davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
What Builds Up,

1t is worthy of note that the ministers of
the present day who are most successful in
winning souls to Christ and in soldly build
ing up the church, are those who preach
fearlessly the great doctrines of grace. Mr.
Spurgeon is a preacher of this stamp; so is
Mr. Moody; they make much use of (" the
old gospel" and set forth the law of God
without abatement, and are, therefore, so
mighty in convincing sinners of their guilt
and their need of a personal Saviour. Says
minister: "Mr. Moody will probably
preach no better sermons in his Chicago
course than the two he has already delivered
on 'rhe Precious Blood" from Genesis ii
d. lG, II. The tone and gist of these sermons
may be gathered from the following curt and
weighty sentences; Take substitution from
the Bible, and it would be a worthless book.
Satan wants to get ministers to omit the
blood from their preaching You might
as well try to make men better by whistling
to them, as by preaching sermons with the
blood left out Mr.. Moody is preaching
very sound doctrine to hundreds before him
who never heard it before and to some be-
hind him who have seemed afraid to preach
the blood. '"-Secreidru
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Home Life a Hundred Years Ago.

One hundred years ago not pound of
coal, or cubic foot of illuminating gas had
been burned in the country. No iron stoves
were used, and no contrivances for economiy-
ing heat were employed until DIR. Frank
lin invented the iron framed fire place which
still bears his name. All the cooking and
warming in town and country were done by
the aid of fire kindled on the brick hearth
or oven. Pine knots or talow candles fur
nished the light for the long winter nights,
aud sanded floors supplied the place of rugs
and carpets. The water used for house
hold purposes was drawn from deep wells
by the cranking "sweep." No form of a
pump was used in this country, as far as we
can learn, until after the present century
commenced. There were no friction matches
in those days by the aid of which fire
could be speedily kindled, and if the fire
"went out upon the hearth, and the tim
ber was damped so that the spark would
not catch, the alternative remained of wad-
ing through the snow mile or so, to bur-
row brand of neighbor. Only one room
in any house was warm, unless some of the
family were ILL., in all the rest the tempera.
ture was at zero during the nights in the
winter. The men and children of hun.
dred years ago undressed and went to their
beds i'll temperature colder than that OF
our modern barns and woodsheds, and they
never complained.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Refusing Christ,

A refusal of Christ is much easier, and
yet much more terrible thing than most
men suppose. A neglect to hear Him is a
refusal Of Him. Christ calls us every day
and every moment and when lie calls, we
either accept or reject Him. There is no
possible way of escape. There is no neu.
trail ground. Our lives are continual ac.
ceptation or rejection of Him. When Christ
calls us to be His disciples, we reach won.
derful crisis in our lives. Eternal life or
eternal death is suspended on our decision
The question is continually before us, and
an answer must be had. 1t is imperative
A neglect or failure TO decide in the aifir.
native necessitates decision in the mega.
tive. When our fellow-men present ques.
tions of Importance, we give them respect.
full hearing. Shall we be less respectful to
God? What astonishing and daring pre-
sumption Men would not brook many re.
fusals. Christ has borne with us times
without number, but lie will not always be
thus. There is point of forbearance be-
yond which even God cannot go aud when
we consider how often we have already re.
fused Him, we do not know how soon that
point may be reached. 4" See that We refuse
not Him that speaketh. Hebrew xii ; 20
-NOnhwesien Christian Adcocdte.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Who Are the Strong Mem

We mistake strong feelings for strong
character. A man who bears all before him
before whose frown domestics tremble
and whose bursts OF fury make the children
of the house quake-because he has his will
obeyed, and his own way IN all things, We
call him strong man. The truth is, that is
the weak man. ii is his passions that are
strong he, mastered by them, is weak, You
must measure the strength of man by the
power of the feelings he subdues, not by the
power of those which subdue him. And
hence, composure is very often the highest
result of strength. Did we never see man
receive fragrant insult, and only grow lit
tie pale, and then reply quietly That was
a man spiritually strong. Or did we never
see man in anguish stand as if carved out
Of solid rock, mastering himself2 or one
bearing hopeless daily trial remain silent
aud never tell the world what it was that
cankered his home peace That is strength
lie who, with strong passions, remains chaste
he who, keenly sensitive, with manly power
of indignation in him, can be provoked, yet
can restrain himself and forgive-these are
strong men, spiritual heroes. Observer
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
A Word TO Mothers.

