davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Gods Time.


God has time enough With him one day
is thousand years. Go out tonight and
look at the stars. There hangs Orion in the
sky, the mighty hunter chasing the Bull, the
Pleiades flying before him like flock Of
startled doves. As he looks down on you,
so he looked down on the Chaldean shep-
herds on the plains of Mesopotamia. Ap-
parently no star has changed its place for
three thousand years; and yet modern as
tronomy tells us that every one of these stars
which we call fixed, has been rushed through
space, all in different directions, at the in.
conceivable speed of twenty, fifty, one hun
dred miles in second. Sirius is darting
away from us at that frightful rate, and
does not become any less brilliant after
twenty centuries. Arcturus is rushing
towards us with the same awful velocity,
and does not seem to be any nearer to us
since the days of Job. So immense are the
distances, so slow and long the periods in
the universe of God. What if, in eighteen
hundred years, no great apparent progress
has been made in human civilization The
only question is, " Is there progress, and is
it in the right direction 2"-James Freeman
(V1rto
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
"NOt with EntIcing WOrds.V

If could presume to offer word of coun-
sci, either to those who have listened to
these remarks now or to those who may
hereafter read them it would be: Detest
all tricks of rhetoric, and dread all involved
or abstract expressions. Try to think plainly,
and then to speak plainly, that your people
may at once know what you mean, aud may
gather from you, under Gods higher teach
ing, not so much food for emotion, still less
food for admiration least of all, food for
controversy; but food for thought, for con-
duct, for thankfulness, for benefcence, for
prayer, Try to help them to be what you
have tried year by year TO become, very real
with God in all things of the soul. Help
them to be afraid of phrases and names and
schemes and catch-words. Help them to
turn from these to God, who sees their
hearts, and by whom actions are weighed
We are sometimes told, do not know who
first used the expression, that the preacher
ought never TO mount the pulpit without re.
membering that he speaks as a dying man
TO dying men. 1t is true saying. 1t has
its pathos and solemnity. 1t is worthy OF
all acceptation. But venture TO think it is
equally true, and even more necessary TO re
member that we speak each of us as living
man to living men. We speak in this busy
world, on Gods behalf, to men and women
and children who have souls and bodies u
be either used or misused, made or marred
We speak TO the citizens of great nation
to which God has entrusted huge response
bilties, and which thinks of these but little
We speak to cities aud villages which neec
TO be cleansed from the foulest and mos
whitening vices. We etand between Tn,
living and the dead, that the dead may b,
raised and the living kept alive. Seeing
then we have this ministry let us use grea
plainness of speech" For my part, in TIN
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
The Servant Girl Problem.
reader, I am waiting still.

An animated discussion on the wages Of
servant girls, and what they do with their
earnings, has been for some time going on in
the New York Times. The occasion for it
all appears TO be the fact that so many poor
servants are still commanding high wages.
1t is held by some writers that the service
of servants is not worth over five dollars a
month, and they treat the whole matter as
if servant was fixed quantity, from which
just so much work can be secured, and Just
so much untidiness and breakage must be
expected. The keynote of complaint is the
quality Of the servants. Many who are hon
est are stupid and dirty, many who are bright
and tidy are careless and quick-tempered,
and some will lie and steal. Neither five
nor fifteen dollars a month will secure re.
form. The need of the hour is good ser.
wants, and that would settle this vexed social
problem. Servants are wanted who know
how to do, and are willing to do work, and
who will not allow themselves to be spoiled
by poor mistresses in poor places so they
cannot get good mistresses in good places. A
training school for servants once thoroughly
established and properly maintained, whose
certificates would be certain guarantee of
good domestic help, is philanthropy which
many good women would do well to turn
their attention to. Then it would be dis
covered that a servant had not fixed value !;
that very poor one is worth nothing, and
that very good one may be actually cheaper
at SIG month than some who are now re-
ceiving $40 or Sl2. The few frstclass SER
wants there are in the metropolis, and hun
dreds of others who would be such under
proper training, are in constant danger of
being spoiled, both in disposition and
knowledge of their duties, by the petty ex-
actions, caprices and "bossiness of mis-
tresses who have themselves no useful or
practical knowledge of housekeeping, but
who think they must pretend to have in Or
der that their servants shall not run over
them" Neither does this class of mistresses
study the least tact in treating their servants
as II personal interest was felt in their
welfare-a policy that, wisely followed, does
not lead to undue familiarity on the part of
the servant, but wins her esteem and makes
her faithful. 1t is painful to think how
much material for good servants is spoiled
by poor employers not only spoiled as
between the two but for the future of the
servant and the unfortunate mistress of
whom she may seek employment, and who
may be another variety of ignorant EN-
ployer and thus the work of "bounce -
goes on only few good servants and good
mistresses in the world getting properly
mated.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Praying and Watching.


