davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Rules for Servants in olden Time.

What would servants in the present day
say to such code of rules and regulations
as was adopted three hundred years ago in
the household of Sir ]. Harrington, the
translator of {" Ariosto ?" A servant absent
from prayers to be fined I'd; for uttering an
oath, Id, and the same sum for leaving a
door open; 6ne of two pence from Lady
day to Michaelmas for all who are in bed af-
ter or out after 9; fine of Id for any
beds unmade, fire unlit, or candle-box ur-
cleaned after s; fine of 4d for any man de-
tected teaching the children obscene words !;
a find of Id for any man waiting without q
trencher, or who is absent at meal for
any one breaking any of the buffers glass,
12d; fine of I'd for any one who has not
laid the table for dinner by 1880, or the
supper by 6; fine of 4d for any one ab-
sent a day without leave; for any man strik-
ing another, fine of Id; for any follower
visiting the cook, Id; fine of Id for any
man appearing in foul shirt, broken nose,
united shoes, or torn doublet; fine of Id
for any strangers room left foy four hours
after he be dressed; fine of Id if the hall
be not cleaned by 8 in winter and 7 in sum-
mer; the porter to be fined Id if the court
gate be not shut during meals; fine of Sd
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
The Snow,

"What a splendid thick blanket" and
Robbie rubbed his hands gleefully.
81 don't see any blanket, said matter
of.fact Johnnie, slowly joining Robbie at his
post by the window.
"Don't you, though Have you forgot
ten so soon what papa said last night about
snow keeping the earth warm, so the tender
trees and shrubs wouldn't get winter-killed?'
eyes; and don't you know papa said how
good and kind God is to take such nice care
of them?" asked sister Annie.
"Then 1 guess I've just thought of anoth-
er reason why God made the snow" chimed
in Alice.
"Why ?" asked Robbie.
90, guess he made it partly for US boys
and girls. Weget such lots of fun out of it
making snow men, and coasting and skating.
"Pooh !" said Robbie.
81 don't care; l think so, persisted
Alice.
$50 do l" said papa, who came in just
then.
"Do you, really ?" asked Robbie in sur
prise.
eyes. If God cares for the little spar
rows, so that not one falls to the ground with
out him, and if his care over US is so grea
that he numbers the hairs of our heads, dom
you think that when he made the beautiful
snow he thought of the little children and the
pleasure they would get from p
The children generally thought papa mus
be right. And when, an hour afterward, &
tall soldier slowly grew up in the yard from
under the childrens hands, with harmless
broom for a gun, think they were all tht
happier for the thought that one use of the
bright snow was to give them health anG
pleasure.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
D z &c TO r Y
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
or THE
Presbyterian Church in the United States


The General Assembly will meet at Savannah Ga,
on the third Thursday of May, 1876, at II A. NJ.
CLERKS
Rev. JOSEPH R. WILSON, d. D., STATED CLERK,
REV. WILLIAM BROWN. D. d . PERMANENT clEsK.
The Stated Clerk is Ex oFPIorO the Treasurer of the
General Assembly.
TRUSTEES
HoS. JAMES HEMPHTLL. President, Chester s q
~ REV JoHN DOUGLAS, VIcEPREsIDsSr, Charlotte
Jesse JESSE H. LINDSAY, Esq, SECRETARY and TREAsrArA
sUsTENTATIoN.
REV. J; LEIGHTON WILSON, D. D., SECRETARY.
REV. RICHARD McILwAINE, Coordinate sEcKE-
rAhf ana TREASURER, Box $751; Baltimore, Md
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
REV ]; LEIGHTON WILSON, d. D., SECRETARY,
RLv. RICHARD McILwAINE, Co. ordinate SEcAxr.
BY and TRsAsuRER, Box 3Sl. Baltimore, nd.
PUBLICATION.
Rsy. E. THOMPSON BAIRD, d. D.. SECRETARY Rich.
c. GENNET, Esq, TREASURES, Richmond. Va.
EDUCATION.
REV. JNo. N wADDELL, D. D., SECRETARY, Mem.
phs, Tenn.
A. +. DOD, TREASURER, Memphis, Tenn
Applications the Executive Committee for aid are
first TO be referred to the appropriate Presbytera Exec
utive Committees for their approval, and for
warded by them TO the Assembly's Committees.
COLLECTIONS.
The General Assembly has appointed the following col
lections 10 be taken annually in all the churches
For Sustentation On the first Sabbath in January.
For Publication On the first Sabbath in March.
For Foreign Missions: On the first Sabbath in May.
For the Relief of Disabled Ministers and the Widows
and Orphans of Deceased Minister'S On the first
in July
For Evangelistic Work: On the first Sabbath in Sep
TENDER.
For Education On the first Sabbath in November.
In cases where 1t is highly inconvenient uol-
lections these days, they shall be up es
possible thereafter. -
The Assembly recommends TO the churches tina ~
adopt the apostolic plan of taking up weekly collect
and that the amounts thus collected be appropriated 10
the aoovenamed Objects when necessary,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Little Truthful.

