davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
L Wish He Had Lived.

The other day when a burly big driver
of cart backed his vehicle up to the alley
gate of an old house in Detroit to dump out
half a ton Of coal, some children came out
of the side door, and the driver beckoned
them near and said
"Last time was here one Of the wheels
crushed bit of dog belonging to one of
you. ! heard great crying out, but
can't be stopping to look out for dogs on the
street."
The children made no reply, but as they
watched him unload the cart they wondered
If he had little children of his own, and if
he ever spoke kindly to them. He may
have felt the burden of their thoughts, for
suddenly he looked up and said
"Well, | own I'm bit sorry, and being
as | knew as | was coming up, | brought
along an orange to the child who owned
the dog. Which of you is il ?"
"The dog belonged to little lame Billy in
that house there" answered girl. at
was all the dog he ever had, and when you
killed it he cried himself almost to death.
He didn't never have any plaything but that
little dog"
"And will you take him this orange ?"
Z" can't, sir, COS he's dead, and they're
coming to take him to the graveyard soon. -
The driver looked up and down, seemed
to ponder the matter and then he crossed
to the other house. The little coffin and its
burden was in the front room, and two or
three old women were wiping away their
tears and talking in low tones. The driver
put his hand on the closed coffin and said
al didn't know it was his dog-I didn't
know he was lame and sick. God forgive
me if | made sorrow for him !"
The vehicle sent to convey the body To
the cemetery drove up at that moment, and
the burly big man continued:
"lf he was alive I'd buy him anything he
could ask. | can do nothing now but carry
him softly out
He gently took up the coffin in his stout
arms and carried it out, his eyes moist and
his lips quivering, and when he had placed
it in the vehicle he looked up at the driver
in beseeching way, and whispered
"Drive slow drive slow He was q
poor little lame boyl
The driver wondered but he moved away
slowly, and the coal cartman stood in the
center of the street, and anxiously watched
till he was off the cobblestones. Then a:
he turned to his own vehicle he said
al didn't mean to, but | wish he had
lived to forgive Inc !''-Detroa Free Press.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
For the Vermont watchn
" Sufficient Unto the Day."


Why do we heap the years in huge
mound before us the great gray mass that
cannot be gone round about, but whose sum
nit we must gain YEARLY, step by step.
The years behind us slope away in a sunny
and smooth descent, growing greener and
fresher as the distance lengthens. If we
are in middle life, the past, perhaps only one
year aback, lies rich and full in its grand
fruition, purple tinted with its stains of
luscious grapes, sweet with its odor of ounce
and apricote, the glad, full summer of life
and happiness still beyond lies the Spring
of blooming peaches and dainty violet, the
soft, new green of budding trees and velvet
grass, the glorious sunrise morning of youth
the fair, rosy dawn of childhood. We look
back over it all again and again, then with
shudder turn to the long dark years be-
fore, not the crimson sunset from the noun
tain tops, the mountains clad in autumn
gold, but rather sullen with heavy msts, a
sun at MONDAY buried amid banks of somber
clouds that sweep and sway through the
leafless trees of December; nor fruit, nor
leaf, nor blossom yet. How do we know
the mountain is for us ? The now does not
reach ont into the long vista of years, be
they dark or light, and the now is all we
have to do with. We may fall out of line Just
here, or just there, little further on, and
with folded hands rest; others may climb,
not us. Then why do we heap the years,
the maybe, before us, and bear not only the
burden of to-day, but also that of the to-
mOrrows
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Honest Old Abe.

