davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

The BIC Iowa METEoR.-A little more
than year ago May 10, 1879, large
meteor fell in Emmett county, Iowa. The
largest piece, weighing about 47O pounds,
has been purchased for the British muse
UNI; another, weighing about 40 pounds,
is in the museum of the state university at
Minneapolis; and third. weighing about
95 pounds, with number Of minor frag-
ments, amounting 10 some so pounds more,
is in private hands. At the time of the fall
some boys were herding cattle near a
small lake, some five or six miles south
westerly from the place where the larger
masses fell, and reported that Just after
the fire ball passed over their heads they
saw and heard what seemed like II shower
of hailstones falling upon the water.
Within few weeks persons have been
picking up pieces of the meteor, from the
size of pea to that of an egg, all along q
track some half mile wide and seven or
or eight miles long. In all more than a
thousand of these little pieces are reported
weighing in all from IS TO 100 pounds
What is singular is that most of these
small pieces are metallic, with a much
smaller proportion of stony matter than
the large masses. though few of them
are similar in composition. They are for
the most part black, well crusted, and ap'
parently perfectly formed and Independent
meteorites not mere fragments of larger
piece, broken up by explosion.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

INTIMACY OF PARENTS WITH CHILDREN.
The number of American parents, intel
ligent, well-informed, comfortably circum-
stanccd, who have very little knowledge
of, and no kind of intimacy with, their
boys and girls after these begin to 20 to
more advanced schools. until they enter
upon practical life or marriage, is very
much larger than is generally supposed.
This lamentable Ignorance might not be
so strange in case of fathers absorbed in
business, and seldom in the house except
to eat and sleep-the more to be regretted
but it is startlingly strange in the case
of mothers, who are the natural guardians
and protectors of home. Even these, too
often have the notion that American boys
and girls are exceptions to humanity !;
that they must be permitted to do pretty
much as they choose, and that they will
be all the better for it.. Although they
and their husbands may hold theoretically
that all persons should, from the first,
carefully instruct their children that they
are their best friends, and that all conf
dence and counsel should be given to and
sought Of them, they very rarely act upon
the sound opinion. They are strangers tC
their children; their children are stran-
gers to them. Consequently they have nc
power to shield them from the dangers
which always beset inexperienced youths
They too often lament their error bitterly
Qhe domestic tragedies ever occurring,
though seldom III ,de public, are hardly
suspected,) NIL the more bitterly because
at the time of its discovery it is irretriev
able.-MeU York Times
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

SOUND ADVICE TO THE YOUNG MAN
THAT KNOWS TOO MUCH.-Before you
propose to know more than everybody
else, my son, be very certain that you are
at least abreast of two-thirds Of your fel,
lowmen. don't want to suppress any
inclination you may have toward genuine
free thought and careful honest nvestga-
tion. my son. | only want you to avoid
the great fault of atheism in this day and
generation. i don't want to see you try
to build six-story house on one story
foundation. Before you criticise, condemn
and finally revise the work of creation
my son, be pretty confident that you know
something about it as it is, and don't, as q
man older in years and experience thar
yourself, don't, let me implore you, don'
turn this world upside down and sit on il
and fiatten it entirely out, until you have
made or secured another one for the rest
of US to live in while you demolish the old
one.-Barlington HaWkeye.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

TIE WoRKEs.-There are few in
every parish who are willing to work and
do work. You hear of them among the
poor and SICK; you find them in the prayer
meeting and see them in all church activ-
tiles. They are always willing to do more
than their part You can rely upon them
every time. But the majority Of profes.
sors seem surprised that you should ex-
pect any work from them They came
into church to enjoy religion, not to help
others-to be saved, not to work. AS for
visiting the sick feeding the poor, gather
ing in destitute children or speaking to the
unsaved, they never try it,-'have no gift
for it, and so pay their money, hear the
sermon, enjoy the singing, try to be re.
spectacle, and call that religious living.
without making IL single personal endeav-
or to do good from one years end to an
other. 1t is surprising what easy Chris
tians, smart business men make A set Of
merchants who can run bank or n mill,
and make trade pay, and know how to
manage corporations, will let church
run down for the want of IL little religious
enterprise, and very likely call upon the
women and children to help them out.
A community of Christian farmers who
know how to improve stock and make n
farm pay,who on hard soil will get good
living and keep their own houses neat
and trim, will ct the house of God become
shabby and tt church die ont, because us
farmers they work, but rs Christians they
do not work. What our churches and
our communities most need is not more
talent, or more TRUTH or more money, or
more opportunities, but downright and
upright earnest work. 1t takes but few
people, little money and small culture to
build up church when the people have a
mind 10 work. The curse of the church
to day is a lazy membership. seeking to
be saved without work forgetting that
faith without works is dead.-Golden
Rule.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

