davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
AdmOnitOry Thoughts.

The record of deaths of venerable Chris
tian men and women, which we have been
making for few years with increasing sor-
row, and which has been lengthening 50
rapidly during the present Winter, recalls
the tenor of an address made four or five
years ago by the Rev. DR.. William Adams
in South Brooklyn, at the funeral of an
aged believer. He said that the rank of
veterans standing between us and the ar
rows of death was rapidly falling. He de-
scribed with great simplicity of language,
but most impressvely, what gaps had been
made in that line, and that now another had
fallen. To the men and women in middle
life before him he said, in words they can
never forget, "There is now no one between
you and death you stand face to face with
the grave, and the judgment, and eternity"
Such thought should more than ever ar
rest the attention of the men aud women of
middle age. Very, very few are left of the
grey-haired matrons and sires who only a
few years ago were the crown and glory of
our homes, where they also were throned in
honor as the oracles of wisdom and the foun
tains of comfort and contentment. Nearly
all are gone of that generation. Now, no
one intervening, we face the shafts of the
destroyer, and right before us is the throne
of judgment guarding the portals of the un
seen, but, thanks be to God, not the un
known world Equally true is it that a
great burden of duties and responsibilities.
now rests upon our hearts. May grace be
given to us TO bear them as faithfully as did
those who have just laid them down i
Christian Inieliigencer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
for tine vermont w
A Chat about Spring.


The first Spnng month has come at last.
We know it by the lengthening days, the
increased warmth of the sun, and the March
breezes that are not exactly of ETHEREAL
mildness as yet but who minds the noisy
fellows clustering when we know he has a
warm neart for us under the snow2 We
have heard the bewitching music of the
beneficial owl which has been supposed
to be orr favorite bird, through the Wintry
weather and soon our ears will be gladdened
by the hoarse croaking of the "homely
crow; !" for though it lacks the "good looks,'
not the "impudence," that are such " strong
recommendations to favor in certain direc-
tions," yet who is not glad after long,
dreary Winter to hear the first discordant
note of the "homely" bird ? And if we
greet SO cordially the despised crow, because
he brings us promise of Spring, what shall
we say of the first sweet songs of our beauti-
full favorite robin, 7urdus migrdtorius
Who thinks then of calling him a red-blled
thief, or grudges few cherries or currants,
as desert for his dinner of grubs and worms
Old Winter will soon shake his thin, white
locks and pass from the stage, leaving all the
room for fair young Spring. Even now we
see her coming, bathed in sunlight and
wreathed with flowers. All through the cold,
dreary days how we long for the presence of
life and beauty, how we love to look on the
richly clothed fir trees, which seem the only
living things in land covered with dead
birches, elms, naples and decaying snow
capped stubs, which look like the monuments
of buried vegetation. Yes, then the unat.
tractive crow-this dark forerunner of the
tuneful tribes which are to come-as with
widespread wings he sails from hill to hill,
bearing messages of promise (to pull up all
the farmers corn) from the perished Autumn
to the advancing Spring, seems half sacred.
With glad hearts we hail again the welcome
Springtime Soon the multitude of the
heavenly host will be here-the phebe, the
sparrow the backbird, the finch, and above
all, the voice of the robin " will be heard
in our land, and the blossoms of the cherry
tree will fill the air with fragrance. Make
haste, o Spring; stretch forth thy beautiful
arms, and from the abundance of thy great
riches shed life and beauty over all the land,
that the earth bring forth ten-fold, and great
be the harvest thereof-enough for old and
young; yea, more, enough for "editor and
robin"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19

