davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
The Lesson of q Life.

In December, 1915, in the Department of
the Vosges, Xavier Thiriat, boy of ten, &C.
companied four young girls of about the
same age to the church. They had to cross
brook, over which was placed single loose
plank. The boy crossed safely, the first girl
who attempted it fell in. The boy jumped
in, pulled her out, and then walking in the
water, guided each of the girls across Some
time was lost by this, and the party reached
the church late. Xavier, ashamed of being
late, did not go up to the stove, but kept be.
hind. He reached home chilled, o danger
GUS disease followed, by which he was left
complete cripple for life; his only mode of
moving about was on his hands and knees,
so completely were his legs paralyzed and
distorted. Coming of very poor people, there
was every prospect that Thiriat would be a
heavy charge to his family and wretcbed
burden to himself Instead of this, he reach
ed manhood bright, cheerful, and intelligent
Reading all the books which he could lay
hold of, he was soon the best educated man
in his district, and rapidly acquired extensive
influence, which was always used for good.
He induced the young people to read and to
study. Some contributions to the local news
paper, the Echo des VoSgeS, attracted atten.
ton and made him known, the result of which
was that further intellectual opportunities
we're extended to him. He made himself
good botanist, meteorological, and geologist,
instructed .atS5rs in these branches, and pro-
cured the foundation Of several local libra
ries. He could not, however, be satisfied
without achieving his complete independence
and earning his support He obtained the
position of manager of the telegraph at
town, was made secretary to the
mayor, became favorite correspondent of
several agricultural papers, and received the
highest reward of the French Franklin So.
oiety-its gold medal.
All this was accomplished by native force
If character and strong religious feeling,
1nder circumstances not merely adverse, but
1t first absolutely hopeless. A horrible de-
'ormity, intense suffering, absence of instruc
ion, crushing poVerty-al these disabilities
we're overcome unaided, and this ignorant
ind crippled lad made himself the light, in
ellectual and moral, of his whole district
Public Ledger.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
OUR CITIZENSHIP.

With Silas, having come as a stranger to
Philippi, he and bis colleague were cruelty
scourged and imprisoned at the instigation Of
an excited mob. But when, the next day,
they asserted their citizenship, the magis-
trates were alarmed, and ed them forth from
the town with every token of respect.
So again at Jerusalem, as soon as Paul
asked, {" Is it lawful 30 scourge man that is
Roman, and upcOndemned ?" no one dared
to touch him. Once more at C@'area the
moment that the magic words had been ut
tered, 81 appeal unto Caesar" all local au-
thority was suspended The judges bowed
to their prisoners will. To Caesar be must
go. How precious is the truth thus Swallowed
forth Did this connection with Rome serve
as talisman or shield to the apostle I'm
measurably higher and Surer are the priv
leges of every true citizen of heaven.
Ours is, indeed charmed life; the AL
mighty is our Guardian. "Our Shield and
Defender is the Ancient of days" A spe-
cal providence watches over His children.
The very hairs of our head are all numbered.
Satan cannot assault US, the hand or tongue
of vil.disposed men cannot harm US: sick
ness cannot touch US, danger cannot befall
US: death itself cannot surprise US, without
the permission of Him who worketh all things
for the good of those who love Him. Under
all difficulties and perplexities, in all trials
and temptations, an appeal lies open to the
throne of the King of kings. We may at
once transfer our cause to the highest court
of iudicature; and are sure of gracious
hearing as we'll as of wise and equitable
decision. But when our appeal shall receive
its final and fullest response, and we are
called to appear in the very presence of our
Sovereign, then indeed, the blessedneSs Of
our position will be known as it never was
before. The citizen of Rome though he
might have come from the remotest province,
could not find himself altogether stranger
in it's streets. Its imperial splendor might
dazzle him; its statues, temples, and pal
aces might fill him with wonder; its extent
and magnifcence might transport him with
delight; but the language, the laws and GUS
toms of the people would be familiar to him,
and he would soon be recognized as true
citizen. So will it be with the true believer
when he crosses over Jordan, and enters the
celestial city. His eye will gaze upon the
radiance of the golden streets and the pearly
gates; his ear will be ravished by the music
of the star. born melodies and of the dulcet
harps of the blessed. Above all, bis heart
will overflow when he beholds the King
Himself in His beauty. But he will be no
stranger there. The language he will dis
cover to be the pure, language of Canaan,
which he had learned to speak, though with
stammering lips, on earth. The heavenly
songs will already have been in some degree
familiar; the society will be quite suited to
his taste. The employmentS, too, he will
welcome as those in which, during life he
was wont to find his sweetest pleasure. He
will enter the New Jerusalem a genuine and
acknowledged citizen.-Sunday at Home.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
a Warning to Literary Men.

