davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
MONTPELIER, VT, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1881.

Now 1t may be so, as the governor says, but
If it is Soft the producers Of the bulk Of
the worlds wealth, the most industrious and
virtuous as well as the most numerous class
in nearly all civilized countries are, as a
class, poor and in debt, and If this free
America, this enlightened New England, Of
fers no exception to such rule--then we
would like to enquire whether American
free principles are having their natural re-
suit Did our forefathers mean that their
children, save a favored few, should live
bound forever in the chains Of poverty and
debt2 Governors should be adopts in the
science Of government. Governor Farnham
should have been able to give this matter q
more profound treatment than the mere cav
alier dismissal of it in the words quoted.
We are astonished that he did not, for he
is, we believe, man of books as well as a
lawyer and politician. American states
men should know something about the
causes which make American farmers so
generally poor and in debt They ought to
be able to lay a finger upon those causes,
and to point out how they may be removed.
IL must certainly be that they are, to some
extent at least removable, though perhaps
only by the withdrawal of some exclusive
privileges which build up other and less USE
full classes and, to an at least equal extent,
depress the farmers. We wish the governor
would, before the winter is over, give us his
deliberate and candid judgment on a ques-
tion Of such vital moment.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Agricultural Fairs.

The st. Johnsbury Caledonian copies from
our first article on the state agricultural So
ciety, and says This is pretty plain talk.
But many others besides the agricultural
editor of the WATcHMAN have found fault
with the management Of the state society =;
and some county fairs-Caledonia for in
stance-are looked upon as really more at
tractive and beneficial, agricuturally, than
the state fair. This ought not to be, and
would not be if every section of the state
was represented in the general society hy
wideawake men, who wero full of push and
energy" A similar sentiment seems to pre-
vail all over the state, and we have several
notes on the subject, in which the writers
express themselves, in the words of one Of
them, as "glad to read what you have writ
ten about the state agricultural society and
its fairs. Such gambling ought to be re-
buked with a clear voice, and pricked wit b
sharp PIN" 1t is not pleasure to us to
hurt the feelings and incur the ill-will Of
gentlemen for whom, as citizens and per
sonal acquaintance, we entertain only feel
ings of goodwill and esteem. But every
one who occupies public station must, in
free country, submit, patiently or other
wise, to criticism of their public acts. Sucf
criticism is one of the duties of the public
prasa
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Working for God.

Working for God is often painful as well
as humbling II entails suffering, and we
are fitted for 1t by suffering. Why is this
Because the suffering brings us into closer
fellowship with our Lord, who was the man
OF sorrows; because IL brings us into SYM
pathy with our brethren suffering all around
us; because it weakens us because it hum.
bles us. Do you know what is Gods chief
difficulty with us IL is not the filling us
1t is the emptying us. II is not the edifying
us it is the pulling us down. And there
fore it is that Gods chief instrument of edi-
fication is the pickaxe. He must break us
down, down, down, and whatever he gives
us to do for his service he will first Of all
show us that we are not able to do it. In our
armies, when man is wounded, they take
him at once out of the ranks and put him in
the rear to take care of him. He is not fit
for the fighting till his wounds are healed
Not 80 in the Lords army. There the faint
are in the heat of the battle and the
wounded lead the vanguard. Look at the
history Of the church and you will see that
most, If not all, of those whom God has en-
ployed in signal manner for his glory,
have been, in one way or another, among
the most afflicted OF men, either in heart or
in body, sometimes in both. Therefore do
not be afraid Of suffering. Do not think
that suffering interferes with service. On
the contrary, it helps it on. When, there
fore, we offer our prayers to God, aud ask
him to take us and make us, don't let us
forget to put another petition between these
two, and ask him also to break us. That is
a short and comprehensive prayer; "Take
me break me make me !" God answering
that prayer can do something with us.-Reu.
Theodore Mon0d
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Little Things on Christmas.