An earnest woman who holds an honored
place in one of our oldest New England
Normal schools, remarked al was SO dis
appointed in the Woman's Pavilion, till |
remembered that woman's noblest work
could not be placed on exhibition there. "
Let us remember this, mothers, who from
being careful and troubled about many
things" from being weary both when we
lie down and rise up, are too apt, when we
read of " The noble army of mothers" to
call it " martyrs" Contrast an old age in
tent only on self, magnifying and brooding
over growing infirmities, frowning upon the
noise and innocent sports of childhood until
the children avoid them like dark shadows,
looking forward even to our Fathers next
room, with little of the reality which invests
it TO those whose hearts perchance have fol-
lowed little ones for years with longings un-
utterable; contrast this say with the pic
ture of some grandparents of sainted mem
ory who were never so joyful as when wei
coming the grandchildren under the old
roof, remembering all their little likings,
knitting socks and mittens by the score,
sewing on buttons innumerable, mending
dresses and trowsers that would get hitched
scaling stone-walls or climbing chestnut
.iocs, sHSihS iuilauys III quaNeflnP tones
in the nursery, telling stories to the two
and three-years-olds from Mother Goose and
to the older ones from the Great Story
Book. Loolr on thesa rioturos and DO thanE
ful, that unless a loving Father mysteriousy
transplants all your olive branches as He
has done in some homes, the old age to which
you may be spared may be like the latter.
Look beyond the feetache, backache headache
and perhaps heartache too, to that time not
far distant when men and women will go out
from under your eye, beyond the sound of
your voice, but not away from the memory
ola mothers cheerfuness, patience, industry,
love and PRAYERS
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
From the Vermont Chronicle.
New England LOngings with Western
Content.

uesSrS. Editors How many of the sons
and daughters of New England have gone
out from happy homes to build up and bless
other homes-their own or others'-in the
West They may be content to abide where
they have settled, because it seems more
needful, but how often do they have the
desire to depart and be with the scenes
and friends of youth. One who went out
from the green hills of Vermont to be a
missionary of the American Sunday y-school
Union in Nebraska, writes 1t is winter
now. | review all the weary months of
hardship and toll of nearly four years with
grateful heart. No one can tell how
have longed and do long for the New
England home and friends, and yet | am
glad to stay in Nebraska to point some
to Christ. Our work for the fall and winter
has gone finely and | am feeling grandy
hopeful of results. believe there never has
been time when my Sunday-school workers
have seemed to have such mind for the
work as now, nor the schools so prosperous,
so many kept open for the winter, so inter-
ested in the lessons. The spirit of truth is
among them, and 80 it is glad, happy time
for the missionary, though so busy"
One superintendent, in the fullness of his
heart, writes never would have believed
| it if had not counted icice, to be sure, but
we had thirteen out last Sunday who
hath despised the day of small things p"
But this is a great thing for weary worker
who toiled all summer for an average of
eight scholars. One of my schools, now two
and one-half years old-started in Romish
district, where they were so determined we
should not have Sunday-school that they
ran away with the key of the school-house
and we had TO climb in at the window-has
been growing constantly in the confidence OF
the community until it has developed into a
Congregational church, which has regular
ministrations and is expecting great things
| A few days ago, received letter from a
school formed year aud half ago, in a
desperate neighborhood but at last we got
it so propped up that it would not fall over.
A young lad of seventeen years was the
main dependence, although he was not a
Christian. Now he writes az cannot rest
until | tell you of my great joy. How good
the Lord has been to me in showing Inc His
precious love, and leading me to love Him
want to thank YOU next TO Him, for help
ing me TO find Him, Come and see your
new brother frankie.
g cannot tell you how light my heart is
nor how this new joy lifts me on my way
God bless all kind friends who help to keeI
me in Nebraska"
So one who has left home and friends for
the kingdom of Gods sake reaps in his har-
vest field, and receiyeth wages, end gathereth
| frulJ unto everlasting lie. ). II. y, II.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
MOmen's Work.