There is a subject of profound interest
which ought to be noted from other than
professional or scientifc-rather, indeed,
from socal-point of view. 1t cannot have
escaped observation that, within the last few
years, dire mortality has taken place among
the most brilliant and promising of our
younger race of literary men-if that odious
phrase must be employed. Names need not
be mentioned-but they will recur to many
memories-of men who have been cut off ex-
actly when life was in it's meridian, and when
their genius, or talent was in the full pros
pect Of triumph. Now, in the last century
this would have been attributed to debauch
cry, drinking, and the other idle habits of a
dissolute, spendthrift, unscrupulous life. But
it is not 80 in the present day. The evil is
that mon of excitable intellectual tempera-
ment, belonging to little exclusive clubs,
never care for rest, turn their nights into
days, revel on strong coffee and strong tea,
and 90 to bed in the dawn, with a swim Of
conversation in their heads. 1t would be
safe to say, in respect of some late melan-
choly cases, that this is the true story of
them all. Unnatural lives are led, and the
penalty is paid in en- early, untimely, diaas-
ter. bringing death. Of course it is painful
to point a moral Of the kind; yet the truth
of it will not be denied anywhere, and the
multitude of examples cannot possibly be
passed by without commiseratiOn. We hear
of men writing with wet towels wrapped
about their heads, smoking themselves into
excitement over their tasks, almost initiating
the sad excuses of De Quincy, and doing
in the dawn the work they should have done
in the evening; but does not responsibility
attach to all this ?-London Echo.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
HARRY'S MANNERS.

Little Harry had come from his city home
to make his summer visit at grandpaa.-
CANT you got big yard" he exclaimed
as he stepped out upon grandpa's green
acres, beside the silvery river, the morning
after his arrival, which had been after dark
of the evening before. Now began blissful
days of outdoor play and fun. The child
was almost beside himself with delight de
could scarcely spare time and breath to put
''Ma'am" and "Sir" after "Yes" and "NO,"
as he had always been taught to do.
His mamma gave him many gentle re-
minders, but be vas in such hurry that be
could not remember. One day he said,
q" Mamma, 1 guess I've left my manners at
home. I'll write to papa and ask him to
send them to me" So, as the little fellow
could not write, his mother used the pen;
and these are the words he gave her to put
down:
"Dear Papa:
"Please send back my manners. LETT
nv manners in Troy. l want you to search
round the cellar, in the closet, and up stars
in the bed, and see if you can find them
Look in your bag and see if you brought
them back to Troy. Good bye, dear papa
HARRY"
Harry went away before the manners
came. He said to his aunty; After I'm
gone, you'll get letter, and inside of it will
be lot of yes ma'ams,' 'yes ma'ams,
no ma ans, mo ma'amS. You must keep
them till 1 come again.
think Harry will bring his manners next
time. He is loving child, very thoughtful
and kind, only sometimes, when be is just
about crazy with play, he fOrgets to be pO-
lite
Dear children, all, do be careful not to
leave your manners behind you, wherever
you 90. But there is another thing still
more important: be sure to use your man
ners when you are at home If you don't
use them every day, they will grow rusty
and rough, like steel knives put away. Man
ners and knives must be used every day. 1t
is not so bad to leave your manners behind
when you go away on a visit, as it is to for
get to use them when you are at home. You
must be as polite to your papaS and NAM
mas as you would be to a king and queen
" Y. Observer.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY annual
meeting of this Society was held in Exeter
Hall, London, on the 4th of May, its seventy
ninth anniversary, the Earl of Shafte8bury
presiding. In his opening address upon the
aggressive character of the work, he made
this interesting allusion:
"This reminds me of remark made to
myself by the great Duke of Wellington
Describing to me the frontier that he had
advised for adoption by the Government of
India of the new territory acquired from Bur-
nah, he said: Ever bear in mind that no
frontier is good for defence unless it is equal
ly good for attack And this l hold to be
your position. When l look at the magni
tude of your operations, 1 confess am struck
with perfect establishment. Looking, just
before l came here, at paper put into my
hands, I could hardly believe the figures !;
they make my head absolutely SWIM"
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
How to Understand Poetry.

