davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
The Teachers Work.

Nothing is truer than that our Sunday
schools are what we make them. Too much
Importance, therefore, cannot be given to
the character of our teachers. The heart
of each teacher must be in the work, or the
school suffers from Journalism and spiritual
ague that pervade the room in which it
meets. Mechanical stiffness and cold indif
ference in the presence of a class OF youths
inspire them with feelings of baneful and
dangerous tendency. In our system of reli-
gious education, we want more heartpower,
enlightened by sprightly knowledge of the
Holy Scriptures, warming the class into a
glowing love of Gods sacred truth, by the
holy fervor radiating from the earnest face
and eloquent tongue of the faithful teacher.
When the teachers aim and object are en-
tertainment only, then the Saviour and the
soul are lost sight of in the school, and dis
appointment and failure follow. 1t is of in
finite importance that every teacher and off
Ger in the school be a genuine Christian.
| Unsanctified material may for time adorn
| the inches and galleries of the growing tenn
pie, but the elements that sweep through its
portals will sadly reveal the mistake we
have made. Earnest, Christian zeal, and an
earnest piety, should stand before each class
every Lords Day, with the lesson engraven
deeply upon the heart, and fervent prayer
to Almighty God for aid in imparting it,
sacred truth. In this line success will
crown our tolls, and a rich harvest Of i'm
mortal wealth will be ours, when the ange
reapers come Could we FIRE the soul Of
each teacher with the true idea of theil
noble work, and impress upon them the sol
emn responsibilities committed to theil
trust, grand army of recruiting workers
would awaken to new church life all owe
our land. Show me the men and womel
now leading our Sunday-school interests
and | will show you the prayerfu, self-sacri
ficing toilers in our churches. Need | men
ton the incentives TO consecrated, earnes
work in this direction2 We find them in tn
enduring material, the nature Of the mate
rial on which we work. Our work will last
The little children are understanding th
truth in regard TO matters that all the philos
ophers have studied in vain. Explore tn
three kingdoms of nature in search of tn
rest the human soul needs search amid tn
archives of classic lore for the home of tn
soul ask the clamorous voices of moder
science if care-worn life shall be exchange
for enduring Joy, and they will all point yo
TO the silent dust of the cheerless grav,
Ask the feeblest of your pupils-a swee
ROSY child of five summers-she will poiI
you trustingly to the heavens above. TheI
} is rest in Jesus-a home in heaven. Veril
little child doth lead us. Then what il
centiyes Your work will outlive the r
volving stars-character, pure and hol
: cousecrated fully TO the work, is what "
, need. God help us all to this pressin
. claim l-GosDel TEACHER,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
A Remarkable Tree.

WATERBURY CENTER, VT, May 2, 1851.
Mr.. Editor There is a maple tree stand
ing on the farm of c. w. Kellogg in Dux-
bury, Vermont, which we call the champion
tree of the state From it there has been
made this year thirty pounds of the incest
caked sugar that ever saw. There was
but one sap.tub to the tree, but there were
two spouts following half-inch bore. The
tree has not been tapped over during the
season. One quart of the sap, all the fore
part of the season, weighed two pounds and
seven ounces, but lately it weighs two
pounds and four ounces. Mr. L. X. Towle
Of West Berkshire, Vermont, mentions a tree
standing ON "the premises Of Mr.. b. Ladd
in Corinth, from which twenty pounds OF
sugar has been made in one season." Mr.
Towle remarks, g think this must be the
largest yield on record" This may be found
on page one hundred and fifteen OF tht
"Sixth Report upon Vermont Agriculture
How many spouts were put into this tree IL
not mentioned, nor how large the bore
Who can report larger yield of sugar from
one tree, with two spouts, and half-incl
bore, the past season or any otherf
TIMOTHY WHEELER.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
The Religion OF the Day.

