davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
Hot Weather Wisdom.

For unfortunates in tenements no control |
of their dwellings is easily practicable, but |
for those of us who can adjust our indoor
surroundings there is practical hint. If
you care for no other rule, take this: What
is healthy for that multiple pest, the fly, is
the contrary for man, and vice versa--so
watch the fly, and arrange your house in
ways which discourage him find what suits
him and choose the contrary Now, what
suits him is the combination of sun and
light; darkness always makes him low-spir-
ited-so choose darkness for yourself. Your
heat, in daytime, will be in close proportion
to the light you allow. The common notion,
"just like a man." that to be cool window
and curtain must go up to get some fresh
air, is one which feminine instinct rightly
condemns. Recall the closed parlor in the
New England homestead darkened from the
sun by closed shutter and curtain, and you
will remember that it was the coolest place
in the house at noon except the cellar. So
on the sunny side Of the house at least
darken your rooms by shutter and curtain,
closing windows as well, until the sun is
past; studiously keep out the suns light
and the air into which he is shining-dark-
ness is coolness and light is heat. Breezes
are not always enough, for the sun may give
you hot breeze OF course, do without
your range fire as much as practicable, and
cook by gas. Dress, also, needs reform, for
our masculine garments in particular are
robes of martyrdom to absurd conventional.
ISM Au lrishman, walking out in summer
clad in extreme winter style. replied TO re
monstrance that he thought what was "good
to kape out the cowld was good to kape out
the hate" and his philosophy was perfectly
sound in the abstract, like all true philoso.
ply, only when he made it concrete on his
own body he got it wrong. A thick flannel
is the costume when working in foundry,
but not ordinarily; because the foundry's
temperature is higher than the body's while
the outdoor air OF the hottest day is lower.
In winter we wear covering in order to keep
the body's heat from passing Off in sum
mer, to avoid scorching by the direct rays of
the sun which are much hotter than the air.
This is the only natural aud physical reason
for covering; usage, to which Difference
must be paid, is the only other. But we do
not get far enough away from the rigidity
of usage when heat comes. Why should
we resign draperies exclusively to the women,
who, clad in them, look cool, but do not
help our own misery? Why should shirt
sleeves " be voted utterly to be an outrage
on refinement ? They need not be taken
in puriJus; some modification of them, in
garments of more open texture and ampler
cut, could be devised were somebody to dare.
Now, the wide "pantaloonery aud alpaca
or linen coat, with Tin cases of extreme
hardihood) the absence of waistcoat," and
low shoes and umbrella take us to the verge
Of hazard. We must be elegant, in full
dress, and at ease, though we melt, as if
physical discomfort and refinement could
ever go together.-Ne,c York Sunday Times
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
Money Won't DO.

Money can secure SO much and gives in
many directions such freedom to the will
and so much OF concrete reality TO the fancy,
that the man who possesses il frets when he
perceives that his power will in other di.
rections do so little. He feels like poten-
tate who is stopped by some obstacle quite
trfling, but quite immovable; or a magician
whose genius cannot obey him, except to
secure ends which he is just then not seek
ing to obtain. Money, for example, will
purchase alleviations from pain, skilled at
tendance, good advice and soft beds, but it
will not purchase the dismissal of the pain
itself. If you have cancer millions are no
help. millionaire may have toothache,
and in toothache feels, on account of the
money which places all dentists at his COM
mand, an additional pang. "Here am l.,
who can buy all the help there is, and of
what use is that to my pain ?" The sense
that the money will aid volition in so many
ways deepens the pain, when it is of the kind
in which money is powerless, as it is in
almost all serious questions of health. The
Marquis OF Steyne is not the less aggrieved
by his liability to madness because he is 80
very rich, but the more aggrieved, as man
who knows his own strength to be unusual
and finds it just insufficient. That habitual
complaint of the rich, that money will not
buy affection or happiness, or even immunity
from pain, has in it something of irritation
as well as OF pathos, and springs often from
an inclination to contend, as OF one who is
unjustly deprived of something. The work
ers have need to be solicitous about health,
but it is tine rich who coddle themselves
aud the reason is not so much their passion
for comfort as the additional sense of the
value of health, which their inability to buy
it with money brings home to them more
clearly than to other men. rich man who
wanted water, say in shipwreck, and could
not get it, would feel in his riches, if he
thought of them at all, an addition to the
pain of his despair; aud there are wants
nearly as urgent as water towards which
money gives just as little aid.-Speciator.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
In Our Men ers.