to men the hearer is led to look to the arm
of flesh, and is not lifted out of his worldli-
ness but il the prayer is addressed to God
the hearer is lifted up TO communion with
the high and holy One, and is inexpressibly
benefited by it. Very sweet and precious
to God is the alteration and praise and pc
tition of his creatures. How he pleads for
such offerings What infinite pathos in the
yearning of the great heart of love as ex-
pressed in his invitations When he chides
men for neglect to praise him, to acknowl-
edge his mercies, TO cast their care upon
him, what tender, afectionate grief the Ian
guage seems to convey God speaks as
though his heart had been wounded, as
though the expectations of his love had been
disappointed. II is not much one can say
on such theme beyond what was said a
moment ago, that the praises and petitions
of his creatures are very sweet and precious
to God. Whoever bears such a tribute TO
his throne receives a blessing words cannot
carry and whoever leads others in the sane
tuary or prayer-meeting to bring such offer
ings leads them to an action and disposition,
and relation, that is heaven begun below.
Such prayers edify open the eyes of the
soul to region Of beauty and glory like
that of Paradise, region perhaps never
seen and therefore never known before, but
never thereafter to be forgotten. May the
Holy Spirit help us to pray l-Christidn IN
teiliqencer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Unappreciated.

1t may be, friend, you are very good
sort of man, judged by the commercial
standard, by the standard of the club, and
even by the standard of the church. We
don't doubt but that you are pretty good
sort of man measured by your own stand
ard; but - hope the compositors will
place long dash after that word but for
there was great deal of thinking that came
after it. What was | thinking about
Your wife, perhaps; your mother; your
sister, or any one whose kindness and cour-
tesy and affection ministers to you, and you
don't appreciate the ministry. The unap-
preciated ones, who love us and serve us ;
! am thinking of them. And as | think
faces come out of the air in front of me, and
stand out to sight as if they were living
faces. There is the face of a mother--a
worn face face that is wrinkled as years
and labor and troubles wrinkle face; eyes
that show growing dimness as they gaze
at me; hands no longer plump fingers no
longer rounded; hair half gray and half
brown. The face of woman that has done
work-hard work work for many done it
for sixty years-done it faithfully, lovingly,
heroically, but has never been appreciated
for doing it. Another face Certainly.
Whose Your wife's. Not old nor young
forty, perhaps. The face of woman
that does every thing from love; of a
woman who has been busy all the day long
that your house might be home for you
a woman you left without kiss this morn
ing, and whom you forgot to greet as you
came in at night. And yet there were your
slippers by your chair, the evening paper on
the table; the table spread for tea-every
thing clean, orderly, home-like. And you
scarcely greeted her Brute Pretty near
it, What do you think ?-Golden Rule
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
The Hour Before You Go to Church.

have in my eye at present the hour before
you go to church on the Sabbath forenoon.
am anxious about it, The note struck
then is likely to give tone to your spirits all
the day. Redeem it, Redeem it as much
as you can from family duties. Redeem it
wholly from "plaiting of hair and putting
on of apparel" Redeem it wholly from
vain conversation. How very much the
power of the minister's preaching depends
on the preparing of the hearers heart If
you come up to the church with your mind
crowded with trihes and puffed up with
vanty-what can ministers do They can
do nothing but beat the air. What else can
they do if there be nothing before them but
air to beat at 1t will make a sound, and
that is ALL ! fear that many of my dear
people spend more time on the Sabbath
morning in putting wells on their faces than
in taking the veil off their hearts-more
time in trying to make themselves appear
before men what they are not, than in try.
ing to make themselves appear before God
what they are.-Rev. W. Arnot.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
The Everlasting Arms.