When Abraham Lincoln was postmaster
in a small Illinois village word came that
the post-oliice agent would be along in day
or two TO collect the balance due to the
government. 1t was about seventy-fve dol
lars and one of Lincoln's friends, alarmed
lest the young postmaster should be embar-
rassed by the sudden demand for so much
money, offered to lend him the required sum
Lincoln declined, with thanks, the proifered
kindness, and going to the upper shelf of a
closet, brought down bag containing the
amount in the very coins which had come
into his hands. lie said he never allowed
himself to use, even for day, money which
was in his possession belonging TO other
people Would that all who have the hand
ling of the money of Others were as rigidly
square in their transactions us honest old
Abe was in his.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
VOL. 74.-377S. NO. %.

count of my early training; so he permitted
the angel Of virtue and truth who had so
lovingly protected him from childhood to
leave him to himself.
Ere long the ballroom became a familiar
resort TO him and the wine cup pleasing
companion. Nor did he stop here in his
new course. The wine cup was not long in
discovering within him an appetite for
something stronger, the only legacy left him
by his miserable father so his downward
course was easy and rapid In short, the
handsome and talented Edward Egleston,
once the pride of the college, had now be
come its disgrace. His letters home became
few and finally ceased, and his mother sadly
waited to hear from her son.
While he was living in this new way, fill
ing the cup of pleasure, as the world terms
it, telegram was handed him by his friend
Walter, stating that his mother was dan
gerously i'll. He set out for home as soon
as possible What heart-rending reflections
filled his soul on his homeward way.
As he entered his home all the old remem-
brances once so sweet, now so bitter, crowded
him. He hastened to his mothers room and
gazed upon the wasted form dying of sor-
row caused by wayward son. What a
dark life had been hers "Mother," said
he, bursting into tears, overcome by remorse,
" can you forgive me | have found that
temptation is sometimes apparently clothed
in the light of heaven, and have fallen" al
forgive you freely, my son." she said, plac-
ing her hand lovingly upon his head, while
heavenly smile played around her mouth.
Ask Gods forgiveness, too, Who forgivetb
all thine iniquities who healeth all thy dis
eases ! if you but yield yourself to his watch
full guidance. He alone can protect you in
the journey of life The strong man knelt
by his mothers bedside, and gave himself
to Christ as long as life should last, and
Jesus took the wearied spirit of the mother
to his own home to rejoice with himself and
the angels over the lost but found"
Edward was left yet while longer to
mend the broken threads of his sinful life.
With a saddened heart and alone in the
world he set about his work. He felt that
he had murdered his angel mother, and who
shall say that he had not? Had he not de-
prived her of life As he thought upon
these things at times he felt to give himself
over to despair, but Just then the blessed
Saviour would come to him, and rest his
soul by taking the crushing burdens upon
himself. Ever after his reform, he was
strictly temperate.
He regained his standing in college and
graduated with honors. Now he fills an
honorable position in life, but sometimes his
very blessings seem bitter, for there is no
mother to enjoy them with him now, and
there is deep scar in his heart which he
feels can never be removed until he is clothed
with immortality by his loving Saviour, in
whom alone he finds sweet rest from all his
sorrow.-1IOrninq Star.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Carefulness in Church Business.

Our business tact and thoroughness, our
carefulness for detail, ought not to be left
at home when we go to our church work
Slovenliness is not attractive because it ap-
pears in sacred building. (Hear, hear.)
Dust and disorder do not lose their repelant
power by getting into the sanctuary. Why
are not the book-boards of our pews as clea11
as the brass plate of an energetic trades
man? Why are not receipts given for every
shilling of money received into the Golfers
of the church Why are not checks and
counter-checks kept as in welmanaged
drapery establishment Why, in a word,
do we, who are paragons of business force,
application, tact, and energy, become fools"
as soon as we get within the sight of Gods
house Bad business arrangements are as
injurious on Sunday as on Monday, in the
account of churches and schools as in those
of drapers and merchants and Gods king
dom is as worthy of the most splendidly de-
veloped business faculty as any mammoth
house of trade in this metropolis. Indeed
know of few finer sights than that of a
largely endowed and thoroughly cultured
man of business devoting his powers to the
direction of the affairs of the church of
God.-Reu. J. Clifford.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Christianity and Philanthropy.

