davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
The Evils Of Poverty.

The lessons taught through want are not
always ennobling, and there is a limit TO
poverty beyond which is di>may and we'll
nigh utter despair. Dickens, even after
years and years of prosperity could never
bear to recall the frightful pivations he en-
dured in boyhood, and shrank as if mortally
hurt when any alusion was made to certain
"reminiscences of the past, of which extreme
ty was the central figure. There were
anniversaries aud scenes which he could
never recall without shudder, and some
passages in his life which, to his dying day,
brought a sad, panied look to his face.
Constant deprivation makes of any life a
curse, and forces many human beings to live
mere automaton existsnces. They would, If
they could, all Of them, perhaps, escape the
evil, but the weight il upon them, the mill
stone is about their necks and there is
nothing left them but stole indifference.
The blessings of savory food, sunny homes,
books, pictures the opportunities of doing
good and of making Others happy are not to
be too lightly estimated, aud cruel is the
cause that shuts all OF them out. Life was
not designed TO dsappoint every aspiration,
but TO enable it to expand, and any condl-
tion which smothers aspiration or blights
the possibilities Of ones nature is a terrible
misfortune, should be accepted as nothing
less, and should be manfully combatted.
In accepting poverty as misfortune-yea,
even rs a curse--we acquire power to COM
pass it, and BETTER far better is a life of
ceaseless combat than the sickening sense of
continued deprivation. The honest accu-
mutation or acquiring of money is an in.
spring and elevated empl iyment, and it is
designed that all should participate in the
general work which secures its blessings.
The cant Of those who assert that the pos
session of money is curse is to be passed by
in contempt. It is ouly such when devoted
to unworthy ends, and none prove so much
as then the need of money in early life, that
advantages which broaden the soul may not
be lost. Rush lights are good enough for
those who want no better, but the world
would be a far more beautiful place if astral
lamps were everywhere-if for every man on
earth there was home and plenty. 1t must
be that in ages TO come, when the world has
learned to appreciate the hopelessness Of
progress through want, that the poverty OF
the people will be lightened through com
biued effort, and that all men thinking best
of themselves will lend wise aid to those
who must be set above its control. II is a
step far beyond us, SO far that its realization
is almost useless 10 predict, but it will come
for until the curse is lifted the children of
men cannot pursue the course marked out
i'll the beginning. There can be no fulfilling
of the law OF progress otherwise, for poverty
as Shelley tells us, sows that
inward stain,
Foul self-contempt, which browns in sneers
Youths starlight smile and makes its tears
First like hot gall, then diy forever
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
l Have Learned.

That was wise prayer of Agur, the son OF
Jakeh, who said " Two things have re-
quired of Thee; deny me them not before
die remove far flom me vanity and lies 4:
give me neither poverty nor riches feed me
with food convenient for me- He knew
his own weakness aud he feared lest luxury
and vanity should turn his heart aside, aud
thus being full and prosperous he should
deny his Maker and say WHO is the
Lord 7" On the other hand he feared lest,
under the grinding pressure Of poverty, he
should be poor and steal, and take the name
of God in vain. Conscious of his own weak
ness he prayed God TO lead him with gen.
tie hand, to gise him neither poverty nor
riches, but to provide moderate supply for
his wants, that he might be kept from the
sins that he feared. There are others of
deeper religious experience whose fuller
knowledge OF the Lord as their portion and
their all, has prepared them to endure and
overcome such temptation. Said the apostle
Paul " ! have learned, in whatsoever state
| am, Herewith TO be content. | know
both how to be abased, and know how to
abound everywhere and in all things am
instructed both to be full aud to be hungry,
both to abound and to suffer need can do
all things through Christ which strength
eneth me-" Philippians iv IL, II, l3. 1t
is blessed experience to rise superior to all
these worldly considerations; neither dis
mayed by adversity nor beguiled by prosper
ity, but strong in the Lord and in the power
of his might. Let those who have this Joy
GUS fellowship rejoice and triumph in the
Lord, but let those who have not attained
thereto, pray with the wise Agur that they
be delivered from the dangers which might
overcome them, that they may have neither
poverty nor riches. but may be kept 10y the
power and providence of God from forget
ting him in the midst of wealth and com
fort, or murmuring against him in times OF
poverty aud toil.-7he Christian.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
" C0ddling I" the Children.

