Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-10-04

ture may be called for, in building new
school houses and hiring more teachers, q
reduction must come in the natural course
of events, in the taxes paid for State prisons,
jails, reform schools, and the money which
we so cheeriully pay out i'll voluntary ofler-
ings for the poor and degraded.
1t is a charity, which is both educational
and preventive, and yet hardly so much IA
charity as n duty which the State owes her
self and her citizens. 1t is Christian luven-
lie temperance work in its best and deepest
meaning. 1t is Il righteous law for whose en-
forcement women have n right TO ask. and
IN whose proper enforcement women have a
work to do.
In walking riding through the streets
where the poorer classes live, one is appalled,
by the number and condition of the child
rem. have often wished | had some means
of knowing how many among them have
ever entered the doors of our public schools.
| believing, as we do, in the power of educa-
ton, we may never omit an opportunity of
urging parents to keep their children regu-
larly in school, and the ingenuity and variety
of excuses gwen, is astonishing. Proper
clothing is one, of course. and here is a work
for women. A child well clothed and who
feels that somebody cares for him will have
more self-respect, and an incentive to do
| well. Proper clothing and books should be
furnished, that there might be no complaint
on that score. Teachers should have their
| hearts interested. and be lei to look upon
these little ones as upon those of whom the
Saviour spoke when He said ''Suffer the
little ones to come unto me" and they should
| teach them not only books. but sclf-respect
and self-dependence
l must plead for these children, when re-
member all they lose, growing up from n
dirty untaught, neglected childhood, to an
into 1 I
hood. The blessings of home. the shelter
ing love, the pure influence, they can never
know. Art, science, literature blessings
which are to Us like daily fool, are to them
| dead languages even the love Of nature
that great book. which is ever open. and
upon whose pages We never look without
thanking God that here is =. joy which no
man taketh from You, and which the poor
est may have without money and without
| price. But, alas, have they eyes to see? Can
| We imagine genuine tramp. looking up ut
the starry skies at midnight, bright with
orbs, revolving in the course marked out for
| them in the beginning, and feeling the won
der and awe of the lsalmiSt : "Nhcn con-
slider thy heavens. the work OF thy fingers,
the moon and stars which thou hast made
whnt Is man that thou art mindful of him
or the son of man that thon visitest him.
And vet germ Of love Tor nature may be
born with every human soul. Isn't this true
gospel work? How much the gospel of good
tilings signifies. The angels who sang.
''Peace on earth, good will TO men" on the
plains of Judea, struck chord which Vi
brates through all time. and through all the
Joys and sorrows, the hopes and possibilities
of life
The light which shOne round about them
illuInines all lifc's blessings : it tints with
gold and crimson even its prosaic duties it
casts IA light which never shonc on sea or
land over the darkness of suffering and sOr-
row, and ut last its radiance fills the valley
of the shadow of death" The Master said
Feed my lambs. and He said "Inasmuch
MS ye did it unto one OF the least of these.
ye did it unto me-" All if we could only
HIS face in the face of every one of these
little ones. | think We would fight for their
redemption.
And so leave my proposition with you
Cannot We, for His sake. in whose service We
work, for their suffering sakes. for our own
sakes. rs measure of preventive charity see
that this law is epiorced2
Cnnno. We be the servants of the Lord to
60 out into the highways and hedges to com-
pei them to come in to the feast, which il
ready? Cannot We strike at the root of the
tree and begin reformation with the young
twiSs that are springing up unframed. and
unpruned, and make OF them goodly trees.
to be planted in the garden OF the Lord?
| am aware That much of my talk may
Seem hackneyed TO ladies of Burlington,
who, am told. are dong brave work among
the poor children. And do not forget the
Reform School, which is n haven Of rest TO
many boy and girl. only regret that Of
fence Is necessary to gain admittanc' BUt
| would have universal education, and the
work of reform begun with them before they
t.-.1 IT, No .-a11 .
rousense and that if these children were
made to attend school, they wouldn't profit
by it? How is 1t about the children who ill
our schools! Do Htg ALWAYS come up to the
mark? Are they d'cgS grateful Tor their
privileges and anxious TO improve them:
Isn't 1t sometimes compulsory education;
Many children with the best advantages, |
grow up to lead idle aimless lives, rs mIny
Of their parents have done before them. |
Bu; l would hive it different. | would that
every soul might rise TO the true level OF
grandeur and beauty in this life that !, given
us. And would have those who have reach
ed shining heights ever willing to put down !
their white ha'.t!s and help others TO come |
up higher.
We cannot 10 great things, but there is no |
menal service. There is nothing common |
or unclean, which IS done choeTiully for |
Christs sake.
While visiting the Home, yesterday,
pleasure so kindly furnished TO many of US,
| felt that had indeed brought my Goals to
Newcastle; hut | remember that this Is mar
ket day and the people from out of town are /
here, and charity is currency Which will
bear unlimitt expansion, because 1t has all
the treasury of Heaven at its back, the
countless gold OF Eedeeming love
We are living in auspicIons times, and
upon the thr, shod oi great events.
We feel the hush of hroo,ilng prophcsy
The pulses of time thrn5 with great en-
deayorS, and We are nll drops III the lie
blood, which moves the great heart oi the
world. Mny it be said oi each Of u-,ts "f her
whose pleasant face We miss. and whnsc loss
We mourn. She hath done what She could.
The days go 10y crowded with golden oppor-
tnuities
" Forenoon and uiirTI oon AID II. sht.
Forenoon, ani s:trrn'Dn and night. tofct"'n and
what
The empty sons repeats Itself No more
Aye, that il lilo Make This iuroI Don suhIns.
Thi, afternoon y. II N, thi> nj ;bt prsNur
And lie IS conquered aLd thy croEh u wen.
St, AbaLs. VI, sept. l.. rs.
On the suggestion If Mrs CODE, it was
srtod that the following telegram he sent
to the W. L. T. L. OF Nuw Yuik Row IN
session at Geneva:
The Women's CLIistisn Temperance Uni,n Of
VERNE ut 10 Iur slsttrsoi rev York Jushu1 X2J'
Fear not, Lor be disc urastd he strong aud q" good
courage Tor thus shall the Lord d" to ali N'dG cnc-
mics against whom yc fight.
la the absence ot Mrs Stewart, the chair
man OF the committee On temperance
literature. tie Frrnr: ni tEnt c0umIttee
was read by Mrs. Wood Tac sri rr' men
a, ,l,,,, 4 AZ AlRaf-
lets, and OF specimen crrtrs ri tsn'!" rance
documents, to the lora. Unions b, the COM
nittec.
Tho secretary, Mrs Greene, read COM
from Mrs. Cunant, chairman OF
the literary committee OF the National Tenn
peranee Union, urging lreer circulation of
literature.
Several ladies mentioned good results
from the circulation Of leaflets temperance
Banner, ard other publications.
Tho secretary read letter from Miss
X klmball, Oi Chicago, general Snperinien-
lent of the temperance work IN Sabbath
schools, ing the appointment; OF State
,uper intendent OF Sabbath school work Tor
Vermont. ard requesting that IL inl report ,
II such tif1rt in this State be made 10 the
next National convention.
On motion of Mrs &. H. Porkins, it was
ioted that a committee OF three be sppoint-
I'd to take charge Of the subject ri Tenn
,erancc Literature IN all It4 branches, M
luding the Sunday school work. Mrs. >.
EbiIds nf Wry hIidyr Mrs Johnson of