davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
Boys, Read and Heed This

Many people seem to forget that char
acter grows that it is not something to
put on ready-made with womanhood or
manhood but day by day, here little
and there little, grows with the growth,
and strengthens with the strength, until
good or bad, it becomes almost coat of
mail. Look at man of prompt,
reliable, conscientious, yet clear. headed
and energetic. When do you suppose he
developed all those admirable qualities {?
When he vas boy? Let us see how a
boy of ten years gets up in the morning
works, plays, studies, and we will tell
you just what kind of man he will
make. The boy that is too late at break
fast, late at school, stands poor chance
to be prompt man. The boy who neg
lects his duties, he they ever so small,
and then excuses himself by saying, al
forgot: [ didn't think !" will never be a
reliable man; and the boy who finds
pleasure in the suffering of weaker things
will never be noble, generous, kind
mana gentleman.-CbyiStian Helper
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15

| meet them"
The worldly aunt brushed tear from
her eye after the boy left her, and said
audibly, Just like his mother"
About five minutes later, as lady
passed the mother and the three children,
she saw pretty sight-the family feast
ing as perhaps they never had before
The dainty sandwiches were eagerly
eaten, the tempting fruit basket stood
open.
The oldest child, with her mouth filled
with bread and butter, said, Was the
pretty boy an angel, mamma ?"
Nc" answered the mother, as CRATE
full look frightened her faded eyes, not
now; but he will be on the other side
bless his dear heart"
And we too said "Bless his hearth"
Sunday School Times.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
Ghildren's Column.
I Can and I Will.

The difference between a can't" and
I can and will, is Just the difference be-
tween victory and defeat in all the great
conflicts of life. Boys adopt for your
motto, can and l WILL" and victory
will be yours in all life battles. "I can
and l will, nerves the arms of the
worlds heroes to-day, in whatever de-
partment of labor they are engaged %
can and will has fought and won all
the great battles of life Of the world.
know of boy who was preparing to
enter the junior class of the New Yorl;
university. He was studying trigonome-
try, and | gave him three examples for
his next lesson. The following day he
came into my room to demonstrate his
problem. Two of them he understood,
but the third,-a very difficult one-he
had not performed. said to him,
Shall l help your" No, sir. can
and will do it if you give me time" 1
said, will give you all the time you
wish" The next day he came into my
room to recite another lesson in the same
study. Well, Simon, have you worked
that example p No, sir, he answered,
but 1 can and will do it if you will give
me little more time" "Certainly, you
shall have all the time you desire"
always like those boys who are deter
mined to do their own work, for they
make our best scholars, and men, too.
knew he had it, for his whole face told
the story of his success. Yes, he had it,
Notwithstanding it bad cost him many
hours of the severest mental labor Not
only had he solved heproblem, but what
was of infinitely greater Importance to
him, he had begun to develop mathema-
teal powers which under the inspiration
of [ can, and 1 will, y he has continued
to cultivate, until to-day, he is professor
of mathematics in one of our largest col
leges, and one of the ablest mathema-
ticians of his years in our country
My young friends, let your motto ever
be, If I can will. Guardian.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
The Bag of Pearls.

An Arab once lost his way in desert.
His provisions were soon exhausted. For
two days and two nights he had not
morsel to eat. He began to fear that he
should die of hunger. He looked eagerly,
but in vain, along the level sand for some
caravan of travellers from whom he
might beg some bread.
At last he came to place where there
was little water in a well, and around
the wells mouth the marks of an encamp-
ment. Some people had lately pitched
their tents there, and had gathered them
up and gone away again. The starving
Arab looked around in the hope of find
ing some food that the travellers might
have left behind. After searching a
while, he came upon a little bag, tied at
the mouth, and full of something that
felt hard and round He opened the
bag with great joy, thinking it contained
either dates or nuts, and expecting that
with them he should be able to satisfy
his hunger. But as soon as he saw what
it contained, he threw it on the ground
and cried out in despair, at is only
pearls" He lay down in the desert to die
Pearls are very precious. If the man
had been at home; the bagful of pearls
would have made his fortune He would
have received large sum of money for
them, and would have been rich man
But pearls could not feed him when he
was hungry. Although you had your
house full of pearls, if you have not
bread you will die The Arab knew the
value of the pearls that he found but he
would have given them all that moment
for one morsel Of bread-would have
given them, but could not, for there was
no bread within his reach. So, although
be was very rich, he was left to die Of
want.
Pearls and gold cannot preserve the
life of the body, far less can they satisfy
the soul. Bread is more precious to a
hungry man than pearls and the bread
Of life is more precious still. Christ has
expressly said, 4" am the bread of life. "
How foolish it is to spend ourselves in
gathering things that cannot feed us if
we are hungry, and cannot save us from
our sin Seek first the kingdom of God
and his righteousness, and keep other
things in a lower place. The chief thing
for each of us is to have Christ the life OF
our souls forever; and then we may gladly
accept whatever good things in this life
God may be pleased to give us. What
is man profted if he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul ?'
He who is rich when he comes to die
but is still without Christ for his soul, is
like the Arab in the desert, with his bag.
ful Of pearls, but perishing for want Of
] bread.-ReU. Vim. Arnot.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
Southwest, West, and Northwest.
ONLY DIRECT ROUTE TO
Louisville, Nashville, Memphis and
Texas Points