Very much of the religion of the day is an
easy-minded religion, without conflict and
wrestling with self-denial and sacrifce-a
religion which knows nothing of the pangs
OF the new birth at its commencement, and
nothing of the desperate struggle with the
flesh and with the devil, day by day, max
ing us long for resurrection, deliverance, for
he binding of the adversary, and for the
Lords return. 1t is second-rate religion
a religion in which there is no largeness, no
grandeur, no potency, no noble-mindedness,
no demonstrating love- 1t is a hollow re-
ligion, with fair exterior, but an aching
heart-a heart unsatisfied, a soul not at rest,
a conscience not peace with God; a reli-
gion marked, it may be, by activity and ex
citement, but betraying all the while the
consciousness of wound hidden and un-
healed within, and hence unable to animate
to lofty doings, or supply the strength needed
for such doings. 1t is feeble religion, lack
ing the sinews and bones of harder times,
very different from the, ,indomitable, much
enduring, storm-braving religion, not merely
of apostolic days. but even of the reforma-
tion. 1t is an uncertain religion; that is to
say, it is not rooted on certainty it is not
the outflowing of soul assured of pardon,
and rejoicing in the filial relationship be-
tween itself and God. Hence, there is no
liberty of service, for the question of per-
sonal acceptance is still an unsettled thing
there is working for pardon, but not from
pardon. All is thus bondage, heaviness,
irksomeness; there is a speaking for God,
but it is with faltering tongue; there is a
laboring for God, but it is with fettered
hands there is a movement in the way of
his commands but it is with heavy drag
upon our limbs. Hence the inefficient, un-
influential character of our religion. 1t does
not tell on others, for it has not yet fully told
upon ourselves. 1t falls short of its mark,
for the arm that drew the bow is paralyzed.
Rev. H0rdtius B0ndr, DID.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
MONTPELIER, VT, WEDNESDAY, MAY 1s, 1881

everything. Already in his twelfth year he
found his life-element and delight in the
things Of his Father Uuke ii 49). II was
his daily food to do the will Of him that
sent him, and TO finish his work (John iv:34
comp v. 30). To him he looked in prayer
before every important act, and taught his
disciples that model prayer which, for sim
plicity, brevity, comprehensiveness and suit
ableness, can never be surpassed. lie often
retired TO mountain or solitary place for
prayer, and spent days and nights in sacred
meditation. But so constant and uniform
was his habit OF communion with the great
Jehovah that he kept it up amid the multi
tude and converted the crowded city into a
religious retreat. His self-consciousness was
at every moment conditioned animated, and
impregnated by the consciousness of God.
Even when he exclaimed in indescribable
anguish of body and soul, and in vicarious
sympathy with the misery of the race " My
God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me 2"
the bond Of union was not broken, or even
loosened it was only obscured, as the sun
by passing cloud and the enjoyment, not
the possession, of it was for moment with
drawn from his feelings; for Immediately
afterward he triumphantly exclaimed IL
| is finished |" and commended his soul into
the hands of his Father. So strong and
complete was this holy union of Christ with
God at every moment of his life, that he
fully realized the idea of religion, whose OBJ
| iect is to bring about such union, and that
he is the personal representative and living
embodiment of Christianity as the true and
perfect religion. With all this, the piety Of
Christ was no inactive contemplation, or re
firing mysticism and selfish enjoyment, but
thoroughly practical, ever active in works o.
charity, and tending ts,iegenerate and trans
form the world into the kingdom of God
"He went about doing good" His life is al
unbroken series of good works and virtue
in active exercise; all proceeding from tn,
same union with God, animated by the sam
love- and tending to the same end,-th,
glory of God and the happiness of mankind
-SchdfSs Person of Christ.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
4" The Girls Did It."


