davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
Get the Meaning.

The Bible, is, indeed, deep book when
depth is required-that is to say, for deep
people. But it is not intended particularly
for profound persons; on the contrary, much
more for shallow persons. And, therefore,
the first and generally the main and leading
idea of the Bible is, on its surface, written
in the plainest possible Greek, Hebrew or
English, needing no penetration or amplifi-
cation, needing nothing but what we might
give-attention. But this, which is in every
ones power, and is the only thing that God
wants, is just the last thing that any one
will give him. We are delighted to ramble
away into day-dreams, to repeat pet verses
from other places, suggested by chance
words; to snap at an impression which suits
our particular views, or to dig up mean
ing from under verse, which we should be
amiably grieved TO think any human being
had been so happy as to find before. But a
plain, intended, immediate, fruitful mean
ing, which every one ought to find always,
and especially that which depends on our
seeing the relation of the verse to those near
it, and getting the force of the whole pas
sage in due relation-this sort of signifi
canoe we do not look for, it being truly not
to be discovered, unless we really attend to
what is said, instead of to our own feelings
-Ruskin's Modern Painters.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
Adulterated Butter.

An exchange says "Among articles
which are now freely adulterated is that OF
butter. For long time this article was
not known to be adulterated, but, of late,
New York dealers who handle large quanti-
ties of butter have noticed that the tubs OF
butter from the West weigh six or eight
pounds heavier than usual in fifty-pound
tubs. This increase of weight to the same
bulk baffled investigation for some time, but
has at last been found due to an adultera
ton with powdered soapstone. A firm in
Cincinnati, known as the Cincinnati Facing
Company, manufactures powdered soap
stone, and the article is said to have a ready
market for legitimate purposes, as well al
for the adulteration of butter. Housekeep
ers have been, for long time, accustomed
to soapstone mantels, but to look for soap
tone among their food will be an undesira
BILE search"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
Gods Forgiveness and Ours.

Two wheels protrude from factory, and
are seen in motion on the outer wall by
every passenger. They move into each
other. The upper wheel is large, the under
small From without and at distance, you
cannot tell whether the upper is impelling
the under or the under moving the upper,
This question, however, might be settled by
an inspection of the interior By such an
inspection it may be found that the larger
and higher wheel communicates the motion
to the lower and smaller. If the upper
wheel, which communicates motion, should
stand still, so also would the lower but
more than this, if the lower wheel, which re
ceives the motion, should by some impedi,
ment be stopped, the upper wheel also would
stand STILL 1t is in some such way that
Gods goodness in forgving freely fol
Christ's sake our sins impels us to forgive
from the heart those that have trespassed
against us. The power is all from above
yet though we by our goodness do not sci
the benefcent machinery in motion, we may
by our badness cause it all to stand STILL
Arnot, in the Pdrabies Of our Lord"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
No Time for 1t.

II is question whether we can fairly or
honorably plead that we have no time to at
tend to duties. Our pleasures may be
crowded out, our plans for advancement or
money-getting may not find sufficient time
for their fulfillment, but when we have not
time to fulfill the duties to others which our
place in life demands, there is something
wrong. Either we are doing too much need
less work, or we are trying to do work that
Justly belongs to others. 1t is told of Philip
OF Macedon that poor old woman came to
his palace many times in vain to ask redress
for wrongs that had been done. After many
attempts she at last obtained an audience
with the king only to be rebutfed by him, as
she had been by his attendants. " | am not
at leisure to hear YOU" he replied abruptly,
when she began her story. "No ?" was her
exclamation; I" then you are not at leisure
to be king" This view of the matter quite
confounded the king. A few moments he
thought upon it in silence. Then he told
the woman to go on with her case, heard her
TO the end, and then gave order that those
who had wronged her should be punished,
and restitution made to her. Aud ever at
ter this he made it "a point to listen to all
applications brought before him, repeating
to his courtiers, who objected to his troubling
himself, the lesson that the poor woman had
taught him,-that if he was not at leisure to
hear the plea of his humblest subject, he
was not at leisure to be king.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
The Everyday Christian Life.

