davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Unrep0rted Success.

There is one point in connection with the
success OF missions which has often struck
Inc. There is part of our work aud sue
cess for which we have no column in our
schedules-it cannot be tabulated. We are
accustomed to think there is little progress
in missions unless we can calculate upon
chapels built, schools erected, congregations
brought together, and numbers reported.
But there is blessed work going on quietly
and secretly-something like one of the
mighty influences of heaven. Nobody can
weigh sunbeam. You may concentrate the
intensest heat of the sun upon the incest
balance, but you cannot make that balance
quiver at all, and yet there is immense power
and influence in that sunbeam. And many
OF our successes are of this class. They are
hardly appreciable; we cannot put them into
the schedule we cannot talk much about
them. Who can tell the amount of light
that has been circulating through India, for
instance, quietly circulating aud changing
the gloom of midnight into the brightness
of morn Z Who can tell the vast amount of
curiosity excited in many minds there
Who can tell what are the deep convictions
which have been impressed on many minds,
which pride often conceals, and which men
are ingenious enough often to smother
But these convictions will by-and-by break
out into conversions to God. We cannot
tell, | say, what secret influence is going on
as the result of missionaries living and la
boring among these people. The fact is,
there is great deal to be thankful 10 Al
mighty God for, which can never be seen in
the societys reports. The secretaries can.
not find figures and language to express it
in the annual statements.-Cdnon Fdrrar.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29

No doubt it is advisable to keep dogs out
OF little shallow pools, for the water would
soon become defiled, and the cattle would re-
fuse it; but we do not need TO preserve
great river and no one cares to put up no.
tice informing the dogs that they may not
wash in the sea, because there is no fear
whatever that, how many dogs may come,
they will ever pollute old Father Thames, or
defile the boundless sea. Where there is in
finite abundance, there may we'll be unlim-
tied freeness. The vilest dog of sinner
that ever ate the crumbs that fell the Mas
ter's table is invited to plunge into the river
of the water of life, which is clear as crystal
still, though thousands of uncircumcised
and defiled lips have drank it, and myriads
of foul souls have been washed whittier than
snow in its streams. "Come and welcome,
come and welcome" is the note which sounds
from Calvary, from the wounds of the ex-
piring Saviour; yea, it sweetly comes upon
mine ear from the lips of the glorfed
Christ, who sits at the right hand of the
Father. "Let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take of the
water of life freely" No one can be an in
truder when the call is so unconditional
and whoever tries to keep sinner back is
doing't the DEVILS work. They are trespass.
ers who keep away from Jesus, and not
those who come to him. Some are afraid
that they would be presumptuous should
they believe on the Lord Jesus, but presump
tion lies in the opposite direction it is the
worst of presumption to dare to question
the love Of God, the efficacy of the blood Of
atonement, and the saving power of the Re
deemer. Cease from such proud questions
and trust in Jesus.
| Come hither, bring thy bodlng fears
| Thy aching heart, thy bursting tears
| lis Mercy's voice salutes thine
| trembling zluner, come"
-Spurge0n.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Scientific ParadOxes.

The water which browns us, a fluent
stream, can be walked upon as ice. The bull
let, which, when fired from a musket carries
death, will be harmless if ground to dust be-
fore being fired. The crystallized part of the
oil of roses, so grateful in its fragrance
solid at ordinary temperatures, though
readily volatie,-is compound substance,
containing exactly the same elements, and
in exactly the same proportions, as the gas
with which we light our streets. The tea
which we daily drink, with benefit and
pleasure, produces palpitations, nervous
tremblings, and even paralysis, if taken in
excess yet the peculiar organic agent called
lheine, to which tea owes its qualities, may
be taken by itself Gas theme, not as tea)
without any appreciable effect. The water
which will allay our burning thirst, augments
it when CONCEALED into snow so that it is
stated by explorers of the Arctic regions that
the natives prefer enduring the utmost ex.
trem.ty of thirst rather than attempt to re-
move it by eating snow" Yet if the snow
be melted it becomes drinkable water.
Nevertheless, although, if melted before en-
tering the mouth, it assuages thirst like other
water, when melted in the mouth it has the
opposite effect. To render this paradox
more striking, we have only to remember
that ice, which melts more slowly in the
mouth, is very efficient in allaying thirst
Macl.Uood
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
OyerwOrking Young Brains.

