davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

giving service in it. Doubtless the edifce
will have been dedicated before this
reaches the eye of the reader.
The country from Fargo to Grand Forks
is dead level. l thought l well under
stood what level prairie was before. hui
my idea of it was never realized till n
saw this. 1t seemed like being upon
lake where the smooth waters extended
in every direction as far as the eve could
reach. The little farm houses hare and
there are like so many sail boats on its
even surface. / don't know how the land
is ever drained of its surplus water. Per
haps the rainfall is so light there isnr
much surplus water TO drain. In most
places land so exactly level would be
found TO be almost worthless on accoun,
of its lack of natural drainage, but here
they certainly succeed in raising some of
the finest wheat in the world. Whether
the land has tho intrinsic value or not il
has market value above that of some Of
the older ard more settled portions OF
Minnesota. was informed of the sale OF
farm containing an even section (64C
acres) lying 20 miles from Fargo for 1927
per acre. Th ese figures are no doubl
exceptional; but land is held at a hich
rate all along this railroad and vicinity
gentleman who was through this coun
try ten years ago when the Northern
Pacific railroad project was first agiated
told me if he had been offered q whole
township of this level land as gift he
would hardly have crossed the street to
have perfected his title. He considered
the country fit only for Indians and buffa.
loes. Forty miles north ofFargo is the new
town Of Hillsboro. 1t was laid ont in
Angus, 1880. To-day it has population
of 700. 1t has three elevators, a good
Touring mill, two hotels, two churches, a
school house that cost 81, 800, and it has
an assessed valuation of $500 Forty
miles further north we come to the city of
Grand Forks, three times as lave us
IIillsboro. As an instance of The il q of
speculation that is going thcse rev
towns, real estate dea Ia me that
he came to Grand Fork March for
the EXPIRE IS purpose of rustiug. He
was offered a tract Of Ian contiguous to
he town for $4,000; but being fearful OF
making so much of venture he purchased
small tract upon which he had already
more than doubled his money. Another
party possessing more boldness, or more
money, or possibly more of both, purchas-
ed the above N entioned tract and imme
diately laid it out in town lots. He has
already sold $1,000 worth of the lots
and has sill quite portion left unsold.
West of this raiiroJd from 2 20 miles
is another road rulag north and south,
along which are sprinGing up thrifty
towns, surrounded by broad and fertile
wheat fields, and west of this about Il
dozen miles is still another railroad run
| ming in the same direction. These paral
| lei roads furnish all the facilities of trans
portation the settler need, and makes
going west" entirely different from what
it was one generation ago.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

BY REV. j. o. SHERBURN.

Dec. cath: The Kingdom of Peace-Isa 1El-9
1t is fitting that at the close Of years
study in the life of Jesus, we should turn
too contemplation Of the results flowing
from that life. 1t is Of little consequence
whether we take the voice OF prophecy or
the voice of history rs our guide in such
contemplation. for we live in the time
when the words of oldcn prophecy find
fullillment in the history which is being
made in our own day. A prophecy con.
cerning the kingdom Of peace always
furnishes theme of pleasant contempla-
ton for mankind, cursed as they still are
with strifes, com motions and bloody wars
The language Of the prophecy we consider
to-day is true type Of eastern symbolism
The kingdom of the Jews is represented
by a stump from which the tree has been
cut. Or perhaps better the line of kings,
beginning with the illustrious Son of Jesse,
is set forth under the figure of tree cul
down and only marked by the stump on
which it stood. This was cally the state
of the case so far as tho Jewish kingdom
was concerned at the time when Christ
came. Olt of this stump rod or shoot
springs forth. This is II common thing in
the growth of trees, and fitly represented
the coming of the worlds Redeemer,
from pcople then downtrodden and
despiseI After the first verse Of the
lesson he language changes from ligura-
tive to literal, and the person before
spoken of rs a rod and branch IS now
clothed with personal attribute and spoken
of as a man. His marked characteristics
are set forth and he is pictured to our
view so distinctly that there can bP 10
mistake about the person int"n i. 'ihe
spirit of the Lord shall .oon him"
This was, of course. true .. lany who
came before the time here Ell to, but
Ill these gifts mentioned ho Il, bestowed
.ron the Son of Jesse, the Messiah, are to
bo taken in the highest, or surperlative
sense.
While others have had wisdom and
understanding, and spirit of counsel and
might, Christ possessed all these In
degree infinitely above the degree in
which any other possessed them. These
special gifts which were to be his would
qualify him TO discern quickly concerning
all those mlttets pertaining to the fear of
the Lord So that he would not be deceived
by the subtilty OF Satan, as al mankind
before him had been. How wonderfully
did the life of Christ verify this prcdic.
ton! Never once did the craft of men or
the guile of Satan for moment get the
mastery over him. The most pressing
temptations were spurned, and the
shrewlest questions, framed to entrap
him. were always 50 answered rs to
silence effectively those who urged them.
Moreover the character here portrayed
is to act Judge as well as king, this was
In accord with eastern usage where the
sovereign of a people was considered, by
virtue of that Office, to be their judge In
all matters of dispute. This judge was to
be distinguished from others by the fact
hat he would not depend upon what tes'i-
mony came before him, by the eye or car
hut would administer justice absolutely.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