We stood in the cburch-porch after all the
congregation had gone out, and were talking
for a few moments in the line of the SER
mon. 1t had been about the cultivation OF
our spiritual nature, and how the mass of
men forget and neglect it, and live largely
md often as il there was no such thing be-
longing to them. Said my friend, as tear
glistened in her eye, "Does it not seem
strange that so much Of our life should be
wasted in the perpetual thought of little
things, while we have no time or strength to
give to the larger ones How many are
toilworn, their life one long struggle barely
to live, the one supreme and necessary en-.
deavor being to get enough to eat and be
clothed with, or to feed or cover those de-
pendent upon them And then how this
perpetual pursuit and occupation with small
things sometimes seems to make us grow
small" "Yes," replied, " it does appear
so st all times. To be watching the pennies,
to be calculating whether you can afford to
spend or not this quarter of a dollar, does,
at first glance, seem as if it would make us
grow little in soul. But look at it all
around. Life is made up Of little things
small breaths and short heart-beats. Food
and drink are necessary, and morsels make
them. Yet it has often grieved me to spend
on piece of beef large enough to feed the
a;ant to huy a hook fnll of noble thoughts
% tha ona " 70 ~ van;Sh from, hnman s;gbt tbe
ott .tar 20 II I've foraver Rut the booS csnno,
49, Ha go w and tho haaf oms, he bought ar
te~s mt W tbe Grief aside Maid the price Of
tha IT, pr ana saan the areat thorqbts al
ios, IuS ;n tha merry chat of the tahle from
ios. ~ ~ 'uI IL "Iy Sys Laa J;ao',oarad H.,
wnlch 1ne oees mas uisaPpe"ieu. pu
VINO shat say a,.er an, onis is nv oesS
Deaing ",tn larger interests 9oes noe mar man.
one grow large "A man VINO IS IN tne 1aoi 70
OIL dealing win tens OIL thousahus' anu na
no need TO watch penny, ol1en ooes watc'
IL with keeher interest than even you or
ever regard IT, somehow 'ne large oeaiins =
nave not made MN large ne even seems
nave shruhk as ne toucnes theni: Au'
freedom from these iittie lnlngs Oh nle, am
leisure 10 give ones sen eh,ireiy 70 higIe
Things DO not practicaliy tena 70 iorh h9ole
characters nor more oeautiiui lives LOU
at monks or nuns Ihey nave no care 10 .
what tney snail eat or wnat 'ney shail urihk x
the prior or aooot VIII take care Oh all INA
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
Do Your Children Go to Church /!

1t is one of the weaknesses Of our modern
religion that so few children are seen with
their parents at the public service at Gods
house. Church members are quite too prone
to think it enough to send their children to
the Sunday-school, while they leave them at
home with the servants, or suffer them to run
loose upon the streets or about the neighbor-
hood, when they themselves attend public
worship. The children care not to go to
church, and parents allow them to have their
way, if only they go to Sunday-school
Now, Sunday-school is well enough in its
way, but it will never do as a substitute for
the regular public service of the great con-
gregation. 1t is too lax and gay aud free a
place, for children to be impressed with the
high reverence and solemnity of worship
which needs to be taught them and rooted
in their souls from the very beginning. Not
to take children to church is a great mis-
take and great mischief. What if they
can't understand all the sermon? What if
there is some trouble and annoyance con-
nected with bringing them, and the keeping
of them in proper order? The value to them
of the habit of being present at public wor-
ship is ample compensation for all the
trouble. 1t will teach order, reverence, and
good behavior, which, alas is not generally
the case with Sunday-schools And, if moth
ing more is accomplished, this is surely a
great deal. But it will do infinitely more.
1t will early plant the habit of church going,
which will follow them in after years. 1t
will serve to make them familiar and at
home with sacred services and holy worship
so that they will not feel like strangers and
outsiders, as they must If they only begin to
come later in life. Children are also capa.
ble of deep and solemn impressions, even
when they have not the understanding to
comprehend them. They, however, under
stand much more than most people suppose
The child mind is not so blank thing as
may be thought. Children observe more
than grown people and they also reason
and think. What they see does not fail oi
| its impression upon their young natures
even though they do not comprehend it al
the time. II excites them to inquiries which
open the way for the clearest and most last
ing instructions. There is much also il
public worship and the regular church ser
vices which children can understand. Word
in the texts, in the sermons, in the hymns
in the prayers, and even in the appoint
ments, will necessarily arrest their attention
awaken thought, excite remark, and lead h
instruction, helping often to much beyont
all that we can trace or know. Many OF tn
Scripture lessons are 80 vivid, clear an'
plain, that the young child brought to lister
to them must get some important impres
sions from them. And, if no definite know
edge Of sacred truth is taken in, still a goo,
discipline has been in exercise and GOO
thing has been accomplished, in that the
were present. and under the restraints an'
solemnities which pertain to sacred services
The Lutheran.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
" Died Poor"