That is, transformed home from rude
ness to refinement. The parents had lived
during their earlier years beat upon the sole
aim of making money. They ord ,red their
premises with entire reference TO that attain
ment. If they bought, it was upon the plan
of adding something to their wealth If they
sold it was with the one thought that they
could have so much to invest for further
productiveness. Under such plan it was
impossible for the house to have any other
air than that of place of business or work,
its character as place OF culture where
the mind and higher nature should have en-
joyment and expansion being left entirely
out OF sight and the man and woman, and
even the little children, all seemed TO grow
up in sympathy with the rougher aspects OF
life, caring nothing for that which is beau
tiful and improving. But the girls grew
up toward young womanhood aud found
themselves longing for something better
than their home afforded them. They had
hearts that were craving for intelligence,
feeling and congeniality with the better life
around them. They grew tired of the simple
hard moil and oil OF money-making Gradl-
ally, but surely, they began the work OF
reformation, and by the skillful manage
ment that they knew so we'll how to employ,
they changed the whole life Of the house
hold. Its rigors began to relax. Books,
newspapers, music, and other attractions had
gradual introduction, and flowers bloomed
and spread their fragrance about the door
yard. The father and mother entered into
a new life that thrust itself upon them, aud,
though never, perhaps, blaming them selves
for their earlier behavior and experience,
they were glad to acknowledge themselves
happy amid the pleasures that had been
brought them by their children. It was a
noble mission nobly fulflled.-United Pres
| hat
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
The Folly OF the Day.

There is dreadful ambition abroad for
being "genteel." We keep up appearances
too often at the expense of honesty; aud
though we may not be rich, yet we must
seem to be respectable" though only in
the meanest sense,-in mere vulgar show.
We have not the courage to go patiently on
ward in the condition Of life in which it
has pleased God to call us but must need
live in some fashionable state, to which We
ridiculously please to call ourselves, and all
to crafty the vanity of that unsubstantial
genteel world of which we form part.
There is a constant struggle and pressure
for front seats in the social amphitheater
in the midst of which all noble, self-deny-
ing resolve is trodden down, and many fine
natures are inevitably crushed to death.
What waste, what misery, what bankruptcy
come from all this ambition to dazzle others
with the glare of apparent worldly success,
we need not describe. The mischieyous re-
suits show themselves in thousand ways
in the rank frauds committed by men who
dare TO be dishonest, but do not dare to
seem poor; and in the desperate dashes at
fortune, in which the pity is not so much
for those who fail, as for the hundreds OF
innocent families who are so often involved
in the ruin.-Home Journal.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
DaM hmm the Heart.

"What we want is not so much, not half
so much, light for the intellect as dew upon
the heart" If Robertson had spoken but
this one sent snce he would have been the
worlds benefactor. Childhood is charming
because it has not lost the dew old age is
beautiful when it RECEIVERS it. We wonder
when men of intellect select for their
friends, or choose for their wives, those
greatly inferior in mind but the reason is
simple, they desire only "dew upon the
heart" Mark the anxious, care-worn faces
in the street. they know not what they
want; they think if they had little more
leisure, money or fame, they would be at
rest; but what they want is dew upon the
heart" 1t makes one charitable TO think of
these dusty, toil-worn men and women run
ming hither and thither to no purpose and
with so much pain. How is this dew to be
gainedf First, by trying to give it to another
| How can we do thisP lu many ways, in little
as well as great What power the human
voice has to shed "dew upon the heart"
Ask not the voice of the singer, charming as
is the gift ask rather for what was once
called by an humble, ignorant woman, "a
kind voice." How it melts the heart How
convincingly it teaches that we are of one
family on earth and shall be one family in
heaven. How rudeness softens and coarse
ness refnes before the power of a gentle,
persuasive voice, so that the rude and coarse
are rebuked into silence as in the presence
of death. Sympathy, appreciation, placing
ourselves in imagination in another's lot,
will shed dew upon the heart" We are
too given to advice, rebuke, blame, criticism,
The large-hearted, charitable, loving people
are the true reformers of the race. | cannot
believe there is any one so fallen that he
cannot be melted by loving voice, and
believe that many an apparently cold, indif-
ferent nature Is pining for word OF sym
pathy. We shall find this "dew upon the
heart in the writings of good men they
need not be great men. Have you never
come across in some humble book, or in a
newspaper, sentence full OF feeling and
refreshment2 Perhaps your heart was dry
and burning, aud those words spoken by
another heart shed dew on yours. have Q
hymn which | read almost daily there il
nothing wonderful about it, yet the more
read il the more strength it gives me. 1t IL
more to me- than a fortune; for 1t she'd
+" dew upon my heart" But more than any
thing we can do for others, or anything 9th
ers can do for us, do we need to seek tn,
dew of heaven. As the flowers gladly drinl
the dow which not only refreshes, but re
touches their faded colors, so should we opeI
the petals of our hearts to receive thos,
heavenly influences, those kindling aspra
rations which our heavenly father is 6,
much more ready 10 give than we to receive
for we forget, if we have ever learned, tina
"what we want is not so much, not half 81
much, light for the intellect as dew upor
the heart"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
Harmony Of Christ's Character.

