davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Crowd Who Pass Us.

You cannot read the lot of those who
daily pass by you in the street. How
do you know the wild romances OF
their lives-the trials, the temptations
they are even now enduring, resisting,
sinking under? You may be elbowed
one instant by the girl desperate in her
abandonment, laughing in mad merri-
ment with her outward gesture. while
her soul is longing for the rest of the
dead, and bringing itself to think OF
the cold.fowing river as the only mer-
cy of God remaining to her here. You
may pass the criminal meditating
crimes at which you will tomorrow
shudder with borrow as you read them.
You may push against one humble and
unnoticed, the last upon earth, who in
heaven will forever be in the immedi-
ate light of Gods countenance. En-
rands of mercy-ermnds Of sin-did
YOU ever think where all the thousands
of people you daily meet are bound?
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
81 Only Want YOU"

Nearly four years ago, 1 was going to
spend the day in Il large city. Before
starting said to my dear invalid sis
ter, who is now in glory, satisfied with
the fulncss of her Fathers house, "Can
I buy anything for you, dear? l dc
want so much to bring you something
from town." She interrupted my
question, saying with such u sweet,
yearning look, Nothing, dear. Don't
bring anything. 1 only want you.
Come home as soon as you can" Hel
tender words rang in my ears all day
"I only want you :" and o, how often,
since her bright entrance within the
pearly gates, have her touching words
and loving look returned to memory
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
What Others Say.
(J. H.)

It is no cause of wonder that people
are getting their eyes open to see that
there are better methods than war for
the settlement of international disputes.
The wonder is that they did not wake
up sooner. War is so irrational, even if
it were not criminal, so utterly made
quate to settle disputes upon principles
of right and justice, that it would seem
that only irrational beings would resort
to it. Wild animals who are incapable
of reason, settle their quarrels by brute
force. Then the sharpest claws and the
strongest muscles prevail, and the
weaker are vanquished. This settles
only the question of might, not of right.
God has given man, as he has not the
lower animals, the faculty of reason
and argument, and sense of justice
and right, by which questions can be
determined upon the principle of right,
without any regard to the physical
strength of the contending parties.
Man degrades himself and dishonors
God, when he drops down to the level
of the brute in trying to settle dis
putes.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Door Unlocked.

Some time since I wished to enter
strange church with minister, q little
before the time for service. We pro-
duced key, but tried in vain to un'
lock the outside door with it. We
concluded we had the wrong key, and
sent to the janitor for the right one.
But he came and told US that the door
was already unlocked. All we had to
do was to push and the door would
open. We thought ourselves locked
out, when there was nothing to hinder
us from entering.
In the same way we fail to enter in.
to love Ind fellowship with God. The
door, we think, is locked against us.
We try to fit some key of extraordina,
ry faith to open it. We try to get our
minds wrought up to some high pitch
of feeling. We say, II have the
wrong key; I pust feel more sorry; I
must weep MORE" And all the time
the door is ready to open, If we but
come boldly, with humble earnestness,
to the throne Of grace. We may enter
freely at once, without having to un'
lock the door. Christ is the door, and
his heart is not shut against us. We
must enter without stopping to fit our
key Of studied faith, for his mercy is
not locked up. We must enter boldly,
trustingly, not doubling his readiness
to receive us, 'just as We are" He is
willing already, and we must not stop
to make him willing by our prayers OF
tears.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

Speaking of the great loss of life in
the Paris theater an important daily
says: "That was a pathetic scene, for
those were pleasure-seekers, who had
gone for q few hours to find relaxation
from the insipid joys or relief from the
carking cares of ife."' 1t was indeed a
pathetic scene. We pity them all.
But to one expression in the words
quoted serious objection is to be taken.
Life has carking cares, but is it proper
to characterize its ordinary joys as in
sipid? The ordinary joys of lifs to
those in health of body and mind can
never be insipid. Like the wholesome
food on which men live, they are salts
flying. Only drunkards on alcohol or
other unnatural eXcitants find them
otherwise, and they because they are
accustomed to artificial stimulants.
One of the evils of much theater-going
is that it tends to make life's ordinary
joys insipid. We once heard young
lady, bred in luxury, say to a friend,
that she got through the day with a
novel, in the hope that somebody would
come in to take her to the theater in
the evening.
[New York Christian Advocate.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Well, dear reader, is not this, too,

