davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

followed him weeping to Calvary, fingered
longest in the shadow of his cross, were
the earliest at the sepulcher on the morn
ing of bis resurrection, and were the very
first heralds to the world of that glorious
event.
She hath done what she could" was
Christ's testimony to a woman and tax
ing the whole church, broad and large as
rule, we may affirm it to be true, that
woman comes a good deal nearer tlan
man to doing what she can. Far be it
from us to initiate her with any ungodly
conceit-and it does not follow that what
we have said of woman as woman is true
at all of the individual woman who reads
these lines and yet we would stimulate
such reader by the thought of all that
Jesus has done for woman, to exert her
self to the utmost to merit such encomium
rs twas won from the Lord by Mary, of
Bethany
1t is not necessary for her highest use
fulness and honor that woman should
be man, as so many women in our day
would fain be nor that she should do
mans work in man way. This act of
AMOUNTING in the house of Simon was dis
tinctly womanly, aud there would have
| been something to our minds almost in
congruous about it if it had been done by
man at least it would have been robbed
of no small part of its charm. Mary could
not bear his cross for him little later, as
did Simon the Cyrenian, but she could
pour out sweet perfume on his head,
preparatory to his bulial.
And 80 at Calvary. The women that
stood tearfully by could not take him down
| from the cross-thst was for the men, for
Nicodemus, and Joseph of Arimathea but
the women could bring spices to embalm
his body.
True it is that Sin Christ Jesus there is
neither male nor female" meaning that
| for both there is equality of blessing. But
to infer from this that Christ came to
abolish all distinctions or sex, and to bring
it to pass that in the family and in society,
| in the Church and in the State, woman
should do just the same work as man, is
to state proposition that is not only false,
but monstrous, contrary to nature, and
also to the plainess teachings of the word
of God.
All the more noble is mans work when
it is simply manly, and all the more beau
tiful is woman's when it is simply wo-
manly.-Ihe Baptist Teacher.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
Win sle the Rlacksmitt's Aprone

Everybody knows that a blacksmith
wears a leather apron, and must nave
noticed that this apron is slit and often
fringed at the bottom. An old sussex
smith tells US how his came to be done
Once upon a time Alfred the drea1
called all the trades together to appoint
Trades-king. He declared be would MAKE
that man king who could best get on WIN.
out the help of the others for the longest
j.. period. He made feast, and ASKED
workman from each trade to come anu
bring specimen OF his work and the
tools used in making it.
The blacksmith brought his manner
and a horseshoe, the tailor brought ms
shears and new coat, the baker LIS peer
and loaf. the shoemaker his aWl ana
new pair of shoes, the carpenter his Sd"
and a nice boz, the butcher his chopper
and a joint, the mason his chlsels ana
carved stone.
The tailors coat was of such surprising
beauty that all the guests declared them-
selves beaten and the horseshoe the
bread, the shoes, the meat. and the carved
stone were all thrown aside. The tailor
was pronounced Trades king by Alfred
aud was duly installed.
The blacksmith was angry and dec! area
that be would do no more work while the
tailor was king; and he actually shut up
his shop and disappeared.
One day, as King Alfred was riding
along, his horse cast shoe, and he was
the irst to need the services of the black
smith but he could not get into the shop.
Then all the other tradesmen, including
King Tailor, tried to shoe the kings
horse but each one not only failed, but
broke his tools, and could not carry on his
proper business until they were mended.
Kirg Alfred and the tradesmen then
broke open the shop and tried to use the
blacksnith's tools. The king tried to shoe
his horse, the tailor to mend his shears,
and each one endeavored to repair his
tools. The horse kicked the king, the
tailor bruised his fingers, the fire would
not burn, and everybody got into every
body's way. The butcher showed the
baker, he showed the shoemaker, who in
turn showed the carpenter, who showed
the mason, who showed the tailor, and In
the general confusion the anvil was
knock ed over.
About this time the blacksmith walked
in, looking very angry. The king, now,
ever, made a humble bow, and sale, II
was wrong to be led away by the gaudy
color of a coat, ana now revoke my uo
cision and proclaim the blacksmith king.
All the trades, except the disposed tailor,
begged the smith to mend their tools. 50
he shod the kings horse and mended the
tools of all who had asked him ; but, IN
order to show his magnanimity, he made
the tailor brand-new pair of shears
King Alfred proposed to drink the
health of the new king, and to sing,
| IL. ~ ND
he gave The tailor, however, did not re-
ciprocate the blacksmith's kindness, but.
while the others were singing, crawled
under the table and slit the blacksmith,s
leather apron, and cut the lower edge into
regular fringe. From that day no true
blacksmith has ever thought of wearing
an apron that was not slit and fringed at
the bottom.-Otis T. Mason, IN Wade
4qrHEe
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
A Living Bible.