The first feature in the singular perfec-
ton of Christs character which strikes our
of morality and religion, or of love TO God
and love to man. lie is more than moral,
and more than pious he is holy in the strict
and full sense Of the word. There is di-
vine beauty in his character, the mere con
temptation of which brings purity, peace,
and bliss TO the soul. Piety was the soul OF
his morality, and lifted it far above the
sphere of legality or conformity to law.
Every moral action in him proceeded from
supreme love to God, and looked TO the tenn
poral and eternal welfare of man. The
groundwork of his character was the most
Intimate and uninterrupted union aud com
munion with his heavenly Father, from
whom he derived, TO whom he referred
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
Living Epistles.

Ii has sometimes been questioned, as a
matter of curious speculation, whether the
Bible, if suddenly blotted out of existence,
could be reproduced by means of the scat
tered extracts from it which are to be
found in the pages of uninspired writers ;
and the story is told that, in the case of the
New Testament, such reproduction was
once actually made,-the industrious worker
being desirous of seeing whether it could
be accomplished. Again, people have Won
dered whether the whole, or nearly the
whole, of the Bible could be reproduced
from the memories of living men, were all
the books and manuscript of the world to
be swept away. Suppose you were left
alone OH desert island, with no book, for
the rest of your life, how much of the Bible
would you carry with you for your future
comfort 7 One thing is certain we get but
partial and unsatisfactory benefit from
that part of the Bible, or from those ee-
ments of the Christian life, which we REFUSE
to make available for our own good. And
if our own individual share of sacred litera
ture, or of the truths it brings, is small then
those who look TO us for picture OF Chris
tianity or an epitome OF Gods Word, gel
but a sorry idea of the real wealth and
strength and beauty which we so misrepre
sent. II is not useless thought to stop
aud reflect what sort Of representative OF
the Master we should make were we left
alone to bear witness for him among those
who knew him not.-S. s. Times.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
Dressing for Church.

There is no greater hindrance to the
spreading of the gospel in our midst than
the prevailing custom of dressing excessively
for church. 1t seems strange that woman
should choose Gods house as the place for
dress parade and stranger still that the
daughters of Zion, who are commanded to
"adorn themselves in modest apparel,
should come before the Lord with lofty looks
and high heads and nodding plumes, keeping
step with the giddy votaries OF fashion
This Delilah of worldliness has been rob
bing the church Of her strength while she
has been sleeping and she has need to
arouse herself, or her enemies will prevail
against her. We are glad to see that few
have been aroused to the Importance OF
dressing plainly for the sanctuary.-Chris
tian Woman.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
This World Goodness.