The genius of Christian living in this
world is not mere philanthropy. 1t looks
beyond and above the objects of philan-
thropic reform. 1t seeks that for which
Christ died. No Christian life is true 70
itself which is not in this respect one WITTY
Christ's life. Philanthropy may be very
well SO far as it goes, but it is not necessar-
lily Christian living. The reason why re-
ligion and reform so often drift asunder is
not that religion does not sympathize with
reform, but that reform does not sympathize
with religion. Reform plants itself on the
temporal and earthly plane of benevolent
working, and then claims that religion shall
come down and work with it. Religion can
only answer; 9" cannot come down. Mine
is the profounder reach in the heart of hu-
man woe mine is the more radical method
of their remedy. Come, then, up rather,
and work with me-" The object for which
Christ lived, the methods of his procedure,
The spirit OF his dying words-these are the
models of Christian manhood to every fol-
lower of Christ whose eye has not been
hoodwinked in its perceptions of Christian
duty and Christian privilege Phelps, DID.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
The Foolish Traveller.

Z" | should like very much to hear story"
said youth to his teacher. II hate seri-
Gus instruction; | cannot bear preaching"
Listen, them" said the teacher A
wanderer filled his travelling pouch with
savory meats and fruits, aud his way would
lead him across wild desert. During the
first few days he journeyed through the
smiling, fertile fields. Instead of plucking
the fruit which nature here offered for the
refreshment of the traveller, he found it more
convenient to eat of the provisions which he
carried with him. He soon reached the
desert. After journeying on for few days,
his whole store of food was exhausted. lie
now began to wall and lament, for nowhere
sprouted a blade of grass. After suffering
two days with hunger and thirst, he expired"
" 1t was foolish in him." said the youth, /" to
forget that he had to cross the desert" ado
you act more wisely 7" asked the teacher in
an earnest tone. &" You are setting forth on
the journey of life, journey that leads to
eternity. Now is the time when you should
seek after knowledge and collect the treas
ures of wisdom; but the labor affrights,
and you prefer to trihe away the Springtime
of your years amid useless, childish pleas
ures. If you act thus, you will, when wisdom
and virtue fail you, fare like that hapless
wan1ararv
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
I" Shut YOur Month";

Catlin taught the world the importance
of shutting the mouth aud breathing through
the nose. 1t would seem that his little book
entitled; Shut your Mouth" is bearing
fruit in Germany, where new thoughts re-
ceive more attention from physicians than
anywhere else in the world. Respiration
by the mouth is easier than by the nose, but
is not so safe. The nose to certain ex-
tent fits the air for entering the lungs. The
sense of smell warns us against breathing
an air loaded with poisonous vapors. The
moisture of the nasal cavities to some ex-
tent saturates the air, and makes it less ir-
ritating to the throat and larnyx. The mu.
Gus of the nasal passage and the hairs catch
the dust before it goes far enough to harm
On the other hand, breathing through the
mouth dries the throat aud in children may
cause false Group catarrh, and it may so af-
feet the Eustachian tube as to cause injury
to the ear and deafness.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Christian " Giving Up.o

1t is pitiful thing to see young disci-
pie going about and asking everybody how
much he must "give up" in order to be a
Christian. Unfortunately, many of those
who take it upon themselves to instruct him
give him the same impression of Christian
pleship-that it consists chiefly of Civ
ing up things that one likes and finds pleas
ure in. But a man in solitary confinement
might as well talk about what he must
"gve up" if he is pardoned out of prison,
or a patient in consumption about what he
must "give up" in order to get well. The
prisoner must give up his fetters, and the
invalid his pains and his weakness-these
are the main things to be sacrificed. 1t is
true that the one has the privilege OF living
without work, and the other the privilege OF
lying abed all day these are privileges that
must be relinquished, no doubt. And so
there are certain sacrifices to be made by
him who enters upon the Christian life, but
they are " not worthy to be compared with
the liberty and dignity and joy into which
the Christian life introduces US and to put
the emphasis upon this negative side of the
Christian experience. as so many are in.
clined to do, is a great mistake.--Snday
4 fernOOn.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
New Process Flour.