Well, dear reader, is not this, too,
what dear sweet Saviour says to you
Do you not want sometimes, to offer
prayers, tears, almsgiving, deeds OF
kindness, sacrifices, earnest service, and
patient endeavor? But he, too, turns
from all, and says, II only want you"
"My son, my daughter, give me
thine heart" No amount of service
can satisfy the love which claims only
the heart. Lowest thou me?" was
his thrice repeated question to his err
ing disciple. "He that loveth ME shall
be loved by my Father" John IA;
21.) Devotion of life, earnestness of
service, fervent prayers, are only ac-
ceptable to him as fruits of love. They
are valueless without the heart. He
says to each of us, as my sainted sister
said to me, "I only want YOU"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Comfort of Hope.

He who shows mercy to another re-
members himself. To be pitiful is to
be thoughtful. Those who are in the
full tide of health cannot easily think
what it really is to be worn with unre'
lieved pain and disease. Those in
whose happy homes there seem to be
the perpetual festival of comfort and
the sweetest friendships can hardly
imagine what it is to have the home
broken up, and to be outcast and alone.
The infinite comfort which there is in
Christ's love and presence and friend
ship is due in part to the infinite
thoughtfulness of His love.
eff it were not so,n said Jesus to his
disciples. II would have told you"
What is it that he would have so sure,
Iv told them, "if it were not So" This,
that in Gods home, in the home OF the
Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ, there is abundant room; that
there is His own prepared place fol
each one; and that this home, assured
to every disciple, is no mere guest
house for a night or day, but home
that has the element of permanence-
that is, an abiding place.
The need of that perpetual vision
of q better world" whose light shines
through the darkness of the present
life. is not need for few here and
there, but necessity for every one and
everywhere. ''If it were not so, 1
would have told YOU" The reasons,
then, are obvious enough why we, too,
should tell of it, that all may know it.
Congregational Magazine.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

turned away. I sat by the river for
while, and then went to meet the car
riage which was returning.
1.-THE man again stopped me. You
are young he said. You ought to
have more mercy than the world. ]
am a very wretched man. If you
would use your influence, could you
not get me work?'
His voice was so hoarse [ thought
he had been drinking. I hurried on,
without speaking. The coachman
threatened him with his whip, seeing
that I was annoyed. I went home,
but the mans pale face haunted me
all that night.
"The next morning, my father read
from the paper, The body of man
was found last night in the river above
the dam. 1t proved to be that Of a
Virginian named Hall, who had been
struggling with poverty and ill-health
III the Guy, III uloblho'
"He had been starving the day be-
fore, had applied for work to every
man he met. His last appeal was to
me. A kind word from ME would
have saved him.
"It was terrible lesson. Fifty
years have passed since then, but even
now wake at night with that mans
face before me-"
The consequences of our careless
neglect of the poor are not often
brought home to us in such a way.
Yet we may be certain that every time
we turn away from a needy brother,
we leave him to evil influences which
we might have changed into good
ones.
Every beggar, every creature hurt or
hungry in body or soul that comes in
our path, is an opportunity given to US
by God to make ourselves like the
Master in His compassion and kind
ness.
"Inasmueh," the Saviour tells US,
las we did it not to one of the least OF
these, ye did it not to me-"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Dress and Manners.