Some good woman whose sympathy out
ran her knowledge took very serious objec-
tons to our remarks last winter in regard to
the best way OF making men out of boys,
and women out of girls. of with the tip
pets and cumbersome wraps, we said in
substance, stop the over-fond coddling and
unwise care-and give the boys and girls
fair chance for free and active life when
they are out of doors Don't do it, said the
mother Keep the darlngs warm aud dry
What does great healthy man know about
the care of children We own up to being
healthy, but we were boy not 80 long
time ago that we can't remember how the
lads that grew to be strong, well men got
their start. They weren't taken to school
in the winter in a sleigh, nor We're the red
checked, lithe-limbed, vigorous and grace
full girls huddled into street car reeking
with bad air or raped up in close car
riage like consumptive patient. The boys
never wore an overcoat when out at play
nor muitied themselves with "comforters
or tippets around the neck. Give us a free
coast or clean stretch of ice aud we could
keep warm in those days Coarse, thick
wooden stockings stout boots, thick fannels
next the skin and serviceable coat that
buttoned to the chin, with pauts and vest
to match, aud warm mittens, was the winter
outfit that the mothers of those days found
sufficient. We quite agree with the timid
mother referred to as to the Importance of
warmth, but differ as to the method of OBJ
tanning it. A child old enough to exercise
freely ought to keep comfortable by warmth
from within, instead OF by too much protec-
tion from without. From six to sixteen,
neither boys nor girls should be codded
vely much. They ought to walk, run, play,
work, like the happy and growing animals
they are. Don't make the glrls premature
old ladies, nor treat the boys as you would
their rheumatic unele.-GOlden Rue.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Here and There n Gem.

Thy friend has friend, and thy friends
friend has friend be discreet
The doctrines of the gospel are confess
edly mysterious; only the humble can un-
derstand and enjoy them.
LoPPING off the branches of sin is labor
in vain, aud always to be renewed there is
no way but laying the axe to the root
COP made the soul to correspond with
truth. Truth is its own evidence, as the
tightening flash is, as the blessed sunshine is.
THERE are men who no more grasp the
truth they seem TO hold than a sparrow
grasps the message passing through the cleo
tric wire on which it perches,
As the sun-dial cannot make known the
hour when the sun does not shine upon it,
so conscience is not a safe guide to duty un-
less enlightened by Gods word.
THAT which most facilitates right living
is the consciousness of full justification by
grace. You do not live right in order to be
justified, but you are justified in order to
live right. 1t is the temptation of the hu-
man heart to reverse this gospel principle.
CHRISTIAN faith is a grand cathedral
with divinely pictured windows. Standing
without, you see no glory or beauty, nor can
possibly imagine any. But standing within,
every ray of light reveals harmony of un-
speakable beauty and Observation-Disclosures,
ARE you busy aud painstaking in the at
tempt TO work out a righteousness of your
own Leave that loom, aud your vows and
promises which are but gossamer threads.
rhe white linen that robes the saint, the
raiment meet for thy soul and approved of
God, was woven on the cross, ad there it
VAS dyed in the blood of the Son of God.
WE are to let conscience and experience
decide what is doubtful, and the sef-denial
will be found grand training for life OF
higher spirituality. II we are in doubt, it is
better to err ON the side of sef-denial than
on the side of seli-iudulgence. In addition
TO the suppression of evll there must also
be the cultivation Of good. 1t is not suifi-
cient to root out the weeds, but you must
SOW the good wheat in their place.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Lost Opportunities.