There are but few great people in the world,
and only few leading members in society.
As in nature there is now and then a noun
tain but a multitude of little hills,-now and
then a great river but thousands of little
streams. The little folks, the common peo-
pie, and the obscure people are in the ma
jority. They have hearts as tender, as true,
as joyful and sad as others. Do not forget
them,-those who have no rich friend,
those who are alone in the world, and those
whom hardly any one knows anything about.
Have hunting-up committee who shall find
out these timid and lonesome and discour-
aged souls. Let each seek out the one whom
he thinks every one else will overlook. Re-
member also that Christmas gift, in order
to make a merry heart, need not be very
costly or large, but be given with merry
heart. The unexpectedness of gift adds
to the joy it gives. Generally the most fun
and laughing comes from those gifts which
cost but little. We once knew a parish
Christmas tree upon which was a gift for
every person in the society, and no present
cost over one dollar A jollier company
never met. There was no chance for pride
or jealousy. The poor gave to the rich,
and the rich to the poor, and the gifts were
simply tokens of good will. Try not to see
how great present you can make to some
one, but rather how many cheerful tokens
you can give to multitude of people. Go
out of your way to say "Merry Christmas {"
to as many as possible. Have a Merry
Christmas in your heart on your face, and
upop YOUR lips,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
The Triumph OF istianity.

The following passage is quoted by the
London Quarterly Reuiew, with the remark
that, "for the commendation of its wide
historic survey, and its vigorous and glow
ing eloquence, it is one of the finest in the
whole range Of literature" at arose in
an enlightened and skeptical age but among
a despised and narrow-minded people. 1t
earned hatred and persecution at home by
its liberal genius and opposition to the ma
tional prejudices; it earned contempt abroad
by its connection with the country where it
was born, but which sought to strangle it in
its birth. Emerging from Judea, It made
its onward march through the most polished
regions of the world-Asia Minor, Egypt,
Greece Rome-and in all it attracted notice
and provoked hostility. Successive massa-
cres and attempts at determination, perse-
cuted for ages by the whole force Of the
Roman Empire, it bore without resistance,
and seemed to draw fresh vigor from the
axe assaults in the way of argument, from
whatever quarter, it was never ashamed or
unable to repel, and whether attacked or
not it was resolutely aggressive. In four
centuries it had pervaded the civilized world;
it had mounted the thrones of the Ce,ars ;
it had spread beyond the limits of their
sway, and had made inroads upon barbarian
nations whom their eagles had never Wis.
tied; it had gathered all genius and all
learning into itself, and made the literature
of the world its own; it survived the inun-
dation of the barbarian tribes, and con-
quered the world once more by converting
its conquerors to the faith it survived an
age of barbarism it survived the restora
tion of letters; it survived an age of free
inquiry and skepticism, and has long stood
its ground in the field of argument, and
commanded the intelligent assent of the
greatest minds that ever were it has been
the parent of civilization, and the nurse Of
learning, and if light, and humanity, and
freedom be the boast of modern Europe, it
is to Christianity that she owes them. Ex-
hibiting in the life of Jesus picture, va.
ried and minute, of the perfect human uni.
ted with the divine, in which the mind Of
man has not been able to find deficiency
or detect blemish-a picture copied from
no model and rivaled by no copy-it has
accommodated itself to every cline; it has
retained through every change salient
spring of life, which enables it to throw off
corruption and repay decay, and renew its
youth, amid outward hostility and inward
divisions"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Apples that Resist June FrOsts.