If women ask men for work, remarks Miss
Emily Faithful, they will get what they
always got-that kind men do not want to
do themselves. They will get hard work,
rough work, coarse work, poorly paid work,
all the cant about sex Notwithstanding
But if they really want to be independent II
they want to make home for themselves,
if they want TO help Others, let them be
neither afraid nor ashamed, but begin with
any honest labor for which they are paid
and work up. The difficulty with women is
not that they are idle, but their habits are so
desultory and their work so obiectless. If the
wretched little child's play which women
call fancy work" could at once be blotted
out of their existence it would be an in.
calculable blessing. What would be thought
of man or grown boy who could delib-
erately sit down, day after day. and be con,
tent to kill time by working ridiculous little
pen wipers, bead napkin rings and the like
which no one dreams of ever using. lie
would be considered, and rightly, as either
a fool or crazy, If women claim intellectual
equality with man, they must be judged by
the same standard. As for work, the ma.
jority have not begun TO know what il
means They have thought of it as a
necessity from which they hoped some time
to escape, or they have thought of it as a
degradation, which the poor, for wise pur,
poses, have to endure, but which is not
proper for the delicate or refined to come in
contact with.-New Century.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
The Light and the Shadow.

Grape on this door; the awning that be-
tokens wedding over that. Here, tears
and lamentations and black robes and desc
late hearts there, joy and hope and silken
sheen and smiling faces and gifts that gilt
ter. Here, the long, last kiss that it breaks
the heart TO give there, that sweet, first
Kiss OF the bridal eve that promises so much
to those whose lips meet. Yonder, where
the marble walls Of stately mansion rise a
rich man lives. lie has but to nod his
head and open his purse, and all earth's lux
uries are at his feet. Wealth is a mighty
power; it will almost buy happiness. The
fairy wand is his, and see the splendor that
it has evoked. Around the corner, on the
steps of the tenement house, sits wretched
man who has begged for employment all
day and found none. lie is starving; his
wife and children are starving also, which is
worse. The bitter bread of charity NAV be
given to him if he asks it, but he will loathe
it even while he utters thanks. Look at
yonder beautiful creature, courted, caressed,
flattered look at this other, wan, pallid.
and despised. There is so much grief in
the world that it seems hard.hearted to be
happy so much poverty that it seems cruel
to be rich. Nay, then, smile and be happy
while you may. DO all the good you can,
but do not strive to peer into mysteries
which no human mind can fathom To weep
with all who weep would be to sorrow per-
petually; and besides, the wheel goes round.
In little while the house that is to-day the
house of mourning may hold wedding
feast. Where the wedding guests now sit,
tears may fall over the dead The rich
may grow poor, the poor rich aud when
yon desoate woman is at rest within the
grave, she who drove past her, decked with
jewels, may stand where she now stands
with the rain beating in her face Heaven
only can tell what life's changes can be.
Take the good that is given you, and turn it
to blessing, if you can; for each will have
his share of sorrow ere he breathes his
last sigh.-Seiected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
The InndeI.

| heard of little girl who learned to love
the Saviour, who was told that certain
man was an infdel. "What is an infidel ?"
she inquired; and when it was explained to
her she seemed very much surprised. A
few days after that man was walking down
the street, and the little girl came up to him
and said Why don't you love Jesus p
He pushed her away, but she repeated the
question again and again, and he saw that
there were tears in her eyes. That question
began to trouble him. lie could not get rid
Of it day nor night. 1t kept coming up to
him from the sidewalk from the letters on
his desk, from the voices of his children at
play, and the pillow kept whispering it to
him after he went to bed. At last he got
up and said 81 will go and get the Bible
and find some place where Christ has con-
tradicted Himself, and that will be good
reason why | should not love Him." So he
took the book and opened it at the Gospel
of Johnnie had opened at the wrong place
ii any one wants TO find reasons for not Low.
ing Jesus Christ he mustn't go to that book
and there he found out reasons for loving
the Son of God instead of hating Him, and
before the sun was up he had begun to seek
the Lord with all his heart, and was very
soon Moody.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
MONTPELIER VT, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY TO- 1877

