davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
Scarcity of Ministers

In an essay upon the scarcity Of the cler-
gy, Rev. A. J. Bailey, D. D., speaks thus
of worldly tendencies:
think it apparent that s0orldliness has
increased throughout American society; and
that the church partakes of it. Getting on
in the world is the one ambition of the ma.
tiou; is kept before its youth, from their
earliest observation till long after their call
ing in life has been found. Parents are less
careful than formerly to be at church pune
tually aud always; less particular to take
the whole family with them; less faithful it
is feared, il family worship; less devout
themselves, and, of course, shedding less of
holy influence upon their children. This at
mosphere of our so called Christian homes
is not right for the development of Christian
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
Eow to Escape the Trap.

saw good story lately, that was head
ed, "How to Escape the Trap" 1t is a
sort of fable. The story says that com.
pany of rats once met in the cellar of a
house, to consult together about their. safety.
A large steel trap had been set in that Gel.
lar. 1t was baited with good big piece Of
cheese, which smelled very nice, and which
they wanted very much to get at But they
had seen a number of their friends killed
and wounded by this trap. In this way they
had learned that it was dangerous thing to
NEEDLE with. And now they had met TO-
gether to see if they could not find out some
way of getting that nice cheese out of the
trap without any injury to. themselves.
Many long speeches were made, and many
plans suggested, but none of them seemed
to answer. At last one of them got up and
said: 81 move that committee of two of
the strongest among US be appointed to at
tend to this business. And think if one
of the committee will put his paws upon the
spring and keep it down, then the other can
take away the cheese with safety" This
seemed to meet with great favor. They
agreed that this was the best plan that had
been suggested, and they uttered loud
squeal in favor of it.
But just then they were startled by a
faint voice, and poor lame rat, with only
three legs, came limping into the meeting.
He stood up to speak, and said:
"My friends, have tried the plan that
has just been proposed, and you see the re-
suit. lost my leg by it; that is what it
cost me. Now let me give you my advice:
II you wart to escape the dangers of that
trap, the bc way is to let it alone. Don't
touch it. Don't 60 near it."
And this is one of the ways in which Je-
sus, our guiding star, keeps us out of dan
ger. Ever sin is like trap. We cannot
60 near it thOut danger. And the advice
which Jesu gives US, when we are tempted
to any kin sin, is always the same. He
says: L one. Flee from it. Have
nothing \ it. The best way to es-
cape the OF to 60 near it.-ReU. DR..
NeVton
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
4msbandrp.
Poultry Raising.

As have made poultry raising special
ity for few years past, | will give you some
of my experience in the business. | have
raised from one to two hundred and fifty
chicks year, and wintered from fifty to one
hundred and fifty in different years. My
success has been such that this year | intend
to double my chicken crop of any previous
years.
Brahmas and Cochins are my favorites
for all purposes, although the LeghOrns will
outlay them, but as the Brahuas are the
best winter layers, their eggs will bring in
full as much money during the whole year.
In regard to profits, find, from eggs
and fowls sold at market prices, an average
of 50 so to each hen wintered. By actual
experiment find can raise Brahma chick
to the age of six months for forty cents. A
friend made the same experiment and came
three cents below me. | have made no &C
count of the manure except as an Offset to
the interest on money invested. In rearing
large flock, it will not do to crowd them at
night, and if more than one hundred chicks
are reared they will do much better if sepa.
rated by petition or fence. Keep the
chicks away from the old fowls, select out
the weak ones and give them better chance,
and as soon as they are fit for market kill
them off, as you need to breed from your
most robust stock. Keep your breeding
stock yarded, and from eight to ten hens
only with each cock, to ensure the fertility
of the eggs. In winter keep in small fOcks
say twenty five in each coop or apartment
Have the coopa dry and warm and keep free
of vermin by sprinkling decoction of to-
bacco on the nests and roosts. Provide g
dust bath for the fowls. Give a variety o.
food, with plenty of raw broken bone, oys.
ter shells, and fine clover or rowen hay
One hundred fowls will eat five hundred
pounds of foe clover hay in one winter, say.
ing more than its value in other food, anG
give you more eggs than if deprived of it.
Have warm place in which to put fowls
when showing signs of sickness, and if with
little extra care they do not soon recover, il
is better to kill and bury them. These di
rections followed, there is no trouble in rails.
ing large flock of chicks. The men oc,
cupying as many contiguous acres would moi
hesitate to keep fifty adult fowls and rear
one hundred chicks each. One man can Just
as well keep five hundred adult fowls and
rear one hundred chicks on the same amount
of land if he gives the same care and atten
ton to each individual flock, that each indi
vidual would give to his one flock. One
thing must be borne in mind, they must have
free access at all times to pure water and
gravel.-Msrror and Farmer
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
The Southern Church and the Thirteenth Of
First Corinthians.