DRINKING TOO MUCH.-Children are not
apt TO believe they drink too much water,
and yet they do. When you come to the
house painting and thirsty from play, you
will take a tumbler of water and drink it
down AS fIst as you can, and then rush
out to resume play, and, perhaps, repeat
the drink. Now, the next time you feel
thirsty, try this experiment. Take COB
let of water and slowly sip it. Before it
is half gone, your thirst will he fully
quenched, and you will feel better for
having drank only that which you need.
And again, we are all apt to acquire the
habit of drinking while eating our meals
Animals don't do it, and it is burtful to us.
Nature gives us all the saliva we need /;
and if any one will chew his food slowly
and thoroughly, and not take u swallow of
drink until through eating, the desire to
do so would soon leave, and he will re-
quire only a few sips Of water. tea or coffee
after the meal is finished This practice,
20. will do wonders in the way of keeping
off indigestion, dyspepsia and sickness
Golden DLUs.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

DISHONEST MEN VALUE HoNESTY.-A
Young man came to me one day with "A
case of conscience. He was correspond
ing clerk in fourishing house of bus-
ness. His employers had begun to direct
him to write letters to customers contain
inc statements which he and they knew to
ave are responsible for these statements
it is nothing to you whether they are true
or false" | said to him, Do they sign
the letters, or ask you to write them in
your own name?" AS soon as the ques-
ton left my lips saw that. if there was
difference, both would be wrong, and /
hastened to tell him so. He said, " have
to sign them with my name, pro Messrs.
Blank" l said, " Your course is perfectly
clear; you must decline to do it." He
said, Then l shall be dismissed;' and
after pause, II have wife and family"
l replied. Z" My dear friend, this is trial
of faith and principle; you must do right
and trust to God to take care of you and
your family" l met him some days after.
Well, Mr.. -" l said, " How are
you getting onP' He replied: !" I am still
in my situation; 1 had an interview with
the partners, and told them l could not
write letters knew to be untrue. They
were very angry,and l expected to receive
notice, but have not received it vet.
Months passed, and he remained in his
situation. After while he called on me
again; saw by his face something had
happened. Well, Mr.. -" l said,
Have you had your dismissalP" " No.
he said, al have not" and smiled. "What
thenp" " A very confidential post in their
service, with high salary has fallen
vacant, and they have put me into iii"
On second thoughts those unprinoipled
men had come to the conclusion that the
clerk who would not deceive a customer
would not deceive them. and was too val
uable to be lost.-Ddleth.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

MAKE FRIENDS.-Life is very critical
Any word may be our last. Any farewell
even amid gee and merrimcnt, may be
forever If this truth were but burned
into our consciousness, and if it ruled rs q
deep conviction and real power in our
lives, would it not give new meaning tc
our hnman relationships Would it not
make us far moro tender than we some
times are? Would it not oftentilnes put a
rein upon our rash and impetuou' speech
Would we carry in our hearts the miscra
BILE suspicious and jealousies that now SC
often embittcr the fountains of our lives:
Would we be so impatient of the faults oi
others? Would we allow trivial mis-
understandings to build up II wall between
US and those who ought to stand very close
to us? Would we keep alive petty quar-
rels, year after year, which q manly word
any day would compose? Would we pass
old friends or neighbors on the street with
out recognition, because of some real or
flncied slight, some wounding of pride, OF
some ancient grudge? Or. would we be
so chary Of the kind words, our commend
ations, our sympathy, our comfort, wher
weary hearts all about us are breaking fol
just such expressions of interest or appre
citation as we have in our power to give?-
Christian dt Work.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