Christian circles, when she was seeking in
great darkness and perplexity to enter in,
said to the friend who was trying TO help
her, You all say, Abandon yourself
abandon yourself and trust but ! do not
know how. wish you would just do it out
loud, so that | may see how you do it,"
Shall do it out loud for you2 "Lord
Jesus, ] believe that thou art able and will
ing to deliver me from all the care and un-
rest and bondage of my Christian life
believe thou didst die TO set me free, not
only in the future, but now and here. | be-
lleve thou art stronger than Satan, and
That thou canst keep me, even me, in
my extreme weakness from falling into
snares, or yielding obedience to his com
mand. And Lord, | am going to trust
thee to keep me. have tried keeping my
self, and have failed, and failed most griev-
ously. | am absolutely helpless SO now
| viii trust thee. ! give myself to thee.
keep back no reserves. Body, soul aud
spirit, present myself to thee, worthless
lump OF clay, to be made into anything thy
love and thy wisdom shall choose. And
now, | an thine. | believe thou dost ac-
cept that which present to thee; | believe
that this poor, weak foolish heart has been
taken possession of by thee, and that thou
hast even at this moment begun to work in
me to will aud to do of thy good pleasure
trust thee now" Are you afraid to take
this step? Does it seem too sudden, too
much like a leap in the dark ? Do you
know that the steps of faith always fall on
the seeming void, but find thsArock be-
meath Z" If ever you are to enter this glo-
rious land, flowing with milk and honey,
you must sooner or later step into the brim-
ming waters, for there is no other path.
And to do it now, may save you months and
even years of disappointment and grief.
Hear the Word of the Lord /" lave not
commanded thee BE strong and of good
courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dis
mayed for the Lord thy God is with thee
whithersoever thou est."-Seiecied.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Beautiful Hands.

As young friend was standing with us
noticing the pedestrians on the sidewalk, a
very stylish young lady passed us. "What
beautiful hands Miss - has " exclaimed
our friend. "What makes them beauti.
fnl 2" "Why, they are small, white, soft,
y.and exquisitely shaped" ais that all that
constitutes the beauty of the hand ? Is not
something more to be included in your cat
alogue of beauty which you have not
enumerated, to make the hand desirable ?"
What more would you have ?" "Are they
charitable hands? Have they ever fed the
poor Have they ever carried the necessi-
ties of life to the widow and the orphan ?
Has their soft touch ever smoothed the irri-
tation OF sickness aud the agonies of pain :?
DO the poor bless those rosy-tipped fingers
as their wants are supplied by them Are
they useful hands Have they been taught
that the world is not a playground or a
theatre OF display, or amere lounging place
DO those delicate hands ever labor Are
they ever employed about the domestic du-
ties Of life-the homely, ordinary employ
ments of the household Or does the owner
leave all that to her mother, while she nour-
ishes her delicate hands in idleness Are
they modest hands ? Will they perform their
charities or their duties without vanity :?
Or do they pander to the pride of their
owner by their delicacy and beauty? Does
she think more of their display than the i'm
provement of her mind and character and
the salvation of her immortal soul? Are
they humble hands ? Will their owner ex-
tend them to grasp the hand of that old
schoolfellow, who sat at the same desk with
her, and on the same recitation bench, but
who now must earn her living by her labor Z
Or will they remain concealed in their
exclusiyeness, in her aristocratic muff, as
she sweeps by her former companions.
Are they holy hands ? Are they ever
clasped in prayer, or elevated in praise
Does she remember the God who has made
her to differ from so many other girls, and
devote her mind, her heart, her hands TO
His service? Does she try to initiate her
Saviour by going about doing good? Or
are her hands too delicate, too beautiful, to
be employed in good works These are
the qualities that make a hand beautiful
Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Seleff MisfeHanv.
ENDURANCE.
PUBLISHED ny REQUEST