The educational abomination of desolation
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 general, that they
are conceited all the forenoon, aud 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 conc cited all the forenoon
of life, aud stupid all its afternoon. The
vigor and freshess which should have been
stored up for the purposes of the hard strug-
gle for existence in practical life, have been
swashed out of them by precocious mental
debauchery book-gluttony and lesson
bibbing. Their faculties are worn out by
the strain put upon their callow brains, and
they are demoralized 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 lei
his brain lie fallow for space. The nexl
crop of thought will certainly be all the fuller
in the ear, and the weeds fewer.--I'rofesso,
| Hurleu.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Curses Coming Home,

A Philadelphia correspondent of the New
York Evangelist, speaking of the arrest of
theatrical manager, who has since been con-
victed and imprisoned, says " On his former
arrest, among those who appeared against
him was leading politician, who, in great
distress, stated that his only son, a lad of
sixteen, had been debauched through the in
fiuence of this theater, and had become a
drunkard, vicious, and every way dissolute.
The mayor heard him in silence, and then
replied Il am sorry for your sou, but |
have small sympathy for you. Five years
ago introduced into our legislature bill
to abolish these places. 1t passed the SEN
ate, and was defeated in the house BY your
single opposaioni' Inquiry at the mayors
office confirms this statement as literally
true. If the number of youths debauched
and ruined by our theaters could be ascer
tanned it would prove TO be exceeded only
by the number ruined by the dram-shop."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
A Matrimonial Fair.

In the southern parts of Ireland a curious
custom prevails which is called " Shrafting"
A regular matrimonial Tattersal :" is held,
where all the likely boys and girls " in
the parish are on view, and all the "matches"
in the year are made. For days before
there is quite stir in the neighborhood.
and twitter runs through the entire female
population. There is universal stitching
and buying of ribbons; every girl you
meet on the road holds out her hand for six
pence, and you can't speak to domestic
servant without her hanging out signals OF
distress On the day of the Shratting 4"
the girls stand in row on the village green.
There is every expression on their faces
anxiety, curiosity, timidity, dull stupidity,
sharp shrewdish interests and here and there
you come on such pretty country beauty,
with that indescribable half-arch, half sly
look in the eyes which Maclise has caught
in perfection. At little distance are clus-
tered together lot of shame-faced looking
men" the boys" as they are called-all in
their Sunday suits, and evidently i'll at ease,
cycling with distrust the superior attraction
OF the coast-guards, who are, like the red
coats, favorites among the ladies. But that
in reality matters little, as the real conduct
of the affair is in the hands of "the powers
that be the fathers and mothers, who
haggle aud quarrel over their respective
children, sometimes breaking up the nego
tiations abruptly, and carrying off their son
or daughter, as the case may be, as they
would an unstable beast from the fair OF
course little bits of romance crop up here
as elsewhere: cases of money versus love
and young hearts sold to the highest bidder
just as they are in fashionable drawing
room.-Edmburgh Witness.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
The African and His Dog.

When the devoted missionary, Robert
Moffat, was in England, he told an amusing
story of a poor African, who lived near one
of the missionary settlements, and whose
dog, by some accident, had got possession
of Testament in the native language, and
torn it to pieces, devouring some of the
leaves. This man came to the missionaries
iu great dismay, and laid his case before
them. He said that the dog had been a
very useful animal, and had helped to pro-
tect his property, by guarding it from wild
beasts, and also in hunting and destroying
them but he feared it would be useless for
the time to come. The missionaries asked
him how was this ?-and why should not
his dog be as useful as formerly As for
the injury done, that was but an accident,
aud the Testament could be replaced by
another copy. THAT is true" said the
poor man, "but still am afraid the dog
will be of no further use to me. The words
of the New Testament are full of love and
gentleness, and after the dog has eaten
them, it is not likely that he will hunt or
fight for me any more."-Missionary Incl
ieuLs
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Mystery Of the Lakes.