1T was a sad funeral to me-" said the
speaker; "the saddest have attended for
many years." "That of Edmonson ?"
eyes" How did he die ?" "Poor-poor
as poverty. His life was one long struggle
with the world, and at every disadvantage.
Fortune Knocked him all the while with
golden promises that were destined never to
know fulilment." "Yet be was patient
and enduring" remarked one of the COM
pany. "Patient as a Christian-enduring
as martyr" was answered. "Poor man
he was worthy Of better fate He ought 10
have succeeded, for he deserved success"
"Did he not succeed ?" questioned one who
had spoken of his patience and endurance.
No, sir. He died poor, Just as 1 have
stated. Nothing that he put his hand to
ever succeeded. A strange fatality seemed
to attend every enterprise" al was with
him in his last moments" said the other,
" and thought he died rich" "No, he has
left nothing behind" was replied. "The
heirs will have no concern as TO the admins
| tration OF his estate" He left a good
name," said one, and that is something"
And legacy of noble deeds that were done
in the name Of humanity" remarked an
other "And precious examples" said
third. blossoms of patience in suffering, of
hope in adversely, of heavenly confidence
when no sunDeams 1ell upon MS DeWlldereu
path" was the testimony of another. "And
high truths, manly courage and heroic forti-
tude." "Then he died rich," was the en-
phatic declaration. Richer than the mil
lionaire who went to his long home on the
same day, miserable in all but gold. A sad
funeral, did you say2 No, my friend, it
was a triumphal procession. Not the burial
of human clod, but the ceremonies attend
ant on the translation of an angel. Did not
succeed Why his whole life was series
of successes. In every conflict he came off
the victor, and now the victor's crown is on
his brow. Any grasping, soulless, selfish
man, with moderate share of brain, may
gather money and learn the art of keeping
it but not one in a hundred can conquer
bravely in the battle OF life as Edmonson has
conquered, and step forth from the ranks OF
men a Christian hero. No, no he did not
die poor, but rich-rich in neighborly love
! and rich in celestial affections. And his
heirs have an interest in the administration
, of his affairs. A large property has been
left, and let them see to it that they do not
lose precious things through false estimates
aud ignorant depreciation. There are higher
things to gain in this world than wealth thai
: perishes. He dies rich who can take hi
treasure with him to the new land where he
: is to abide forever; and he who has to leav'
. all behind on which he has placed his affec
= tions dies poor indeed"
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
The Homes OF America.

