davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Making the Ends Meet.

A perplexed young housekeeper of our
acquaintance whose pretty brow was most
unbecomingly puckered over a wrong-sided
balance sheet Of the family expenses, de-
clared that the problem of "making the
ends meet almost outweighed the advan-
tages of having home of her own. Upon
our mildly suggesting to her that perhaps
the trouble came from the fact that her good
man and herself were born with tastes that
would do credit TO a much larger income
than they enjoyed, she replied that it didn't
make any differences if they had six thou
sand instead of two, she was sure it would
all CO. Aud very likely it would. A good
many people have yet to learn the lesson of
limiting their needs, and praoticing the art
of selection. "a man has need, said the
wise Bacon-whose practice, by the way,
fell far behind his precepts-"i II he be plen-
tiful in some kind of expense, to be as saw
ing again in some other As If he be plen-
tiful in diet, to be saving in apparel, and
the like; for he that is plentiful in expenses
of all kinds will hardly be preserved from
decay" This indicates a line of conduct in
which many persons of limited incomes are
exceedingly thoughtless. II they choose to
pay expensive rent rather than to live in a
more modest way, they should accept this
luxury as All equivalent for many that they
are thereby compelled to forego If they de-
eide to dress, or furnish their table, on a
scale suitable for persons with double their
income, they should expect to give up the
summer trip, the concert and lecture tickets,
the books and pictures which otherwise
they might enjoy. There are people in our
cities, with aesthetic tastes that they are not
able to crafty. who not only omit to mark
out any rational lines of enjoyment, but
think they must take in the world at a
mouthful. In city like our own, rich in
intellectual entertainments, they act as if
there were never another season coming.
Oratorios, operas, plays, lectures, concerts,
must all be taken in, or postponed under a
bitter protest that brings unhappiness. The
habit of wise selection from each, and the
reflection that though in one sense life is
short, it still affords time enough for all
rational enjoyment for those who know how
TO use their opportunities, would be worth
more than a legacy to such people. Be rea'
sonable, first of all, good friends who are
perplexed with such matters. Don't quarrel
with the fact that two and two make only
four, and that four will go into twelve but
three times. And when you have reached
this point of philosophy, add to your good
sense clear calculation. Don't spend money
thoughtlessly. Conform your ideas to the
multiplication table, keep your tastes within
your means, and put your purse in sublec
tion to the lead-pencil, if you would preserve
the peace of mind necessary to happiness IN
any state of life.-Golden Rule.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Clergymen Like the stand.bys.

The simple presence OF such persons in
the church is of itself to every minister
powerful help and encouragement He is
glad, of course, to see new faces coming in
from time to time. The poor mother, the
standby at home, who has breakfast and
a husband and half dozen children TO get
ready in the morning, so that she herself
can come out only now and then, whenever
she does come is seen with pleasure. The
young men of his flock, flowers of the king
dom, whose eyes and religious natures open
usually only in the latter part of the day,
but who occasionally under the inspiration
of a new suit of Sunday clothes blossom out
in the forenoon, excite in him, till he learns
better, CLEAN of hope. The religious cas-
ual, the small and infrequent worshiper de-
scribed by Horace, owning pew but occu-
pying it SO seldom that when he does use it
Il has to be found for him by the sexton, is
not by any means unwelcome and there is
always an inspiration OF some sort in the
great crowd OF strangers who appear Sun
day night when 1t has been advertised that
he is going TO speak on the kingdom OF
Satan, or the doings Of the devil, or the
sowing of wild oats, or some kindred theme
But alter all it is the stand-bys, the men
usually old ones--and the women living often
farthest from the church, who are absolutely
sure of being in their places punctually every
Sunday, Thanksgiving and even Fast day
whatever the season or the weather or the
subject may be--these that he looks upor
with special delight and finds to be tn,
fountains of his greatest earthly inspiration
Sunday Afternoon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Tested by Trial.