You We all read "Grimm's Fairy Tales,
or, if not, you'll be pretty sure to read them
before you are much older. They are very
apt to be found in Christmas stockings, and,
being the production of two German brothers
who know we'll how to delight young folks
they are always very welcome, Jack heard
the pretty schoolma am one day repeat to
her outdoor class pretty story that old
Jacob Grimm, the brother who put these
stories in book, tells about one Of his little
readers.
He was told one fine morning that little
girl wished to see him in his reception-room
as she had something to say to 6 Herr Pro
fessor."
Stepping down to the room he found lit
tie miss looking very grave and very wise.
"Is it thou" she said "who hast writer
these fine fairy tales?'
eyes, my dear; my brother and | have
written them.
"Then the tale Of the clever little tailor ii
thine; and it says at the end that he wh'
will not believe it must pay thaler IA Ger
man dollar
eyes. I have written that too"
"Well, sir, do not believe it."
"Ahw
"Here, sir, is a quarter of thaler' 1t i
all have now, but 1 will call and leave tn
rest at some other time
The kind old man laughed, and deCline'
the quarter thaler He offered, however, t.
see the honest little one home, and ] have NJ
doubt that the two became in time the bes
of friends.-,St. Nicholas.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
4un5Ehn1d &Fntds.
FOE The CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN
TEMPTATION.
NonnnnNnnnNNNonn-NnnnnNnONN02
{ PRAY THAT YE ENTER s
s NOT INTO TEMPTATION. 3
s Luke xxi 40. 5
Observation-Disclosures NNcnnNNnNnn.N
~ -

Christ our Saviour knew what it was to
be tempted. Satan tempted him forty days,
and she suffered being tempted" Now he
was in the garden; his soul was exceeding
" sorrowful, even unto death He knew
all that was before him, and yet in the midst
of it all he thinks of his beloved disciples ;
the trials, dangers and temptations to which
they were soon to be exposed. IL was then
that he said-"Pray that ye enter not into
temptation.
And is not the same counsel applicable to
Christians now? We have
L. Temptations from the wOrld. DR.. Watts
says "tho three great temptations of the
world are honor, gold, and seas0aljoy. How
many are mad after honor from men, but
careless about the honor that cometh from
God only. How many are grasping afser
wealth, and falling into many foolish and
hurtGul lusts which drown men in perditiOn
How many steep their souls in mere sensual
Joys, and are turned away from God and
from eternal life.
,. Temptations from tie Derl1 He en-
tered Paradise and brought sin into the world.
Many thousands are now under his power.
He has great many Joined with him-fallen
spirits, false teachers, and wicked men, He
has the advantage Of the experience and skill
of many thousands of years, during which he
has deceived people into SID, and into Perdi-
ton.
Now there is one great safeguard-which
is prayer. Our blessed Lord 8ay8-"Pray,
This was what from the first he had taught
them, "Lead Us not into temptation"
/. 1t prevents temptation-keeps US out
Of it. And that is what we should most
earnestly ask. We are weak, and should
dread entering into temptation. In this
world We shall never know the full extent
Of the prersutjRg mercy of God.
?. 1t is the best weapon with which we
can fight if We get into temptation. Bunyan
says that Christian found all the rest of his
armor useless till he resOrted to this.
We may learn two things
1. The Christian has great encouragement.
He does not contend in his own strength.
He has the arm Of God TO sustain him, and
fights under the Captain of our Salvation"
who never yet lost battle, who met the
Prince of this world, and smote him with
deadly wound. He has promised 20 be with
his people. Ho viii never leave them nor
foraako them st am with you Away, even
to the end Of thoWorld.'
2. We should pity the tempted, Do not
triumph over them, or pursue them with IN
feeling reproach. You DO not know the
strength of the temptation under which they
fell. "Restcre such an one in the spirit of
meekness, considering myself, lest thou also
be tempted" You do not know how largely
and how soon you may have to draw on the
tenderness and affection of your friends.
8. How blessed is the hope of heaven
There no temptation can ever enter. Think
Of that. OLD PILGRIM.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Central 8rcs0ntrrlm.
LESSON III.
LAST PLAGUE-INsTITUTION OF THE Pass
OWN Chaps. xi, XII.