Robert Collyer, who has a keen outlook
for texts for his own use gives us one in the
characteristic remark al do not want to
stand in that mans shoes who makes great
fortune in utter indifference to those he EN-
ploys, and then leaves hundred thousand
dollars to build churches" Commonly such
men do not leave money to build churches,
but take their selfshness with them and
leave their money to their family. But there
is enough Of this post mortem benevolence
to point several morals, despite the fact
that an increasing number of rich men are
catching the Significance of the Spanish
proverb, with its grim reminder that There
are no pockets IN the shroud," and are do
ing good with their means while they live.
To be the almoner of ones own charity, the
executor of ones own good deeds, is in
every way so much more satisfactory, that
the wonder is how any who can afford the
luxury miss it. But it is justice rather than
charity for which MIR. Collyer speaks. His
suggestion touches the right-a hard word
in this connection, but the true one-the
right of man to accumulate great for
tune, in utter indifference TO the highest
welfare of those whose labor makes his pro
fits possible, and then think to buy heaven
with a big tip" from the cold hand Of
death. The communism OF the New leSta
ment-the doctrine OF brotherhood enforced
and lived by Jesus-points to better way
1t would dictate that the surplus money bt
spent " in thousand gracious ways among
those nearest you while you live" The mil
lennium will never be brought in, we ma.
be sure, by death-bed bequests of boarded
money wrung from the helplessness and the
needs of labor-no, nor even by persona
| gifts to the most beautiful of charities
" The kingdom OF heaven is within you,
said the Master. And when bit of HEAVIER
gets into man he does not think OF post
poning all the heavenly moods and deeds t.
future time or state. The now and tn
here afford him opportunity to show wha
manner of man he is. The golden rule wa
made for this life, and the last /" do " in i
implies some action. Have you ever though
what it means for you ?-GOiden Rule.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18

Too SUDDEN,-We were premature in
saying that the alumni Graduated students)
OF the Massachusetts, Agricultural College
were TO be represented in its board of trus
tees. The bill passed the house, but wai
killed in the senate by means which the ed
the Haverhill Gdzetie, who was present
characterizes as ga disgrace to the trustees
and the senate" We notice that everywher,
the senates are the strongholds OF lobbyism
where wicked "inAuence" has the mos
power to defeat the will Of the people. Thos
bodies are full of old political rats, as des
titute of honesty as OF teeth.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-05-18
Agriculture in England.

The Philadelphia american has on some
observations upon this subject which, as
stating the situation compactly, is worth
laying before our readers. When we set
America right before the world for abolish
ing slavery, we really pulled out the chief
corner stone from beneath every abuse, and
introduced subtle poison into the body Of
every wrong by which man can oppress his
fellow man. Says the paper we quote " 1t
is now asked in England whether it is better
to be an Irish landlord without rents or an
English landlord without tenants. In all
parts of Great Britain the farms are thrown
upon the hands of their owners as fast as
their brief leases expire, and where there
are no leases the process is still more sum
mary. In some parts of Warwickshire four
fifths of the lands lie unlet, while in others
reductions of from thirty-fve to fifty per
cent in rent have been made. In one estate
in Oxfordshire there are fifteen hundred
acres idle, while in other parts of the shire
land is let at half-rent or merely nominal
rent, lust to secure care-.aker. In Bed
fordshire the reductions in rent range from
seventy-fve to twenty five per cent, accord
ing as the old rental approached or fell be-
low the former market value of the land
In Essex there are reductions on the same
scale, many farms being let at mere nom
inal rent. In Shropshire, great numbers Of
tenants have given notice of intention to
abandon their farms, and to conciliate them
! reductions have been make as high as fifty
per cent. In Huntingdonshire, Leicester
shire and Norfolk, there have been similar
reductions; large sections lie idle, and rents
in some instances are down TO what they
were forty-fve years ago. A review of the
whole island would probably show state o.
things similar to that in these purely agri
cultural shires. The pressure of American
competition is crushing the heart out of th'
English land system. Good judges of tn
matter say that England has raised the las
crop that will pay. This means the las
crop that will pay for the support of tn
three classes now living of the land, viz
the agricultural laborer, the capitalist fai
mer, and the owner of the estate"