Every Church has its distinctive charac-
ter. If we study the different ecclesiastical
organizations, we shall find them with traits
as clearly marked as men or nations. The
wisdom of our common Head in establishing
upon earth these separate bodies of His own
kingdom, is seen in the fact that they thus
represent and intensity more strongly than
in any other possible way the various doc
trines and principles of the Bible. One may
distinguish more emphatically the divine sove-
reignty, another the free agency of man !;
one the simplicity of salvation by faith alone,
another the province of works in the Chris
tan life; one the divinity of Christ, another
His humanity; one the reVerential decency
of public worship, another the zeal and fer
vor; one the catholicity of the kingdom, an
other the duties and rights and obligations
of the private conscience. One may illus
trate one aspect and another, another aspect
of a certain truth of grace. And like the
grand burst of symphony from an orchestra
of hundred instruments, so from the sis
terhood of evangelical denominations arises
to God magnificent harmony, hundred
glorious chords, to the honor of our one Sa-
viour.
The Presbyterian church in the United
States, commonly called the Southern Church,
forms one of these necessary chords in the
dOxologies of earth. A marked individuality
stands out with their fair rounded promi-
nence. Were she blotted out, there is no
other to take her place. The cause of uni
versal truth would feel the blow. Certain
of its grander keys would be silenced and
there would be left sense of diScord. She
represents ideas and principles found in just
such prestige nowhere else. The world could
not afford to lose them. She is no supernu-
merary.
There is no grace which nothing can ex-
cuse any Church for lacking Without it,
whatever her other gifts, she is as sounding
brass or a tinkling cymbal. The circum-
stances of the rise and after history of the
Southern Church, her distinct personality
and her decided traits, would lead to an ex-
pectation of some intolerance toward sister
churches. And yet these very peculiarities
only make the absence of sel6shneSs, envy,
resentment and bitterness the more honors-
BILE. The day comes when it will be accord
ed her that one of the grsces she has lived
to adorn the most is true Bible charity,-O.
S. Presbyterian.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
Home.

A man went out to India to live there
He had very pleasant house, with large
garden, and he and his wife and children
lived very happily. AT last, as the little
children grew up, the heat made them i'll,
and they became thin and weak, SO that one
day the doctor said, "If you want your chill
dren to live you must send them to England"
The poor man could not leave his work in
India, 50 he was obliged to send his wife and
children away by themselves, and he was
left alone, The day after they had gone
away, friend called upon him and said,
"What pleasanthouae you have" eyes"
said the poor man, but it was home yes
terday; now it is nothing but house. My
home is where my wife and children are.
Home is not bricks and mortar, nor stone,
but a place where our best friends are
Heaven is our home, because Jesus, our best
friend, aud God our Father are there.
God wishes all men to think that heaven
is their home, and sends for our parents and
friends and takes them away from our home
on earth, that we may be obliged to look up
to heaven and say, "My best friends are
there.
Our best friends are our best treasure, and
Jesus tells us, Where our treasure is, there
will cur heart be also. "-Parables for Chill
dreR.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
, as a Medicine.

A physic says the cry for rest has al
ways been ider than the cry for food.
Not that it more important, but is often
harder to o, ia. The best rest comes from
a sound 81 o. Of two men or women,
otherwise 60 j, the one who sleeps the best
will be the st moral, healthy and efficient.
Sleep will & much to cure irritability of
temper, peevishness and uneasiness. 1t will
restore to vigor an over-wOrked brain. 1t
will build up and make strong weary body.
1t will cure a headache 1t will cure a
broken spirit. twill cure sorrow. Indeed,
we might make long list of nervous and
other maladies that sleep will cure. The
cure of sleepleSsneSs requires clean, good
bed, sufficient exercise to produce WEAKNESS,
pleasant occupation, good air, and not too
warm room, clean stomach, clear con-
science, and avoid all stimulants and mar
cotics. For those who are overworked, bag
gard and nervous, who pass sleepless nights,
we commend the adoption of such habits as
shall secure sleep; otherwise life will be
short, and what there is of it sadly imper-
feet.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
From the North Carolina Presbyterian.
" When saw we Thee.