Mrs. A. p, Of Milan, New Hampshire, COM
plains, in letter to us, of the difficulty Of
raising apples on account of June frosts,
which are frequent and severe in that local
ity, and kill the bloom, or cause the young ap-
Piles to drop off. She wishes to know if there
are any kinds not affected by such freezes.
There are; and last June gave us as severe
test as is ever likely to occur. Out of
more than one hundred varieties that bios
somed last spring, the following sorts seemed
entirely unaffected, and produced nine
tenths of all the apples we had-of sum-
mer fruit, Tetofsky and Yellow Transpa-
rent; Of fall apples, Peach Apple, Duchess
of Oldenburgh and Pringle Sweet; of win
ter apples, Fameuse, Wealthy, and Scott's
winter. All these varieties can be depended
on not to suffer from frosts that occur at OF
after blossoming. This is quite an impor-
tant matter to farmers living in deep, mar
row valleys, or among broad, low meadows
In such places many sorts of apples are an
utter failure, even though the trees are
hardy. The strong growth produced by loss
of the fruit in frosty seasons prevents the
formation of many fruit buds, so that ever
in years when there are not late frosts they
yield but little fruit.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
The Explanation.

To my own mind there is only one solu.
ton for the mysteries of life, and only one
support for the days of terrible affiiction.
The only relief l can find is the certainty
that this life is not the end, but simply and
only the preparatory school for the real and
the endless life that is beyond. The mo-
ment that accept this truth fully and hold
it firmly find solid ground for my feet and
light for my sorrowing soul. Then dis
cover that the whole journey OF the believer
is "portioned out to him, and that the
dark tunnel on the road is just as surely ap.
pointed wisely as is the most flowery mead
or the happiest walk over the Delectable
Mountains" Nay, more. When we reach
heaven we may discover that the richest
and deepest and most profitable experiences
we had in this world were those which were
gained in the very roads from which we
shrunk back with dread. The bitter cups
we tried to push away contained the medi-
cines we most needed. The hardest lessons
that we learn are those which teach US the
most and best fit us for service here and
glory hereafter. II is the easiest thing in
the world to obey God when he commands
us to do what we like, and to trust him
when the path is all sunshine. The real vic
tory Of faith is to trust God in the dark and
through the dark. Let us be assured of
this, and if the lesson and the rod are of his
appointing, and that his all-wise love has
engineered the deep tunnels of trial ON the
heavenward road, he will never desert us
during the discipline. The vital thing for
us is not to deny and desert him.-Dr. T. L.
CtluLer,
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
A Hearts Bethany.

From the city to the village-it seems to
be but short journey; in point of mileage
indeed it was nothing but an easy walk.
From the city into Bethany-how far was
thatf DO not tell me the disLauve In miles,
statute or geographical-such journeys have
not to be measured by arithmetical instru-
ments. From the city to Bethany was from
battlefield to home-how far is that
From the city to Bethany was journey
from strangeness to friendship-who can
lay line upon that immeasurable distance?
From the city to Bethany, journey from
and tender ministry-who can lay a line
upon that diameter and announce its length
in miles None Itwas worth while max
ing that little change for one night-one
night, one quiet look upward, one brief
solemn pause in the rush of life, that the
head might turn towards the stars and the
armament and the serenities of the upper
places. The house at Bethany was not
grand, but the home was lined with the gold
of love, We want such home when the
stress is heavy upon us-tears could be shed
there without being misunderstood, and the
heart could tell its whole tale or remain in
total silence, just as the mood determined,
and there would be no misconstruction. II
was church in the rocks, it was sweet
sanctuary, Just out of the great high road
of life's business and sacrifice. Can you
retire to such a nest Happy is your lot
He who can find Bethany, home, a rest
place, Sabbath in the midst of the week
can bear his burdens with equanimity and
grace and hope
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
About Dancing.

Here is what purely secular paper, the
New York Journal Of Education, says A
great deal can be said about dancing; for
instance, the chief of police of New York
city says that three-fourths of the abandoned
girls in this city were ruined by dancing.
Young ladies allow gentlemen privileges in
dancing which, taken under any other cir
cumstances, would be considered as i'm
proper. 1t requires neither brains nor good
morals to be a good dancer. As the love OF
the one increases, the love of the other de
creases. How many of the best men and
women are skilful dancers ? In ancient
times the sexes danced separately. Alcohol
is the spirit of beverages. So sex is the
spirit of the dance take it away and let the
sexes dance separately and dancing would
go out of fashion very soon. Parlor dan
cling is dangerous. Tippling leads to drunk.
enness, and parlor dancing leads to ungodly
balls. Tipping and parlor dancing SOW to
the wind and both reap the whirlwind. Put
dancing in the crucible, apply the acids
weigh 1t, and the verdict Of reason, morality
and religion is, Weighed in the balance
and found wanting"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
The Muck Question.