The Examiner we'll puts it: "Refine-
ment of manners, neatness in dress,
careful observance of all the social
amenities are important elements in
pastoral success. Neglect of them Of
ten turns the scale against really cap,
able and worthy man. Dress does not
make the man. said distinguished
preacher, but when he is made he
looks q great deal better if well dress
ed.' The remark has wider applica'
ton than to mere apparel. A strong
man is stronger for being a thorough
gentleman. A good man is better,
and his goodness is more highly appre'
ciated, if he is attentive to those minor
virtues which refine and beauti'
fy the life. Coarseness, shabbiness,
vulgarity, in greater or less degree,
may co-exist with great moral and in
tellectual power; but by so much as
they exist they narrow the range of in
fluence by repelling those whom q
more gracious manner might WIN
And they are an element of weakness:
even when apparently overlooked
Every one likes his pastor to appear tc
the best advantage, and is panied Al
evidences of indifference to persona
appearance or the rules Of good breed
ing. It behooves the pastor, therefore
to cultivate the lesser as well as the
greater graces of life, and without Civ
ing undue heed to the outward man
to endeavor to offend TO one by negli
gence in dress, or conduct unbccom
ing gentleman
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Is. S. Tin,es.)

Neither the wisdom nor the folly OF
to-day is utterly new. When one sees
the young scrapegrace of our times liv'
ing by his wits, managing in one way
and another to obtain money enough to
dress more showily and to feast more
sumptuously than his honest and hard
working neighbors, one is tempted to
believe that this creature is modern
invention. But when one turns back
to the record of two thousand years
ago, he finds evidence of the same sort
of person attracting attention and win
ming contempt in those days. "Be not
made beggar by banqueting upon
borrowing, when thou hast nothing in
thy purse; for [by so doing1 thou shalt
lie in wait for thine own life, and be
talked on" is the wise mans counsel in
Ecclesiasticus. And so it would seem
that fools and wise men have borne
much the same relation to each other in
all the ages.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A Miners Persistence.

Canon Wilberforcs, whose recent
visit to this country was source of
good to many, was dwelling, in the
course of one of his addresses, on the
Importance of the word "now," and
related the following incidentin in point:
A miner having heard the Gospel
preached, determined that, if the
promised blessing of immediate saliva.
tion were indeed true, he would not
leave the presence of the minister
who was declaring it, until assured of
its possession by himself. He waited,
consequently, after the meeting to
speak with the minister, and, in his
untutored way, said:
Didn't ye say I could have the
blessing now?"
eyes, my triend,"
"Then pray with me, for Pm not
goin' awa' wi'out it."
And they did pray, these two men,
wrestling in prayer until midnight,
like Jacob at Peniel, until the wrest-
ling miner heard the silent words of
comfort and cheer.
1--WE got it now" cried the miner,
his face rejecting the joy within;
"Ive got it now!"
The next day terrible accident oc-
CURED at the mines-one of those ac-
cidents which so frequently shock US
with their horror merely in the read
ing of them. The same minister was
called to the scene, and among the
men dead and dying was the CULVER
ing, almost breathless body OF this
man, who only the night before, big
and brawny, came to him to know if
salvation could really be had "now'
for the asking. There was but fleet
ing moment of recognition between
the two, ere the miners soul took
flight, but in that moment he had
time to say, in response to the minis
ter's sympathy:
"Oh, I don't mind, for I've got it
I've got tits mine."
Then the name of this poor man
went into the list of "killed." There
was no note made of the royal inheri-
tance to which he had but a few hours
before come into possession, through
faith in Christ, and all by his believ-
ing grip of the word "now."
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
Lost Opportunities.

A gentle, gracious old lady of seven
ty lately told the following incident to
her grandchildren. We give, as near
ly as possible, her own words:
II drove out one day. when was a
young girl, to the Park. Some trifle
had occurred to irritate me; disap-
pointment, probably, about dress or
a hat. I left the carriage and bidding
the coachman drive on, sat down OH a
bench near the river.
"Some children were playing under
the trees; their nurses looking Oh.
remember that their noise annoyed me
and that I tried to control my own ILL
humor. But, I thought, why should
not be ill-humored if 1 chose? l was
alone; it could harm nobody.
"a man stood near me, leaning
against tree. He attracted my at
tention because his clothes were Of
fine quality, though worn and ragged
There was something about his air and
manner, too, which betokened gentle
breeding. He turned and saw me
hooking at him, and, apparently fol-
lowing sudden impulse, came upant
asked me for work.
II was not frightened, for his man
ner was perfectly respectful, but wa:
angry ut being annoyed by stranger
"'What work could 1 have for you
| said.
" That is true He bowed AM
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