NOTE THIS-A new and handsome coach
runs daily from Richmond, Gordonsville, Char
lottesville, Waynesboro Staunton, and William
sons, to Lexington, KY, and Cincinnati Ohio.
without change. There is no extra charge tor
seats in this Coach
PULLMAN SLEEPING COACHES daily
between Wiliamson's and Huntington.
REMEMBER that the Chesapeake and Ohio
Route can ticket you and transport you to any
point
WEST, NORTHWEST or SOUTHWEST
more cheaply and comfortably, with less num-
Der Of changes, than any other route.
c. G. DOYLE Passenger Agent Lynchburg, Va
P H. WOODWARD, Passenger Agent, Staun-
ton, Va.
]. c. DAME, General Southern Agent, Rich
mond, Va.
II. w. FULLER, G. P. & T. A.
G. w. SMITH, Gen'l Manager.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
A Boys Last Hymn in a
Carrot.

A friend of mine, seeking for objects Of
charity, got into the upper room of
tenement house. 1t was vacant He saw
ladder pushed through the ceiling.
Thinking that perhaps some poor creature
had crept up there he climbed the ladder,
drew himself through the hole, and found
himself under the rafters. There was no
light but that which came through a
bull's-eye in place of tile. Soon he saw
a heap of chips and shavings, and on them
a boy about ten year old.
Boy, what are you doing here? ?"
" Hush don't tell anybody please,
sir"
"What are you doing here ?"
Hush please don't tell anybody, sir,
I'm abiding"
What are you hiding from?"
" Don't tell anybody, please, sir.
" Where's your mother?"
PLEASE sir, mothers dead
Where's your father p
"Hush don't tell him, don't tell him
but look here p
He turned himself on his face, and
through the rags of his jacket and shirt
my friend saw that the boys flesh was
bruised and his skin was broken.
Why, my boy, who beat you like
that?"
"Father did, sir r"
"What did he beat you like that for ?"
" Father got drunk, sir, and beat me
cos | wouldn't steal"
Did you ever steal p
Il" Yes, sir; was street thief once"
And why don't you steal any more p
Please, sir, went to the mission
school, and they tod me there Of God,
and of heaven and of Jesus; and they
taught me Thou shalt not steal, and
l II never steal again if my father kills
me for it. But please, sir, don't tell
him"
my boy, you must not stay here !;
you'll die. Now, you wait patiently here
for little time I'm going away to see
lady. We will get better place for you
than this"
Thank you, sir; but please sir would
you like to hear me sing little hymn ?"
Bruised battered, forlorn, friendless,
motherless, hiding away from an in1uri-
ated father, he had little hymn to
sing
Yes, will hear you sing your little
hymn"
He raised himself on his elbow and
then sang
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild,
Look upon a little child
Pity my simplicity,
Suffer me TO come to thee.
Fain / would to thee be brought
Gracious Lord, forbid it not
In the kingdom Of thy grace
Give little child place
That's the little hymn, sir; good-by.'
|. The gentleman went away, came back
again in less than two hours, and climbed
the ladder There were the chips, and
there were the shavings and there was
the boy, with one hand by his side and
the other tucked in his bosom underneath
the little ragged shirt-dead.-J b.
Gough.
The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-03-15
Rose Leaves.

