davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
The Skeptic at Sunday School.

A gentleman strongly inclined TO skepti-
iism visited the infant class of Sunday
school, and listened with fixed attention TO
the lesson. At the close of the exercises,
ne turned to the teacher with an incredulous
look on his face, saying ais not this time
thrown away trying to teach babies about a
Christi Or, supposing you may impress
hem with some kind of knowledge, of what
use will it all be, seeing that they will not
be able TO remember anything of the char
acter you are now telling them about p
" Pardon me, sir" returned the teacher, "but
may ask if your mother is living "Ah,
no she died when | was a mere infant,
said the visitor, cloud of sadness passing
over his face. But" he continued, ~ was
told all about her as soon as | could learn
anything. ! was told how loving, patient
and self-sacrifcing she was and so clearly
aud well was my mother represented TO me
that love and revere her memory" Then,
sir" broke in the teacher with a warm smile
upon her lips. "if you at that early age
could be 80 taught about the mother whom
you have not seen, may | not be sure that
Jesus can be made as plain to the mind, and
as lasting to the memory of these little
ones 7" The gentleman's cheek flushed, but
he made no reply and shortly after took bis
leave. The good teacher supposed she had
given offense, but knew that her motive had
been pure, and 40 simply lifted her heart in
prayer that good might come of the words
she had spoken. To her great surprise, the
next Sunday the gentleman again presented
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Loving Home.

Nothing appears to us so beautiful in hui
man experience as the reciprocal affection
of parents and children, especially after the
latter have attained maturity, and, it may
be, formed new relations in life. We have
seen the loving aud lovely daughter, after
she had become wife and mother, seize
every opportunity of visiting the parental
home, to lavish her affectionate attention
upon her parents and, by thousand graceful
and tender kindnesses, assure them that,
though she is an idolized wife and happy
mother, her heart still ceaves with ever
strengthening fervor to father and mother,
who watched over her infancy and guided
her youth, 1t has been our privilege to know
such, and as we have witnessed the outpour-
ing of love and happiness between these de-
voted and glowing hearts, we have felt that
surely much of heaven might be enjoyed here
If all families were equally attached. Aud
would that every daughter knew what pure
JOY she might create in the parental bosom
by constant keeping alive of the spirit of
tilial devotion, and seizing frequent opportu-
mites to make it manifest in little acts of
gentleuess and love, notwithstanding the
child may have become parent. The child
never grows old to fond parent. 1t is al
ways the dear child, and never so dear as
when it keeps up the childish confidence
and love of its earliest years.-Glflidn.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Knocking Away the Props.

To undermine the foundations is to let
house down, and destroy it. To knock the
props from under it, is to ruin 1t, for no
house can fall without crash and no house
can gradually settle, as one support after
another is knocked away, and yet retain its
strength and the harmony of its parts. The
case is different with a ship that is com
pleted and ready for the water. Prop after
prop that held her in place while building,
can be knocked away, and at last she glides
down upon the water, and rests upon the
heaving bosom Of the deep as lovingly as a
child rests upon the bosom of its mother.
God is constantly knocking away the props
upon which his dear ones have been accus-
toned to lean for support, and he does 1t
only that they may have nothing left but
the one sure prop and foundation-even
Jesus Christ. Every little while death comes
and takes away some one that in some way
we have leaned upon. Now it is father. now
the son of ones old age, and now a friend.
Then, again, we lose property. That per-
haps has been the prop we leaned on too
much. We are often disappointed. The
grand prize of life that we have followed
for years has eluded us. Another has won
it, We have been making it a prop on wbiv
we could not securely rest. Sometimes II
seems as If all these things were against u.s.
But they are not. We seem to be beaten
by every tempest, buffeted in ways that we
had not dreamed Of, and nothing but destruc-
ton seems before us. But are we therefore
going to destruction No: God is only
knocking away the props, and when they
are all gone, and we get down to Christ and
him only, we shall perhaps learn to find in
him all that we have lost in the things that
have been taken from us. So when one dies,
and another removes from us, and this new
infrmity comes, and that great disappoint.
ment visits u.s. let us remember that we are
only so much nearer a sure foundation, that
nothing can ever take from under us, and
there let us rest. even as the ships that are
securely anchored rest in the harbor, while
the storm howls on the great sea beyond
them.-Jhe Adudnce.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
True Riches.