While thy serUdnt Icds busy here and there,
he rds gone. People have been very much
stirred up OF late, or rather the newspapers
have, about our boys. How deeply the anx-
iety has gone time will show. A vast deal
Of iniquity has been unearthed, aud vilo and
vicious publications have been stopped which
had been doing their pernicious work for
months and years. Let us hope that so far
as mothers are concerned the warning has
been needed. Mothers as rule need but to
be informed to be aroused at once. No one
can see daughter in danger without rush
ing at once TO warn and rescue. About the
boys we are less sure for-where are the
fathers? q? In the course of long experience
we remember TO have seen very few 1--WE
could count them on our fingers) really faith
ful fathers. some are careless they really
don't care, aud will tell you, "Oh, the boys
will come out right enough" The majority
don't know. Others think it is the mothers
duty to look after the children. That is
rather strictly American notion. Nine
tenths of the exhortations are to mothers.
We mean out of the Bible. In the Bible
they are addressed to fathers and they are
really aud truly made responsible for their
children. Most men are too busy" that
is the excuse. They have begun by taking
the means for the ends. Work was intended
to be the means of feeding and clothing
ones family Now work, the profession or
business, is the aim and object of life. Aud
it becomes SO engrossing that such simple
duties as the training and government of his
boys man considers quite out of the ques-
tion. The Lord says OF his laws " And
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy
children" The answer is, Lord, have
not time it is all can do to make money
tor them" There is no harm in supporting
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Peace Sought by War.

"There was war in heaven Michael and
his angels fought against the dragon" This
is the ideal side of the greatest of earthly
evils. There is war even in heaven, to carry
ont the will of God in casting out evil from
the world and so far as the same qualities
are called forth by war on earth, it is true
that even in the midst of the carnage of
battle, even in the midst of the misery of
precious lives lost, of battle, even in the
midst of the misery of precious lives lost, of
brilliant hopes overturned, there is like.
ness to this conflicts of the celestial hosts.
Courage, self-denial discipline-these are
the gifts by which victories are won on
earth. Courage, self-control, discipline /;
these, if we may so say, are the gifts by
which victories are won in heaven. Some
of us may have read the complaint uttered
in one of the most striking works of Amer
lean genius against the famous Italian pic
ture to which | have alluded, in which the
archangel bestrides his fallen enemy in un-
sustained armor, with fair, unarmed brow,
with azure vest, with wings unrufled.
" Not SC" says Hawthorne, "shoud virtue
look in its death-struggle with evil the
archangels feathers should have been torn
and rufiied his armor soiled, his robes rent,
his sword broken to the hilt." Even in the
contests of heaven there must be struggles.
OF those struggles earthly warfare gives us
a likeness and type. All honor to the ef-
forts after peace which inspired the aims
of that Society of Friends to which this
city owes its existence and yet it is not
without significance that the only authentic
portrait of its founder is that which repre-
sents him as gallant youth in complete ar
NOR, and with the motto, "peace is sought
by war" Peace, whether in religion or in
politics, is the end but it is often true that
war and conflict must he the means. Mich
ael, the archange, the leader OF the heavenly
hosts, is the true exemplar Of Christian cour-
age, no less than the gentle Raphael or the
gracious Gabriel. May Gods will every
where, and by all Of us, be carried out with
the same unswerving, persevering determin-
alton 10y mans will on earth as by God s
will in heaven Dean Stanley.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
The Daily Life.