In the home of a young man VINO was
an infdel, young lady resided who was
relative of the family. Her fretful tenn
per had made all around her uncomfo1ta-
BILE. She was sent to boarding school,
and was absent some time. While there
she became a true and earnest Christian.
On her return she was SO changed that all
who knew her wondered and rejoiced.
She was patient and cheerful, kind, unset
fish and charitable. The lips that used to
be always uttering cross and bitter things
now spoke nothing but sweet, gentle, low
ing words.
Her infidel cousin, George was greatly
surprised at this. He watched her closely
for some time, until he was thoroughly
satisfied that it was real change that had
taken place in his young cousin. Then he
asked her what had caused this great
change. She told him it was the grace OF
God which had made her Christian, and
had changed her heart
He said to himself: 81 don't believe
that God has anything to, do with it,
though she thinks he has. But it is
wonderful change that has taken place IN
her, and would like to be as good as she
is. will be so. Then he formed set OF
good resolutions. He tried to control his
tongue and his temper, and keep strict
watch over himself. He was all the time
doing and saying what he did not wish to
do and say. And as he failed time after
time, he would turn and study his good
cousins example He would read this
living Bible, and say to himself "How
does it happen that she, who has not as
much knowledge or as much strength of
character as | have, can do what I can't
do? She must have some help that don't
know Of 1t must be as she says, the help
of God will seek that help" He went
to his chamber ard prayed to that God
whose very existence he had denied. He
prayed earnestly. God heard him, helped
| him and he became Christian. Dear
friend for whom does you life Speaks
it for Christ? Are you a Giving Bible p
| Tile Worker.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

and communion of professedly Christian
body, of man against whose moral ana
religious character not one word was
brought or urged, but who had simply, in
organizing churches of persons who had
been converted under his ministry, on the
frontier, ventured to give them a name
found in the Word of God, instead of an
unscriptural designation which had never
been heard of for more than fifteen hun
dred years after Christ's Church was
founded, and which, of course, was entire
" destitute of Divine or Scriptural au-
thority.
The only safety for the Christian and
for the Church of God is found in the
rigid and persistent adherence to the
Words eolaich God has spoken, and the pre-
cepts which God has commanded. Whelh-
er these are essential or important is a
matter with which we have no concern.
Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever Ihdvs commanded y0u, is the
language of the great commission. If we
say s.Lo1d Lord !" it is our business to do
the things which Christ commands. We
are not to pronounce this matter essential
and that non essential. We are simply
to do qohat God has hidden us, and leave
the rest with him.
But if we undertake this, we must leave
alone the things which the Lord has not
commanded. If we are to fight the fight
of faith we must confne ourselves to this
warfare, keep the line of battle which he
has marked out, and if we do this we
shall abandon many positions concerning
which people are disputing and striving.
We shall not then waste our time arguing
about essentials and non essentials, we
shall simply bow to the Word of God
saying "speak, Lord, for thy servant
heareth p and give heed to his commands
being not forgetful hearers of the Word,
but doors of the Work, and SO shall be
blessed in our deeds.-H. l.. Hastings
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