Is there not tone of surprise in this
query? Neither they on the right hand Of
the Judge, nor those on the left had any re-
collection of having ever met Him before
The several grounds of their acceptance and
of their condemnation seem to have been to-
tally unexpected, unlocked for, on each side.
None of the things which they had supposed
might be brought up for or against them on
this tremendous occasion, were mentioned.
Things that they had done, or omitted to do,
occurrences unmarked at the time, and long
since forgotten, were recalled, while the
prominent acts of their lives, those by which
their reputation among men had been made
and their names known, were now ignored.
"Lord when saw we thee?'' When was
it we stood nearest thy light and caught
most of Thy Spirit, and walked most closely
with Thee? Not when your great book was
written-not when your best sermon was de-
livered- when you laid your gold and
silver on the altar, not counting the COST
None of these labors or sacrifices are now
called up. Probably they had their reward
in this ife But the time when you laid
aside your beloved pen, or your more con-
genial work whatever it was, and went in
search of the sick, the poor, the dying, and
the prisoner and ministered to them, if nc
more than an hour of kind companionship,
or cup of cold water in the name of your
common Lord and Master. The time when
you divided your store of meal with the
widow. The time when you turned out in
the night and rain to sit up with your sick
neighbor, when you denied yourself meal
or delicacy that you might take it to him
When you did not shrink from the sore limb
or the swollen body or the infectious fever
but recognizing the tie of brotherhood with
the stricken one, omitted no tenderness Of
service or attention that could alleviate bis
suferings. These things were trifes-you
did them. cheerfully and thought no more Of
them-humiliated only because you could
do so little. But they were all recorded
and at the end it turns out that these were
the golden hours of life, that these little
things on little wings bore your soul to heav
en-, rather than great things you sought SC
earnestly to accomplish.
There is more of the spirit of Christ in the
practice of self denial for the sake of others
in sympathy and attention to their wants.
bodily and spiritual, than in writing com
mentary on the Bible, or in building church
These are among the surprises of heaven
We learn that we walked with our Saviour
talked with Him, and were privileged tC
minister to Him many time when We were
longing to have been in. Martha's place, OIL
Johns or Mary's. He was here and leaned
his head on our breast, and sat at meat with
us, and we did not recognize Him. 0
quickening, quickening thought Gracious
Master forgive our blindness and open Oul
eyes to see Thee in the least of these thy
brethren, that we may hasten to receive the
stranger, to feed the hungry, to clothe the
naked and to visit the sick, and so may be
among those who enter thy kingdom abssn.
dantly." @.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12

CoNsIsTENCY.-Let us remember that
whatever units us for religious duties, coolS
the fervor of our devotions, or indisposeS us
to read our Bible or to pray; whatever we
could not engage in with perfectly clear
conscience; wherever the thought of sui
fering Saviour or holy God, of the hour Of
death or of the day of judgment, falls like
cold shadow on our enjoyment; the pleas
ures which we cannot thank God for, and on
which we cannot ask his Distinguishes are
not for us.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
A Horse With a Long Memory.

Many years ago Mr.. Abram Dodge, of
the town of Ipswich, Mass, owned abeauti-
full horse which was the pet of the family.
He was admired by all who knew his playful
ness and good qualifications. In the sum-
mer it was Mr.. Dodge's habit occasionally to
have frolic with his horse in his barn, yard,
then let him out alone, and he would 60 to
the river, which was about one.third of a
mile distant, where he could battle, then 90
to common and roll on the grass, then with
the freedom of air start for home. His
stable was renovated for him while he was
gone, and his breakfast put in his crib. If
he met his master he would show some colt
ish pranks, bound for the stable, pull out the
wooden pin that fastened the door with his
teeth, and rush to the manger where he ex-
pected to find his food. One night the horse
was stolen from the stable. At the expira-
ton of sixteen years Mr.. Dodge was at the
tavern when man drove horse up to the
door. Mr.. Dodge at once recognized his
horse, and he told the driver the reason for
believing it to be his; the man told of whom
he bought the horse, and said that he had
owned him for several years. Mr.. Dodge
claimed his horse and it was finally agreed
that if the horse would, on being taken to his
old stable, go through the habit of bathing,
rolling on the grass, and pulling the pin from
the stable door as above described, Mr..
Dodge should have him. When the horse
was let out into the yard he reviewed the
premises for moment, then started for his
green towel on the common, then to his stable,
pulled the wooden pin, won for himself
good meal, and his old master his favorte
horse. These facts are voucbed for by reli-
able old residents of the beautiful picturesque
old town and show conclusively the long
memory of our noblest animal. -LoweU
Courier.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
What Shall we do With our BOys9