meet with Christians who, because they
have been once washed from their sins,
seem to think that they need not be very
particular about the little ways of their
daily life. They are not prepared to die
just now but they look for general cleans.
ing when the day of their death comes.
They do not care to have clean conscience
before God every moment. They think il
easier to wait. II they only die well, all
will be well. So the little sins are allowed
to remain and to grow. The heart is un.
comfortable, faith is confused, hope is dim.
life is not holy. Never mind, they think,
we shall be all right at last; we shall sing
with Joy in heaven. Now it is blessed
truth that, being justified by faith, we have
peace with God, through our Lord Jesus
Christ. (Romans W ~ But if you would
have abiding peace and growing strength to
serve God, you must remember that we are
justified by Christ that we may be sane.
titled by the Spirit The look of faith must
be continued all along. Clean every whit,
yet we must wash our feet every dav. (John
l3) We must not put off anything to a
dying day, but we must keep our conscience
clan before God; continually sprinkled
with the cleansing blood; living only for him
all the day long. Then, when our master
comes, we shall not be ashamed. Rev. j. 4.
Sampson.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Joy In Suffering.

| suppose that no man ever suffered more
to obey Christ than Paul. He lost all he
had of name, of place, of wealth. of friends
and family, of worldly honor and promise
lie suffered hunger, thirst, weariness, priva
ton he encountered pelil' by land and by
sea; no one can know what he endured from
the prosecutions Of the enemies of Christ
And yet he never speaks of suff-iings or self
sacrifices hut with gladness and joy. He
had faith to know that all things would work
together for good to him; that all he had to
do was to obey his Master; and he forgot
all his sorrows and losses just as the fields
and gardens forget the winter when it is
past smiling more joyou,ly than ever, and
putting forth new beauties And that is
the kind Of service God wants of all his
children. The piety that complains Of its
losses and sacrifices and counts them over
and over, and grieves and frets over them, is
not the kind that pleases God.-Giad Tm-
mas,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
VOL. 74.-376O. NO. 4.

1t may fall from the side. Never use the
eyes ut twilight Any artificial light for
the evening is good If IL is brilliant enough
and steady. When artificial light is at all
painful, 1t is safer TO read or write only dur
ing the day Third, never read in the
horse or steam cars. 1t requires too great
an exertion OF the accommodalive power 10
keep the eyes fixed on the letters. Fourth,
never read while lying down; it is too ia
tiguing for the accommodative power. MANY
a tedious case Of weak sight has been traced
to the pernicious habit of reading in bed
after retiring for the night. Fifth, do not
read much during convalescence from i'll
ness. Before the muscular system generally
has quite recovered its healthy tone, we
ought not to expect the muscles of accom-.
mediation to bear the continuous use TO
which they are subjected in reading or
writing. We cannot be sure that the deli.
cate muscles of the eye are in condition TO
be used until the muscles OF the leg and the
arm have regained their strength and firm.
ness. Sixth, the general health should be
maintained fy good diet, sufficient sleep,
AR, exercise, amusement, and proper re-
striction OF the hours of hard work. Seventh,
take plenty OF sleep. IL is a sovereign balm
for those who suffer from weak sight. Re
tire early, and avoid the painful evening
lights. Ten hours sleep for delicate eyes Is
better than eight.-Dr. II. c. Angel.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Family Worship.

In the prayer as in the reading, there are
more good ways than one. In some families
the father alone leads. In other households
the father alternates with his elder son; or,
where there is no father, the mother some
times leads, and again one of her children.
Aud there are homes where each member of
the family has few words of prayer every
morning--even down to the lsping little
one who asks, "Pleath God, bleth little
Many; bleth nth all for Jethuth' thake"
And there are parents-many intelligent
and devoted Christian parents-who shrink
from leading their households in extempore
prayers, who yet want the privileges of fam
lily worship, and seek them through the use
OF forms of prayer. For such there are ex.
cellent helps in sundry manuals of devotion,
from the elaborate Home Worship" OF
DIR. j. 2. Thompson, down to the modest
" Responsive Services" published by the
American Sunday-school Union. In one
way and another the wants and the tastes of
all can be met-in prayer, in Bible reading,
and in praise; and in one way or another,
all should see to it that there is earnest, rev.
erent, and delightful family worship in the
households for which they are responsible
$. s. Times.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06