Grandma slept peacefully. There lin
gered on her dear face the light of the
parting smile she had given US at parting
Fair flowers were all about her, and l
noticed, as bent over her for the last time,
how pure and fresh the white ribbon was
which tied her cap, and then with pang
remembered her old bonnet strings. Dear
grandma she had gone where garments are
without spot Or wrinkle. How she would
enjoy the white raiment, purity, the un-'
changing freshness of the heavenly LAND
We all loved grandma dearly; for
time it seemed as if we, could not 60 on
without her. One day, towards evening,
| longing seized me to look once more into
grandma's room so l went across the
| Street and stole around to the side door
which opened directly into her room. 1t
was ajar and l stepped softly in. Grand
| mas arm chair-emptyl-s by the
window. leaned over it, trying to pic
ture her as had seen her so often sitting
at dusk humming her favorite hymn,
sun of my soul, thou Saviour dear
But the sound of sobbing reached my ear,
| and looking up | saw in the shadows, at
the further end of the large room, Aunt
Maria, standing by the bureau. Grand
mas bonnes was in her hand She turned
it about and looked at it as if she would
torture herself with the certainty that it
was indeed shabby; then she kissed it,
again, and bowed her head low over it in
an agony of bitter weeping. And l had
thought Aunt Maria selfconstrained and
cold She had not heard me come in, so
l went noiselessly away.
Aunt Maria meant to be good daughter.
She had always abundantly supplied her
mother with necessities and comforts, but
she would have given all she possessed
that night standing there in the desolate
room, to be able to recall the thoughtless
words which for the sake of a few paltry
dollars denied the dear old mother almost
the last request she ever made.
"Let love antedate the work of death, F."
and now bring the sweet spices of a fresh
ribbon, flower, a tender word, loving
thoughtfulness, which will brighten hearts
that are weary. -Congregationalist.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
Well Dressed.

I once heard mother who had been
criticised for her personal vanity by 8
somewhat gossipy neighbor say that she
had made it duty and pleasure to keep
well dressed. forshe was likely at any hour
to be called upon to entertain friends whose
good opinion was of such consequence that
She could not afford to run the risk of
having them find her in any but neat
and presentable attire. The friends were
her husband and children, and she was
fully compensated for her care in this
direction by their approval and apprecia-
ton. To be "well dressed was not to her
mind an extravaganza. Good taste and
good planning often stand in place of dol
lars and cents, and the lady in question
was able to dress on half the cost of her
neighbours wardrobe Western Agrscut-
tur0tist
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
what She Could.

.ssha hath done what she could" was
the splendid eulogy which our Lord ord pro- 70
n,srious contents of her slabaster box
p Z his head. Notice this highest OF
t,ibntes was paid to a woman. In all ages
ana s. since sls the .1 s EXCEPTIONS soa ap
80 had been Kept in ignominions sno.
faction lection to mans caprice and lust. But
Beginning q the gospel breaks M.ss out s Mary
.,so 60 The Son of God, reaches out his al
a,I0 III hand even to fallen women, such
- bar ..that was sinner and the "wo-
= ~ Samaria Y He lifts woman up.
md nj leads her forth, and introduces her to
: snhare Of truest nobility and highest
I sefnlness and blessedness.
Woman instinctiyely recognized in him
- ionO promised. Deliverer. and gave to
III ~. as man did not, the most beautiful
a axe Of her grateful appreciation. Wo-
800 rs, y,ainistered TO him of their substance,
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
The Ninth Commandment.

"Whet is the Ninth Commandment 2"
said teacher to boy in Sunday
school.
'''Thou shalt not bear false witness
against thy neighbour
"What is bearing false witness against
your neighbor ?"
''It is telling falsehoods."
That is partly true; and yet it is not
exactly the right answer-because you
may tell falsehood about yourself"
very good little girl then said:
"It is when nobody did anything, and
somebody went and told it,"
''That will do said the teacher, with q
smile.
The little girl had given curious an
swer; but underneath her odd language
there was pretty clear perception of the
true meaning. THE Christian.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
A PANSY DREAM.
N ANNA a! I'll tell you a story

o mamma I'll tell you story
Far stranger thanany you've read,
1t is what have just been dreaming,
About our Pansy Bed.
The dear little Johnny jump-ups,
They nod and smile at me SO.
have half believed they were people,
And I've often told you SO.
Well, dreamed that the oneia purple.
With the white around her face,
Was the love!iest old grandmother,
With ruff1e of snowy lace,
And the meek little blue-and-white ones,
And the saucy yellow ones, too,
All come and dropped her courtesy,
AS dutiful grandchildren do.
And she told them to be very quiet,
But the naughty ones shoog their heads,
And went skipping all round the garden,
And dancing among the beds.
Then that cluster of great big bronze ones,
Why, they acted like gypsies bold,
And chased all the romping wee ones,
And were taking them eff to be sold.
Then that tall and splendid black one,
Who has such yellow eye,
Why, he looked like fierce old Arab
When he heard the little ones cry.
And he cut off the heads of the Bronzes,
And the wee ones came back at his call,
And the beautiful quaint grandmother
Was the happiest one of all.
OF course, was only dreaming
There wasn't word of it true;
have just looked out and seen them,
All smiling out there in the dew.
I know that they can't talk, mamma,
Though they sometimes look like they win
But I'll tell you this for a secret
Ireally believe they think.
Il z II in Little E0lEa
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
The Peacock and the Sage, and the
Horse and the Fly.
THE PEACOCK AND THE SAGE.

