davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Imprisoned Music.

A curious little incident happened lately
during time Of prolonged sickness At
the close of a very dark and gloomy day
lay resting on my couch as the deeper night
drew on, and though all was bright within
my cosy little room, some of the external
darkness seemed to have entered into my
soul and obscured its spiritual vision. Vainly
| tried to see the hand which knew held
mine and guided my fogenveloped feet along
steep and slippery path of suffering. In
sorrow of heart | asked, Why does my
Lord thus deal with his child Why does
he 80 often send sharp and bitter pains to
visit me2 Why does he permit lingering
weakness to hinder the sweet service long
to render to his poor servants 7" These fret
full questions were quickly answered, and
though in strange language, no interpreter
was needed save the conscious whisper of
my heart For awhile silence reigned in the
little room, broken only by the cracking Of
the oak log burning on the hearth. Sud-
denly heard a sweet soft sound, little,
clear, musical note like the tender trill of a
robin beneath my window. "What can
that be 2" / said to my companion, who
was doing in the freight; "surely no
bird can be singing out there at this time of
the year and night" We listened, and again
heard the faint, plaintive notes, SO sweet, so
melodous, yet mysterious, to provoke for a
moment our undisguised wonder Presently
my friend exclaimed, 1t comes from the
log on the fire l' and we soon ascertained
that her surprised assertion was correct.
The fire was letting loose the imprisoned
music from the old oaks inmost heart Per-
chance he had garnered up this song in the
days when all went well with him. when
birds twittered merrily on his branches, and
the soft sunlight fecked his tender leaves
with gold. But he had grown old since
then, and hardened; ring after ring Of
knotty growth had sealed up the long-for.
gotten melody, until the fierce tongues of the
flames came to consume his callousness, and
the vehement heart of the fire wrung from
him at once song and sacrifice. All
thought /, when the fire Of affliction draws
songs of praise from us, then indeed are we
purified and our God is glorifed Perhaps
some of US are like this old oak log, cold,
hard and insensible; we should give forth
no melodious sounds were it not for the fire,
which kindles around us, and releases ten
der notes of trust in him and cheerful com.
pliance with his will GAS / unused, the
fire burned" and my soul found sweet com.
| fort in tho pa-ablS strangely oct forth bo
fore me Singing in the fire Yes God
helping us, if that is the only way to gel
harmony out of these hard apathet:c hearts
let the furnace be heated seven times hotter
than before.-Mrs. c. III. Spurgeon.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
The Mother Of President Garfield.

Mrs. Garfield is the first mother Of pres
ident who has ever seen her sons Inaugural
tion. Other mothers possibly may have
been alive to hear the news, but this eighty
year-old dame had more than a right to be
at the capitol on that day. She had " blazed
out" as woodsmen say, the road to it from
the log cabin in Cuyahoga county. Such
history Of motherly courage and patience
and faith is not rare, to be sure in any farm
house, but there was something more than
this. What the Ohio law is as respects the
widows estate and the distribution of even
small farm property does not appear. In
Pennsylvania, when farmer dies without
will, the intestate law opens the way to
breaking up the home, the little property is
sold out, and the children parcelled out
among administrators, il the mother has not
money enough to keep them with her. Many
an industrious farmer woman, who could get
along if she were left to decide, must be
turned out of the Pennsylvania farm when
her husband dies and see it parcelled out, so
that her q" thirds " are often to her the loss
of her all. 1t was not so in the Orange
township farmhouse. The father of Gar
field died a young man, leaving small farm,
encumbered with debt in the woods, with
| twenty cleared acres around it. What was
remarkable in Elisa Garfield at that day was
her strong will. She put aside the we'll
meant but mistaken advice of friends and
determined that neither the house should be
sold nor the children scattered. With four
children, one slip of boy, and the future
president baby, she worked the poor farm
so that ii yielded living. At nights she
taught her boys. Probably it was well for
the young Garfelds that they were not del
uged with "children's books" The book
shelf held but few, but how those histories
and scanty biography must have sunk in and
taken root in the long, quiet winter evenings.
The children of the rich don't have such
advantages as the lonely farmhouse and the
energy and brains with which that little
widow woman taught her sons. 1t was fifty
years ago when the widow Garfield started
the experiment of carrying on the Orange
farm, and bringing up her son to wholesome
independence. At the end of the half CEN
tury he carries her to the white house, the
first mother of president who ever lived
there 1t is something to be proud Of, not
that the farms of the west and the east
rear such women, for that we all know but
that one of them has lived to see the reward
of her wood-chopping and planting, her saw
ing and her teaching, of her courage, in
short.-Selected
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
MONTPELIER VT, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 90