A little boy in one of the schools in Edin.
burgh, who attended prayermeeting, said
to his teacher Teacher, | wish my sister
could be got to read the Bible" "Why,
Johnny, should your sister read the Bible ?"
Because if she once read IL, | am sure 1t
would do her good, and she would be con-
verted and saved" DO you think 80,
Johnny2" "Yes, do, sir; and | wish the
next time there is a prayer-meeting you
would ask the people to pray for my sister,
that she may begin to read the Bible"
"Well, well; it shall be done, John" SO
the teacher gave out that little boy was
anxious that prayer should be offered that
his sister might read her Bible. John was
observed TO get up and 60 out. The teacher
thought it very rude Of the boy to disturb
the people in a crowded room and so the
next day, when the lad came, he said :
"John, thought it very rude of you to get
up in the prayer-meeting and go out. You
ought not to have done So" 90, sir" said
the boy, =" | did not mean TO be rude, but
thought | should like to go home and see
my sister reading her Bible for the first
time" Thus we ought to watch with ex-
pectation for answers to our prayers. Do
not say, "Lord, turn my darkness into
light !" and then go out with your candle, as
though you expected to find it dark
Spurgeon
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Advantages Of "Plain Living"

There are many good reasons for living on
plain, simply-cooked, but nourishing food
Variety is necessary that is, iudicious
mingling of dishes of grains, vegetables,
fruits and meats. There need be but few
kinds at one meal if the family are agreed
in their tastes. The larger the family, as a
general rule, the more need of variety at
each meal, that each one may follow natural
Instinct in selection, as far as can be done
with due reference to the rights of others.
Plain living reduces not only our expenses,
but our labor in the kitchen. Another i'm
portant thing have been taught by both
reason and experience-plain living reduces
our liability to diseases of all kinds. AS
said recently, there has been but one case Of
absolute sickness (down sick in bed, un-
dressed all day) in our little family of four
children during the more than dozen years
since the eldest was born. | think this is
due to care in regard to the general rule of
health, as no preventive or curative medi-
cines--not even catnip tea or camphor-
have been used. Yesterday a daughter com.
planned of slight sore throat--a very un-
usual complaint here-and felt some little
uneasiness, as diphtheria is abroad in this
part of the country, But felt condemned
for the dinner of the day before--hot bread
pancakes, upon which knew the little girl
was eating quite too much butter in melt
ing condition, followed by pumpkin pie
which disgraced me because it was too sweet
and spicy for health. She had the good
sense Cor the cultivated instincD TO &c
without supper last night, and wet clotl
on her throat during sleep, covered by dry
one, perfected cure of all sore throat
Children who live habitually on plain far,
show evil effects from rich food much NOR,
quickly than those who live regularly on til,
latter and some suppose this proves tina
their stomachs are weaker on account o
plain living but think it is because the,
have a more correct or healthy tone
american Agriculturist.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
You Wait!---Waiting Still.