Times of depression and discourage
ment are certainly not to be accounted
sinful, for they come to the best and
strongest of men,-and they come to them
because of the very qualities that make
them good and strong. But the indM-
ge'sce of dependency, like the reception
and Entertainment of any other tempta.
ton, is u wrong for which we are respon-
sible, and whose effects will soon make
themselves manifest in II deterioration of
our courage and faith. 1.-Two things
alone" says an cpigrammatic French
writer, can finally cure the malady Of
occasional depression-they are God and
death" If we give way to gloom, and
take II melancholy pleasure in noting its
effect on ourselves and others. we are
going toward the use of the fatal remedy.
If we look to God for help, and do not
permit trust and faith to be rusted away
by doubt and evil foreboding, we are re-
lying on the only aid which can really
cure that melancholy which must somc-
times attack US. however CHEEKY our
natural disposition, and however fortu-
nate our place in life.-Sunday Sch ool
Times.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

A Spanish peasant. living in the suburbs
OF Madrid, has long been in the habit of
repairing daily to the city. accompanied
by II donkey laden with milk for distribu-
tion among certain customers. One day,
however, the master was taken i'll, where
upon his wife suggested that the MSS should
be sent on his customary journey alone
The panners we're accordingly filed with
cans of milk as usual, and bit of paper
was attached to the donkey's headstall
requesting the customers to help them
selves to their ordinary allowance of milk,
and to put back the cans into the pannier
OF started the donkey and he returned in
due course with the cans empty and with
everything in order. The master found
upon inquiry that the trusty messenger
had called at the right doors without miss.
Ing one, and also that in some instances
he had pulled the bell with his teeth when
kept waiting From that day forward the
donkey has gone his rounds alone,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

ALLEGORICAL.--A traveller, setting out
upon long journey. was assailel on the
road by ours, m lstiifS, and half grown
puppies, who came out from their kennels
to bark at him rs he passed along. lie
often dSmounted from hls horsl to drive
them back with stones and sticks, into
their hiding places, This operation wa
repeated every day and sometimes as often
as twenty times IL day. The consequence
was thrt more than half the travellers time
was consumed in chasing these dogs and
puppies. At last he was overtaken by 4
neighbor who was going the same road
but who had set out II long time after him
The latter traveller was very much surpris
cd to find the other no further on his Jour
ney,and on hearing the reason, Alas sait
he, lis it possible that you have wasted youl
strength in this idle occupation? These
same animals have beset me all along the
road but have saved my time and my
labor in taking no notice Of their barkings
while you have lost yours in rescntng
insults which did you no harm, in chas-
tisng dogs and puppies whose manners
you can never mend.'
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

Within the last few weeks a great many
speakers have laid emphasis on the won
derful growth of Sunday schools, as shown
10y statistics; and great many hearers
have been astonished at the difference be-
tween Raikes' small beginnings and the
imposing array of figures setling forth the
pp'sent number of Sunday schools, teach
or, and scholars. All this is matter for
rio'oiug to those who rejoice in the work
ol the Sunday school, for ii is well to have
people made aware. in some degree. Of its
position and power. But it should never
hc turgollen that astonishment is not in
Itself moral virtue, nor even specially
cr"dutahle thing. If, when you heard
thos statistics read, you simply exclaimed,
Wonderful! amazing!' or even if you
8'ii with all reverence, g." What hath God
~ruugh!' YOU did not do enough. The
re'd effect of that array of figures, on
Your mind. is to be measured by what
they brought 10 you in the way of an add.
I'd srnse OF personal responsibility for the
character and amount of your own work,
pr sent and to come. Informing one g
~'II concerning the good work which
Diners have done, or are now doing,
misses It's best result If it does not arouse
or quicken ones individual zeal.-Sunday
Srho0i Times.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