Some one has beautifully said Kind
ness is slowed away in the heart like rose
leaves in drawer, to sweeten every OBJ
ject around. A little girl of about nine
years old was walking along a muddy
street in Chicago her father held her
hand, and seemed very tender in his care
of her. The quality and style of their
garments limited strongly of wealth,
while the strong, good face of the father,
and the loving, sweet one of his child,
told of something better than wealth
even Of depth of heart. Just as they
reached crossing, where the mud was
thicker and the wind blew stronger, and
vehicles of all descriptions passed each
other IN tiresome confusion, they noticed
a poorly clad old woman, on whose trem-
bling arm rested large basket heavily
laden, standing on the corner as if fearful
Of crossing over. She looked anxiously
at the whirling carts, and deprecatingly
at the passers-b by. No one seemed to
heed her as the well-dressed throng hur-
ried along.
Come, Edith" said the father, L" this
is dangerous crossing papa will carry
you across"
He put out his arms as he spoke,
lovingly. But the child only whispered :
Papa, I have rubbers; m not afraid
of the mud. Papa, see the poor old
woman-she seems afraid of something,
see how she trembles Couldn't you
help her, papa, while run ahead?"
For answer, the gentleman approached
the old woman, saying, in low voice
This is tiresome crossing, madam,
let me lead you across; give me the basket,
please"
Could you have seen the rested, thank
full look on that weary old face, as the
woman found herself safe on the other
side, think you would have echoed her
fervent cry "God bless that man, and
the blessed child, too !"
Of course there were sneering smiles
on some countenances which witnessed
the quiet act of helpfulness, but it mat
tered not as long as one knew that around
the great white throne there were smiles
Of JOY because two of his followers had
not in selGshness neglected doing favor
to even the least of these"
Into very elegant palace car entered
weary-faced, poorly dressed woman
with three little children, one babe in
arms. A look Of Joy crept into her face
as she sat down in one of the luxurious
chairs. But it was quickly dispelled as
she was asked rudely to /" start her
boots
A smile of amusement was seen on
several faces as the frightened group
hurried out to enter one of the common
cars. Upon one young face, however,
there was look which shamed the coun-
tenances Of the others
Auntie," said the boy to the lady
beside him, I'm going to carry my
basket Of fruit and this box Of sandwiches
to the poor woman in the next car. You
are willing, of course"
He spoke eagerly, but she answered
Don't be foolish, dear you may need
them yourself and perhaps the woman
is an impostor.
No, I'll not need them, he answered
decidedly, but in a very low tone. " You
know / had a. hearty breakfast, and I
don't need lunch The woman looks
hungry, aunti3, and so tired too with
those three little babies clinging to her.
il be back in a minute, auntie. I know
mother wouldn't like it if ] didn't speak
n kind word to the least Of these when
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
A GOVERNMENT SKILLET.

Look heah, jedge," said colored
man, entering the private Office of the
United States judge, 81 wants a pension. "
IL have nothing to do with pensions. y
"But you can gin me little advice.
All de soldiers what wos wounded in de
war, eff understands it, is titled ter a
pension"
"Well ;" said the judge.
81 was in de war, an was mighty
badly hurt, let me tell yer. Iwas wait
in on my young marster, an didn't do
ter suit him, an he broke my arm with
a skillet"
waiting on your young master you
say:'
"Yes, sah."
(which army were you in"
"De rebel army, sah."
"Why, don't you know that the Un-
tied States don't grant pensions to men
wounded in the rebel army"
"ies, know dat is de rule, but dis
is 'ceptional case"
"Casr de skillet what my young mas
ter broke my arm wild belonged ter de
Newnited States guberment. Cant git
no money, yer say-can't Den dar 5
no wonder dat de country is filled wild
calamities. Good day, sah.'
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19

WANTED A RECEss.-In the early days
of Michigan there lived in Livingstone
county an old chap who would bring sui,
against any man on earth on the slight
es, possible pretext. The fact that he
was often beaten and saddled with costs
did not cool his ardor bit. On one oc-
casion he sued a man for waking him out
of an afternoon nap, and again he took
out a warrant for man who accidentally
knocked his hat off. One day death sud-
denly came to the old mans wife. He
was, as usual, engaged in law suit and
had just told the jury what he expected
to prove in a case where boy had let his
hogs out of the pen when messenger
came in with the sad news.
"Your Honor, I've just heard that my
wife is Dead" said the old man as he
laid down his notes.
Then I'll adjourn court"
"Oh, you needn't do that. Just an
nounce recess for ) minutes until run
home and tell 'em not to lay out the
body in the best bed room. One of the
jury has got game of checkers coming
off at four o'clock and we must rush the
case. Gentlemen Of the jury, excuse my
absence for few minutes. It's the first
time my wife died, and crave your in
diligence"
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
TOO MUCH WILL-POWER.