There is mystery about the American
lakes. Lake Erie is only sixty to seventy
feet deep, but Lake Ontario is five hundred
and ninety-two feet deep, two hundred and
thirty feet below the tide level of the ocean,
or as low as most parts of the Gulf of St.
Lawrence; and the bottoms ct Lake Huron,
Michigan and Superior, although the sur.
face is much higher, are all from their vast
depths on a level with the bottom Of Ontario.
Now, as the discharge through the river
Detroit, after allowing for the probable Dor.
tion carried off by evaporation, does not ap-
pear by any means equal to the quantity Of
water which the three upper lakes receive,
1t has been conjectured that subterranean
river may run from Lake Superior, by the
Huron, to Lake Ontario. This conjecture is
not impossible, aud accounts for the singu-
lar fact that salmon and herring are caught
in all the lakes communicating with the St.
Lawrence, but no others. As the Falls of
Niagara must have always existed, it would
puzzle the naturalist to say how these fish
got into the upper lakes without some sub
terranean river; moreover, any periodical
obstruction of the river would furnish not
improbable solution of the mysterious fiux
and influx of the lakes.-Bufdlo Commercial.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
A Pleasant Picture.

A drive down from Greenport to the ex-
treme point OF Orient is exceedingly pleas
ant. The fields are in high state of culti-
vation, and gardens and orchards look thriv-
ing. The village of Orient is pretty, and
the views of the Sound on one side and the
Gardner's Bay, with its islands, on the other,
are very fine. The chief interest connected
with Orient, however, is its temperance
record. Ever since the Washingtonian move
ment, thirty or more years ago, there has
been Saturday evening meeting kept up,
which has been well attended all the time
1t is held in two churches Presbyterian and
MethodisD aud school-house in turn, so as
to accommodate all parts OF the town. The
interest in these meetings is kept up by
local speakers, the ministers of the place
sometimes giving addresses, and occasionally
strangers from abroad; but the meeting Of
friends and neighbors, old and young, sing
ing appropriate songs and hymns, and dis
cussing topics connected with temperance
so as to maintain the high standing of the
place, are the chief attractions. Owing to
this vigilance there is no liquor sold in
Orient.-Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Truths Of the Bible.

These are the three great truths of the
Bible teaching love, sin, salvation-love,
the divine law sin, the actual human con.
dition; and salvation, the glorious hope
and it is by the truth of this concurrent
proclamation by patriarch, prophet, and
apostle, the Bible is to be tested. If love is
not the law of moral and spiritual cohesion
which the Bible represents it to be; if man
has not broken it, and humanity has not
come into moral chaos in consequence; if
for humanity there is no helpful arm of love
outstretched from the heavens to receive,
then the Bible is false. But if these, its great
proclamations, are verified by consciousness,
experience and observation, then the claim
of the Bible on our regard as the one book
which gives key to present mystery and
IA hope for its future glorious solution is not
to be rejected because theologians and re-
ligious editors are not able 10 explain where
Cain got his wife or why Matthew aud Luke
give various accounts of the healing of Bar.
timeus.-Christian Union.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Heirship In Suffering.

We never weary of reading, g If children,
then heirs" With a delight that grows to
amazement, we ponder the several parts OF
the sentence. From the simple fact of our
relation to God as children, we are heirs
without any qualifying condition as to the
degree of our obedience or the number of
our years of grace. We are children, there
fore heirs-"hers of God possessing an in
terest in every part of our Fathers vast es-
tate; "joint-heirs with Christ" heirs to-
gether with him, sharing with him whatever
he inherits from the Father. The heart
leaps with joy that is only restrained by
the seeming impossibility Of such divine
inheritance. We may not limit the words
OF the Spirit, and we rejoice with Joy un-
speakcble. The very greatness Of this as
surance closes our eyes TO the words insepa-
rably joined-"if if 30 be we suffer with him,
that we also be glorfied together" That is
to say, our being the children of God unites
US with Christ in the whole OF his life. Our
heirship to the glory is conditioned on our
heirship to the suffering. Ii we would bear
the image of the heavenly we must also
share the earthly. If we would be crowned
with honor and glory with him, We must
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29