LAST NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE fASS'
OVER. Chaps. xi, XII.
I. What is the final plague with which
Moses threatened the Egyptians? Give the
particulars Of the threatening?
,. What lid God command the Israehtes
to DO before Ho sent the last plague upon
the Egyptians? Meaning Of the word "6or-
rosg here? This word as used here does
not imply any design of returning, but means
only &" to ask,
3. What were the Israelites required to do
that they might escape toe terrible judgment
threateued2 Chap. XII: 1-1S.
4. What feast vas instituted to commend
rate this event
5. Why called the passover? By what
other name called, and Why? Verses II, Is
6. How was it to be observed and how
long,
Z. How is the visitation Of this last plague
described Verses %, 80.
8. It's effect upon Pharaoh and the EgyP-
tians?
9. How did the people go
10. Describe the kneading troughs?'
Il. From what place did the Iaraelitea
start?
u. Their number
Is. Who were there besides Israelitos
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
&" God Sees You!'

Many children have read the sweet tales
of the Danish writer, Hans Christian Ander.
sen. A pleasing story of his childhood is
told in sketch of his life:
Little Hans was one day with his mother
and some other poor neighbOrs cleaning in
the field of man who was said to be very
harsh and cruel. They saw him coming,
and all started to run away. But Hans
clumsy wooden shoes came off; the Stubble,
or short stumps of the grain stalk which had
been left by the reapers, hurt his tender
feet, so that he could not keep up with the
others, and he found he must be caught
The rough owner of the field was very near,
and could now almost reach him with his
heavy whip; when Hans, whose hopeless
case now suddenly filed him with new cour-
age, stopped, and turned, and looking into
the mans face, said: " How dare you strike
me when God sees you?
The anger Ofhis pursuer was subdued at
once. Instead of striking the boy he gently
stroked his cheeks, and asked his name, and
gave him some money. The truth, of which
little Hans reminded him when about to do
a mean and cruel act, seemed to make him
ashamed of il at once, and to cause him to
speak aud act kindly.
How many wicked words and acts children
as well as grown people might be kept from
saying and doing, if they could at the right
time be reminded, as that man was, of the
presence of God When you rise in the
morning; through all hours of the day; when
you go to bed at night; in the darkness when
you are faithful in duty; when you are care
less; when you are kind and loving, and
when you are unkind and selfish and sinful
always, everywhere, God sees you When
you ere tempted to speak harshly to your
little brothers or sisters, or undutifully to
your parents; When you are tempted to lie,
cheat, or steal, to speak profane or naugh
ty word-aek your SELF, "How dare l do
this wicked thing, when God can see me ?"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Night in the Moon.

At last, however, night sets in. Crate
fully it comes after the sun has gathered up
his shifting beam and gone down to his rest.
AL at once We are plunged into comparative
obscurity, for again there is no twilight to
stay the steps of departing day. At one
stride comes the dark. But, looking up into
the sky, we behold vast orb, which pours
down milder and more benefcent splendor
than the great Lord of the system. 1t is
such moon as we terrestials cannot boast;
for it is not less than thirteen times as large
aud luminous as our own. There it hangs
in the armament, without apparent change of
place, as if "fxed in its everlasting seat. 1"
But not without change of surface. For
this great globe is painted panorama, and,
turning round majestically on its axis, pre-
sents its oceans and continents in grand sue
cession. AS Europe and Africa, locking the
Mediterranean in their embrace, roll away to
the right, the stormy Atlantic offers its wa
tiers to view, then the two Americas, with
their huge forests and vast prairies, pass un-
der inspection. Then the grand basin of the
Pacific, lit up with island fires, meets the
gazers eye, and as this glides over the scene,
the eastern rim of Asia, and the upper por-
ton of Australia, sail into sight. The Indian
Ocean, and afterwards the Arabian Sea,
spread themselves out in their subdued splen-
dor, and thus, in four and,twenty hours,
"the great rotundary We tread turns its
pictured countenance to the moon, and
grandly reDays the listening lunarians bv
repeating, to the best Of its ability, the story
of its birth. Nor is the sky les marvellous
in another respect. For the absence of any
atmospheric diffusion of light permits the con-
stellations to shine out with distinctness
which is never paralleled on earth. They
glitter like diamond points set in armament
of ebony. Stars and clusters which we never
see by the naked eye flock into view, and
crowd the lunar heavens. Quarterly.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
On the Treatment of Poultry.