Three or four citizens were the other
day having a confab at the east entrance
Of the ciiy-hall in regard to will power,
and there was one Of the group who
dared to 90 far enough to assert that
man Of strong will power could draw a
person TO him from distance of 100
feet.
Try it-try it ~ exclaimed one whose
faith was very slight.
IL don't say that can do it, because
may not have the strength of will"
"Well, there's a man down by the
gate who is boxing up and down as if
undecided Bend your will on him and
see if you can draw him this way"
Iii try it, jus, TO please YOU replied
the advocate and he fastened his gaze on
the man clenched his hands, and put
forth mighty effort. The man at the
gate seemed to feel it. He looked across
at the monument-down the stree.-;hen
up at the hall.
I'll be hanged if you aren't doing it,
whispered one of the group.
The advocate braved himself for a
greater effort, and the man at the gate
left his place and walked straight to-
wards the building. He advanced like
ona in dream and not man dared
move hand He came closer and clos
er and he reached the steps he pulled a
paper from his pocket, held it up to the
man with the will power, an quietly re-
marked:
"Mr. Blank, here's that old bill for
three cords of wood I'm tired of trot-
ting around after you, and want my
money today or I'll begin suit y
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19

then came another word from the lips oI
Miss Bel Amman as she started up. appar-
emily as much the result of impulse
edward ~
As they were locked in each others
arms moment afterward, there seemed
10 be very little explanation. These
were natural, however, under the circum-
stances, and were soon made. Miss Bel
AMMAN informed her husband that she
had not the least objection TO being Mrs.
Edward Hay; and when the customary
performances followed. and Mr.. Edward
Hay moaned his landless condition, Miss
AMMAN. or Mrs. Hay, as the reader pleas
es, said smiling. as she leaned her head
upon his shoulder:
IL will give your estate back to you
as | bought it, my dear. The property
Of wife belongs to-her husband"
This charming young person had in
deed purchased Edward Hays property /;
and, as only year had elapsed since he
had deserted her, she was still his wife.
and their possessions were, therefore, in
common.
Nevertheless there was a wedding, and
the young people were formally married
by minister. The occasion was a grand
frolic at Judge Annan's hospitable man
sion, and Mr. Edward Hay said to his
wife, as she blushed under tbs orange
flowers
"After all. | believc-I wish TO be
your husband -. Eston Cook.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19

a WITNESS WITH EARs.-1n an as
sault and battery case before Michigan
justice the other day the prosecution in
troduced blind man, who had to be led
to the witness box.
"Is this a legal trial or farce" de-
msnded the lawyer for the defense, as he
sIrlng up.
This is legal trial, replied the 9th
er lawyer.
"And you want blind man sworn to
tell what he saw, do you -
:" don't claim that | saw the fight,
replied the blind witness as he turned
around.
Then what do you know about it :"
Well, sir, I'm going on the stand to
swear to what heard. I've been blind
and lame and had corns and boils for the
last fourteen years, but when hear the
splinters fly from rail fence | don't want
any eyes to tell me whether the plaintiff
hit the top rail with his head or feet. !
heard the 'kerchug Of the blow and
when the plaintiff came down and hol-
loered, "Oh, but I'm licked man" ]
knew by the way he hung to his words
that he'd lost half his front teeth. I'm
ready, your honor.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
Carson City Advocate.
JUDGE CAREY TAKING PAY FOR
HIS TIME.