Two men, members of the church, met
with misfortune in their business. After
having enjoyed long prosperity and lived in
the decorous use of Gods gifts, trouble beset
them and they saw all their gains of former
years fade away, and found themselves COM
PEELED TO begin the world anew. One of
them received his trial as discipline sent
of God, and in undoubted faith went on his
way, serving his Master, who, he was sure,
was still loving him. He even grew more
devoted to every religious interest. His
place was never vacant in the house of God.
He made it a point to be present at every
prayer-meeting. He took new interest in
the affairs of the church, aud, so far as he
had ability, he showed himself additionally
liberal in the support and spread of the
gospel. An air of improved piety appeared
in his countenance and life. He was grow
ing into a better man. His friend took the
other direction. He was soured. He at
tended church but poorly, forsook all the
interest he formerly had in the work of the
congregation, grew critical, severe, fault
finding, crotchety and disagreeable. His
whole life changed into contradiction to
that he had formerly professed and prac-
ticed, so that he was as gruff backslider as
he had once been an exemplary believer
Now mark the result The one grew strong
in all good human fellowship, and cheerfully
devoting himself to the work of repairing
his broken fortunes, received the confidence
and help of his brethren, and finally secured
for himself such footing that he was safe
against all contingencies of want and fear
The other repelled friendly sympathies, sank
into Incidence aud sloth, and, both as to
business and character, lived wreck and
warning to all who knew him. The moral
is, that il misfortunes come they ought to
be received in a Christian spirit. If they
are not they will but thicken and increase
till the life is lost under their BURDEN
United Presb1teridn.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Guard the Home.

When we are considering the dangers
which threaten our youth, we should not di-
rect our thoughts too far away from home.
For the means of safety are to be found
only in so arming ourselves and our chill
dren with the wisdom of innocence that the
grosser temptations of life shall be as though
they were not. BY sincerity, by honesty,
and by purity in thought, word and deed,
we may give mighty reinforcement to the
good which in other men lies sleeping but
never dead. BY the untrue word, the dis
honest act, the loose jest, or even the unut
tered sympathy with evil, We may set the
example which our children will exceed in
their practice. After making all allowance
for the influence which comes into the home
from without, we must still hold ourselves
responsible for the opportunity which evil
men find in the unguarded lives of the
young, the weak and the George
RafcLSior.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Words Of Courage.

A great deal of talent is lostto the world
for the want of little courage. Every day
sends to the grave number Of obscure men,
who have only remained in obscurity be-
cause their timdity has prevented them
making the first effort, and who, if they
could have been induced to begin, would, in
all probability, have gone great lengths in
the career Of fame. The fact is, in order to
do anything ia this world that is worth
doing we must not stand shivering on the
brink, and think of the cold and danger, but
jump in and scramble as we can. 1t will not
do to be perpetually calculating risks and
adjusting nice chances. 1t did very well
before the flood, when a man could consult
his friends upon publication for one hun
dred and fifty years, and then live to see its
success six or seven centuries afterwards
but at present man waits, and doubts, aud
hesitates, and consults his BROTHER and his
particular friends, till one day he finds that
he is sixty years of age; that he has lost so
much time in consulting first cousins and his
particular friends, that he has no time left to
follow their advice. There is such little
time for over-squeamishness at present, the
opportunity so easily slips away. the very
period of his life at which man chooses to
venture, if ever, is so confined, that it is
no bad rule to preach up the necessity, in
such instances, of little violence done to
feelings, and of efforts made in defiance of
strict and sober calculation.-Sydney Smith.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Occasional Sermons.