At the Farmers Club of the American
Institute recently, paper from Mr.. Thomas
SturgeS, of Nation, Iowa, upon keeping and
feeding poultry was read. Mr.. Sturges gave
it as his opinion, after years of experience
in keeping poultry, that the most wholesome
food for fowls was onions chopped up very
fine and well mixed with meal THIS kind
of food he found to be most beneficial, and
should be given to fowls of all kinds, in or.
der to keep them in healthy condition.
In chicken cholera ind all ordinary diseases
he found this to be most effective remedy,
if given in the eavly stages. Sulphur should
also be given to poultry. During the winter
season hens should be fed often upon meat,
pounded bones, or oyster shells. On this
treatment, combined with various kinds of
grain, hens that were we'll housed and water
ed would lay about as we'll in winter az in
summer. If fed in this way, they would
seldom eat their own eggs. Farmers who
desire to have their hens lay during the win.
ter should be careful not to allow them to
roost in the trees. No matter how we'll fed
they might be, the cold would operate ipia
riOusly upon them. They should be well
sheltered from snow, sleet, and rain. He
knew from experience that poultry needed
large and comfortable houses. A good plan
for hen-house would be to build one upon
a scale of 10 feet wide by 20 feet long and
II feet in height. This would give two
rooms, one above and the other below. The
upper one would give excellent roosting &C.
commodation. There should be an opening
in the building on the south or east side, for
the chickens to go in and out. A partition
should run through the lower room, length
wise, leaving an opening for the first bench
in the partition two feet from the ground and
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08

three feet wide, so that half of it would be
in each room. Boxes could be placed upon
this, and when the hens go to set they could
be removed into the other room.
The chairman said that so far as his ex-
perience went he agreed with the recommen-
dations made by Mr.. Sturges as to the bous-
ing and feeding of poultry. The greater
part of the system recommended in the pa
per which had been read he had himself
practiced, with excellent results. He be-
lieved the Importance of keeping hens warm
during the winter season could not be too
constantly brought before the attention Of
the farming classes.
Mr.. Bruep, of Newark, said he did not
think there was anything more important to
fowls in cold weather than to keep them warm
and properly fed He had had good deal of
experience in the keeping of poultry, and he
fully agreed with the remarks which had
been made upon the subject. The scraps of
meat which fell from butchers stall mixed
With two parts of cracked corn and one part
of oats, made cheap and excellent food for
hens. 1t was also very important that fowls
should have plenty of water. By attending
fowls in this way he had q yield of 667 doz-
en- eggs from fifty seven hens. Fowls were,
therefore, profitable if properly cared for
In reference to vermin, which were so in
iuriou8 to fowls, he said good remedy was
to burn sulphur in the hen.house during the
day, go that when the hens came in at night
there would be sufficient quantity of it i'm
ORIGINATING the atmosphere to destroy the
vermin without iujuring the hens.
DR.. Weaver made some remarks upon the
Importance of feeding hens upon vegetables,
such as cabbages and onions. If fowls we're
we'll housed and well fed, he said, they should
lay as we'll in winter az in summer. He got
more eggs during the winter months than at
any other season of the year, by keeping
the hens well housed and well fed.
Mr.. Browning spoke in reference to Gus
tom which prevailed Of plungiOg hens into
cold water after they had laid from dozen
to dozen and half of eggs, to take away
the fever which followed, go that they would
commence laying again sooner.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
The Ministry of Little Children.