He would be able to discern tho inner
thought and motive of those who came
before him. How mlny times have we
seen this quality shown in the life of
Christ? His enemies came upon him with
the outward show of friendship and with
.protestatnns of their high esteem hut in
no single instance did thy snare him.
lie always perceived Their cr fitness.
fhe further proph cy; III, shtI smite
with the rod of his m ln:h, anil with the
breath OF his lips shall be say he wicked
would almost seem to he Cramel with
view to the telling answers which so
many times put to silence the mllic, of
those who hated Christ. The fifth verse
introduces anothsr e,stern fuure, The
Slrdle was consi lored II csSary article
Of apparel; as without it the long, loose
garments worn in the east would greatly
impede one in his walking. It. is inst as
true that without practical righteou mess
ana falthfulneS3 everyone IS hindered In
The progress he ought to make in the
world. The crooked, h,lting, wearisome
progress which men destitute of righteous.
ness make Is a standing commentary upon
'ucha scripture as this. But with conscious
integrity one goes forward like the travel
rr with his loins girded, he walks with the
iase OF one who hls no hindrauce alb lut
w n rnI h. Al.
such conscious integrity as Jesus of Naz-
trelh possessed? Before he enraged Jews
he said, "Mlny good works have shown
you from my Father; for which Of these
do ye stone me?" lie was fully conscious
that he had done only good, and had moth
ing to relract, nothing for which he need
make apology.
From the sixth verse onward the proph
ecy turns from the King of Peace, to the
state of things in his realm.
All this prophecy finds its summing up
in the last verse with the declaration
'they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my
holy mountain The figure which repre-
sents the fierce beasts of prey as dwelling
at one with the defanccless domestic ami
mails finds its actuaizaton in the harmony
existing between tribes anl races of men,
before at deadly onmity, but now brought
to dwell at peace through the work
ing of divine grace, through tie operation
the peaceable spirit of Christ. One notice.
able clause in this prophecy is that which
speak of the protection and security that
the children will enjoy in this kingdom of
peace. 1t has always been truo that the
child from his earliest years has been sub
ject to the poisonous effects of temptation
and sin, the world has been full of deadly
dangers Every neighborhood and village
has places as dangerous for the Child TO
frequent as would bo the lurking place of
tie asp, but under the dominion of Christ
those dens of vice are all to be removed
and the most helpless made entirely
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20