Sometimes boy or girl says, 81 should
like to understand poetry; do like to read
it and repeat it, bat Icannot always tell what
it means"
Dear children, some things go under the
title of poetry which are incomprebenSible to
young and old, to wise and foolish alike
But the way to understand true pOetry-that
Of nature, at least--is to love the beauty of
which it is the picture and the song The
best poetry is simple and natural as life it.
self; and by listening to the sweet voices
which are always floating UNDECIDED on the
air, you will feel what it lie, through all your
being Oaly keep eye and heart open, aud
never let it be possible for you to scorn or
neglect the least thing that God has made
Look for poetry, and you will find it every
wherein the tairy-cup moss under your feet
in the woodland footpath0, in the song of the
robin at your window in the morning, in the
patter of the rain on the roof, in the first rosy
cloud at the horizon at dawn, and the last
that fades out in the west at sunset. For
poetry is written all over the earth by Di-
vine hand, before it can get into books.
The Creator is the great poet. All that
is beautiful to eye or ear or heart is his hand
writing. Wherever bud opens, rivulet
slips along its pebbly path, or leaf-shadOw
dances in the sunshine, there He has written
poem which He meant sh ,uld be read with
delight by every passer.b y.-LnGy LarcOm,
IN st. Nicholas.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
Antiquity of the Spanish Msrino.


The Romans wore nothing but wooden
goods. They had no cotton; they had
little linen, which was worn as material OF
luxury; they had no silk. They cultivated
the sheep with great care, and some of their
richest possessions were in sheep. But there
was one breed of sheep which they cultlva-
ted with great care, and by that system OF
selection which Darwin speaks of as the
source of perfected forms of our domestic
animals. 1t was called Tarentine sheep, from
Tarentum, city of Greek origin, situated at
the head of the Tarentine gulf. The fleece
Of this sheep was of exceeding fneness; it
was of great delicacy, and the prices paid
for it were enormous. The sheep we're
clothed in cold weather to keep them warm;
and the result was that they were very ten.
der, and their wool was very fine. They
we're product of Greek civilization trans
mitted down to the Romans. Columella, the
great Roman agriculturiSt, says that his un-
Gle, residing in Spain, crossed some of the
fine Tareutine sheep with some rams that
had been imported from Africa; and the con-
sequence was that these animals had the
Wilderness of fleece of the father, with the fine
ness of fleece of the mother, and that race
was perpetuated. Here we see an improve
ment of the stock, an increase of strength
and productiveness given to the fne-wool
sheep of Spain. At that time the sheep OF
Spain we're of immense value; for Strabo
says that sheep from Spain, in the time OF
Tiberiua, were carried to Rome, and sold for
the price of talent Zone thousand dollars) a
head. In the time of our Saviour, thou
sand dollars was given in Rome for Spanish
sheep. When the barbarians inundated lta-
ly, these fine. wool sheep were all swept away;
but they remained in Spain. They were
cultivated by the Moors in the mountains OF
Spain, which were almost inaccessible, and
were not reached by the hordes of Huns and
other Northern barbarians, which had laid
waste the greater portion of the Roman pos
sessions They continued to be nourished
there by the Moors, who were very much ad.
vanced in arts, and further on were found
there as the Spanish Merino. So that the
Spanish Merino which we now have, if not
the only, is at all events by far the most i'm
portant relic that we have to-day which has
come down to us from Greek and Roman
material civilization. We have here direct
inheritance from the material wealth of the
Old World civilization. L. Hayes, in Live
Stock Journal.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