There is nothing that will wear out sooner
than what may be called occasional sermons.
When men seek an audience by preaching
upon secular aud quaint topics, they soon
create an appetite that they cannot possibly
long satisfy. The hearer will constantly
demand fresh sensation. Love, courtship,
marriage, divorce, the theater, dancing,
young people, married men, married women,
old people-all such topics may be strung
along for period, but they become terribly
wearisome and disappointing after time.
A short, earnest, wellillustrated and forcibly-
delivered discourse upon some aspect of the
gospel, or some spiritual need of the human
heart, will always awaken a response, and
will be much less likely to become stale. A
lyceum lecturer has only limited series of
taking discourses at best, aud the most sue
cessful, with few exceptions, lose their pop
ularity after few years But devout gos
pei preacher, full OF his theme and the en-
thusiasm of humanity" will "bring forth
fruit in his old age" and be reluctantly dis
missed by the church to his higher reward
--ZiOn's Herald.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
MONTPELIER, VT, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER s. 1879

him. Modesty, timidity, the opposition of
friends, the surroundings of man, may
keep him years from declaring his real SEN
timents towards one whose silent friend he
Is. But, let an emergency arise where he is
needed, and how nobly the secret friend
comes to the front Who could have pre-
dicted that Joseph and Nicodemus, two
members OF the council that had hunted
him down, would have performed the rites
of sepulture for Jesus2 It should have
fallen to others, but they took the duty and
the honor. They were certainly disciples.
They believed in Jesus. They loved Jesus.
There can be no mistake, think, in those
points. They did not believe sufficiently to
come down from their seats in the Sanhed-
rim and follow the lonely teacher on his
circuits of preaching and benefcence. But
they loved him, and probably he was never
80 beautiful in their eyes as when he was
enduring the torturing inquisition of the
high-priest than when he was suffering
under Pontius Plate than when he hung,
thorn-crowned aud pierced and dead, on the
cross of Golgotha. There must then have
come to these good men painful repentance
of the secrecy of their discipleship. They
had refused that dead man what was his
due when he was living. Always in the
sight of the dead our shortcomings toward
them become most poignant recollections.
We are recalled from our carelessness by
the fact that we never can repair the wrongs
we have done them, nor pay them the at.
tentions which we have thoughtlessly with.
held.-Rev. DR.. Deems
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
joseph Cooks Prayer.

We have always had a dislike to report
ing prayers, but here is something so sub
lime that it is certainly worth preserving.
1t is the dedicatory prayer offered by Joseph
Cook at the dedication of the chapel in the
Yosemite Valley, at the Sunday-school as
sembly, last June. Here is the prayer
Almighty God, thou hast consecrated this
valley; may we not desecrate it. We are
sinners. In presence of these stupendous
revelations of thy power, may we be deliv-
cred from contempt of thy word and CON-
mandment. May we loathe our leprosy,
and dishonesty aud selfshness, as thou dost.
Face to face with these precipices may men
acquire hearts as upright and downright as
the rocks. From thy house, which we ded-
icate to thee, may thy truth be proclaimed
in tones as bold as the hills, and tender as
the voices of these waters Our sincere
prayer is that thou wilt give us similarity of
feeling with thyself. What men say here
the world will little note, nor long remem-
ber; but it will never forget what thou hast
said here. May our speech accord wholly
with thine. May all discussions of thy
truth here, echo God. May they reflect thee
as these waters reflect the precipices. We
shall pass away and be forgotten; but gen
Grafton after generation will be represented
by those who walk through this valley. We
dedicate this house to the religious service
of all nations. May artists and poets be in
spired here. May statesmen and reformers
obtain courage here. May preachers and
teachers find strength and tenderness here.
When the children of Europe and of Greece
and of Italy and of the Holy Land come
here may they meet thee, and may we
meet them in the spirit of Christian broth
erhood. When the children of the Hima.
layas come to the Sierras, may they find
peace and strength. When the children OF
the Yellow Sea come hither, may they find
instruction and be treated with justice on
the shores of the Pacific. In this holy place
wilt thou knit the hearts of all nations to
each other and to thyself. The high noon
is above our heads, and in the presence OF
these glorious works of thine we dedicate
this house to thy service. We give our
selves up to thee in irreversible, affection
ate, total self-surrender. We beseech thee
to fill this temple to the latest generation
with the love Of God, the grace of our Lore
Jesus Christ, and the communion of the
Holy Spirit; and this for thine own sake
| Amen l"-Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Rest and BE Thankful.