When Samuel Budget, distinguished
English merchant, was dying he said ;
Riches | have had as much as my heart
could desire, but never felt any pleasure
in them for their own sake, only so far as
they enabled me to give pleasure unto
Others This dying confession of rich
man is worthy of being noted and remem-
bered by every young aspirant after wealth.
1t teaches the wholesome truth that none
but the most sordid natures can find any
pleasure in the possession of riches. No
millionaire is happy merely because he owns
a million of dollars. Ordinarily that fact
entails vexations, cares, and duties which
disgust him. But when he uses money to
feed the hungry, cothe the naked, instruct
the Ignorant and build up the cause of
Christ, it becomes a fountain of blessing 10
his heart. He is then an imitator of him,
who owning all things, can receive nothing
even of God who is ever giving. Hence
the rich man by giving grows God-like in
act and in nature. The pleasures of his
benevolence cause him to take higher de-
light in giving than in gaining, and his
charity pierces his natural covetousness with
a destroying sword. But for this right use
of money, he could not be both rich and in-
nocent.-Zion's Herald.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
The Mile Stones Of Life.


Do those of us who are nearing and pass
ing some of the later mile stones of our
earthly journey, ripen well Is there an in
creasing sweetness, brighter mellowness of
life and character? Have we more of the
gentleness OF Christ, more Of the atmosphere
and glow OF heaven as we near our home 7
On these points, an extract from the letter
of dear ministerial friend is too good to
be kept private "Well, am with you on
the heaven side of sixty, having just crossed
the line as sailors say. thought sure
should feel like an old man, that the grace
Of age which comes, they say, for early piety
and such devoted manhood would fall all
over me, aud should feel myself benignly
glorified. But don't see as am materially
improved by passing this big MILESTONE
though | think can see some improvement
since | was forty. think have conquered
some of the bad things that have bothered
me, though, alas, not all. think ! have
more patience and pity, larger sympathies,
higher hopes and a more chastened joy.
think ! love Christ better and hold my friends
dearer; that life was never so full and
sweet; the gospel never seemed so rich and
blessed and the work OF the ministry never
so delightful You, am sure, can say as
much"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Deaf 10 an Alarm.

Not many years ago student in Prince
ton Seminary, desiring to arise early in the
morning, bought an alarm clock. For few
days it worked well. But one morning,
after being aroused by its alarm, he turned
over and went to sleep again. On subse-
quent mornings the clock failed to awake
him. lie placed it under the head of his
bed in close proximity to his ear. There it
awakened him till the next time he DISC
beyed its summons ever afterwards it was a
failure. lie slept through its call with per-
feet regularity. Yet, on the other hand,
many a mother wakes on the faintest voice
OF her child, and many a watcher on the
slightest movement of the patient. They
have trained themselves to heed such calls.
In like manner the conscience may be dead
ened or trained. Let the Christian disre-
gard its voice, and soon it will become un-
able TO arouse him at ALL Let him care
fully heed its faintest remonstrance, and it
will become TO him most valuable mentor.
Take good care of your conscience ; 1t is a
most delicate apparatus Christian Observer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Only Luke is With Me-"

So wrote Paul in his last letter TO Tim
othy. It is readily perceived that the
imprisoned apostle craved companionship.
Grace does not destroy or weaken the social
faculties of our nature. II tends to purify
and exalt all noble sympathies. Paul was
no hermit, fleeing from the face of his fel-
lowmen, as if their presence was contagion
and their fellowship snare His desire for
fellowship and sympathy comes out again
and again in his busy and varied life. In
part, this is due to his need of fellow-labor-
ers that could supply the pressing needs of
the wide mission field in which he labored
and directed the labors of others. But, it
is also true that his heart was hungry for
trusted and true men that knew and loved
him. How kindly always does he mention
his helpers, both men and women. If he
craved companions in the missionary fervor
of his younger years, how much more when,
as Paul the aged, he was in severe imprison-
ment, uncertain as to what the issue would
be, with reason to dread the worst. Suffer
ing pleads for sympathy. 1t is no wonder,
therefore, that, like his Master under the
olive trees, Paul longed for the presence of
old-time friends. You catch the thrill of
his rejoicing and gratitude as he speaks Of
Onesiphorus, for he oft refreshed me, and
was not ashamed of my chain. But, when
he was in Rome, he sought me out very dill
igently and found me- "Do thy diligence
TO come before winter" breathes the pain
tul yearning of his heart for Timothy, his
own son in the gospel. God grant that when
old age comes, with its infirmity and suffer-
ing, we may have loving friends to cheer
and comfort us. May we never forget the
gentle ministry of thoughtful love to
others. "Only Luke is with me-" Then
Paul keenly felt the desertion of others.
Others had been with him. Some had de-
parted on necessary work. Their absence
brought sorrow without bitterness But
those that deserted him touched the quick
of soul singularly responsive and tender.
But Dcmas has forsaken me, having loved
this present world" This same Demas had
been joined with himself and the beloved
physician in greetings to the Colossian
church. Yea, he had been with Paul in his
first imprisonment. Heavier than chain
must have been this forsaking, "this turn
ing away from me- Time and trials test
as well as intensity even Christian friend
ship. Let us not be astonished if men fail,
if faces that once frightened as we came
grow cold and hard, or are seen no more.
The wind that sweeps away the chaff leaves
the richer grain. The once-distrusted Mark,
who fell away at Perga, is now called for.
1t is pleasant in this immediate connection
to have this expression Of restored conf
dence in Barnabas' sisters SON." Such are
the outcomes of life. Let us thank God and
take courage-ReligiOus Herald.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Tolerance for Individual Character.