mothers down too" and the weary little
thing began crying softly to herself. Then
the man stopped and said something in
low voice, to which she only shook her head
and cried more bitterly. So he took the
basket from her, saying "Run away home,
Polly, or that baby she'll be in mischief. III
bring the basket" She offered him twenty
five cents, but he hurried her away and
would not touch it. Then he chose some
good beef, a piece of bacon, and plenty Of
vegetables, and having paid for them, walked
off toward large tenement house in sight.
gave him silent reverence as he passed me,
for knew him then as one of Gods mes
sengers, unconsciously, but o how blessedly,
taking share in the ministry of angels |
Opportunities like these are constantly
thrown in our way by the angel who watch
eth for our souls; but "if brother or sis
ter be naked and destitute of daily food, and
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace,
be ye warmed and filed notwithstand-
ing ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body, what doth II proft2"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
boy again r'

not but exclaim, Oh that my boy were
boy again |"
81 wonder so, that mothers ever fret
Az little children clinging to their gown:
Or that the footprints, when the days are wet.
Are ever black enough TO make them frown
III could mend broken cart to-day,
Tomorrow make a kite TO reach the sky.
There is no woman In Gods world could say
She was more blissfuly content than -
Mother, sister, those Of you who have your
little boys, your brothers, with you, don't, /
pray you, check the harmless impulses Of
their nature. Readily assist--and become
interested in-all their innocent amusements
and pleasures. An English writer once said,
when / was boy, wanted taffy, but
had no money. Now / have money, but
want no taffy." Mother when your boy is
mainland oh how soon that will be
he'll not ask you to make sails for his tiny
boat. He'll not beg You to help him look
for or recover his ball. Your closets, boxes
and bureau drawers will not be rummaged
through and through for ga very stout kind
of string" A new style of top you'll not be
urged to buy; neither will you be urged to
look for some gray stripe of calico or muslin
for tail Of kite. No demand on your
purse for a slate or lead pencil. Paper
cockade hats you'll not be coaxed TO make.
-Four in number it may be. One for HIM
self, the others for his three playmstes. No,
no; you'll sit as l now sit, alone, undis-
turbed; and maybe will tearfully say as
now say, Oh that my boy were a boy again I"
And ! bethink me Of companions three that
played with my boy.-Christidn- at Work.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Mistakes.
" MRS. S. II. GRAHAM cL

1t is calamity to make mistakes it is
sin to live them. Humanity presses us on
to the former, divinity ALONE lifts US above
the latter. Few are the mortals who have
not erred widely; alas few, also, are they
whohave turned their errors into stepping
stones, helping them heavenward.
Weakness lies ofttimes in good memory.
Paul realized this " Forgetting those things
which are behind" is strength as well as wis
dom. "Press toward something, but don't
attempt it with the veil of the past obscur-
ing the futures horizon.
Dyspepsia, nursed, becomes chronic. So
does dissatisfaction. Many man has failed
to do anything because he would not allow
himself to forget. Few words possess the
potency Of that little verb, let 1t is possible
to wiring victory out of defeat, and it is the
largest sort of victory when attained.
If you have made mistake somewhere in
your life, reader, you have thereby proved
yourself human. If you are living under
the shadow of that mistake, brooding over
its results, you are proving yourself either
unworthy of the high privileges still left
you, or ignorant of the fact that mistakes
conquered are mighty levers lifting us up
ward. All that is irrevocable is not ir-
reparable, thank God. Courage Do not exalt
your mistake into tree whose noxious
foliage shall shadow all your life rather
strip it Of its superfuous garniture and lay
it down as the foundation of a stepping up
a bridge to span the chasm of some other
woe, some deeper stream Of perplexity.
Mistakes are teachers they educate us il
the realm of self. knowledge is power self
knowledge a divine command and every
fall of thine may mean, by Gods grace, thu
uplifting and strengthening, not Of thysel
only, but others. Then never say your lif
is ruined. Not so unless you will it. tel
you, no matter what coveted secret Of lif
you have missed, you can live without it
live well, nobly, truly-a sweet, content ant
helpful life.
The staff of life is bread, not sugar. {"
am that bread of life," said one, speaking
as never man spake. That bread was broker
for all. To eat is to live; to eat stintedly, i
life meagre; to eat freely, is life large
rounded, royal, however honey or sugar ar
wanting.
Man is dual. Spirit and matter hold con
troversy over him; the strongest rules. Th
soul of man was destined to be king, tn
body subject. To reverse this order is
weaken every power possessed but that
sin. There is one thing the soul cannot liv
without there is one thing which, possess
ing, it can live without all else Give you
soul free access to God. Burn down the pal
titions between, and no loss of any earthl
thing can even mar your life. Remembe
it is written, "Au things work together TO
good to them that love God"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Order In Nature.