TRUE GREATNEsS.-The more we see of
the world. the more we are satisfied that
simplicity is rs inseparably the companion
of true genius ms it is of true greatness.
We never yet knew truly great mana
man who overtopped his fellow man, who
did not possess certain playful. almost
infantile simplicity. True greatness never
struts on stills, or plays the king upon the
stage Conscious of its elevation, and
knowing in what that elevation consists, it
is happy to act its part like common men
in the common amusements and business
of mankind. 1t is not afraid of being un.
dervalued for its humanity. A man who
Is thus fearless of letting himself down to
the level of his fellow man in the ordina.
ry amusements and relaxations of life,
whatever elevations he may have reached,
must possess that innate consciousness OF
genius which is itself sufficient evidence
of its own existence. Those who are
afraid of being undervalued or despsed
for mixing with their fellow creatures are
of the ordinary. every day race of men,
whom chance has made great, and who,
like the inmates of unfinished palaces
shut their windows lest people may come
nigh enough to detect the abject poverty
within.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

CIRCUMsTANTIAL EvIDENCE.-One oil
the most remarkable records of cases OF
circumstantial evidence is that of Soren
Qvest. II Danish pastor. No mans life
ever showed more dramatically the eff
fects of ungoverned temper and the Justice
of Gods dealings. The story is almost
unknown, we believe, to American read.
ers.
Soren from his birth was II victim to a
fiery tetnper. When but child, he kill.
ed dog which provoked him. When at
college he killed comrade in a burst Of
passion.
lie became clergyman, and was n de-
vout, estimable man, but for this one un-
controllable fault. A man named Morten
Burns. whom Soren rejected as suitor for
his daughter, vowed to be revcnged on the
old mau
lie sent his brother, Nes Burns. to
work as servant on the pastors farm.
Niels was stupid. and very soon Soren
and he Quarreled. the clergyman as usual
indulging in abuse, threats and even
blows.
AT last Niels disappeared, and Morten,
his brother, accused Soren of the murder.
A neighbor testified that she I'd heard
the pastor abusing Niels in frantic rage ;
that he cried out, " will beat thee dead
dog! and struck him with spade twice,
and that Niels fel-dead rs she suppos-
ed.
Another man deposed that on the same
evening he saw man carrying heavy
sack to another part of the pastors grounds,
and Soren's own servants testified that they
saw him by moonlight in his green dress
ing gown and white cap digging hole in
a cabbage bed
The hold was opened, and Nirls' body
found there. Soren WAS tried. and sen
fenced TO death. Before his execution he
confessed that his rage was 81 great that
he had struck Niels fully intending to kill
him, bat that the man frightfully wounded,
had run away.
"If " said Soren. II found his dead body
and buried it,it was in my sleep. God has
brought me to this punishment. Murder
was in my heart. He is just"
Twenty-one years after S)ren WIS exc.
cuted, Niels Burns returned. lie testified
that he had gone, when wounded, to his
brother. who dug up II body buried recent
ly, dressed it in Nies' clothes, and buried
it himself in the garden. wearing the pas
tors dressing gown and cap. The chain
of evidence was thus complete against
Soren, and he was punished, illegally, yet
justly, for the murder he had purposed to
do.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

OLD MEMS ENERGY.-Their energy,
says the London Spectator. is at least rs
great as that Of the young. Not to 20
further back than the memory of this gen
Grafton, we have seen Radelsky at 50 con-
quer Piedmont, and Pamerston nj 81 die
tator of England, and Earl Russell at SO
expel Palmerston. and Lyndhurst at 81
disoomfit opponents by his oratory ION the
paper duty) and King William Of Prussia
at IS invade and conquer France, and Pho
Mono at IS to call council of Christen-
dom to change the Catholic church from
co operative aristocraoy into monarchy,
and Theirs at "a stand forward the one
man with energy sufficient to contro! the
parties and revive The energy of defeat.
ed France. Lord Beaconsfield began to
disturb the world at 70.and at 70 his oppo
nent. by feats Of popular. oratory without
parallel in English history, seeks to call
public opinion to arms against the disturb
er. ITO Mr.. Gladstone pronounces the
speeches whion might have been made bv
a whole cabinet, and the first obiection
roised against each of them is that it is
too vehement. too energetic, marks dis
position to depart too widely from the
accustomed groove.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