1t is not a mere accident the homes of
America are the most comfortable and COM
forting on earth. Nor are these home COM
forts due simply to mechanical skill or eco
nomic judgment. A country which has
limited the powers of its government slim.
ulates society, and highly moral society pro-
duces the most perfect homes which human
eyes or poetic visions can behold. No one
knows the American system well who does
not know the American home. Our polit-
ical system is publicity itself American So
ciety has never yet been fully characterized;
while the best result of both, the perfect
home, has been praised in general terms,
but not described and explained in its true
fullness. The novel writers, from whom
such descriptions might be expected, have
failed ANONYMOUSLY in their attempts at
showing the maturest results of our social
system. Yet this system is unique, and it
is marked advance upon all European
models. The English home approaches the
American home, while the German home
approaches the English; but the ideal Amer
lean home, not rarely realized, has COM
fort, character and dignity all its own. 1t
may seem to be wanting in the graces, ira
ditions and responsibilities peculiar to the
best English homes it surpasses them in
moral dignity it differs from all the others
in being the result of highly refined civ
ilization; it is the best and purest outcome
of our ethical and clinical system. There
has been much pleasant banter about the
great American novel that is to come. Let
it not dwell too much on politics. British
politics are larger than ours. Let it not tell
too much of busy people the French are as
industrious and industrial as we are. Let
it not confne itself to analysis of character
or sentiment; other nations have both in
abundance. Let it describe the purest and
sweetest of American homes, and let it de
scribe, not an ideal but that reality which
distinguishes the American home from all
others, and shows it to be the best outcome
out of our history, our political institutions
and our social system.-Boston Advertiser.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
What a Mother Can DO.

In his admirable tract on parental obliga-
tion, DR.. Dabney says "A church was re-
joicing with its new pastor in an ingather-
ing of souls, and among the converts was
one whose appearance was so surprising that
it filled them with wondering gratitude.
The subject was man of the world, who
had lived past middle life, far from Christ
and good He was man of inherited
wealth and social position, generous and
profuse, profane when irritated, sports
man and keeper of thoroughbred horses, a
frequenter of all scenes of gaiety and worldly
amusements which were not low. This man
now suddenly manifested a solemn interest
in divine things, was constant in Gods
house, and was found before long, sitting
like contrite child at the feet OF Jesus ;
and let it be added here, that his after-life
nobly attested the genuineness of the change.
He lived pure Christian aud devoted phil
anthropist, and died in the faith. There
was naturally in the new pastors heart a
curiosity to know how surprising and graft
flying a revolution was wrought, and perhaps
trace OF elation as he argued with himself
that this case must be purely result of pull
pit instrumentalities So, when the convert
came to confer with the session, he was
asked what sermon had been the special
means OF his awakening. IL seemed hard
for him at first to apprehend the drift of
such question, but at last he answered very
simply that his change was not due TO any
sermon or recent means, but to his mother.
To his mother She had been dead so long
that few remembered what manner of mother
he had She had been in her grave more
than forty years. The Oldest elder present
had never seen her, had, in fact, never heard
of her. She had died In the bloom of her
beauty and maturity, when he was boy OF
six years. Thus the wonder grew. But he
explained that she was Christian woman,
fruit of the great ingathering of Samuel
Davies in the colonial days, and she had be-
gun to instruct her eldest born in the truth.
He stated that now, if he was Christs, it
was the power of these teachings over his
infant mind, and especially of the dying
scenes, which was the true instrument in
pging him back, without which all other
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
MONTPELIER, VT, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY g. 1881

ualism. The fundamental quality of man
in his material and his spiritual nature will
not be forgotten. He who has found God
the Great Spirit, is not like to regard Gods
human child as mere machine. The moral
aspect of health and disease will be properly
adjusted and never ignored. Religion will
render the man sympathetic, but real. II
will give the genuine coin of politeness and
good behavior, of which fashion, professional
etiquette, worldly wisdom, issue only the
counterfeit. The purity of life Of which we
spoke, and the tenderness of heart of which
we are speaking, when derived from true
religion, will emerge in gentleness of de-
meanor and sweetness Of manner that shall
themselves be as medicine of wondrous
potency. Many a man has been cured of
his disease, who yet almost died of his physi.
clan. The roughness of manner which was
natural to some great healers, and became
a sort of fashion among their would-be imi-
tators, would be needless when skill and in
sight, experience and devotion, rested upon
the firm basis of religious conviction. And
not little of highest spiritual service could
be wrought by him who, summoned to relieve
mans sufferings In an hour of need, was
able to seize upon the opportunities, then so
often afforded, of a ministration, the issues
of which are not merely in the health of the
body and the enjoyments of this world, but
in the vigor OF the soul and the glorious
felicities of the eternal life.-Dr. L. d. Be.
| Udn, in Sermons 10 Students.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09