1t is related that western skeptic once
said " If he could only see the plan and or
der in nature he would believe in God"
Just then, as if taken at his word, he saw
plant known as the Texas Star at his feet.
Picking it up he counted its petals and
found there were five. He then counted the
stamens, and found five. He then counted
the divisions at the base, and found five.
Desiring to find in nature some evidences OF
intelligence superior to human, and other
than mechanical force, he determined by
multiplying to see how many chances there
were Of this flower, having in it these three
fives, being brought into existence without
the aid of Intelligence. lie found, of course,
the chances TO be as a hundred and twenty
five to one. Then multiplying this number
by ITSELF he saw that the chances of there
being two such flowers, each having these
exact relations OF numbers, are as fifteen
thousand to one. Looking over the fields
and on the roadside he saw thousands of
this plant about him, evidences of supreme
intelligence. Kissing the flower he cried
out Bloom on, little flower; you have a
God, | have God your God and Maker is
my God and Maker United Presbyterian.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Ne Uome Girrle.
THE HEARTS TREASURE.

The Earl Of Roden, last Of a noble race,
Famed for his gen'rous deeds and courtiy grace.
Had In his stately hall a strong box placed
That bore these words, too deep to be erased
"To be saved first In case OF lre." And all
Who saw this oaken casket In his hall,
ON which he often gazed with earnest eyes,
Supposed Il held some rare and costly prize.
For many years-till age had blanched his hair
There lay the box, watched DER with tender care.
One greedy varlet mong his servitors,
Whose life the earl twice saved In cruel wars,
OFT as the sentence on that box he read
Resolved TO break the lid when carl lay dead,
And with the treasures that 1t held to flee,
His days to end In Wild debauchery.
And 20 It chanced upon a stormy night,
with stealthy tread. by lanterns feeble light,
lie sought the silent hall, and snatched the prize
On which he long had looked with hungry eyes.
In frantic haste he bore the box away,
And tore its clasps apart at break Of day
In deep wood, the while with hendlsh glee
lie thought Of roisrrlng days beyond the sea.
The cover broken, now he peers within;
There rolled with hollow sound TO mock his sin,
To drive the wretch, the ungrateful robber Wild
The broken plaDthings Of a IOnO-loa child
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