The following eloquent passage on walk
ing by faith is from criticism in Mr.. Spur
geou's "Pulpit" on Canon FarraI's book,
" Eternal Hope" "When are the everlast.
ing arms underneath us The only answer
is, now and forever more. Now, at this mo-
ment, beloved, the everlasting arms are un-
derneath US. The life of Christian is de-
scribed as walking by faith, and to my mind
walking by faith is the most extraordinary
miracle ever beheld beneath the sun. Walk
ing on the waves, as Peter did, is a type of
the life of every Christian. | have some
times likened it to ascending an invisible
staircase far up into the clouds. You cam
not see step before you, but you wind up
towards the light. When you look down
ward all is dark, and before you lies nothing
visible but cloud, while beneath you yawns
a fathomless abyss. Yet we have climbed,
some Of us, now for years, up this perpet-
ually ascending STAIR never seeing an inch
before us. We have often paused, almost
in horror, and asked in wonder, What next
and what next ? Yet what we thought to
be cloud has proved to be solid rock dark
ness has been light before us, and slippery
places have been safe. Every now and then,
when the darkness has been denser than
usual, darkness which might be felt, when
all the past Denlnd us mas vanished ana
nothing has been seen but the one step we
stood on, we have said, How did / come
here What strange, mysterious life mine
has been + We have almost wished our
selves down on the level among the world
lings, who can always see their way and
know what is underneath them. But faith
has come to our help again. We have be-
lleved, and believing, we have seen the in
visible and grasped the eternal; and then
we have gone on, have put our foot down
again, and anon have run with Joy up the
shining way. What an ascent we have
sometimes made on that ladder of light, so
that we have companied with angels, and
left the world far down beneath our feet |
Now and then we have enjoyed a glimpse
through the thick darkness of the jewelled
walls of the eternal city, whicn needeth no
candle, neither light of the SUM- we have
seen, say, its brightness, and determined
still TO climb the mysterious way. Well,
believer, at this moment, though thou canst
not see thy way, yet since thou art walk
ing by faith, underneath are the everlasting
arms"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
A Mife,s Faith.

In one of the towns of England there is a
beautiful little chapel, and very touching
story is told in connection with it. II was
built by an infidel. He had praying wife,
but he would not listen to her. would not
allow her pastor even to take dinner with
them, would not look at the Bible, would
not allow religion even to be talked of. She
made up her mind, seeing she could not in
fluence him by her voice, that every day she
would pray to God at twelve o'clock for his
salvation. She said nothing to him, but
every day at that hour she told the Lord
about her husband. At the end of twelve
months there was no change in him. But
she did not give up. Six months more went
past Her faith began to waver, and she
said, " viii have to give him up at last
Perhaps when am dead he will answer my
prayers" When she had got to that point,
it seemed just as If God had got her where
he wanted her. The man came home to din
ner one day. His wife was in the dining
room waiting for him, but he didn't come
in. She waited some time, and finally
looked for him all through the house. At
last she thought of going into the little room
where she had prayed so often. There he
was praying at the same bed with agony,
where she had prayed for so many months,
asking forgiveness for his sins. And this is
a lesson to you wives who have infdel hus
bands. The Lord saw that woman's faith
and answered her prayers-Moody.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Macaulay on Sunday.

Man man this is the great creator of
wealth. The difference between the soil of
Campania and Spitsbergen is Insignificant
compared with the difference presented by
two countries, the one inhabited by men full
of moral and physical vigor, the other by
beings plunged in an intellectual decrepi-
tude. Hence it is that we are not impover
ished, but on the contrary enriched by this
seventh day, which we have for SO many
years devoted to rest. This day is not lost.
While the machinery is stopped, while the
car rests on the road, while the treasury is
silent, while the smoke ceases to rise from
the chimney factory, the nation enriches
itself none the less than during the working
days of the week. Man, the machine of all
machines, the one by the side of which all
the inventions of the Wattses and the Ark
wrights are as nothing, is recuperating and
gaining strength so well, that on Monday
he returns to his work with his mind clearer,
with more courage for his work, and with
renewed vigor. | will never believe that
that which renders a people stronger, wiser
and better, can ever turn to its impoverish-
ment.-T. B. Macauldy.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
A Mirror Of Divine Patience.

shall never forget an exhibition | once
attended Shortly after schools for the i'm
beetles were commenced in Europe, young
man, moved by benevolence, crossed the
ocean to examine their mode Of operation
and success Assured of their utility, he re-
turned aud commenced asimlar institution.
He advertised for the most idiotic and help
less child that could be found Among those
brought to him was a little boy of five years
of age. lie had never spoken or walked,
had never chewed any hard substance, or
given look of recognition to friend. He
lay on the floor mass of flesh without even
ability to turn himself over. Such was the
student brought to this school. The teacher
frutlessly made effort after effort to get the
slightest recognition from his eye or to
produce the slightest intentional act. I'm
willing however to yield, at the hour of noon
he had the little boy brought to his room,
and he lay down beside him every day for
half an hour, hoping that some favorable in
dication might occur. To improve the time
of his rest, he read aloud from some author.
One day, at the end of six months, he was
unusually weary, and did not read. He soon
discovered that the child was uneasy, and
was trying to move itself little, as if to
turn towards him. The thought flashed
upon his mind 1t misses the sound of my
voice. lie turned himself closely to it,
brought his mouth near the child's head,
aud after repeated efforts the little fellow
succeeded in placing his finger on the
teachers lips, as if to say, Make that sound
again. The teacher said that moment he
felt he had the control of that boy. He
gained his attention, and by careful manip-
ulation of his muscles, succeeded in teach
inp him TO walk and then to read and when
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
d" 1t Is All for the Best"