There is a conflict that only ends with the
end of life. $50 fight l." said the stout old
Great Heart of the Apostles, "not as one
that beateth the air." With sturdy blows
he beats down his grosser sinful nature,
striking it under the eye. Paul adopts the
phrase of the boxers, and tells US that he
smote his carnal nature until he made it
"black and blue" All which proves TO us
that Paul, being neither phrenologist nor
perfectionist, had to battle with his rebel
usts and passions-until he left them out
side Of the gates of heaven, Every one Of
us who hopes to reach that same heaven
must wage the same conflict Some sins
grow weaker as we advance in the divine
life; others are more peculiar TO old age.
The war which the Christian wages must be
unsparing and unending-giving no quarter
to a single foe. The frequent instructions
OF bad temper, the sly whispers of envy, the
hateful spirit of jealousy, the greedy clutch
of covetousness, the subtle sophistries OF
sefshness, the restless craving of ambition,
the unclean appeti e of the flesh, the smooth
tongued devil of selfrighteousness, the
wicked spirit of unbelief-all these make up
rebel army which never allows any "quiet
along the Potomac" He who would keep
a clean conscience and godly life, must
wage this warfare every day without com
promise and without quarter.-Rep. r. l..
| r,l,Ier
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23

Of wondrously fair womanliness, do not be
so occupied with your ambition for her, and
your desire for her advancement in life, that
you let her ways and your own fall apart.
Why are her friends, her interests and her
engagements, 30 wholly separate aud dis
tinct from yours Why does she visit here
and there, and receive visitors from this and
that home, and you scarcely know the peo-
pie by sight You are losing precious hours,
and the comfort you ought TO take is flying
fast away on those wings of time that are
never overtaken. To descend TO some homely
matters, how little comfort some of us take
in comparison with what we might Have
we not, for instance, through mere careless
ness, sometimes deferred the purchase of
pair of slippers for weeks and weeks, going
around with worn-out things, of which we
have been ashamed, or tramping through
the house in heavy walking-boots, when we
might as well have had our feet agreeably
dressed, aud been able to move about In 81.
lent ease2 Have we not known that cur.
tain at this window or a shade at that one,
an easy-chair in this corner, or footstool in
that nook, would make our rooms ever so
much pleasanter, and still we have neglected
making the alteration, and submitted to uu-
necessary discomfort ? In the matter of
glasses for failing sight, how many people
put them on TOO soon, and how many too
late, and how often we see sensible men and
women straining their eyes in the dim and
uncertain dusk, when match and lamp
would make the room like day2 How we
endure the creaking of hinge, sometimes
for months, when all that is wanted to cure
it is drop of oil and a feather Resigna.
tion to the inevitable has an element of the
heroic in its calm, but the lazy submisson
to annoyances which an energetic will would
not suffer for day, is by no means praise
worthy"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
The Old ScOtchman's Prayer.

was pleased the other day with story
which an aged Scotch minister told me about
an old Scotchman, who many years ago was
on his way to a meeting of the people of
God held in tent, or some such temporary
structure. The old pilgrim was poor and
ill-clad and partly deaf, but he trusted in
the Lord whom he served, and rejoiced in
his kind providence. On his way to the
meeting he fell in with another Christian
brother, younger man, bound on the same
errand, and they Travelled on together.
When they had nearly reached the place of
meeting, it was proposed that they should
turn aside behind the hedge and have little
prayer before they entered the meeting.
They did so, and the old man who had
learned in everything to let his bequests be
made known unto God, presented his case in
language like the following "Lord, We ken
weel enough that I'm deaf, and want
seat on the first bench, if We can let me have
it, so that can hear thy word. And ye see
that my toes are sticking through my shoes,
and / don't think it is much to your credit
to have your children's toes sticking
through their shoes, and therefore want We
TO get me pair Of new ones. And We ken
have nae siler, and l want to stay there
during the meeting and therefore | want
you TO get me place to stay" When the
old man had finished his quaint petition,
and they had started on, his younger brother
gently suggested to him that he thought his
prayer was rather free in his forms of ex-
preston, and hardly as reverential as seemed
proper to him in approaching the Supreme
Being. But the old man did not accept the
imputation of irreverence. "He's my
Father" said he, "and I'm weel acquainted
with him, and he's weel acquainted with
me, and take great liberties with him."
So they went on to the meeting together.
The old man stood for while in the rear of
the congregation, making an ear trumpet Of
his hands to catch words, until some one
near the pulpit noticed him, and beckoning
him forward gave him good seat upon the
front bench. During the prayer the old
man knelt down, and after he rose, lady,
who had noticed his shoes, said TO him,
" Are those the best shoes you have 2"
"Yes," said he, "but expect my Father
will get me new pair" "Come with
me after meeting" said the lady, "and /
will get you new pair" The service closed
and he went with her to her house. "Shall
you stay during the meeting?" said the
good woman as they went along. al would,
but am a stranger in the place, aud have
nae siller." "Well," said she, "you will be
perfectly welcome TO make your home at our
house during the meeting" The old man
thanked the Lord that he had given him all
the three things he had asked for; and
while his younger brothers reverence for the
Lord was right and proper, it is possible
that he might have learned that there is a
reverence that reaches higher than the forms
and conventionalities of human taste, and
which leads the believer to come boldly To
the throne of grace to find all needed help
in every trying hour.-Neo York Evangelist
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
The Bible.