We are getting a large crop of boys
They are growing up everywhere. We ind
them in the drawing-room; We run against
them in the street We do not see so many
of them in church as we should like to -
But what shall we do with them ? The vast
majority of them cannot have collegiate
education, nor get further than the common
school, and we are not sure that they are the
worse for that. But they are growing up,
aud the question is "What shall we do with
Johnny p Johnny wants to be a great
sculptor, or he wants to write johnny
pinru on an acre of canvas, or he wishes
TO be an author. But he does not wish to
work on the farm, nor is ne willing to engage
in mercantile life. He does not like bust
ness, and the law is not to be thought of.
And so Johnny lounges about the farm,
doing odd chores, at times, working on his
marble, or his canvas, or rewriting his essay
on the Relation of the Infinite to the Intan-
gible. But what shall we do with him ?
We suppose there are few families where the
problem is not awaiting solution, and moth
ing regarding which more mistakes are COM
mitted. Let US say right here to each in
cipient Praxiteles and Raphael that the road
to fame in this country lies through the
workshop, the store, or the farm. Nothing
is more dificultin this country than the early
pursuit of literature or the fine arts. II
your boy has these tastes, and even talent
thank God for it but do not let them prove
his ruin. Let him learn well and thoroughly
some trade, or else make farmer of him
or put him in store, and then, when ht
shall have acquired the means of earning
his own livelihood, let him at his leisure de-
velop his tastes.
This, indeed, is the history of the success
of our two greatest sculptors, one of whom ii
no longer living. One was an apprentice
and a good worker he was. The other wen
into mercantile business and employed hi
odd leisure moments in fashioning bits O
statuary. But now his reputation is world
wide, aud orders come in upon him as tnicl
as the summer leaves. Put Johnny to work
Whether he likes it or not, make him work
but if possible give him work which he goes
at willingly. A boy who will DO nothing bu
chisel or paint, or write poetry, or write es
says, will scarcely, if ever, succeed at it.
First the farm, the workshop, the counting
house; after that che marble bust, the paint
ing, the epic, or the essay. Boys need dis
cpline though it be of life; and it is better
they should have their real hard knocks a
first than that they should lose their manli
ness and the respect of others in the pursui
of that idleness which is as perniciouS as i
is disgraceful.- Christian at Work.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
DI r &c T O R Y

THE GENERAL 4

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The General Assembly will at st. Louis, Mo,
on the third Thursday of May, 1875, at IL A. M
CLERKS.
REv. JOSEPH R. WILSON, D. D., STATED CLERK,
REV. WILLIAM BROWN. d. D PERMANENT CLERK,
Va.
The Stated Clerk is Ex oFPIoIo the Treasurer of the
General Assembly.
TRUSTEES.
HoS. JAMES HEMPHILL PRESIDENT, Chester, S. @.
JOS. WILSON, VICE President, Charlotte, N. o.
JESSE H. LINDSAY, Esq, SECRETARY and TREAsuRER
Greensboro, N. @.
sUSTENTATIoN.
Rev. J. LEIGHTON WILSON, D. D., SECRETARY,
REV. RICHARD MoILwAINE, Coordinate SBCRE-
TARY and TREASURER, Columbia, ). q.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
REV. J. LEIGHTON WILSON, d. D., SECRETARY,
RIy. RICHARD MoILwAINE, Co. ordinate SEcRBrA.
EY and TREASURER, Columbia, 5. @.
PUBLICATION.
REV E THOMPSON BAIRD, D. D.. SECRETARY, Rich
O. GENNET, Esq, TREASURER, Richmond, Va.
EDUCATION.
REV JNo. N. wADDELL d. D., SECRETARY, Mem
phs Tenn.
JAMES ELDER, TREAsUaBR, Memphis Tenn.
Applications the Executive Committee for aid are
first to be referred the appropriate Presbyeral Exec
utve Committees for their approval and are TO be for
warded by them to the Assembly's Committees.
COLLECTIONS.
The General Assembly has appointed the following col
lections TO be taken up annually IN all the churches
For Sustentaton On the first Sabbath in January.
For Publication On the first Sabbath in March
For Foreign Missons On the first Sabbath In May.
For the Relief of Disabled Ministers and the Widow
Orphans of Deceased Minister'S On the first Sabbath
in July
For Evangestic Work: On the first Sabbath in Sep
TENDER.
For Education: On the first Sabbath in November.
In cases where highly inconVenent take col
ectous these days, they shall be taken as soon
possible thereafter.
The Assembly recommends to the churches that the,
adopt the apostolic plan of taking weekly collections
and that the amounts thus collected be appropriated
named Objects when necessary, 10 local OBJ
ecs such proportion the church session may decide
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
ZELLS POPULAR ENCYCLOPEDIA.
L. COLANGE, Edito,