saw, short time since, II mat which
was both useful and ornamental for the
floor. 1t was made on y foundation of
white, circular piece about forty inches
across; in the center was n small, round
piece of black broadcloth, two inches
across; on this was another piece, smaller.
of scarlet, and above that still smaller
one of green. Surrounding this center
piece were six round pieces of the same
kind, black the foundation of all, but the
other pieces of various coors, all touching
the center piece; around these were more
circles, until the whole rug was covered,
save the small triangular openings be-
tween the circles
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

Mis-. GARFIELD Mrs. Garfield abides
beyond question. With less brllian.
and positive presence, with less vital and
powerful temperament than those which
have made Mrs. Hayes the force for beauty
and good which she is in the White House,
Mrs. Garfield has charm rs unique and
real, all her own. Unconsciously made
myself the liego of this lady years ago.
1t was when woman (called a"woman of
genusO said pityingly to me, as she sur
veyed Gen. Garfield on the floor of the
House. " How unfortunate that his wife is
not his equal!' " Do you know Mrs. Gar
field?" asked. :" No; but have heard"
" know her." l said, "and know that
she is her husbands equal not only, but in
more than one respect his superior. She
has the 'plilosophic mindthat Wordsworth
sings of; she has n self-poise. II sense oi
unswerving, absolute rectitude her hus.
band has not and never will have, though
her temperament does not give her the
capacity for the seasons of moral enthusi-
asm which are possible to him. Much ol
the time that other women give to dis
tributing visiting cards, in the frantic ef-
fort TO make themselves'leaderso of society,
1 HAlo' b"i hSiu opOiiuo III utCONCo vi tbO
congressional library searching out books
to carry home to study while she nurses
her children. You may be sure of one
thing-the woman who reads and studies
while she rocks her babies will not be left
far behind by her husband in the march Of
actual growth"
That was ten years ago. Since then
have seen many women come TO the sur
face of capitolian life out of obscurity, and
go back into obscurity again; have seen
hundreds of so called "leaders of society"
shrivel and 60 out in the scorching flame
of fashion; while have followed with a
tender heart this woman, the wife of u
famous mana woman whom nobody
called "leader." She, meanwhile, has
not been lifted of her feet,a many women
are, by her husbands raising fortunes; no
spreading forth in styles or dress or
living; no airs" And in Washington
in official life. that means everything-in-
dicatlve of characteristic has moved on
in the tranquil tenor of her unobtrusive
way, in life Of absolute devotion to her
duty; never forgetting the demands oI
her position, or neglecting her friends,
yet making IL her iirst charge to bless hel
home, to teach her children. to fit her
boys for college, to be the equal friend as
well AS the honored wife, of her husband
Gentle, patient, unobsrusve almost tc
timiditv, wise in speech and action. keenly
intelligent, literally educated, conscien
tiously devoted to everything good-this
is the woman who will perpetuate thu
loving, consecrated life that o.day abide:
in the White House, If RS its mistress she
enter it t-Mdry Clemmer.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

Purity in thought, word and deed, as
mans chiefest duty to himself; universal
philanthropy and loving kindness; self
sacrifice and self-denial; humility; SINGER
iy; forgiveness Of injuries; the worthless.
ness of mere external ceremony; the
fatherhood of God; and the universal
brotherhood of humanity these were the
principal points in Christ's teaching, and
they have lost nothing of their lustre now,
simply because they are veri les, eternally
and irreversibly true.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-08-04

Said Angelina. suddenly breaking the
oppressive silence, Don't you feel afraid
of the army worms, Theodore. that are
coming so rapidly this way?" The ques-
ton was such strange one that Theo-
dore's surprise caused him to look right at
Angelina for the first time in his life.
why do you ask that?" he wanted to
know. "Oh, nothing" she replied. as she
toyed with her fan; 'only the papers say
they eat every green thing wherever they
90"