The Bible, aside from the factor of divine
agency in its authorship, is the insoluble
enigma of the literary world. 1t well may
be. 1t must be. Think of it'll 1t is the
Oldest book upon the earth, still read among
men going back beyond the Roman or the
Greek literature; going back farther than
any other, in parts of it, toward the time
when the waters of the deluge subsidized from
the hills of western ASIA farther than any
other toward the very morning of creation,
when the sons of God shouted for joy. Yet
its vitality continues, and its power over
the human mind remains unwasting. 1t is
large book. 1t sets its stately front for
two millenniums along the lines of chronol-
ogy, history, biography, philosophy and hu-
man science 1t challenges assault at ten
thousand points. Itsays to science, Search
the strata beneath and the stars above and
find God more equal to the problems Of
the universe than him whom reveal" 1t
says to philosophy, "Find anything in hu.
man nature, any power or any passion, any
mean inclination or sublime possibility, Of
which do not give the manifestation and
the explanation Thus challenging as
sault, and opening its line along the whole
extent of it to any endeavor to overthrow it,
it remains the most remarkable Of books
Req Dr. Sforrs
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
The Little Faces.

If the irregular procession of children
schoolward bound, which one meets ON the
streets, all wore shining morning faces"
what a bright and happy throng it would
be But some little ones we meet with traces
Of tears on their faces, and grief looking
out untimely from the childish eyes whose
birthright is merriment. Haplsss, defrauded
ones, who go from impatient, fretful homes
to the tasks of the school room whose
mothers forget that cupful is as full as
brimming bucket, and that childish sorrows
or disappointments are not small to those
who have them to bear. How poorly those
parents discharge their duties who send out
their children for the day, unhappy Could
they know for one hour the desol alton of the
homes from which the children have gone
forth for the last time, by reason of the cpl
denies which have wrought such havoc in
many neignborhoods this spring, how pa
tient, how watehful, how tender they would
be at is never our tenderness that we re-
gret,' says George Eliot, in speaking of those
who are gone beyond our loving or our child.
ing. No, and it is not our patience that
comes back to mingle the bitterness of una
vailing regrets with our sorrow. Homes
photograph themselves on the faces of their
inmates and piteous picture is that limned
on the sensitive surface of many an unhappy
little countenance that fingers behind It's
more fortunate mates. Is it your fault, sis
ter or mother r-Golden Rule.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
The Broken Graft.


The late DIR. Spencer said that when he
was lad his father gave him a tree that
had just been grated. One day, in his
fathers absence, he let the colt into the gar
den, and the young animal broke off the
graft. 1t was mended, however, on the fol-
lowing day, and continued to grow finely.
Years passed, and young Spencer became q
man and minister. Some time after he
became pastor he made a visit to the old
homestead where he had spent his boyhood
His little sapling had become a large tree,
and was loaded with apples. During the
night after his arrival at the homestead
there was violent thunder-shower, and the
wind blew fearfully. lie rose early in the
morning and, on going out, found his tree
lying PROSTATE on the ground. The wind
had twisted it off Just where the colt broke
it when it was sapling. Probably the
storm would not have broken it at all If it
had not been broken when it was small.
The incident furnishes a good illustration
of the fact that often those whose characters
are broken in manhood were weakened in
early life; that the fallen man who was re-
ligiously trained and has become corrupt
broke off his connection with virtuous ways
by the same sin that eneryated his boyhood'
The tree was broken by accident, but we
break our moral life by our own misdeeds
-Selected
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23

He replied, " is that sol Say, from what
portion of the earth did you come ?" He
answered, "From the United States OF
America" The other replied, "Ah, you
did ] also came from there How happy
! am to meet you and make your acquaint-
ance Now, pray tell me from which Of the
states you came" He replied, al came
from the good old state of Connecticut the
land Of steady habits" More interested
than ever, he exclaimed "Is it possible 7
II you will believe me, also came from that
state" Here he proceeded to inquire, Ex.
cuse me- but may ask further From what
place in Connecticut did you come ?" Scr
tainly," he replied al came from -"
More astonished still, he exclaimed, How
strange Why, came from there, too, and
lived there during all my sojourn on earth,
and yet we never made each others acquaint-
ance" The next inquiry was, " With what
particular church in were you con-
nected 2" He replied, with Rev. Mr.. IS
church." Astonished, he exclaimed, " Is it
possible was member Of that same
church, and yet we never became acquainted
or ever spoke with each other" The two
brethren implored each others forgiveness,
and asked God to help them set aside earthly
distinctions, and TO live more in the spirit
of Christian fellowship.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
Taking Comfort as You Go.