THE PEACOCK AND THE SAGE.
A turkey having harshly criticised the
singing of the peacock, the latter bird
posted off to famous sage in the neigh
hood and said:
your decisions have always been SO
Just and conscientious that l am ready to
abide by what you say. claim to have
particularly sweet voice when l sing. l
will leave it to you to decide"
Thereupon the peacock took a long
breath and whoopsd up verse of song.
"My friend" replied the sage, as his
hair ceased to stand on end, ''you have
spoiled your case by seeking to strengthen
it. Had you refused to sing should GER
tainly decide that you had sweet voice
for song. AS it is, l must decide that the
turkey is level on top of the head.
Moral-Silent people make the best i'm
pres sion
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

"Bodiculture" is the new word coined
by DR.. THAN Davidson. and we thank him
for it. Muscular Christianity has no'more
sturdy defender than the genial doctor,
"Too long," he says, "was religion asso-
ciated with pale, lanky dyspeptics, af-
flicted with every form of invalidism, so
that even Pascal observed that disease is
the natural state of Christians Thank God
that hateful fallacy is exploded. The
Church of Christ to-day wants strong,
erect, full-chested, broad shouldered men,
men of vigorous constitution, high animal
spirits, and dauntless courage" DIR. Tai
mage tells US that he attributes his per-
feet health during twenty nine years to
the gymnasium. cit used" he says, etc
be considered wicked place for pugilists
to get up muscle, but now you see mil
lionaires turning summersaults lawyers
upside down, hanging by one foot; doc
tors of divinity, with coats off, punching
bag, sending blows as if in controversy,
and the bag an opposing bishop" We
agree with Professor Huxley when he says
that young man should SO train himself
chat his body is the ready servant of his
will, and does with ease and pleasure all
the work that, as a mechanism, it is
capable of and his intellect clear logic
machine, with all its parts of equal
strength, and in smooth working order,
ready, like steam engine, to be turned
to any kind of work, whether to spin a
gossamer, or to forge an anchor"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
"Charcot1 and diamond are the same

"CharcoC and diamond are the same
material-carbon. One absorbs the light,
the other reflects it. There are charcoal
Christians and diamond Christians. Ex-
anime their creeds, they are the same ex-
anime their religious experience before
a church committee, they are the same.
One is gloomy and the other glistens one
is dark, the other luminous. The first
thing for young Christian to do, looking
about for some means of doing good, is to
look to himself and see to it that he is q
diamond and not a charcoal Christian"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

"Well, captain, how were you pleased
with the lady?' ''To speak frankly, l
was somewhat disappointed. How so?''
seThey said that she was entellectual but
I talked with her half an hour and she
didn't open her mouth once" lyon are
mistaken there, captain. She yawned six
or eight times"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
HIS NEIGHBoR,s LIGHT.

Is ut on the angry pillows;
ana bright from the light house tower
nlnes forth friendly beacon.
10 save fromShe tempest's power. =.
9alo tue keeper the brave Max Errdman-
4 ss ne worked In the tower that night:
wonder IT down on the lower coast
Their lamp is burning brightq
loung Franz and ivan the keepers
May De careless / think I'll GO
ana look from the cliff must hasten back,
For the oil in my lamp is low
SO away he sped through the darkness,
TO the mountain peak affair;
nd saw through the gloom of the driving storm
r Like the smile of beautiful star,
The headland lighthouse cleaning
Ger that dangerous lower coast
ana p cried Max, ''tis as good as mine,
Unjust hurry back to my post
But where is the bridge2 Have missed it?
Good Heavens it is washed away,
And bark the deep roar of a signal gun
Comes booming up from the bay"
Climbing the'crest of the mountain,
He looks for the cheering spark
From his lighthouse cleaning alas! alas
1t is out, and the tower s dark
Faster, and even faster
Down the mountain crags he leaps,
For he knows by the sound of the minute-guns
That down on the rocky sleeps,
By his light-hou dark, is vessel;
For, with nothing to guide her way
She has struck, and will go to pieces
Before the break of day
To his tower Max wildly hurries;
But while the oil he poured
In his empty lamp, that ship went down,
With every soul on boord
For many soul may be shipwrecked
y In the tempest and the night,
While those who should cheer and guide them
Are watching their neighbours light.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