You hear old Christians say, "Well, it's
all for the best" and you may think it is
cant. There is no cant about it. They
have learned that all is for the best in their
life's history. Bernard Gilpin was to be
tried for his faith in God, aud to be put to
death. He was in the habit of saying, at
is all for the best, it is all for the best"
Starting for London to be tried for his life
and to be executed, he broke his leg.
His associates said in derision, a. suppose
you think this is for the best 2" OF course" I"
said he, sit is for the best my leg is broken"
So it proved. Before he got well enough to
go to London Queen Mary died, and, instead
of Bernard Gilpin going to London to be
tried aud burned for Christ's sake, he went
home free. 1t is always for the best. "All
things work together for good to those that
love God."-Erchange
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Edifying Prayers.

Preaching is one thing and prayer is quite
another. An address in a prayer-meeting is
one thing and prayer there is another.
Sermons and addresses are for instruction
and exhortation the soul of prayer is ador-
alton, praise including thankfulness, and
petition. Sermons and addresses are ad-
dressed TO men, prayer 10 God. A preach
ing prayer is neither one thing nor the other
is of very doubtful profit to men and not
acceptable to God. Men are indeed 10 pray
in public assemblies to the edifcation Of
those who listen, but that does not mean
that they are TO preach to them through the
supplications. The listener is edited by
the prayer that leads him to alteration, to
praise, TO pour out his wants before the
throne OF grace. II the prayer is delivered
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
The Happiest Period of Life.

What, then, is the happiest period of hu.
man life ? | am sure there is only one
answer. 1t is now. If am doing my duty,
to-day is the best day ever had. Yester-
day had happiness of its own and up to
this morning it was the best day of all.
would not, however live it over again.
string it as a new bead, on the chaplet of
praise, and turn to the better work and the
higher thoughts of the present time OF all
the many days of life, give me to-day. This
should be our feeling always, from the cradle
to the hour when we are called to come up
higher. Childhood is best for children, man
hood is best for men, and old age for the
silverhaired. We will all join in chorus
of common thanksgiving to God, and when
asked, (which is the happiest period p
will say, Childhood, manhood, and old age,
alike 80 Father, it is now |"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19

,, And her loss we deeply depiorei .-,.s.
Rut she'll never ne come V hack s Annie % Moore
-. -.
rhlNk must haVe yeiu al rlon huinoi,
saiu Jones, ai'er HIS eisn'een'n ooii pun III
an appearance
SUGGESTION Tor Sunday-see how
goiu piece WIN souhu s'riAihg 'ne ooteom Oh
contribution ooA'
AN old judge told young lawyer that he
would do well to pick some OF the feathers
from the wings OF his imagination and stick
them into the tail OF his judgment
"WHAr is the reason" said an Irishman
to another " that you and your wife are al.
Ways alsagreeins neJause, rePiieo
ia., we are 9OM ., orc . man" -'"e "ah's W
DE ihas'ei' anu 81 uo l.
In struggling to make dull-brained boy
understand what conscience Is, teacher
finally asked What makes you feei un,
comfortable alter you have done wrong =
Fathers leather strap, teeiingiy replied
the boy
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
SeleFf MisreHany.
DECEMBER AND APRIL.