"The Ministry of Little Children" is elo-
quently set forth in an essay written by
Bishop McTyeire, many years ago, Many
fond hearts will respond to the sentiments
expressed:
Some while ago, in mood for such sta
ti8tics, our eye fell on the item that, in one
year, the deaths in four eastern cities amount
ed to 43,432, and of this number 24,767
we're children under FIVE years of age.
This last sentence fixed our attention. a.
767 children persisted during the year-Te
prefer to say, died. This is in four cities
only Of the rest of the 49, 432, who can
tell their eternal destiny? Some to heaven,
some to hell! But of these little ones
none can doubt. Taking the aggregate
of other cities and villages, and the country
at large, we comprehend fact that finds ex-
preston at the SaviOur's lips" Of such is
the kingdom of God, and in the sacred
couplet-
Millions Of infant souls compose
The family above.
The adults had worked out their missions,
or had failed to do it. But these little ones,
had they no mission? Was 'heir being a
failure2 Lived they, and suffered and died,
aud is the world all the same as though they
had not been? Nay, verify. Theirs was a
precious ministry, and such as they could
only fulfill.
What waste of life exclaims the world
ly economist, as he figures up the statistics
of population. They lived in vain, is the
thought of the man ambitious of making his
mark on the age. Mere blanks, beings in
vain, flowers that came to no fruit, broken
of, fallen, faded, is the thought and feeling
of many.
Bat Christian philosophy presents more
ennobling and comforting view.
How cold and selfish would this world Of
ours be without these children! They
preach the evsngel of beauty and innocence
they break the incrustations of wOrldliness
they touch cords vibrating solemnly, sweetly
reserved only for their tiny hands; they still
in the heart hidden wells of feeling; they
preserve human sympathies from utter Ossi
fcation they deeply subsOil our hard ma
lures.
Biologists often show us deep down under
the earth's layers, the clear and well-defnet
print of frail leaf, or the track of little
bird, made in the dim ages past. These
have left imperishable memorials of them
selves on the face of world from which
whole species, the races, and kingdoms, have
passed away without record.
The Bible makes many records, minute
and kind, of the death of little children
They have their significance. Take the case
of David's family. We lose sight of tn
sickness, and suffering, and death of the IN
weaned child in the effects produced upon th'
royal parent. 1t is not saying too much
that large proportion of those who arr
saved will be saved by the ministry of little
children.
Summing up the moral results of the yeal
we must not credit all to orators, and press
aud institutions. These little preachers have
visited homes, and softened the hearts of tn
indwellers, and drawn them heavenward
where other voices have not been needed
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
a PiOus Daughter.

Children, says the Rev. W. Jay, have con,
yeyed religion to those from whom they
ought TO have derived iS well" said a
mother one day, weeping, her daughter be,
ing abou: to make a public profession cf re-
ligion by going to tie Lords table, Il will
resist no longer. How can l bear to see
ny dear child love and read the Scriptures,
while I never look into the Bible; to see
her retire and seek God, while I never pray
to see her going to the Lords table, while
His death is nothing to me % 'Ab," said
she to the minister who called to inform her
Of her daughters intention, wiping her eyes,
''yes, sir, / know she is right, and l am
wrong. 1 have seen her firm under reprOach,
and patient under proVocation, and cheerful
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-12-08
Precocity of Some Ancient Writers

Milton had written considerable amount
of verse prior to his eighteenth year; Abra.
ham Cowley's "Pyramus apd Tishbe" was
written at ten, bis "Copatantia and Pbile-
tus at twelve; and these other "poetical
blossoms were published when be wae fif-
teen. Pope composed "The Ode to Soil
tude and part Of an epic poem "about
twelve" All the writings Of Thomas Chat
terton were finished, and his own self extin-
guished life was closed, when he had reached
the age of seventeen years and three months.
Collins persian Eclogues were composed
at seventeen: Henry Krke Whites works
were all produced while he was yet in his
twenty-second year; and we can scarcely
forget Connop Thirlwall's Primitiae." writ
ten between eight aud eleven; Leigh Hunts
Juvenilia, or poems written between the
age of twelve and sixteen Shelly's Queen
Nab at sixteen; Byron's "Ec glish Bards
and Scottish Reviewers at twenty; Walter
Savage Landor's "Poems published in hie
twentieth year; and the Lyrical Poems -
of Alfred Tennyson, iesped at the same age.
Henry Taylor's "Isaac Commenus was
composed before be had attained his majority.
Douglass Jerrold's first play, though not per-
formed till his eighteenth, was written in bis
fifteenth year; and James Sheridan Knowles
wrote his first drama at twelve years of age,
for company Of stage.struck bows, among
whom he was the ''star. british Quarterly.
WATCHING,--Th Christian that would
watch effectually must watch on every eide.