Do NOT KEEP the alabaster boxes of your
love and tenderness sealed up until your
friends are dead. Fill their lives with sweet
ness. Speak approving, cheering words
while their ears can hear them, and while
their hearts can be thrilled by them. The
things you mean to say when they are gone,
say before they go. The flowers you mean
to send for their collins, send to brighten and
sweeten their homes before they leave them.
If my friends have alabaster boxes laid
away, full of perfumes of sympathy and at
lection, which they intend to break over my
dead body, I would rather they would bring
them out in my weary hours, and open them,
that | may be refreshed and cheered by them
while l need them. | would rather have a
bare coffin without flower, and a funeral
without an eulogy, than life without the
sweetness of love and sympathy. Let US
learn to anoint our friends beforehand for
their burial. Post-mortem kindnesses do not
cheer the burdened spirit. Flowers on the
coffin cast no fragrance backward over the
weary days.-N. Y. Evangelist.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

ANY LORDS IN THE FAMILY ?-When the
son of the Rev. 0CtaviuS Winslow, of Lean
ington, England, was mere child, one of
his play fellows, Boosting of the number of
noble relations he possessed, asked young
Winslow if he had any lords in his family.
(men of high rank in England are called
"lords. y He replied: Z" As for that, 1 don't
know much; but my mamma says that We
have the Lord Jesus Christ for our elder
brother. '-SMnday School Visitor.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
IR &c TOR Y
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
OF THE
Presbyterian Church in the United States.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The General Assembly will meet at Knoxville Tenn,
on the third Thursday of Hay, 1875, at IL Am.
CLERKS.
Rev. JOSEPH R. WILSON, d. D., STATED CLERK,
REV WILLIAM BROWN. D. D., PERMANENT CLERK,
The Stated Clerk is the Treasurer of the
General Assembly.
TRUSTEES
Hon. JAMES HEMPHILL, PREsIDEyr Chester, S O.
Rev. JOHN DOUGLAS, VIoE-PREsTDEsT Charlotte
JESSE H. LINDSAY, Esq, SECRETARY and TREAsUszk,
Greensboro N. O.
SUSTENTATION.
REV. ]. LEIGHTON WILSON, D. d., SECRETARY,
REV RICHARD McILwAINE, Coordinate Score
TARY and TREASURER, Box S3l, Baltimore, Md.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.
REV. J. LEIGHTON WILSON, d. D., SECRETARY,
0f RLS So RTCHARD MCiLwAINE, Coordinate svoRxrA
RY and TREASURER, Box $751; Baltimore, Md.
PUBLICATION.
REV. JAMES K HAZEN, SECRETARY Riclm
@. GENNET, Esq, TREASURER, Richmond, Va.
EDUCATION.
Rev. JOHN N. wADDEL, d. D., SECRETARY, Mem
G. W. MACRAE, TREASURER, Memphis, Tenn.
Applications to the Executive Committee for aid are
first to be referred to the appropriate Presbyera Exec
utve Committees for their approval and TO be for
warded by them 10 the Assemby's Committees.
COLLECTIONS.
The General Assembly has appointed the following
lections 10 be taken up annually in all the churches
For Sustentation On the first Sabbath In January
For Publication Oh 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 Sabbath
in July.
For Evangelistic On the first Sabbath in Sep
TENDER.
For Education: On the first Sabbath in November.
In cases where 1t is highly nconvenent take up COL
ectons on these days. they shall be taken up
possible thereafter
adopt the apostolic plan of taking weekly collections
and that the amounts thus collected be appropriated
the above Objects when necessary 10 local OBJ
ects in such proportion the church session may decide
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

A PUBLIC institution has been founded in
Shanghai, China, of all the European arts
and sciences, 1t has been warmly supported
by leading Chinese officials. Reading rooms
are attached to it, and the objects of the
foundation are to bring the sciences, arts,
and manufactures of Western nations in the
most prominent manner possible before the
notice of the Chinese. Very complete scien-
tifc apparatus has just been sent out from
England.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