whose vast wealth makes their
tactics standing threat against
the prosperity and Independence Of every
citizen Of moderate means who is no part Of
any "machine" or "ring" in politics or
finance. Wewant legislation to protect this
capital, and all capital honestly acquired and
properly used, against combinations Of other
capital to "gobble IT," as the big fish are
said to gobble the small fish.
We want higher principle than that which
rules in the water to prevail on dry land.
We want legitimate trade protected against
the Vaccinations of "shark" financiering.
Truly, as our friend says, "sel6shness and
dishonesty on grand scale, under the pro-
lection Of immense corporations and carried
out by gigantic combinations, are a terrible
curse to the people" Regarding the power
Of this aggressive capital in our legislative
bodies, read the following scrap from pa
per which no one will accuse of being un-
friendly to capital, the Springfield Repubi.
can:
The great corporations are all represented in
the senate. The New York Central has Senators
Conkling and Plat; the Pennsylvania road, Don
Cameron and General Sewell the Baltimore and
Ohio, Senator Camden, who, In addition, has an
interest In the Standard Oil Company. The south
ern railroads are represented by Malone and Joe
Brown; the western roads by General Logan, SEN
ator Fair and General Edgerton; the Union Pacific
by Saunders OF Nebraska, while one Of the Col
orado senators is interested in the roads there.
The Texas Pacific interest Is guarded by Senators
Kellogg and Maxey.
And this power is seated in the church
also. A religious journal of large circula-
ton openly defends the gigantic Standard
Oil monopoly that now dictates the price of
coal oil in every Market almost confessedly
because the chief man now in control thereof
gives largely to its UNCONVENTIONAL charities
and schools. The mechanic class id our
large cities is becoming more and more non
christian, and even anti-christian, under the
leadership of pestilent foreign infdel dem
agogues, because the church is thought ia
give an uncertain sound on these things. The
common people heard our Lord gladly when
he was upon earth. They will always heal
his true ministers gladly, for no man needs
the consultations of religion more than the
workingman who earns his bread by the
sweat of his brow. On the other hand, die
not the rich young man turn away sorrow
fully from the Lord on account of the in
struction given him regarding the disposi
tion OF his great possessions? ? The very
same religious paper referred to above prints
the following;
ALL pEAD.-Have you ever read "The Ancien
Mariner dare say you thought it one Of tn,
strangest imagnations ever put together,
dead men pulling the rope, dead men steering
But do you know have lived to see that time
have seen it done? have gone in churches, and
have seen a dead man in the pulpit, dead mar
as deacon a dead man handling the plate, and
dead men sitting to hear.
Is not this always the case in thos
churches where sefsh millionaires find moth
ing to object to in the preaching, and tn
poor man goes away sorrowful
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Practical Kindness.

One of the most beautiful and practical
instances OF real kindness | ever saw came
to me in this wise had gone into my
butchers shop one Saturday night, and was
waiting for my steak. While doing SO a
man, black with the toll and dust OF ma
chinery, came in. lie was old and homely,
and meanly dressed, and never should have
looked upon him as divine agent OF conso-
lation had not little girl come in and re-
vealed him to me. "ilow's father to-day,
Pollyp" he asked. He's worse to-day, and
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

For the Vermont watchmau
BURIED HOPES.
NJ MRS. 3. r. GRAHAM CLARE


NJ MRS. s. r. GRAHAM CLARK.
Mourn not thy buried hopes; the tear Of burial
Always precedes the resurrection smile,
And God both shall help thee; wait in patience,
The time between ia but little while
Mourn not thy buried hopes lament them never,
Though hidden deep beneath the mossy sod;
Their grassy graves are meant TO be the stairway
To lead thee upward, nearer to thy God.
They rlse again. Hope Ia young immortal,
Who may not rest beneath the winding sheet;
She sleeps dphiie, maybap, but soon the portal
OF death flies open, and she stands complete
I had hope-perhaps not one hope only
hope all radiant with the glad to be-
stretched out my TO seze but could not clasp IT.
Its beauty mocked Its grace eluded me.
covered up my hope with little warngs
To-day hail its resurrection power;
Death preiades lVe-a hundred-fod Increased,
Behold my hope seed, like an oak-tree, tower.
Yes, yes they rise these sehopes we lay with weeping
From out our sight some weary, weary day;
Some day more sad perhaps, they give US greeting.
And sit beside US ever more to stay.
Gods loving hand. warm with life, iifegving marvel.
Touches the sod-they spring TO life and light,
SO fair and graceful grown we had not known them
Were not our eyes annolnted unto sight.
Then mourn them not, thy buried hopes No. never
For burial tear means resurrection smile,
And both mean God is near thee; wait in patience,
For the between ia but a little while.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

The late Rev. DIR. Neale of Boston, was
once asked by Rev. A. j. Gordon If he ever
han any church difficulties. 40 yes" he re-
piled " once it was pretty serious, and when
the brethren were getting very warm, said,
Let us be dismissed They rose, and be-
fore they thought of it the benediction was
pronounced and they were dispensing. Ere
another meeting they had cooled off.' DR..
Gordon asked DR.. Neale the secret OF his
long pastorate. "Well, replied he, when
got vexed and wanted to go, they wouldn't
let me; and when they got vexed and wanted
me to go, wouldn't go, we never both
got mad at the same time"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