There is pass in Scotland called Glencoe
which supplies beautiful illustration of
what heaven will be to the souls who come
to Christ The road through Glencoe
carries the traveller up q long and deep
assent, with many little turn and winding
in its course. But when the top of the pass
is reached stone is seen by the wayside
with these simple words inscribed upon it {:
"Rest and be thankful" Those words describe
the feelings with which every thirsting one
who comes to Christ will enter heaven. The
summit of the narrow way will at length be
ours. We shall cease from our weary jour
neyiugs, and sit down in the kingdom of
God. We shall look back on all the way of
our lives with thankfulness, and see the
perfect wisdom of every step in the steep
ascent by which we were led. We shall
forget the toll of the upward journey in the
glorious rest Here. in this world, our sense
Of rest in Christ at best is feeble and par
tial we hardly seem at times to taste fully
the living water" But when that which
is perfect is come, then that which is i'm
perfect shall be done away. "When we
awake up after his likeness we shall be
satisfied psalm xvii; 1O. We shall
drink out of the river of his pleasure and
thirst no more.-CdnOn Ryle.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Who Should not be a Wifei

Has that woman call to be wife who
thinks more of her silk dress than her chill
dren, and visits her nursery no oftener than
once a day Has that woman call to be
a wife who cries for Cashmere shawl when
her husbands notes are being protested? Has
that woman call to be wife who sits read
ing the last novel while the husband stands
before the glass vainly trying to pin together
a buttoness shirt bosom Has that woman
a call to be a wife who expects her husband
to swallow diluted coffee, soggy bread,
smoky tea and watery potatoes six days in
seven? Has she call TO be wife who
fiirts with every man she meets, and re-
serves her frowns for her own freside Has
she call to be wife who comes down to
breakfast in abominable curl papers, in
soiled dressinggown, aud shoes down to the
heel ? Has she call to be wife whose
husbands love weighs naught in the bal
ance with her next door neighbors damask
curtain or velvet carpet ? Has she call to
be wife who would take advantage of a
moment of conjugal weakness to extort
money or exact promise Has she call
to be wife who takes a journey for pleas
ure, leaving her husband to toll in close of
flee, and have au eye, when at home, to SER
wants and children Has she a call to be a
wife to whom a good husbands society is
not the greatest of earthly blessings, and
houseful of rosy children is best furnish
ing and prettiest adornments ?
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
The Value OF q Fixed Heart.

If any of you are so wise that you know
all the objections Of Christianity, all the
dark places which faith must encounter, all
the dark sayings and perplexing mysteries
of the gospel, remember that itis nothing to
your credit. A wrecker who lives from the
goods of foundered vessels and shipwrecked
crews knows where all the dangerous rocks
are along the coast, and he is always hover
ing about them. But the shipmaster knows
more about the channel than about the
reef. A calm, self-possessed captain of a
vessel was asked, "Captain, suppose you
know where every rock and shoal is along
this whole coast, do you not Z" 81 know
where they are not" was his reply, (which
is the more important thing Admirable
answer. If your faith is fixed on God aud
your heart is welded to his service, you will
know where the dangers and difficulties and
mysteries and contradictions are not. Rid
ing peacefully upon the great deeps of his
love, your greatest joy will be that you no
longer live by doubts, but by affirmations
DIR. a. j. Gordon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Buy q Home.