Tolerance for individual characters about
the last Christian grace that comes to flower
in family or church. Much of the raspings
and gratings, and complaints in family and
church are from the habit of expecting and
exacting that people should be what they
were never made to be. Our Lord did not
reprove Thomas for being despondent
donbter, beset by caution even when he
most longed to believe. He graciously
granted the EXTREMIST test which his hope
less nature required-he suffered him TO put
his finger in the print of the nails and to ex-
anime the wounded side; and there is but a
tender shadow of reproof in what he said,
"Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou
hast believed; blessed are they that have not
seen and yet have believed" In our day
there are many disciples of Thomas, loving
doubters, who would give their hearts blood
to fully believe in the risen Jesus they
would willingly put their hands in the print
of the nails and for them the Master has
spiritual presence and a convincing nearness,
if they will but seek it. So, again. we no.
tce the tender indulgence with which the
self-confdent Peter is listened to as he
always interposes his opinion. We think
we can see the Master listening with grave
smile, as a mother to her eldest and most
sell-cOnnuent Doy' sometimes ne warmly
commends, and sometimes he bears down
on him with sharpness of rebuke which
would have annihiated softer nature
When Peter otiiciously counsels worldly ex-
pedency, and the avoidance of the suffer-
ings for which Jesus came, the reply is sharp
as lightning, " Get thee behind me, Satan !;
for thou savorest not the things of God, but
those that be of man." Yet we can see that
the Master knows his man, and knows just
how hard to strike. That eager, combative,
'elf-confdent nature not only can bear sharp
treatment, but must have it at times, or
never come to anything. We see Peters
self-asserting nature spring up after it, cheer
iul as ever. He yields to the reproof but
he is Peter still, prompt with his opinion at
the next turn of affairs, and the Master
would not for the world have him anybody
else but Peter,-Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
A Night on the Rockies.

The ride was one series of glories and
surprises, of "park and glade, of lake and
stream, OF mountains on mountains, culmin-
ating in the rent pinnacles of Longs Peak,
which looked yet grander and ghastlier as
we crossed an attendant mountain, eleven
thousand feet high. The slanting sun added
fresh beauty to every line. There were dark
peaks against lemon sky, gray peaks red.
dening and etherealizug, gorges of deep and
infinite blue, floods Of golden glory piercing
through canyons of enormous depth, an at.
mosphere of absolute purity, an occasional
fragment of cottonwood and aspen Haunting
in red and gold to intensity the blue gloom
of the pines, the trickle and murmur OF
streams fringed with icicles, the strange
sough of gusts moving among the pine-tops-
sights and sounds not of the lower earth but
OF the solitary, beast-haunted, frozen upper
attitudes. | could not sleep, but the night
passed rapidly. | was anxious about the
ascent, for gusts of ominous sound swept
through the pines at intervals. Then, wild
animals howled, and Ring (Jim's dog) was
perturbed in spirits about them. Then it
was strange to see the notorious desperate,
a red-hauded man, sleeping as quietly as in
nocence sleeps, But above all it was excit-
ing to lie there with no better shelter than a
boWtT vi liutS oH u tItNtH
and feet high, in the very heart of the Rocky
range, under twelve degrees of frost, hear
ing sounds of wolves, with shining stars
looking through the fragrant canopy, with
arrowy pines for bed-posts, and for bright
lamp the red flames of campfire. Day
dawned long before the sun rose, pure and
lemon-coored. The rest were looking after
the horses, when one of the students came
running TO tell me that must come further
down the slope, for jim said he had never
seen such sunrise. From the chill gray
peak above, from the everlasting SHOWS,
from the silyered pines down through noun
tain ranges into the depths of Tyrian purple,
we looked to where the plains lay in cold,
blue gray, like a weaving sea against far
horizon. Jim inyoluntarily aud reverently
uncovered his head, and exclaimed, | be-
lleve there is God |" felt as if, Parsee-
like, must worship. The gray OF the lains
changed to purple, the sky was all one rose
red flush, ON which vermilion cloud-streaks
rested the ghastly peaks cleaned like
rubies, the earth and heavens were new
created.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05