In the dreadful stiffness ot heir chIliless
home the deep darkness OF Christmas eve
came down upon the sorro"ing and dis
tracted parents, who were aga,a Going out
to search wildly and hope!e'>IY. They
were praying now for help 10 tlnd their
child, for e,renlth to bear, ii search was
vain. ;e amp N the hall had jus zen
lighted "hen ring O! til" door tell
startled them with It's peal. Alas, 1t "a2
only great parcel, tai! hamper, Tl,cIi
the driver and another man brough. in
quite Carefully, setting 1t down in the hail
Philip saw on tn ctrd, From Uncle
Slas," with eyes iu. of wonder, but turn.
ing 10 the man who stood there ell muilled
up WIN cap over bis eyes.
"Wu arr in awful trouble here; | VIII
not open it tonight"
"lf you please, sip the diver spoke
noW-'lt you please sir, vas to take
the hamper buck" The Strange man
laid his hand on Phillips arm Il, he was
cutting the string.
You won't be scared at aHr.hin2
strange just as the cover wen h''k iiom
MYrtie's happy face!
There were no words at Ii Aero
was tremulous little cry from He moth
ers lip. deep Thank God!' FROM Phil
ips heart, and over all the childish,
ringing voice that woke the old house
merrlly.
Safe and sound IN u ne" white 1ur coat
and cap, stood The ilitlo maiden trlum'
phant, telling her .pry by otis and patches
her stolen cIo.ho,, her wanderings up
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

One day, as Sir William johnson, the
Indian agent in the Mohawk country,
Under the colonial government was un.
packing some clothing brought from Eng
land, Hendrick, a famous Indian chief,
was present, and took strong fancy for
an embroidered coat He dare not ask
for it, but next day he told johnson n
dream. Last night" said he, "me
dream you say, 'Hendrick, you've been
good friend, and now l reward You,' and
you give me the gold coat" The white
man pondered moment. and then said,
"You are right, the coat is yours" Not
long afterwards Johnson told Hendrick he
had been dreaming. "And what did my
white brother dreamP' "That you took
me by the hand and said: Sir William,
you have been my friend and will show
my love for you. will give you all the
land on the Great River and Canada
Creek" The Indian was amazed, for the
tract was nearly hundred thousand
acres in extent, and very choice land But
he was not to he outdone in generosity,
and finally replied: MY pale brother,
the laud is yours; but" he added, after IL
long pause, "Sir William, We Won't dream
any more; you dream too big for mo-"
The chief 3 title was confirmed by the
British government, and the land was long
known as the Royal Grant. -- Christian
VcekW.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

The FOLLY OF FEAR A great deal of
talent is lost in the world for the want of
a little courage. Every day sends to their
graves number of obscure men, who
have only remained in obscurity because
their timidity has prevented them from
making first effort; and who, if they
could have been induced to begin, wo1ld
in all probability lave gone great lengths
in the career Of fame. The fact is, that
TO do anything in this world worth doing,
we must not stand back shivering and
thinking of the cold and danger, bu jump
in and scramble through as well as we
can. It will not do to to be perpelually
calculating risks and adjusting nice
chances. 1t did very well before the food,
when man could consult his friends upon
an intended publication for II hundred AM
fifty years. and then live to see its success
afterwards. But at present a man waits
and doubts, and consuls his brother and
his particular friends. Till one fine day he
finds he is sixty years of age; that he has
lost SO much time in consulting his first
cousins and particular friends that he has
no more time to follow their advice
Sydney Smith.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

To BE FRAMED AND HUNG UP.-Onc Of
the veterans of Wall street was the other
day giving some falherly advice 10 one of
his clerks, about to ta married, and in
CLOSING lis sermon he said: directly
after the ceremony there will be n banquet,
of course. When your wife turns her plate,
she will tind check for $50, 900 under t.h
"Do YOU really think sop "Oh | know
it; that's the prevailing style nowa.days.
The check will he passed around, and
finally given to you to pocket And
next day | will draw the money on it."
"Oh, no. you won't" "Whv not P' Be-
cause there won't be any. Don Ia k3 Il
dolt of yourself by rushing TO Ii. a'"l,"
"But thought" mo matter w.D, yon
thought. Save the check to fran. and
hang up. When | was married, thirty
years ago, my wife found one under her
plate. I've got it yet. thought too much
of her father to mortify his feelings, and |
know he has always respected me for it,
That's all, my son. If you run short on
your bridal tour, telegraph me-"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