Hon. George Barstow gave good advice in
speech on the subject of Home" He
said every man should own his home If he
can. That philosophy which tells man
to drift over the uncertain life without a
home is like ship out in the open sea--at
the hazard of the storm. A man who owns
his home is like ship that has arrived in
port, and is moored in safe harbor. One
man should be no more content to live in a
home that is not his own-if he can build
one-than one bird should take the risk Of
Matching in another ones nest; and for my
own part, would rather be able to own a
cottage than to hire palace. | would say
to every man, buy home if yos can, aud
own it. If wiudfall has come to you, buy
home. Do not let anybody tempt you to
put all your earnings back into the pool
Take out enough to buy a home aud buy it
Put the rest back if you will. Gamble OIL
if you must; but buy the home first. Buy
it and sell it not. Then the roses that bloom
there are yours the clematis aud jasmine
that climb upon the porch belong to you
You have planted them and seen them grow
When you are at work upon them, you arr
working for others. II there are children
there are flowers within the house aud with
out. Buy home.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
Overworking Young Brains.

The educational abomination Of desola-
ton of the present day is the stimulation Of
young people to work at high pressure
by incessant and competitive examinations.
Some wise man (who probably was not an
early riser) has said of early risers IN gen.
eral, that they are conceited all the fore
noon and stupid all the afternoon. Now,
whether this is true of early risers in the
common acceptation Of the word or not,
will not pretend to say; but it is too often
true of the unhappy children who are forced
TO rise too early in their classes. They are
conceited all the forenoon Of life, and stupid
all its afternoon. The vigor and freshness
which should have been stored up for the
purposes of the hard struggle for existence
in practical life, have been washed out Of
them by precocious mental debauchery-by
book-gluttony and lesson-bibbing. Their
faculties are worn out by the strain put
upon their callow brains, and they are de-
moralized by worthless, childish triumphs
before the real work Of life begins.
have no compassion for sloth, but youth
has more need for intellectual rest than age
and the cheerfulness, the tenacity of pur-
pose, the power of work, which make many
a successful man what he is, must often be
placed to the credit, not of his hours Of in.
dustry, but to that of his hours Of idleness,
in boyhood. Even the hardest worker OF
all, if he has to deal with anything above
mere details, will do well, now and again, to
let his brain lie fallow for space. The
next crop of thought will certainly be all
the fuller in the ear, and the weeds fewer
Professor Hurley
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-08
The Next Best Thing.

"Mr Moncton," said my grandmother, al
have no wood to burn to-day. What shall
| do Z" 40, send Louisa around to pick up
some" said the good man, making stride
toward the door. "But she has picked up
all she can find" "Then let her break up
some old stuff" "But she has broken up
everything already" 90, well, then, do the
next best thing-I must be off" said the
farmer and off he was, whistling as he
went, and no doubt wondering in his heart
what the next best thing would turn out "a
be. Noon came, and with it came my grand
father and four hungry laborers. My grand
mother stood in the kitchen, spinning on heI
great wheel, and singing pleasant little
dtty; Louisa was securing in the back
room, and the cat purring on the hearth be
fore black and fireless chimney, while the
table stood in the middle OF the room ready
for dinner, with empty dishes. Well, wife
here we are," said my grandfather, cheerily
$50 | see,' said she, placidly. "Haye yot
had good morning in the cornield =
"Why, yes, $3.50. But where is the din
ner I" "In the pot on the doorstep. Won
you see if il is done ?" And on the door
step, to be sure, sat the great iron pot
nicely covered, but not looking PARTICULAR,
steamy. My grandfather raised the cover
and there lay all the Ingredients of nic'
boiled dinner-everything prepared in tn
incest manner, and all the vegetables as raw
as they had ever been. My grandfathe
stared, aud my grandmother joined anothe
roll to the yarn upon her distaii, and begaI
another verse OF her song. "Why, woman
what does this mean 2" began my grand
father, indignantly. "This dinner isn'
cooked at all "Dear me, is 1t not
Why, it has set in the sun this four hours.
Set in the suni" "Yes, you told me b
try the next best thing TO having fire, AM
thought setting my dinner in the sun wa
about that" My grandfather stood doubI
ful for a moment, but finally his sense O
humor overcame his sense OF injury, aud h
laughed aloud. Then he picked up his ha
and said "Come, boys, we might as we