his door-yard with the scent of the llacs,
makes his orchard bower of bloom, clothes
the fields with living green, brings the bees
from their winter home and the birds back
to their nests-turps the cows out to pasture
and multiplies his flocks--and wakes up his
life from its winters quiet with the hustle
and hopefulness OF seed-time. A farmer
with good stomach, clear conscience, and
no oppressive debt-who loves his wife and
is kind TO his family, and who has such
sense and senses as belong TO a man made in
Gods image-is one above all others who
ought TO be happy now. But the villagers
and city folks have their opportunities too,
If they will but improve them. The early
morning or the sunset hours may be used TO
give even busy workers sight and smell of
the new-created world" 1t is time TO be-
gin to slow-up on intellectual recreations
and avocations. Seek spring appetite in
spring ramblings out of doors. A book Is a
dull companion compared with the opening
leaves in Gods great free library. The
concertroom seems pent and dingy when
one thinks of the music of the pine grove
on the hillside, the tuneful tinke of the
freed brook, the happy warblings of the
mating birds, or the breaking of the tides
on the familiar beach. As for art, it is in
spring-time that the weighty saying of Sir
Thomas Browne comes back most vividly
Nature is the Art of God" What are
"schools compared with the School? The
sunsets are again on exhibition for the sea-
son, and cannot be monopolized by any
select coterie, nor ticketed by any exclusive
management. From now until June one
may have new landscape each day, from
the same outlook. W6toh the changing
woodland and see what nature can do in
tints Such delicate greens and pinks, such
grays, and browns, puppies and crimsons, as
the bursting leaf-buds exhibit Walk into
the edge of the woods, among the under
brush and second-growth and gather bou
quet of twigs, if you wish to make new
study in colors and FORMS The "argosie:
of cloud-and," too, have foated back fol
who finds delight in winter sky ?-whC
thinks Of beauty in February cloud
Happy are they, wherever located, anc
whether old or young as men count years
who have spring.time in the heart to wei
come the spring-time Of the year l-Golde'
| P,Io
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
sMoral and ReLiainns.
THE KING OF TERRoRs.

cd is not the God Of the dead, but OF the living
xii "a, and Luke XXX 3s.
I WOO my dead, by night by day;
cannot them forget
Have they forsaken me7 I say,
For ahi they come not yet.
My dead my dead come back to me,
A little while, pray
My hungry soul would feast on you,
Iwould no, ask you stay.
A moments space, leave yon bright home,
To visit earthly love
so long ye have been gone-and
Not yet may mount abovel
hut most Of all | WOO the one
That one once all my own
We mingled lovingly on earth;
Now I am left alone.
Sometimes, with half-olosed eyes, I think,
Surely he draweth near;
seem TO catch some shadowy form;
But, ah, he ia not there.
And then, lift my pleading voice.
No answer meets my ear
My dead, art thou 40 far from me,
Thou that vert once 40 near?
Death seemeth such feeble bar.
In lifes great mystery,
while life and love stand tokens sure
OF immortality.
o thou divider, cruel death.
woudst thou usurp the soul?
Art thou not with the flesh content.
But must thou grasp the whole?
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
Ghe Dome Grrle.
For the Vermont watchman.
LITTLE Clyde HALE LANE.

Gather them up from their place on the floor,
Put them away. he will want them no more
His cap and his drum, his whip, and the toy
You gave him because he was mamma's boy.
Aye, gather them mp. though tears blind your eyes,
And sore ache your heart with ts wei lht Of sighs,
And put them away, they are useless now,
For Clyde s lying with marble brow.
And de deith-feitered limbs In n dnrkened room.
No wonder your heart Is shronded In gloom,
No wonder with tears your eyeds are wet
The sun Of your hopes in the grave has act.
Last eve, while the light in the west grew dim
You hushed him TO sleep with a cradle hymn.
Through the rosebud lips cleaned the teeth white
The sweet voice murmured sleepy good night"
You little thought the bright little head
Would be laid this morn with the early dead.
All you could not see the death angel there.
His foot ready poised on the golden stair.
Folding the child in his icy embrace.
Unheedlng your cries or white pleading face,
He sped DER the path bv man neer retrod,
Bearing the pet To the bosom Of God.
Missing your darling at morning, at eve.
Long years will pass by ere you cease to grieve;
Forget not this truth. twill soften the pain,
Yours ia the loss, his the infinite gain.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05

The NEwsPAPER.-The newspapers and
periodicals OF this country are themselves
an important part of our educational sys-
TEN. Every editor is a teacher-s teacher
OF men as well as OF children. The news
paper is the freshest of books. 1t is the
latest history, the newest science treatise,
the current political economy, the manual of
the arts, the textbook of living philosophy.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05
MONTPELIER VT, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5,

himself, this time holding by the hand
lovely little girl of about four years OF age.
Leading the child to the teacher, he said
simply :" I have brought you my child; she
is motherless, as her father is, also but !
cannot endure the thought that she should
be Christless." ss."-Selected.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-05

God not the God of the dead but Of the llvlng-
Mark xiii "a, and Luke 3s.