1t is strange that seven years after COM
ing into use, the character of New Process
flour should be so thoroughly misunderstood
as it is to-day by large part of the com
munity. A grain of wheat is really fruit
consisting of seed and its integuments.
All of the central part of the grain is oc-
cupied by cells full of powdery substance,
which contains nearly all of the starch of
the wheat. Outside this central starchy
mass is a single row of square-like cells filled
with yellowish material, rich in nitrogen,
or fiesh'forming matter. Then follow six
coatings or coverings, which contain most of
the mineral matter, such as phosphates and
potash. Now follow the operations of the
New Process. The wheat berry is rolled be-
tween the burs, and these cells broken up.
Most of the central mass of starch cells is
pulveriZed, while the cells surrounding it are
merely disintegrated and form what we call
middlings. 1t is the aim of the miller to
approach the two outer coatings as near as
possible in the operation of disintegratng
the wheat, in order to avail himself of the
valuable properties contained in the part of
the berry nearest the bran, and he is gradually
succeeding in his purpose. The product of
this grinding or rolling goes to the reels,
where the fine -four is separated. This fine
flour is almost wholly starch in mills that
make large percentage of New Process
-four and goes into the first -four. The mid
dlings not only contain more fibrin and
mineral matter than this fine first flour, but
also more fat, and these middlings, which
constitute the very cream of the wheat, sc
far as valuable constituents are concerned
are ground into New Process tlour.--House
Eeener
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Practical Kindness.

One of the most beautiful and practical
instances of real kindness ever saw came
to Inc in this wise | had gone into my
butchers shop one Saturday night, and was
waiting for my steak. While doing so, a
man, black with the toll and dust of ma
chinery, came in. He was old and homely,
and meanly dressed, aud never should have
looked upon him as a divine agent of con-
ISOLATION had not little girl come in and re-
vealed him to me. IIow's father to-day
Polly Z" he asked. "He's worse to-day, and
mothers down, too" and the weary little
thing began crying softly to herself. Then
the man stopped and said something in a
low voice, to which she only shook her head
and cried more bitterly. So he took the
basket from her, saying "Run away home,
Polly, or that baby, she'll be in mischief. I'll
bring the basket" She offered him twenty
five cents, but he hurried her away and
would not touch it. Then he chose some
vegetables, and having paid for them, walked
off toward large tenement house in sight.
gave him silent reverence as he passed me,
for knew him then as one of Gods mes
sengers, unconsciously, but oh how bles-
sedly, taking share in the ministry of
angels Opportunities like these are con
stantly thrown in our way by the angel who
watcheth over our souls but il a brother or
sister be naked and destitute of daily food
and one OF you say unto them, " Depart in
peace, be ye warmed and filled" notwith.
standing ye give them not those things
which are needful to the body, what doth ii
Droft 2"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
A Lake Village in Switzerland.

The remains of another lake village have
Just been brought to light at Lorcas by the
shrinkage of the waters of the lake of Bienne.
The village assigned by experts to the age
of stone, is situated at a short distance from
the shore, not far from another and singular
station which was explored in 1873. An
exploration conducted by Dr. Gross has re-
suited in the gathering of many novel and
interesting objects, pierced stone hatchets,
similar to those found in Denmark, large
flint lance-heads, jade hatchets with stag
horn and wooden hafts fastened with pitch {;
vessels in wood among others a colander
and vase in good state of preservation.
Near these were found several arms and in
struments of pure copper, circumstance
which points to the probability that inter
mediate between the age of bronze and the
age of stone was period when prehistoric
men had not discovered the art of alloying
copper with tin. This was the age of cop
per of North America. Still more remark
able is find of human skulls, which bear
unmistakable marks of having been tre-
panned. Round pieces have been cut out
doubtless after death, for use as amulets
and pieces of infants cranea were found in
the skulls of the dead, put there to protect
the bodies from the wiles and assaults OF
evil beings in the world of spirits.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
When Does Sin Commence 7