Sabbath evening services are too often
chosen by young people to carry on fiirta-
tions between the sexes; the week-night
prayermeeting is only saved from disturb
ance because it is less popular resort for
the frivolous and giddy. Many of these
sinners against decent manners are younger
members of the churches, some of them re-
Gently received. Others are children of
Christian parents. The serious mistake OF
pastors, officers of churches and Sabbath
schools, is that they tamely submit to the
disgrace thus put upon them and the reig-
ion they profess. Sometimes this is owing
to something worse than mere inadvertence.
The ambition for large membership, the su-
preme desire to please the fear of giving of.
fense, and, in some cases a want of proper
self respect, render aborlive individual ef-
forts of the pastor or single officers, to assert
the honor of God in his house aud ordi-
nances. There is coaxing, beseeching
style OF treatment which inevitably increases
the evil complained OF. Better the tithing
man with a creak in his shoes that sent
shudder through the heart of the eyil-doer
Better the distant, reserved and even stern
manner of the old vines. Better expul-
sions or, If these excite no fear, other pun
ishments that imply disgrace to the offender
and hnpopularity TO the executor of justice,
than the increasing iood-tide of irreverence
which fears not God nor regards man.
1dp1nce
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
A Fathers Advice.

My daughter, be thou timely warned.
Waste not thy days in visiting the sick and
impoverished neighbors. Go, rather, and
dress thyself in fine array, and devote, at
the least, six hours of thy time, between the
rising OF the sun and the going down there
of, to thy pet canary bird that pineth for thy
tender care. My son, learn not thou even
the humble art of basket making, or other
skill with thy hands, for by so doing thou
mightest at some future day be enabled to
provide thyself with honest bread. Nay,
rather improve thyself in those ancient
games, yclrpt, polo and base ball. the exer-
else OF the which shall furnish thee much
muscle whereNith to break stone when in
prison. My sister, be thou wise past under
standing, and when thy husband shall die
and thou shalt have secured to thee all of
his possessions HE thee with haste to the
diamond merchant aud part with all thou
hast in the purchase Of one precious stone,
thus doing good withal, for when the genial
burglar shall enter thy dwelling aud purloin
thy treasure, he will rejoice that his burden
is not greater than he can Graphic.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
Ones Own Work.

Every church-member should learn his
sphere of work. The eye cannot do the
service of the hand, nor the hand of the eye
Many good men have preyented their use
tulness by mistaking their proper sphere.
Valuable deacons have been converted into
worthless preachers. Good pastors have
sacrificed their usefulness in their attempts
to be financial agents. Some members are
prompt to speak in church. who would show
their wisdom and increase their usefulness
by silence; aud others, from difiidence or
false views of duty, are silent, whose intelli-
gence, peiy and discretion enitle them to
be heard. Every brother should study his
own gifts, and, by practice aud observation,
learn how he may best employ them. Nor
should he trust to his own judgment alone
in this matter. He should seek the advice
of his judicious brethren, and give it due
weight. Especially he should, with peni-
tent Saul, cry, Lord, what wilt thou have
me to do ?"-Reiigious Herald.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-11-06
"The Lord Is my Strength"

Brethren, We are emptier than emptiness,
and more vain than vanity. We may tax
language and use extravagant hyperboles,
but shall never be able fifty to estimate our
own utter iusignfcance. We are weakness
itself, hampered with the conceit OF power I;
aud yet ii we eau say in truth, The Lord
is my strength" We can not estimate how
strong we are, for there is no measuring
omnipotence Come, let us consider the
matter, and let each believer speak personlly.
lie who made the heavens and the earth is
my strength. lie who fixed the mountains
firm 40 that they start not from their places
in the day of tempest, when the cedars are
breaking, is my strength. Although he will
one day rock heaven aud earth, and before
his presence all creation shall flee away, yet
he is my strength. These are but the hid.
ings OF power, but truly, all the force re-
served aud lying latent in the Almighty
bosom is engaged for his saints, aud is my
portion. Whatever omnipotence eau do