In volume of personal experiences in a
hospital at Richmond, during the late war,
Mrs. Pember records the following incident
"Kin you write me a letter p drawled a
whining voice from bed in one of the
wards, cold day in 'd2.
The speaker was an up-country Georgian,
one of the kind called "Goubers by the
soldiers generally lean, yellow, attenuated,
with wispy strands of hair hanging over his
high, thin cheek-bones. lie put out hand
to detain me and the nails were like claws.
"Why do you not let the nurse cut your
nails 7"
Because aren't got any spoon, and
use them instead"
"Will you let me have your hair cut
then I You can't get well with all that dirty
hair hanging about your eyes and ears"
"No, can't git my hair cut, kase as how
promised my NANNY that would let il
grow till the war be over. Oh, it's onlucky
to cut it'll"
"Then can't write any letter for you
DO what ! wish you to do, and then will
oblige you"
This was plain talking. The hair was
cut Il left the nails for another day), my
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
InsidiOusness.

One can forgive person who tells him a
lie if it be told with hesitating utterance
downcast look, a trembling voice, re-
luctant delivery, quick retreat and one
must forgive him who has an open brow, a
natural air. smile on his face, good word
on his tongue and bad purpose in his
heart for how can we who are all sinners
expect forgiveness if we will not forgive
each otherP Yet it is hard struggle to
forgive those who betray with kiss, and
are ready to do the same again, not only to
you, but to your neighbor. For the good of
society, for the peace of the community, by
the obligations of the social compact, and
by the duty you owe, ought you not to rep
rebate the crime as you pity the criminal,
and to pray, for his sake, that he may be de
livered from that most subtle, most danger
Gus, most besetting sin, because the most
handy to be used, the most convenient TO be
shifted, and the most difficult to be detected
the sin of hypocrisy, practiced under the
name friendship aud comprehending much
that is wicked and everything that is mean ?
Prying and meddling, aud listening artful
conversation and false reports of confidential
matters, drawn out by the inquisitive i'm
pertinence of the tale-bearer himself double
facedness and downright lying, obtruded
without apology for purposes within hail of
anything like honesty, will qualify man 10
be what might be called nsidious.-Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Seleff MisfeHany.
BIRTH OF THE FLOWERS.


" The melancholy days hare come, the saddea Of tn
vear."-BRYASrs DEATH on THE PLowERs"
The oveles brightest days come the gayest Of h'
year
The buebrd heralds their approach with music soft and
clear,
The south wind the fair cheek of the young blush
Ing Spring.
Sweet Spring with eager oyfuness hail thee once again
And bid adieu with lghened heart TO Winters sombr'
reign
gladly catch his parting breath, and his closing eye
Impatient for gentler air and for n softer sky.
Thou comest with thy gifts deck this Eden home of ours
The streams leap free at thy approach the earth grow
bright with flowers;
They creep along the waters side make their toe
there,
And don the green robes gracefully which Nature gives Il
wear.
The coumbine Ia swinging lts little crimson bell,
And moss cups, meet for fairy lips, springng in tn
dell,
Mid lilies decately white; and there are sunny spots
Along the riyer-bank all bright with wild forget-menos
The sweet-voced rvuets the BIRDS the many
breeze.
Harpng upon thousand strings among the leafy trees,
Wake such hearthrllng music in Natures glorious fame
As never yet from freted roof echoed back again
How beautiful home how fair dwelling place earth
When Spring puts her ganure, and gives her bossom
Even when she weeps, as oft she WILL though surely moi
from grief,
Her are turned to diamond drops on every shinn,
leaf
who could be sad when is ringing in his ear
Tnc laugh Of mcrryhearted Spring the favorite Of tn
Year.
when she will lead him gently forth even in his heaves
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
sMora1 and Religiuns.
THAT MAY KNOW HIM.