ters were the same. The barn-yards we're
wretched sites the doors were off, the roofs
leaky, the gates down, the carts crazy, the
tools broken, the fodder scarce, and the
stock poor and wretched. Neglect, cruelty,
wastefulness, and ruin-all had come from
drink. The farm showed the trail Of the
serpent The struggling and tumbled stone
walls, the rickety fences, the weed-grown
fields, the sparse and half-headed crops, the
dying orchard--all said to the passer-by'
"Whiskey did it." Drink had given the
plaster of mortgage instead of coating
of fertilizers, and sloth instead OF labor
The farm was drink-blighted, and advertised
its condition as plainly as its owners did
when he came home from town. One oil
the most impressive temperance lectures,
for young farmers especially, is good look
at drunkard's farm.
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
Waiting to be Gracious.

Some years since family moved TO the
west. They secured a piece of land, and
began to make home. As years passed
that home assumed shape and acquired
beauty, and the wild land became rich
farm. Beyond their expectations even, they
prospered in all they undertook. Among
the few books taken with them from their
former home was the old family Bible. They
had never used it much before they used it
even less now. 1t was kept on the stand at
first but in the small house it proved to be
in the way, and was moved from place to
place, till at last it was thrust on to an old
shelf over the door of the cabin. When
they entered their "new house" the Bible
was put away with many other things, i" too
good to leave behind, but not of much use."
Many years had passed and one of their
children was sick. For many days they
watched at the bedside. At last the doctor
said, "To-night will be the crisis. As she
passes it so will she live or pass away 1t
was fearful night. Most people know of
some such night--a night never to be for
gotten. Hour after hour those parents
waited. Midnight had passed and the clock
had struck one, aud still no change. AT
length the mother said, al cannot bear il
any longer. feel that we must pray and
ask God to help u.s." "But L have moi
prayed for years-not since was boy at
home. And our Bible; do not know that
we have any" g" think can find it," She
went and sought the book which for foul
years had been an encumbrance. Sh'
brought it out and they both sat down ant
read it. o how different it seemed now
Passages they had learned when childrel
now glowed with brightness. How rich
how comforting how wonderful it was |
seemed as if God was right there with them
and talking to them. For long while the
read on, and at last knelt down aud praye,
as they never prayed before. They did no
pray for the life Of their child, but for then
selves, that God would heal them. And Go
heard them, and that night of sorrow wa
turned into morning of joy. To thei
bliss the child awoke in the morning r,
freshed, and from that time began to IT
cover.-.Selected
Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
VOL. 76.-3S7S. NO. 1S.

instruments would have been futile. When
this young mother was about TO die she had
gathered her little flock at her bedside,
covering like cluster Of frightened birds
before the mighty harvester, Death had
prayed for and blessed them, and as she laid
her dying hand upon his brow, had charged
him, her firsS-born, to fear his mothers God
and remember her instructions. That hand
had been upon his head ever since, through
the long years of his worldliness he had
felt its touch in the hours of business, as
well as in his hours of solitude in the hunt
as he was hieing his hounds after the fox
on the racefeld as he cheered his winning
horse, and it was this which at last had
brought him back to God" o mothers,
mothers, pray on Hope on. Be strong in
faith, giving glory TO God. take this
child ar nurse it for me, and | will give
thee thy pay."-Interior.