THERE is no human interest so personal
and private. so public aud universal, that
the Sabbath wisely kept, does not greatly
serve it, aud it would be as easy to make an
inventory of what the sunlight sccomplishes
in this world of matter and life as TO pre-
pare an inventory Of the blessing day Of
Sunday rest confers on human beings.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

AT the recent opening of the Neyada lsgis-
lature the minister who performed the reli-
gious service closed with the Lords Prayer.
When he had finished, one senator turned TO
another and remarked; "lIe stole that
prayer, and I'll bet on it. heard 1t almost
word for word in Eureka at q funeral over
ten years ago."
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
I9rirnlfmaI Deparf,reh.
t. II. HosKINs. Agricultural Editor.
sPRINGTIME.

IT'S springtime on the eastern hills
Like torrents gush the summer rills;
Through winters moss and dry dead leaves
The bladed grass revives and lives,
Pushing the mouderng waste away,
And glimpses to the April day,
In kindly shower and sunshine bud
The branches of the dull gray wood;
Out from ia summed and sheltered nooks
The blue eyes OF the violet looks;
The southwest wind is warmly blowing,
And odors from the springing grass,
The pine tree and the sassafras,
Are with Il on its errands going. -Whittfer.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

CoRREcrIoS.-ID the article Importance
of the How" in this department of the issue
of April l3, for hay manure read hog manure
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20

Vegetine
Is the great Blood Purifier.
Vegetine
VIII cure the worst case Of scrofua.
Vegetine
/. recommended by physicians. and apohecarics
Vegetine
Has effected marveou. cures in cases of Cancer.
Vegetine
Cures the worst cases of canker.
Vegetine
Meets with wonderful success in Mercural Diseases.
Vegetine
VIII eradicate Salt Rheun from the system.
Vegetine-
Removes rImplos and nuuors from the face
Vegetine
Cures Constipation and regulates the Bowels.
Vegetine
Is valuable remedy for Headache
Vegetine
VIII cure Dyspepsia.
Vegetine
Restores the entire system a healthy condition.
Vegetine
Removes the cause of dizziness.
Vegetine
Relieves Fddhtneas at the stomach.
Vegetine
Cures Pains in the Back.
Vegetine
Enectualy cures Kidney Complaint.
Vegetine
Is effective in its of Female Weakness.
Vegetine
Is the great remedy for General Debility.
Vegetine
Is acknowledged by all people and
most reliable blood purifier In the world.
VEGETINE
Is THE BEST
SPRING MEDICINE.
Vegetine Is Sold by All Druggists.
Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1881-05-12
ROAD NOTICE.

NOTICE is hereby given that q petition
IN will be presented to the Commissioners
of Belmont county, at their next meeting,
being on the first Monday of June, 1881,
praying for the alteration of the county road
leading from the Short Creek road, now
known as the Morristown road, at a point
near the former residence Of Alexander Har>
rah, due north with the section line until it
intersects the road leading from st. Clairs>
vile to Flushing, now known as the Flushing
pike, as recorded in plat record No. 1 and
road record No. 1, in the Office of the Auditor
of said county, pages II and 81 respectively,
established on the petition of Joseph Grimes
and others; or so much thereof as is included
within the following points, to-wit: Begin>
ming at point where the said county road
intersects the road known as the Morrstown
road on the north; thence along said Morris
town road to point where the line between
the lands of William Dunbar (where John
Dunbar now resides) and Calvin Pollock in
tersects same: thence in northerly direction
tween the lands of VIM. Dunbar and d. /.
Hays; thence in northeasterly direction 15
feet west of said line about 80 rods; thence in
q northerly direction to stake near the cor
ner between VIM, Dunbar and ID. /. Hays;
thence in a westerly direction to a stake in
the lane between the barn and orchard Of d.
l. Hays aforesaid; thence with and along said
lane to gate; thence north to q pair Of bars;
thence in northwesterly direction to point
the line between the lands of d.
|. Hays and Hannah Estep, about sixty rods
east CT the present county road; thence west
fifteen feet south of said line to the intersec-
ton with said county road.
. 8 5-5t MANY PETITIONERS.