DECEMBER.
The wild winds whistle through the moaning pines,
And all the woods and fields the darkness shroudsi
The snow-nakes fall in myrads from the clouds.
While dmly from the sky the round moon shines.
Stern Winters Icy fingers clutch the turf;
His frosty breath sweeps DER the rivers face,
Chilling ts throbbing veins. then apace,
Fraught with the cold OF northern oceans surf.
The everNeen's rich branches, clothed In white,
Hang dropping from the sturdy parent stem,
While on each tiny twig, crystal gem
Shines sparkling In the Winter SUMS cold light.
Deep silence reigns upon the hill and lea,
While snowbirds volceless, nit from tree TO tree
APRIL.
The April winds sweep through the eahess trees,
And whrl across the meadows white with snow;
The rivers veins, long dormant. once more now,
Its heavy fetters loosei by Springs soft breeze.
Flrst comes the bluebrd from the sunny cline;
The robins flute from hill and dale Is heard
The maple buds burst forth, while every bird
Sings ont with notes far sweeter than the chime,
OF tinkllng bells In grand cathedral tower.
Cold Winters reign has ceased, and day by day
His grasp grows weaker, TIL, when graceful May
Gives place TO blooming June, the monarch's power
Has left no trace save where his Icy breath
Planted In tender trees the seeds Of death
Harry b. Dorr. IhddieJury College
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
The Eternal Glory.

A father dying leaves to his child pack
age sealed, and inscribed, 4" Not to be opened
till you come of age" The child often looks
wonderingly on the sealed package; but he
respects his fathers will, suffers the seal to
keep the secret and wonders what surprise
is in store for him in the future. The Heav-
emily Father gives to each one of his chill.
dren such package, labelled "The Eternal
Glory Not to be opened till you come of
age" Many a curious eye has gazed on the
sealed package; many a curious imagina-
tion has ventured guess at its secret con
tents, but they still remain unknown. A
surprise is in store for us when school is
over, and we graduate and enter into the
true life of our eternal home.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
sMnra1 and Reliainns.
LEAD THEM HOME.

Lord we can trust thee for our holy dead.
They, underneath the shadow Of thy tomb,
Have entered into peace with bended head,
We thank thee for their and for our ghened gloom
But. Lord, our iivng-who, stormy seas
or ain and sorrow still are tempest-tossedl
Our dead have reached their haven. but for these
Teach trust thee Lord for these our loved and lost
For these make our passion-prayer by night
For these cry to thee through the long day.
We them not, o keep them in thy sight
From them and us be thou not very far away.
And II not home to us, yet lead them home
To where thou standes at the heavenly gate;
That so from thee they shall not farther roami
And grant patient hearts thy gathering time to wait
--,SupddU Nr0d fi1s,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Which Is the Owner!

The late George Peabody said that he
owned his money and would not allow it to
own him. In this distinction lies all the
difference between freedom and slavery.
Where money is master the man is down.
We have known instances not few in this
city of Christian gentlemen and women who
gave away all or large portions of their an
nual incomes from certain sources, preferring
TO be executors of their own wills, and they
had the satisfaction of being benefactors.
We have also known others who heaped up
riches, not knowing who should gather them
whether lawyers, or spectators, or stran-
gers, or heirs UNITED for the proper use of
wealth, Which is the more excellent way I
--Christian Inteiiigencer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-19
Nrw eadrerfisemenfS.
vEGET|NE
ACTS AS A TONICy

VEGETINE also acts as most powerful and grateful
tonc and this feature most noceaby experienced by
persons recovering from acute Diseases and by who
have long been afflicted with Ills peculiar to their alone
Invariably has 1t been found to increase the power
OF the SYSTEM by which, In turn all other portions
Of the frame strengthened, and the quality Of the blood
improved To woman, child 1t will impart strength
when strength wanting II will revalze the system Of
the poor overworkcd being whose life ia being fered
away In endless and anxictes; 1t will nfuse The
strength Of and the roseate tint Of health into the
sinews and boodless women crushed by
many hardslps and oppressed by the dangers of child
bearngi will give life to the pad and emaoated
child whose appetite gone whose movements feeble
and nervees and whose whole system is OF decay and
deblltatlon. vEGETINE Ia true toHie, and not de-
cepve stimulant the good that IL imparts to-day Is
succeeded by injury tomorrow.