SMALL SAVINGS SMALL LOSSES, lii
man who saves something every Year is
on the road TO prosperity. 1t may not be
possible to save much II not, savea little.
Don't think dollar or dime is too small
a sum to lay by. Everybody knows how
little expenditures get away with large
sums. But few seem 10 know that the
rule is one that works both ways. If
dime spent here and a dollar there soon
makes large hole in Il mans income, so
those dimes and dollars soon become Il
visible and respectable accumulation. In
this country any man m1y make himself
independent, or keep himSclf under the
harrow for life, according as lie wastes or
spends small change. How MANY things
do individuals and families buy that they
do not need or cannot aif)rd. Think twice
before you spend that small coin. Don't
be stingy OF mean, .but also don't be fool
ishly solf-indulgent. The seIf-indulgent
person is far more likely to be ungener-
Gus than the sell.denying one. The
money wasted on hGrtful things alone
the drugs nl medicine we mingle with
our diet III t." forms OF tea, tobacco, alco-
hol, and tnr likr-sland on the very
threshold C.! prosperity, and bar the way
of thousands to Il hom9 in their old age
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

LITTLE THINGS ON CHRISTMAS There
arc but few great people in the world, and
only few leading members in society
As in nature there is now and then q
mountain but multitude nf little hills
now and then a great river but thousands
of little streams. The little folks, the
common people, and HE obscure people
are in the majority. They havo heart, as
tender, as true, rs joyful and sad as
others. Do not forget lhcm-lhose 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 discouraged souls
Let each seek out he one whom he thinks
every other one will overlook. Remember
also that Il Christmas gift, in order to
make Il merry heart, need not be very
costly or large, hut be given with n merry
heat. The uncXpectedness of a gift adds
to the joy it gives. Generally the NOS.
fun and laughing comes from those gifts
which cost but n,'le. We ouce knew Il
parish Christmas tree upon which was a
gilt for CFerv person III the society, ard
no present ever 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 q
present you Can make to some one, but
rather how many cheerful tokens YOU Can
give TO multitude of people 60 out oi
your way to say merry Christmas" tc
as many rs possible. Have Merry
Christmas III your heart, on your face, anc
upon your lips.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

He did not know what to give her 70
eat, poor Ignorant blchelor lhtt he was
He bad general idea that it ought to be
condensed rilt, but wasn't quite sure,
and 50 to avoid be;raying his ignorance
told the houseEoeper to give the child
something to eat, and WAS quite a. .tonishcd
10 find her perrhrd on pilo Of books
beside him at table, eating bread and
butter and beef Hungry as she was. she
waited bravelv moment, and 10 his
question answered softly:
81 was waitin' for the b'cssin =" Silas
coughed and suffered i'tle, and told
her ''never mind" so she put up two tiny
hands as gravely as possible a moment or
two.
81 say prayers at night, too. say
Now | lay me- and say, God Hess
father and mother and Myrtie-thats ne
and Uncle Sias' I don't know him.
but papa tells me to say that every night,
and mamma says some day III see him
! guess God will bless him; he does mos.
everything ask him
Silas Farley had taken the worlds hard
blows right bravely but in all his life had
never come Il moment like this, when in
the childish face before him he saw Philips
bOYish features plain enough, and heard
the voice of PniIIp's child echong his
name as though it were household word
The deep fountains of his life were
stirred. and happy tears rolled down bis
face like rain. lie tried to gasp two or
three times, and failed; then all at once
laid his big hand on the little one beside
him, and said softly:
'1-Fm - Uncle SilNs.' and then ne
drew the little creature to Il : heart; "and
I'll take you stIright hoIae This minute
Bless me, where's my handkerchiel?'
1t was Il sight for ange'o. Is the sweet
old lesson of Christmas tim Good will
to men, fonnd an echo in he heart that
had no room for it before.
There was brief and hurried plan
proposed, followed by pei Of happy,
childish laughter that Startled the dim,
old house, and Uncle Sias and little Myr-
tie were socn in Il carriage with sundry
strange things beside, going us quickly as
they might towards Myrtle home. Sllas
knew quite wol where 20 find it, and
moro than once had WI kei p1st it in the
dark.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

SUGGESTIONS FOR BOYS When boy
has really made acquaintance with the
best books, he will have found out much
that he can think about, for they will not
only teach him great deal he QUIT 10
know, but they will be the means OF suG-
ges'ug ideas of his own about thiugs in
gen al. He may. therefore, find pleasure
anu .rolit in keeping daily journal or
diar} of all he learns, either by reading or
observation, and recording carefully the
thoughts which occur to him. This will
help him to remember and make use Of the
information he acquires, md also give
practice in composition Such book
will be sure to afford bri int boy more
satisfaction at the end OF a year than a
dozen collections Of foreign postage
stamp, or small curiosities of any kind -
Erchange.
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20
NOBODY THINKS or ME.
BY DAVID HILL.