Looking ahead for happiness in this world
has been compared to "bottling sunshine
for next years use" Taking comfort as
we go on is the only way to make sure of it I;
aud a writer in the Chrisiian al Work thus
points the moral; "You, proud mother of
a beautiful, active boy, of what use will it
be TO you by-and-by to remember how ex-
quisitely fine was his raiment, how daintily
spread his bed, and how costly and profuse
his toys What the child needs is moth
erly, brooding, tender resting on your heart I;
and he needs 1t every step OF the way from
baby days TO manhood. Take the comfort
of your opportunities. Never mind though
the dress be coarse, and the food plain, and
the playthings few, but answer the questions,
tell the stories, spare the half-hour at bed.
time, and be merry and gay, confidential
and sympathetic, with your boy. And you
whose graceful young daughter is Just
blushing out into the bloom and freshness
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
The Reliable Man.

The reliable man is always there when he
is wanted. You do not have to send to
twenty different places after him; if he is
not at home his wife can tell you where he
is. The reliable man always tells his mis-
sion to his wife. He is not fool enough 10
marry woman he cannot trust. He is not
much of talker, but he thinks great deal.
He looks at subject in all its bearings.
His judgments are unbiased. If he should
be elected governor, he will carry state af-
fairs with just and firm hand. In private
life he will always have plenty of kindling
wood ready in the morning. No running
round in the cold for him before he has
made his toilet He won't be likely to whip
the children when they don't deserve it,
lie can bear allusion to a religious or po-
litical belief which does not accord with his
own without going into tantrums. He can
give advice, and keep his temper if it is not
taken and followed. He knows there are
people in the world beside himself He be-
lieves that this planet will continue to be
run with a moderate degree of success after
he shall sleep with his fathers. He never
tells what he would have done "if he had
only been there If he makes you prom
ise you know he will keep it unless he dies
before the time for its redemption. II he
states fact for fact you know that you
can credit the statement. If he sells you
a horse and warrants him "sound" you
need not look for SPAWN or ring
bone after the first days hard driving.
His word is as good as his bond. He is
honest; you can trust him to do as he agrees.
You need not watch him, he will do Just as
well without it. He has respect unto him.
self, and would be ashamed TO have his own
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
BE Honest.

tell you, brethren, be honest in your
dealings; take no advantage, even of child.
BE conscientious in your bargains. Have a
single eye and a single heart. Seek not to
be shrewd. BE not ashamed TO be called
simple. And let me tell you a secret, which
ought not TO be secret, seeing it is written
in the Scriptures, that your whole body will
then be full of light, and this in every kind.
You will actually see further and see clearer
than shrewd and cunning men and you will
be less liable TO be duped than they, pro
vided you add TO this another part of the
character which is proper to an honest man,
namely, resolution to protect honesty, and
to discountenance every kind of fraud. A
cunning man is never a firm man but an
honest man is. A double-minded man is
always unstable man of faith is firm as a
rock. tell you there is sacred connection
between honesty and faith honesty is faith
applied to worldly things, and faith is hon
esty quckened by the Spirit to the use Of
heavenly things.-Ed,card Irving.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-23
Church Bells.

There is something beautiful in the church
bells. Beautiful and hopeful They talk
to high and low, rich and poor, in the same
voice; there is a sound in them that should
scare pride and envy and meanness Of all
sorts from the heart of man-that should
make him look on the world with kind, for
giving eyes; that should make the earth it.
self seem to him, at least for time, holy
place. Yes, there is whole sermon in the
very sound of the church bells, if we have
only the ears to understand it. There is a
preacher in every belfry, that cries, " Poor,
weary, struggling, fighting creatures, poor
human things take rest, be quiet. Forget
your vanties, your follies, your weekday
craft, your heartburnings And you, ye
human vessels, gilt aud painted, believe the
iron tongue that tells ye that for all your
gliding, all your colors, We are the same
Adams earth with the beggar at your gates.
Come away, come" cries the church bell,
"and learn to be humble learn that how
ever daubed and stained, and stuck about
with jewels, you are but grave clay Come
Dives, come, and be taught that all your
glory, as you wear it, is not half so beauti-
full in the eyes of heaven as the sores Of un-
complaining Lazarus And ye, poor crea-
lures, livid and fatal-stained and crushed
by the pride and hardness of the world,
come, come" cries the bell, with the voice
of an angel, "come and learn what is laid
up for ye. And learning take heart, and
walk amongst the wickedness and cruelties
of the world calmly as Daniel walked among
lions. Douglas Jerroid.