To drink deeply-to be drunk--is sin ;
this is not denied. At what point does the
taking of strong drink become sin The
state in which the body is when not excited
by intoxicating drink is its proper and nat
ural state; drunkenness the state farthest
removed from it. The state of drunkenness
is state of sin. At what state does it be-
come sin ? We suppose a man perfectly
sober who has not tasted anything that can
intoxicate; one glass excites him, and to
some extent disturbs the state of sobriety,
and so far destroys it; another glass excites
him still more; third fires his eye, looscos
his tongue, indames his passion; fourth
increases all this a fifth makes him foolish
and partly insane; sixth makes him a
savage; seventh or eighth makes him
stupid-a senseless, degraded mass his
reason is quenched, and his faculties are for
a time destroyed. Every noble and generous
principle within him withers, and the image
of God is polluted and defled. This is sin,
awful sin for drunkards shall not inherit
the kingdom of God. But where does the
sin begin? At the first glass, at the first
step towards complete intoxication, or at
the sixth, or seventh, or eighth Is not
every step from the natural state of the sys-
TEN toward that of stupid intoxication an
advance in sin, and a yielding to the un-
wearied tempter of the soul John Bright.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12

when you get past it, and turn to look back
on IL, and especially how it will look from
old age, from dying pillow. Norman Nc
Leod said somewhere that nothing makes
man so contented as an experience gath
cred from a well-watched past" We are
hanging up pictures every day about the
chamber walls of our hearts that we shall
have to look at when we sit in the shadows.
Then, summing all up, only Christ can make
any life, young or old, truly beautiful or
truly happy. Only he can cure the hearts
restless fever, and give calmness and quiet
ness Only he can purify that sinful foun-
tain within us, our corrupt nature, and make
us holy. If we would be truly blessed
and blessedness is better than happiness
we must trust in the Lord and do good, and
lean not unto our own understanding
Christian al Work
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-03-12
Games for Winter Evenings.

The game of proverbs is excellent for draw
ing out thought and wit When it is played,
one member of the company leaves the
room, ard the rest fix upon well-known
proverb The banished guest returns, and
asks each person a question, who in reply is
bound to bring in one word of the proverb
in its proper order, and the questioner tries
to find out by these answers what the prov
erb is. A very amusing variety of this
game is called shouting proverbs" The
guests each appropriate one word of the
proverb as before. The one who is trying
to guess the proverb comes in, steps into the
middle of the room, and calls out in a com
voice, "Make ready Present
Fire" At the word " fire all the company
shout their own words at once, and the prov
erb is to be guessed from the sound, which
is very confusing one. " Nouns is another
very amusing game, and can be played by
the old as well as the young. In this, one
of the company thinks of one particular
person or thing, and the Others ply him with
questions, and endeavor to find out his Sc
cret from the answers. 1t is astonishing
how judicious questioning can draw the
most out-oi-the-way object out of mystery
into the light of day. Trades" is also
amusing. In this game each person chooses
a certain trade, and one member of the com
pany, who is named by the rest, makes up
a story, in the course OF which he introduces
an account of his shopping excursions, and
calls hap-hazard upon the representative OF
each business to name some noun which be-
longs to his trade. Thus butcher is to
name certain joint of meat, grocer some
article OF grocery, and so on. No item is
to be mentioned twice; aud if there is any
hesitation in naming something suitable,
forfeit must be paid. Another good game
is called dumb crambo." When playing
it, half the party leave the room, and those
who remain choose a verb which the Others
are to guess. When the absent ones return,
they are told of word which will rhyme
with the word fixed upon, and they consult
together to find out what it is. Instead OF
speaking their guess they act it. If they
guess right they are applauded if they fail
they are hissed. A word spoken on either
side excepting by the actors for the purpose
of private consultation, entails forfeit.
None of these games are particularly new,
but they are amusing, nevertheless.