You felt warmed up" while you
were attending that protracted meeting.
You were away from the annoyances OF
domestic duties and servants. How
you did enjoy singing the precious old
hymns, and the 'altar-work" Good
so far; but, tested by the trials amid
which you are to spend the rest Of the
year, your revival is sis weighed in the
balance and found wanting," for ii
does not make you patient and amiable
with servants and children.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
An Orphan Boy.

Stay, lady, stay, for mercy's sake,
And hear helpless orphans tale.
All! sure my looks must pity wake;
'Tis want that makes my cheek so pale.
Yet l was once mother pride.
And my brave fathers hope and JOY;
But in the Niles proud fight he died,
And am now an orphan boy.
Poor, foolish child how pleased was l..
When news Of Nelson's victory came!
Along the crowded streets to fly,
And see the lighted windows flame.
TO force me home my mother sought,
She could not bear to see my JOY.
For with my fathers life twas bought,
And made me poor orphan boy.
The peoples shouts were long and loud;
My mother, shuddering, closed her ears
"Rejoice! rejoice! still cried the crowd;
My mother answered with her tears.
"Why are you crying thus" said |,
while others laugh and shout Tor JOY
She kissed me, and with such sigh,
She called me her poor orphan boy.
"What is an orphan boy?" I cried,
AS in her face looked and smiled,
NV mother, through her tears. replied:
You'll know too soon, ill-fated child"
And now they've tolled my mothers knell
And Pm no more parents joy;
O. lady, have learned too we'll
What It's to be an orphan boy!
[Omelia Opie.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

Christians seem to engage in warfare
upon the principle Of doing evil that
good may come; for Christians admit
that war is an evil. "But may yc not
meet the enemy to preserve our homes
and our government from violence and
destruction War itself is violence
and destruction. "But war saved oM
homes and our government in the re.
bellon.n But war did not save oul
neighbors' homes; and what does oul
King say? "7Hou shalt lovc thy neigh-
Dor as MyscJ.'
[ Daniel Hill, Editor Of the Messenger
Of Peace.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
(Tho,nuS Cbuse,)

"This evil, war, would not continue
to erist in Christian communities a
day or hour longer, if the good Chris
tian men of every country were once
to look at it in its true light, and to
recognize and acknowledge its mon
strous criminality. I arraign the
churches of christendom, as guilty OF
all the crime and woe which the con-
tinuance of this barbarous institution
entails upon the world"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
A Suggestive Incident.

The following narration may sug-
gest to some of our readers simple
ways in which they may substantially
aid and cheer young men and young
women who are preparing themselves
for labor in the vineyard of the Lord
as physicians and ministers.
II went thousand miles from
home," said DR.. NJ, Ito attenda a theo-
logical school. 1 had earned and laid
aside nearly money enough to pay my
expenses, and had promise of assist
ant pastoral work sufficient to make
up any probable deficiency. In the
middle of my second year the strain
on me became very great, and was
seized with congestion of the brain
and taken to the hospital. There L
stayed several days, and received eX-
cellent care. When I went back to
the bare walls of my little cell in the
seminary, they looked cheerless
enough. had not dared to write to
my parents of my illness; they could
do nothing for me, and the knowledge
that L was ill would only distress
them, and do no good to them or me.
Having taken only liquid food dur
ing my illness, I became, of course,
reduced in flesh andstrength, and on
my recovery needed nourishing and
appetizing food. But restaurant fare
I could not relish. After afew mouth
fuls could eat no more, and left the
table hungry. I knew just what
would be served at my boarding or
meal-taking house, and that knowl-
edge took away my appetite. My
physician at last advised me to give
up my studies for the remainder of the
year, and 60 home and rest and build
myself up, and begin again another
year.
"This advice depressed me greatly.
I should, if I took it, be put back a
whole year. Just at this dark hour a
young man of my acquaintance, hav-
ing missed me from Sunday-school the
day before, and learning was sick,
came to see me.
"'I'm going to take you home with
me- said he. you need an outing.
Mother will be glad to see YOU
II went with him. He took me to
his room, and after giving me vigor-
Gus rubbing and pinching, which left
all my muscles in glow, he left me
in his bed to sleep for an hour. When
I awoke, refreshed, and Joined the
cheerful family circle my depression
was gone. 1t was delightful to be in a
home once more. Soon the six o'clock
dinner was served. What an appetite
I had! How good every thing tasted !!
How pleasant it was to be in the inner
circle of family life once more!
"That was the turning-point for me.
1 began to get better; my appetite
came back, my strength returned, I
resumed my work, and finished my
course without interruption. To that
family circle T became a privileged
visitor, and the thought that there was
one place in the great city where I
could for little time be at home
only those who have been strangers
can know what it was to me-"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