$50 this is where congress sits 7" said a
travelling man who was going through the
United States Capitol for the first time.
eyes," was the reply; "you want to take
off your hat when you come in here. :"
'sTake off my hat-what forw 'Out of
respect to our congressman and the great
work they are doing" "What great work
did they do last session 2" ttWhy-er-
why. they adjourned" $50 they did, "
said the traveller, uncovering his head,
''so they did"
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
Death of the Leper Priest.
THE SUBLIME UNsELFIsHNEss AND HEROIC
DEATH OF DAMIEN.

THE SUBLIME UNSELFISHNESS AND HEROIC
DEATH OF DAMIEN.
The barkentine w. Fl. Dimond arrived
at San Francisco from Honolulu, brought
word that the Rev. Father Damien, widely
celebrated as the leper priest, of Molokai,
died at Kalawao, Hawaii, on Aprll III.
There is nothing in history more touch.
ing than the martyrdom of the Rev. }.
Damien de Veuster. Sixteen years ago
this heroic young Belgian priest landed on
the rocky island of Molokai in the Ha-
waiian group. His heart as filled with
professional pity for the abandoned lepers.
Stories of the horrible immoralties prac-
ticed in pestilential community, where
there was no law and no religion, had
reached his ears. He armed to raise the
cross there and preach the ~ender message
of Christianity to the ransomless captives
of leprosy.
Father Damien knew that certain death
awaited him. He knew that his comely
body would be polluted by the most dread
full disease known to man.
But he went to his post with smile on
his face and sweet words on his lips. He
found damned company wailing in the
uttermost depths of physical and moral
degradation. Distinction of age and sex
were obliterated. Gaunt misery stalked
among the dying wretches. Their homes
were fit only for wild beasts.
With the advent of the priest. order was
brought out of chaos. Soon the hush of
piety succeeded the average revels Of the
hopeless and friendless lepers. Little
whitewashed cottages arose. Pretty gar
dens began to bloom. Christian hymns
trembled up from the lost men and wo-
men. The peace of consolation brooded
over the island.
Who shall say what the kind ministra,
lions of Father Damien were to the hun
dreds of ostracised human beings in fa1
away Molokai or with what holy devotion
he soothed the dying hours of strangers
At last the good man was marked by the
inevitable brand of nature. He was 8
leper TOTO be Stunned by all on earth
save those around him. Slowly he per
ished, doing what he could to ease ano
comfort his flock while yet he was alive.
Such an example ought to silence the
man who cries out against the nineteenth
century. No age and no race has produced
more supreme type of unselfsh heroism
Canonization can add nothing to the glory
OF Father Damien.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
Had No Room for 1t,

They were packing Mr.. Billus' trunk for
journey.
this Bible, John" said Mrs. Billus.
"'Id like to take it," he replied, as he
put the book regretfully aside, "but can't
cigars, Maria. They would be tempta-
ton to Tommy."-Chicago Tribune.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01
Ruined BY a Parrot.

Mr.. Brown had 'sbird dog'-a very
handsome hunte4-and ] must tell you
how he was spoiled for hunting. 1t was
so funny circumstance that his master
always laughed when he told the story.
although he was much vexed to lose so
good game dog. His nouse-keeper had
a parrot given to her, and the first time
the dog came into the room where the
bird was he stopped and pointed" The
parrot slowly crossed the room and came
up in front of the dog and looked him
square in the eye, and then, after mo-
msnt said you're rascal + The dog
was SO much astonished to hear bird
speak that he dropped his tail between his
legs, wheeled about and ran away, and
from that day to this he has never been
known to s.point" at bird.-Our Little
Bous and Girls.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

Let all things be done to the honor and
glory of God. Be sure your present en-
gagement does not hinder your communion
with God.
St. Landry democrat., 1889-06-01

Young Brother-'tI've had hard russell
to keep In good health sometimes. Why,
one year-I drank nothing but milk, and
ate no solid food watever." Elder Brother
blessed If have not known you ever
since you were born, and have been with
you all the time, but can't remember any
such year" Young Brother-"My first. "
-Harper's Bazaar.