The PRAYER MEETING.-The Walnut
Street church of Philadelphia, on the back
of card containing theprayer.meeting topics
for two months, prints:
Come early.
Take a seat near the desk and organ.
Pray for the meeting before coming.
Bring the children.
Invite your friends.
Let the prayers and remarks be brief.
Speak distinctly, that all may hear.
Be ready to repeat text bearing on the
subject.
Speak to strangers, and give them vel
come,
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
1.-THE Love of Money is the Root of all Evil
BY A. E. FooTE, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Why? Because our children are taught
that riches alone bring happiness. Even our
churches have become places to faunt the
outward evidences of wealth, and excite envy
and covetousness. Two sentences ought to
be placed in them all: "Lead US not into
temptation" and "Thou shalt not covet. l"
If our children were taught to find their
pleasures in objects of Nature, instead of $40
Easter eggs, or 500 dolls, how much hap
pier they would be, and how much better
fitted to come in contact with the realities of
life. But in America, now, the rule is to
get money, honorably if you can, but any
way so long as you are not caught by the
law. In Germany, where Che systems of
Froebel and Pestalozzi are now almost uni.
versal, the lessons of mercy, honor, patience,
thoughtfulness and truthfulness, that a con-
tact with Nature teaches the child, are ap-
preciated. We do not find the feVeriSh haste
to amass wealth, that is seen in England and
America. "When we reflect what an amount
of evil Satan still finds for idle hands to do,
we must agree with the great scientist, that
a study of Natural History is the best means
of giving true and abiding faith in the flu
ture, and that "surely, our innocent pleas
ures are not so abundant in this life, that we
can afford to despise this or any other source
of them. We should fear being banished for
our neglect to that limbo where the great
Florentine tells US are those who, during this
life, swept when they might be joyful. ,"
Every true collector knows that he is per-
forming true missionary work in encouraging
mis- young friends to study Nature. One of
The best and oldest collectors in the United
States is pastor of the leading Presbyterian
Church of the country, and for the last thirty
years, doubt whether there has been day,
when he has not preached at least twice,
rom the text:
fSermons in Stones,
Tongues In Trees,
Books in running brooks,
And good in every thing"
am we'll aware that my success is largely |
lue to the recommendation of collectors |
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

"THEY tell me I'm growing DID," said DR..
Guthrie, "because my hair is silvered, and
there are crows feet upon my forehead, and
my step is not so firm and elastic as of yore.
But they are mistaken. That is not me-
The brow is wrinkled, but the brow is not me.
This is the house in which live; but am
young, younger now than ever was before F"
Happy the man who keeps young whilst the
house he lives in is growing old. Such men
we know, uniting the ripeneSs of age with
the warmth of youth, loving, earnest and
cheerful. Happy the home, the school, or
thessocial circle that possesses such centres
for respect and affection Young men, live
so as to be such old men.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13
Central 4rcsbpterian,
Richmond, Va, Wednesday, June Is, 1877.

What are we set on earth for? Say to toll
Nor seek to leave the tending Of the vines,
For all the heat O. the day, till it declines,
And deaths mind eurfew shall from work assaI.
God did anoint thee with his odOrous oil
To wrestle, not to reign; and he assigns
All thy tears over, like pure orystallines,
For younger fellow-workers of the soil
To wear for amulets. So others shall
Take patience, labor, to their hearts and hands,
From thy hands, and thy heart, and thy brave
cheer,
And Gods grace fruetify through thee to all.
The least flower with trimming cup, may stand
And share its dew drop with another near.
MrS. BrOgHjRg.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

everywhere who have felt that was doing
thorough scientific sOork, at as low rate as it
ought to be done. Still, to build up a really
great and serViceable museum like those of
DR.. Krantz, or Louis Saeman, I shall need
the constant help of all lovers of Nature and
practical science.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

"SEE," said an ecclesiastic, holding out a
bowl Of money before Thomas Aquinas, "the
church has no longer to say, Silver and gold
have I none "True, replied the stern
ascetio, -" and no longer is she able to say to
the lame man, Stand up and walk
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-06-13

BOYS WANTED.-Men are wanted. So
they are. But boys are wanted--honest,
manly, noble boys. Some one has declared,
and truly, that these boys should possess ten
points, which are thus given: 1. Honest. 2.
Intelligent. 8. Active. 4. Industrious 5.
Obedient 6. Steady. 7. Obliging. 8. Polite.
9. Neat. TO-. Truthful. One thousand first
rate places are open for one thousand boys
who come up TO the standard,