Tseem to tnop more ofme Lord Jesas Christ than Z
NEST intimate friend fhape on edrth."-MoCnhfSR
Lord, let me talk with thee Of all do,
All that care for, all ! wish for too
Lord let me prove thy sympathy, thy power,
Thy loving oversight from hour to houri
when need counsel let me ask Of theei
Whatever my perpleSty may be.
II cannot he too trivial 10 bring
To one who marks the sparrow's dropping wing;
Nor too terrestrial. since thou hast said
The very hairs numbered on our head,
IT'S through such ioopholes that the foe takes aim,
And sparks unheeded burst into a flame.
DO money troubles pressP Thou canst resolve
The doubts or dangers such concerns involve.
Are those I love the canse Of Of anxious care2
Thou canst unbind the burdens they may bear.
Before the mysteries Of thy word or WILL
Thy voice can gently bid my heart be still,
Since all that nov Is hard to understand
Shall be unraveled In yon heavenly land.
or do mourn the oft-besettng sin,
The tempter's wiles that mar the peace within2
Present thysef, Lord, as the absolvng priest,
To whom confessing. go forth released.
DO weakness, WEAKNESS, disease, invade
This earthly house, which thou thself hast made?
Thou only, Lord, canst touch the hidden spring
OF mischief, and attune the jarring string.
Would be taught what thou wouldst have me give
The needs Of those less favored TO relieve?
Thou canst guide my hand that shall be
A liberal. " cheerful gver," Lord, like thee.
OF my life's mission do stand In doubt,
Thou knowest, and canst clearly point II out.
Whittier go. do thou thyself decide,
And choose the friends and servants at my side.
The books read would submit to thee,
Let them refresh, instruct and solace me.
I would converse with thee from day to day
with heart intent on what thou hast TO say
And through my pilgrim walk, whate'er beiall,
Consult with thee, o Lord, about 1t all.
Since thou art willing thus to condescend
To be my intimate, familiar friend,
oh, let me TO the great occasion rise,
Aud count thy friendship lifes most glorious prize
London witness.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16

How much grief and sorrow we might save
ourselves and those around us if we would
stop aud consider that the more quietly we
bear the troubles and ills of life the happier
we are. And the less we nourish and cher
ish them the smaller they grow. There are
times in our lives when it seems as if the
floods of trial and grief would overwhelm
us. But il we can feel "that all things
work together for good to them that love
God" aud that he sees the end from the be-
ginning, and does not send one more trial
upon us than what we need, and will give
us grace TO endure all, and to feel that he is
leading us by his own right hand, we need
not fear. And so minute is his care over us
that the hairs of our heads are all num-
bered, "and not sparrow falleth to the
ground without his notice." and he "hears
the young ravens when they cry"
At times when we look into the future it
seems as if a dark cloud was hanging over
us and ready to burst, and there was no hu-
man power to prevent it but when the
dreaded time came the cloud broke away and
the sun shone, and all was clear and bright.
read not long since that if we only tried
to carry the burdens of the present day, and
did not try to carry those Of the future, we
should be able to bear them. And that
God did not give grace in advance, but only
for the present time.
Let us therefore journey on, though at
times the way seems dark and drear, know
ing if Christ is our friend, we need not
fear what man can do unto us, but we shall
have grace given us, and patience to endure
all that God in his gracious will sees best to
lay upon us. "Casting all our burdens
upon him, for he careth for us, and will
sustain u.s." J.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Where to Look.

A picture has come down to us from the
days before the Reformation, which shows
that some at least, even in :" the dark ages"
knew the gospel, " as the truth is in Jesus"
In the foreground is cross around which
the brazen serpent is twined, and on
scroll just above is written the promise of
God, Every one that is bitten, when he
looketh upon IL, shall live" Some have be-
lieved the promise, and obeyed the COM
inand, and are standing with folded arms
gazing upon the serpent, the expression of
their faces indicating the deep Joy Of con-
scious restoration to health. Some are look
ing at Moses, but their wan and wasted
features make it manifest that the fiery
poison is still coursng through their veins.
Some are STOPPING down, diligently minis
tering to the wants of those who are
wounded like themselves, but no relief is
found from their own burning pains. Some
are busy fighting the serpents, but they are
already bitten and could they succeed in
killing a thousand, still they must die.
Some are gazing off at the tents of Israel in
the background, but although the ark of the
covenant and the priests are there, they are
not looking where God told them to look,
and their strength is fast failing.
Many are doing to-day what the picture de-
ago. They say they want to be saved, but
they are not looking in the right direction
for salvation. They are looking to their
leaders, pinning their faith to the opinions
of human teachers, and perfectly content to
believe as the Rev Dr. So.and-So believes,
without reading the Word of God for them.
selves. Or they are engaged in works of
charity with the vain expectation that their
willingness to relieve others will cast out
the deadly virus of sin from their own souls.
Or they are fighting intemperance, profan-
ity, and other coarse and degrading vices,
forgetful of the solemn truth Jesus an
nounces, " Ye must be born again" Or they
are trusting in the church, in their observ-
ance of ordinances, in their attention TO
what are called sacraments," not hearing,
or not needing, the weighty words of the
same Jesus in the same discourse, " He that
believeth on him is not condemned but he
that beleveth not is condemned already
because he hath not believed in the name OF
the only begotten Son of God" "As Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son of Man be lifted up that
whosoever believeth in him should not
PERISH but have eternal life" " Believett
In him" not in Moses, nor in charitable
deeds, nor in philanthropic reforms, nor il
eccleSlastlcal services, Dut IN nun alone
The devil is well pleased if he can persuade
the awakened sinner to look at anything
rather than Christ, for then he can keep th'
soul in darkness or in the delusion of
false hope. Hence his aim always is to ge
the thoughts of an inquirer occupied abou
himself his prayers his good works, hi
pious resolutions, his repentance, his fee
ings, or his faith. But none of these thing
, are Christ, and it is Christ only who saves
, DR.. James III. Bro0kes.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
HumOrsOme Waits.