The Maine Farmer of November "a de-
votes nearly a whole page to editorial mat
ter, extracts and correspondence upon this
topic. DIR. Nichols's article on "The Muck
Deluson has reused up the best practical
farmers all over New England to protest
against his condemnation of muck as fer
tilizer. Correspondents of the NeD England
Farmer, (and especially we note that veteran
and successful farmer, Royal Smith Of
Millington, Mass.,) also give their practical
experience in the use of muck during long
series of years. The intelligence of the
farmers of this section of the country is fully
vindicated against the crotchet of DR.
Nichols, who, though an able writer, full Of
instruction on many important points, is very
apt to ego off on a tangent" in most Gu
rious way. In our criticism of his article
we said that if it reused up discussion Of
the question it would do good, aud that is
what it has done. The result will be, we
are sure, profitable awakening of attention
to this too greatly neglected source of fer
tility on our farms.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Our Governor ON Mortgages.

If we cannot have farmer in this agricul-
tural state for governor, the next best thing
is to have governor who does not feel above
attending an agricultural meeting. Gov
ernor Farnham is one of that sort, and he
not only attends our meetings, but talks well
and instructively there. The governor is
ez-o6icio, member of the Board of Agricul
ture, but a good many of our governors
never have seemed to know it. At Hyde
park recently Governor Farnham spoke
very acceptably of "Our Vermont Homes
and their Advantages" There was nothing
in all he said that his hearers would be likely
to do otherwise than applaud as sound and
true, unless it were the sighting way in
which he spoke of the most grievous aiic
tions in many of our otherwise happy Yer
mont homes, "the mortgage on the farm
He is reported thus on this topic 1T il
said disparagingly that our farmers have
mortgages upon their farms, that they ar,
poor and in debt, but IL is 80 everywhere
There are no exceptions among enlightened
people. Where those that titled soil theJ
did not own, as in England, had no mort
cages, they had the rent which was worse.'
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
A Throne OF Grace.

Thank God for every errand that takes
you to throne of grace. Whatever that
may be that sends you to prayer count it as
one of your choicest blessings. 1t may be
a heavy cross, painful trial. a pressing
want; 1t may be broken cistern, cold
look, and unkindly expression yet If it
leads you to prayer regard 1t as a mercy
sent from God to your soul. Thank God
for an errand to him. Stay not from a
throne of grace because Of an unfavorable
state of mind. II God is ready to receive
you Just as you are, If no questions are
asked, and no examination is instituted, and
no exceptions are made on account of the
coldness of your state, then count it your
mercy TO go to God with your worst frames
To linger from a throne OF grace because OF
an untitness and unpreparedness to approach
1t is to alter its character from a throne OF
merit. If the Lords ears are open only to
the cry of the righteous when they seek
him in certain good and acceptable frames,
then he hears them for their frames, and not
because he is a God Of grace. 1t is the
the privilege of poor soul to go TO Jesus in
his worst frames. To 60 in darkness, TO go
in weak faith, TO go when everything seems
to say, "stay away" TO go in the face OF OPP
position, TO hope against hope, TO 60 in the
consciousness OF having walked at distance,
10 press through the crowd TO the throne Of
grace; 10 take the hard, the cold, the reluc-
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
From an Unexpected Source.