PUBLISHED ny REQUEST.
'Tls bitter to endure the wrong
Which evil hands and tongues commit;
The bold encroachments Of the strong;
The shafts Of calumny and wit;
The scornful bearing Of the proud
The sneers and laughter Of the crowd.
And harder still II I. to bear
The censure Of the good and wise,
Who, ignorant Of what you are.
or blinded by the sanderer's lies,
Look coldly ON, or pass you by
In silence, with averted eye.
But, when the friends In whom you trust
As steadfast a. the mountaln rock,
Fly. and are scattered like the dust,
Before misfouune's whirlwind shock.
Nor love remains to cheer yonr fall.
This Is more terrible than all.
Bnt even this. and these-aye' more.
Can be endured, and hope survive;
The noble spirit still may soar,
Although the body fail to thrive.
Disease and want may wear the frame;
Thank God the soul il still the same.
Hold up your head. then. man Of grief,
Nor longer to the tempest bend;
Or soon or late must come relief
The coolest darkest night, viii end.
Hope In the true heart never dies.
Trust on, the day-star yet shall rise.
Conscious NJ purity and worth.
You may, with calm assurance. wait
The tardy recompense Of earth;
And, cen should Justice come too late
To snoihs the spirits hoineward flight.
stlll heaven, at last, the wrong shall right.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
sMnraI and Reliaions.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD,

The snow was drifting over the hills,
Fierce was the wind and loud,
While the Good Shepherd forward pressed,
Ills head in sorrow bowed
40 shepherd, rest, nor farther go,
The tempest hath begun"
"I cannot stay, must away
To seek my little onew
thorn-wresth bound the gentle brow
That beamed with pity sweet.
And marks Of wounds were on his hands.
And scars upon his feet.
Again said, " o Shepherd rest,
The tempest hath begun"
lie murmnr'd, Nay, I must away
To seek my little one"
81 saw thy flock at peace within
Thine own well-gutrded fold;
o Shepherd. pause, for wild the gale
That RACES DER the world"
"No; one poor lamb hath gone astray,
And soon may be undonei
cannot stay, must away
To seek my little one"
+" But since thy flock are all secure.
Why to the hight repair?
Ifthou hast ninety and nine at home,
Why for truant care?'
"Dearcr to me than all the rest
Is that poor, struggling son!
cannot stay. must away
TO seek my little one!'
GOOD Shepherd, tell me, II his need
Should bring the wanderer home,
wit thou not punish him with stripes,
Lest he again should roam? 20
"No; would clasp him to my heart,
As mother clasps her son.
cannot stay, | must away
To seek my little onei"
Even 50, thought, our gracious Lord
Hath In His heart Divine
A wealth OF love for all Ills saints
For all the ninety and nine
But most lie loves and most lie seeks
The soul by sin undone;
And still he slghs, " must away
To seek my little onel"
Scottish Gami'di
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10

ming and malignity of dumb people-seized
1t with the intent to fling it down vehem-
emily. Before the nurse could interfere, the
Countess had flung the stone not, however,
as the servant had apprehended, at the child,
but on the floor of course it made a great
noise. The child Immediately awoke and
cried. The Countess, who had looked with
maternal eagerness to the result of her ex-
pertinent, fell on her knees in transport of
JOY. She had discovered that her child pos
sessed a sense that was wanting in herself.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-10
Ghe Domf !Gnrlr.
AT FIFTY-ONE.

ny T. W. PARSONS.
Jesing Is over with me forever
Life Il too sober at lfty-one;
No longer worship the witty and clever;
Things that amused me loathe and shnn.
have come TO the summit and now begun
To sink to the vale on the other side
There's damp In the air there's gloom on the SUI
Whose waning the yapors Of Orcus hide.
And my fellow-travelers, left and right,
Fall away from the track, as we downward HE,
To their several honest they are not In sight
But hear the bells ms they bid goodbye,
How lonely feel as get more nigh
To my destined inn-a dismal placel
shut out from all glimpse Of the goodly sky
And the sunshine OF every friendly face.
Yet what Ia to dread2 there's a Master there
fnll Of pity. to welcome the weary gnesi
Who will bind the foot-sore, and have good care
OF every poor soul that seeks His rest.
tremble to go to Him. unconfessei-
bear Him no letters from priest or pope
But carry passport within my breast
or His own sure Woodland deathess hope.