War is the greatest evil of evils that
we can conceive to he rcmcdied. 1t at
taclSs all classes of society and all ages.
1t attacks item with no insidious wrap'
ons and under no Disguise, hut with
oncn massacre, starvation. and ruin-a
mischief from which no one is safe
which threatens every laan's life ana
every mans childrem'S lives.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08
The Leakage of Churches.

Leakage is term used with refer
ence to the loss of liquids from vessels
that are not water tight, and, in a
commercial sense, it describes GER
tain rate per cent. for such waste. We
use it now in relation to church
shrinkage, and how appropriate the
term is in this application will be
manifest by the facts which suggest
the use. While large additions are
made to many of our churches the ag-
pregate of numbers in the multitude
of cases show but little change; the
supply of new members is barely suffi-
cient to supply deficiencies by losses
from relapses, in many instances.
In this state of things the London
Freeman suggests that, "If, instead of
wondering how to reach the masses,
we first solved the problem of how to
retain those we have gained, we
should accomplish task that would
amply repay the time and trouble
spent on it. tits startling fact that
the youths of our land, on whom the
best efforts of our best Christian men
have been expended, and who consti-
tute the future hope of our nation, are
allowed to drift out of our Sabbath
schools and seek companionship and
congenial pursuits among associations
that tend to irreverence and sin. No
body asks why they left or where they
have gone, and thus multitudes of our
yeung men-having no strong ties to
bind them to the church of their boy
hood, and having received imperfect
ideas of some of the main features OF
Christianity, are to be found in every
town and village composing large
proportion of the population. The de-
sertion of our young men is largely
owing to the absence of any attraction
for them in conneXion with the
Church"
These remarks, however, apply more
to the congregation than tothe Church.
But the sad fact confronts us that an
alarming process of shrinkage is con-
stantly going on in the membership of
many of our churches, the causes of
which demand serious thought, the
correction of which calls for special
effort. To keep church in tact and
hold in firm allegiance new accessions
to its membership is a problem very
difficult to solve. To faithful pastor
few things occasion greater anxiety
than the relapse of converts, and the
loss of so much of the fruits of his Ia
bors is one of the saddest reflections
forced upon a review of ministerial
service.
To avert this leakage should be the
aim not only of the pastor, but of the
entire church. Pulpit counsels and
pastoral visitations are not sufficient.
What is needed is more mutual
watch-care," a closer sympathy, a
more intimate fellowship, and a con-
slant interchange of those Christian
courtesies which are adapted to quick
Ell holy affections, kindle religious
zeal, and hold in stronger bonds of
unity all who belong to the same
household of faith.-Baptist Weekly.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-08

The day is coming, | trust, when
Christians will look back with graft
tulc and affection OH those men, who,
in ares of conflict and bloodShed, en-
listed under the banner of philanthro-
by and peace, cherished generous hopes
of human Improvement, withstood the
violence of colrupt opinion, held forth
amidst general darkness the pure and
mild light Of Christianity, and thus
ushcred in i new and peaceful era in
the hi-tnry OF mankind.