On III twenty fourth OF December,
The gay Christmas We of the year,
At an hour when the lis Joined together
And ruug out melodiously clear.
On the evening air frosty aud clear.
voice mingled in with the rhymiug,
On dire and dissonant key,
DisoordGnt this night for it uttered:
Alas! nobody thinks Of me.
can hear the merry bells chiming,
But tro1 >dy thiuks Of me"
Aud walking al ,ns the stone pavement.
Tho pavement half frosty and bare,
With his feet all purple and bare,
Was the being wh) 90 voice sent the discord
In the Ginning Of bells on the air.
In thu climos which rurt OF on the air.
Aud pllsnr begprel he ca,he lral
In which was heard iubilant Slee.
He listened moment, then mutterAl;
I'm there, uobol ly thinks of me;
Where the chandeliers burn SO brightly.
There's no one thinking of mer
Then turning he walked to a window,
Tricolorod, arch-pointed aud:hivh,
CThe window was Glthir an1 hishD
But he raised himself mp till tho weird lizht
And tear could he seen in each eye,
For the stained glass gav5 but reflections.
And shadows was AL he could sec:
So losing his hold he repeated:
20 well! nobody thinks Of me:
can hear the sweet strains of music
But nobody thinks of me-"
Then into the vestbIle creeping,
He ttembngy stood at the door;
And listened to the sweet Christmas carols
Which to him no relevancy bore.
Which to him only morkery bore,
For he stood outside in the shadows,
Like waif on lifo's troubled sea,
And murmured in sorrow and sadness,
"Ah, well! nobody cares for me.
In there all are Joyous and happy,
But nobody thinks Of me-"
Thus he stood there silently listening,
TIL his bare feet stung with the cold
Till bnnumbed and aching with cold,
He rush ed thrO' the porch and sped homcward
To cottage all shaky and old
TO his couch that was rugged and oil:
Then drawing the tattered quilts round him,
While earth was one great jubilee,
II soon was heard speaking in s!ul =:
as! nobody thinks of me;
El.r CHRISTMAS tlea E!itters in spl 'iar,
II body thinks men
The visions that ill,r' before him
Were Id ard surprisingly queer,
His dreams We utastic and queer,
For again he dp TO the window
On this same las eve of the year.
On this nigh, d., ights in the year;
Then again stood aside the doorway,
Where echoed the murmurs of glee.
Aud muttered in accents half broken:
well, we'll! nobody thinks of me.
Al the world is giddy with pleasure,
But nobody thinks of me"
While he slept, Il Sister of Mercy
Stole silently in at his door
\ Christmas tree placed near his door.
Then departed so softly, her footballs
liEkled not on the hard wooden floor.
and her s.ups he HI ard not on the floor;
But On the next morn when awaking,
lie witnessed the gift ladentr tree,
He spranz mp aud ioyously shouted:
Yes, yes, somebody thinks Of me:
While sleeping, some angel or other,
Was silently thinking OF me-"
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

The street railway has been laid in
Athens. But some 1000 years too late to
find out whether or not old Socrates, Nom
ophon or Demosthenes, riding down te
Pirmus on horse car would hive given
up their seats to woman who wasn't
pretty,
Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-12-20

A child's sensibility TO cruelty to animals
is illustrated by the following story of a
Michigan preacher, for which the Chris
tim Union is responsible: "IIc was
~pcnding day in the country ard was
invited to dine. They had chicken for
dinner, much to the grief of little boy in
the household, who had lest his favorlc
hen TO provide the feast. After dinner
prayer was proposed, and while the
preacher was praying a poor little lone.
some chicken came running under the
house crying for its absent mcthcr The
little boy could restrain himself no longer.
He put his mouth down TO the hole in the
floor and shouted, 'Pcepy, peepy, | didn't
XII your mother. They kjllei h3t flr
that big preachers dinner. The amen
was said very suddenly"