L. COLANGE, Editor.
The best, latest and cheapest ever published; is
not only COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA, but il
also
Complete Lexicon, Gazetteer of the World,
Biographical Dictionary, A Biblical
Dictionary, Legal Dictionary.
a Medical Dictionary,
and the only book containing all these subjects
The more than $500 ILLUSTRATIONS, on every
variety of subject alone will cost over $4,000 Nc
other work is so fully and so well illustrated.
Views OF Cities PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PLANTS, AMI
MAILS, MACHINERY, GREAT MEN AND WOMEN, dc.
Dasn The Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria, has
recently sent the publisher, I. Elwood Zell grand
GOLD MEDAL, testifying his personal appreciation Of
the work.
Total cost, bound in from two to four volumes
to subscribers, from $50 to $62, according to mum
Der of volumes and style of binding; a saving o.
more than SlQ0 over other similar works
A so cent specimen number, containing 40 pages
will be sent free for 10 cents. AGENTS and can
vassers wanted. Sold only by subscription.
Address AARON JONES, Gen'l Agt.
feb 1S-tf Ills Main St., Richmond, Va.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12

CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAILROAD.-On
~ and after APRIL 10th, 1874, the passenger
trains will run as follows:
FROM RICHMOND.
$50 A. N. MAIL TRAIN.-For Gordonsville,
Charlottesville, Stanton, White Sulphur, Hinton,
and all intermediate stations daily Except Sunday
arriving at Hinton at 1910 P. NJ. This train CON.
meets at Gordonsville for Orange, Cupeper, War
renton, Manassas, Alexandra, Washington, and the
North and at Charlottesville for Lynchburg, Bristol,
Knoxville, Chattanooga and the South.
4:45 P. M. ACCOMMODATIONS Gordons-
vile and all intermediate stations daily Except Sum
day,) arriving at Gordonsville at $50 P. M.
$50 P. M. CINCINNATI EXPRESS Cor.
louisville, Charlottesville Stanton, Goshen, Mill.
boro, Covington, White Sulphur, and all stations
west of White Sulphur daily Except Saturday, ar.
irving at Huntington at $50 P. NJ. This train con.
meets at Gordonsville for Washington, Baltimore,
and the North, and for Lynchburg, Bristol and the
South and at Huntington with steamers Bostona
and Fleetwood for Cincinnati and all points West
and Southwest, arriving at Cincinnati at A. M.
Baggage checked through
For through tickets, rates, and information apply
at 826 Main street, Ballard and Exchange HOTEL or
at the companys Office, Broad street near Sixteenth.
EDGAR VLIET,
General Passenger and Ticket Agent.
A. 81. PERRY General Superintendent.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-08-12
What Then a?

After the Joys Of saEth,
After its songs Of mirth,
After its hours OF light,
After its dreams so bright
What then?
Only an empty name,
Only weary frame,
Only q conscious smart,
Only an aching heart.
After this empty name,
After this weary frame,
After this conscious smart,
After this aching heart
What then?
Only a sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
Only a silent bed
With the forgotten dead.
After this sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
After this silent bed
With the forgotten dead
What then?
Oh, then, the judgment thronel
On, then, the last hope gone!
Then, all the woes that dwell
Ia an eternal hell.