The Detroit Post says that circus clown
in Virginia took occasion, the other day, at
the close of the performance, to speak plain
and very searching words, which deserve
the sober attention of many more than those
who heard them. In his painted face and
mottled garments he said We have taken
in six hundred dollars here to-day more
than most ministers of the gospel receive
for whole years service. A large portion
of this money was given by church-mem
bers, and large portion of this audience is
made up of members of the church. And
yet, when your preacher asks Won tn aid him
In supporting the gospel, you are too poor
to give anything. But you come here and
pay dollars to hear me talk nonsense. am
a fool because l am paid for it; 1 make my
living by it. You profess to be wise, and
yet you support me in my folly. But per
haps you say you did not come to see the
circus, but the animals. If you came sim
ply to see the animals, why did you not sim
ply look at them and leave? Now, is this
not pretty place for Christians to be in
Do you not feel ashamed of yourselves
You ought to blush in such place as this.
-SeLecfed
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
Differences, and Differences.

1t is bad fashion among agricultural
scientists to quote the different and conflict
ing views of farmers upon the value of fer
tilizers as proof that observations made
upon the farm are of no value in such mat
ters. Applying the same rule to scientists,
even the most eminent, and where is your
science? Even those princes of agricul-
tural chemistry, Lebig and Lawes and Gill
bert, were long in direct conflict upon vital
matters; and, to-day, agricultural chemists
are sharply at issue upon the question
whether it pays to give phosphates excess
i've solubility by treatment with sulphuric
acid or not There is even doubt ex-
pressed as to the value and use of nitrogen
in manures. And just now DR.. Nichols of
Massachusetts, is making scientific raid
upon swamp muck, and telling farmers who
have used it with profit for years that
Nothing is more deceptive and uncertain
than observations upon farm crops, and the
influence of soils and fertilizers, when no
careful methods and no weights and meas
ures are employed" We would like to in
quire of DR.. Nichols if farmers must employ
"careful methods and weights and meas
ures before they can know whether a stable
dung is "manure or not Truly, it is de-
sirable that we should have exact expert
ments, carefully repeated, to discriminate as
to the comparative value of different ma
nures and methods; but we have not much
respect for the opinions, on this subject, of
any writer, however scientific, who thinks
farmers cannot tell whether a substance
they have used as manure for twenty years
is a manure or not. We would trust far
sooner to the sound common sense of Yam
kee farmers on such subject than we
would to all the fine weighings and measur-
ings of any chemical laboratory. 1t is
fact that chemists have been more often
wrong than farmers on these matters; and
chemistry, though it has given and will con-
tinue to give us valuable facts, has done
more to show the reasons Of the practical
results worked out by experience on the
farm than it has to originate or suggest
new measures that proved successful in
practice. The higher class of agricultural
chemists recognize this to be fact, and are
now seeking to ally the farmers with them
selves in carrying out experiments, so that
the tentative conclusions of the laboratory
may be tested and checked by field expert
ments. This is the common sense road to
profitable results, and er.cathedra talk is
now at heavy discount among all good
farmers, however much they may value sci
ence in itself. "To the law, and the testi-
mony," is now the maxim which must rule
us in these matters.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-12-21
True Preaching.


"Practical Christianity " is all we'll enough,
but it has always needed some vital impel-
ling power to give it energy and life, and
quite as much to-day as when a preacher of
"mere ethics once said in his "Christian 1"
message to his flock: If virtue incarnate
were to appear on earth all men would fall
down and worship" and was answered from
the same place by his better instructed col
league Virtue incarnate did appear on
earth, and instead of men falling down and
worshiping, their only cry was, Away with
him cruelty himl'" A great many more
than DR.. Chalmers, as he rose to his great
work of waking up church sunk in world
illness, immortality and indifference, could
testify as he testified on mournfully review
ing his Kilmany ministry; "No one could
denounce all dishonesty, untruthfulness,
profanity or impurity more vehemently or
continually than / did. And yet, with all
my preaching, never knew dishonest, un-
truthful, profane or impure person in any
way changed or made better. But since,
he could add, g. have known and preached
Jesus Christ and him crucifed have known
many such so changed" So has it always
been, so will it always be.-Presbyterian.