness can be con-
densed in the humblest home? A cot
tage will not hold the bulky furniture and
sumptuous accommodations of man.
sion; but if the love of God be there, q
little cottage might hold as much happi-
ness as might stock magnificent palace.