son or thing, and the others ply him with
questions and endeavor to find out his secret
from the answers. 1t is astonishing how
Judicious questioning can draw the most
outof-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 company, who
is named by the rest makes up a story in
the course Of which he introduces an ac-
count of his shopping excursions, and calls
haphazard upon the representative of each
business to name some noun which belongs
to his trade. Thus butcher is TO name o
certain joint OF meat, grocer some article
OF grocery, and 80 on. No item is to be
mentioned twice; and if there is any hesta-
tion 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 re-
main choose verb which the others are TO
guess. When the absent ones return, they
are told of a word which will rhyme with
the word fixed upon, and they consult to-
gether to iud out what it is. Instead of
speaking their guess they act it. If they
guess right, they are applauded if they fail,
they are Kissed. 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.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Autumn Days.

Days of death Autumn days are not
that They are days of life, when nature
stands like man in his prime, or woman
when she has come 10 the fulness of her
charms. And then the silence of autumn
days Sit on hillside and look at the val
ley that stretches before you. 1t is midday
The cattle stand grouped in the meadow full
fed from the rich aftermath. There are no
reapers in the field-no clatterng noise of
farm machinery; no hurrying of teams and
men--but every lot is empty, filled from
fence to fence with the lush sunshine, amid
which the cattle stand dreamily. The cloud
overhead stands still, for the shadow beneath
is motionless. The leaves zigzag downward
IN slowest movement, or fall in indolent
spirals. Nature is drowsy with haze. She
has come to her indolent mood, as if after
the toll of growth she could enjoy the couch,
the odor and the sunshine she has SO well
earned Then the smoke in the air, whence
comes it There aie no fires even the
chimney tops in the morning show it by the
blue tilament from the seasoned wood under.
neath Aud yet the air is dusky like a creole.
Nature has the color of brunette when
flushed. And the Perfumes-the rank odors
of the newly-ploughed fields-are spiritual
lzed. The sod no longer sweats. The falling
leaves fan out the fragrance now, and the
waving grass, from which earthiness is pas
sing. waves the delicate traces onward. All
the golden days l-.Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
Games for Winter Evenings.

The game of proverbs is excellent for
drawing out thought aud wit. When it is
played, one member of the company leaves
the room, aud the rest fix upon wellknown
proverb. The banished guest returns, and
asks each person 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 rs before. The one who is trying
to guess the proverb comes in, steps into
the middle of the room, and calls out in a
commanding voice, Make ready Present |
Firei" At the word " fire all the company
shout their own words at once, and the
proyerb is to be guessed at the sound, which
is a very confusing one. Nouns " is another
very amusing game, and can be played by
the old as well Us the young In this, one
OF the company thinks of one particular per-
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
A Deadly Serpent.

Some time ago party of sailors visited
the Geological Gardens. One of them, ex-
cited by the liquor he had taken, and as an
act Of bravado TO his companions, took hold
of deadly serpent. He held it up, having
seized it by the nape OF the neck in such
way that it could not stiug him. As he
held it, the snake, unobserved by him, coiled
itself round his arm, and at length it got a
firm grasp and wound tighter and tighter,
so that he was unable TO detach it. As the
pressure OF the snake increased the danger
grew, and at length the sailor was unable To
maintain his hold on the head of the venom
GUS reptile, and was compelled TO loose it
What did the snake do then 7 1t turned
around aud stung him, and he died. So
it is with the appetite for strong drink.
We can control IL at first, but in little
while it controls US. We can hold its infu.
ences in Our grasp for a while, 80 that il
shall be powerless but aiterward it biteth
like serpent and stingeth like an adder
Selected,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-10-29
The Long Evenings.

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