A young man came into Justice Carey's
court room at Carson City, Nevada, with
the rim of his hat drawn down over his
eyes, and remarked:
do you know me :"
Il think" replied the Court, meekly,
" that you're the chap sentenced for
stealing, about a year ago."
That's the hairpin am" replied the
other, and there is $50 for my fine"
BIT you served your time in Jail" ;"
said the Judge. "and owe no fine"
That's right, old boy, but I'm abou,
to commit an assault and battery, and |
guess Ill settle now. You're the man
propose to lick"
"Oh, that's it," rejoined the Court,
pOcketing the coin; "ihen you can start
in and we'll call it square.
The young man advanced to the Judge
and let out his left.
The Judge ducked his head, and rising
up, lifted the intruder in the eye, with a
right-hander, and sent him over against
the wall. In a moment the Court was
climbing all over tho man, and in about
three minutes his face was hardly recog-
nizable. The man. begged the Court to
let up, which he finally did. As the fel.
low was about to 60 out, Carey went af-
ter him with:
See here. young man, don't think
the fighting you did ought to be assessed
at more than S250-here's $3.50 in
change. l amt charging you anything
for the fighting, but just for my time.
Next time won't charge you a cent"
The rough took the change and the
next train for Virginia City.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
A FACETIOUS JUSTICE.
Detroit Free Pres-.

Fred Flasher has lately got commits
sion from the Government of Maine as a
Justice Of the Peace. Shortly after that
event a rural couple called on him TO
marry them. He had never read a word
of the ceremony.
"Sam Jipkins, do you love this wom-
an :" be asked.
"Yis. sur" responded Sam, hitching
up his striped trowser.
"Will you cherish and obey her."
"Yis."
"Florentina Harding. will you love
and cherish this man -
"lis,' she lisped, while wiping her
eyes with the corner Of her apron.
"Do you both want to be married :"
"Yis, Yis,' said both, and Sam shift.
ted his weight upon his right foot.
Then Squire Flasher moralized and
fnanlly said:
I'VE will close by singing Chaplain
McCabe's trunle bed song, AS tumbled
in the attic" etc.
And as he saw that the bride was very
plain he added, after which you will
kiss each other and depart as the great
men departed in the beautiful hymn
written by King David, commencing
"Wives OF great men all remind US,
We may make our wives sublime,
And departing leave behind us,
Footprints on the sands OF time!"
And here Flasher paused, took his fee
and left, and all seemed satisfactory un-
I'll some one called attention to the fact
that Flasher had omitted the important
point of pronouncing them husband and
wife. This was remedied by hunting
him up and going through the ceremony
again, at the close of which he said:
II now pronounce you husband and
wife, married good and solid now see
how long you can stick to it."
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19
ONE EXPERIENCE FROM MANY.

| have been sick and miserable so long
md had caused my husband so much trou-
bic and expense, no one seemed TO know
what allied me, that was completely dis
heartened and discouraged. 10 this frame
Of mind got a bottle Of Hop Bitters, and
used them unknown to my family. | soon
began 10 improve and gained so fast that
my husband aud family thought it strange
and unnatural, but when to!d them what
had helped me, they said, Hurrah for
Hop Bitters. long may they prosper. for
they have made mother well and happy. -
The Mother.
Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-09-19

WOMEN As JUDICIAL OFFICERS.
England ladies have held and exercised
judicial authority. Thus the Countess
of Pembroke was sheriff of Westmoreland
before the era of Magma Chsrta, and be-
ing at that period judicial officer, she
held court and exercised power OF a
subordinate Judge, and sat with the judges
on the bench at the Appleby assizes.
Eleanor was appointed to fill the Office
of lord keeper Of England, and actually
performed the duties of the lord chancel-
lor in person. King Henry III in the
year 1885 appointed her lady keeper OF
the Great Seal which post she nearly a
year. and performed all the judicial and
ministerial duties.
Tae Countess of Richmond, mother of
Henry VII, and Lady Bartlett were both
appointed justices of the peace; and a
third lady, y,who was magistrate, actually
sat upon the bench at the assizes and
sessions in the county of Suffolk, Va
rious Judicial inquiries respecting free
hold property were in the reign of Rich
ard III made before "divers, lords and
ladies' 1t is stated by many old legal
writers whose opinion is entitled to re-
spect, that women are disqualified to be-
come arbitrators but the better opinion
now is that they may be so, on the ground
that every person is entitled to select any
person he likes for his judge, and he can
not afterward object to the incompctency
of those he has chosen to act as arbitra
tors on his behalf. The Duchess Of Suf.
folk, in the reign Of Edward " acted as
arbitrator before she was married, and
the exercise by her of this Office were
not disputed.