A PRETTY girl won musket in the French
lottery. When they gave it to her she
asked, "D Don't they give a soldier with it ?"
The Pope has sent five thousand lires to
the relief Of the Hungarian sufferers. The
lire is coin, not sewing-machine agent
Ddnbry Neps.
A DRUNKEN Congressman said to Horace
Greeley one day 81 am self-made man."
" Then, sir" replied the philosophical Mr..
Greeley, " the fact relieves the Almighty Of
a great responsibility"
Now clean up the rubbish about your
premises and dispose of it by tossing it over
into your neighbor's yard. He may not ask
you to do this, but don't let his modesty
stand in the way of a manifest favor
Waterloo Observer.
A WAC brought horse driven by young
man to stop in the street by the word
"whoaln and said to the driver "That's a
fine horse you have there" "Yes," an
swered the young man but he has one
fault. He was formerly owned by butcher,
and always stops when he hears calf bleat."
A SMALL boy in Belfast, whose deport-
ment at school had always ranked one hun
dred per centum, came home one day re-
Gently with his standing reduced to ninety
son p asked the mother. Been doing 7"
replied young hopeful, "been doing just as
| have all along, only the teacher caught
me this time"
"SURE," said Patrick, rubbing his head
with delight at the prospect of present
from his employer: 81 always name to do
my duty" al believe you" replied the EN-
ployer, " "and therefore | shall make you
present of all you have stolen from me dur
ing the year" :" thank your honor" re-
piled Pat, and may all your friends and
acquaintances treat you as literally"
A SHORT time ago little boy went with
his father to see a colt. He patted the colts
head and made quite fuss over it, until
finally the stableman told him to be careful
that the colt did not turn round and kick
him. When the little chap went home his
mother asked him what he thought about
the colt. al like him real WE'LL" was the
reply. "Ile's real tame in front, but he's
awful wild behind"
snow, children" said Sunday-school
superintendent, who had been talking to his
scholars about good people and bad people,
"when I'm walking in the street speak to
some persons meet, and | don't speak to
others; and what's the reason 7" He ex-
pected the reply would be, " Because some
are good and others are bad, but TO his dis
comfture the general shout was, Because
some are rich and others are poor"
A scHooL-MAsTER, after giving one of his
scholars sound drubbing for speaking bad
grammar, sent him TO the other end of the
room TO inform another boy that he wished
to speak to him, at the same time promising
TO rapeat the dose if he spoke to him un-
grammatically. The youngster, quite salts
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16

THINK BEFORE You SpEAK.-Do not Of
fend your weak brother. How many great
men have testified that their whole lives
have been influenced by some single remark
made to them in their boyhood And who
cannot recall words spoken to himself in his
childhood, to which perhaps the speaker at
tached no importance, which sank deep and
immovable into his memory, and which had
never lost their power over him Make
sunlight. The world at best is dark enough
DO what you can to make it more cheerful
and happy.