davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
To-Day.

Tired fathers, weary mothers, when
is your happy day coming? Long
since you expected it to dawn. 1t is
not here yet, nor will it ever be so
long as you do not determine that it
shall be to-day. This failure to take
comfort as you pass along life's path
way, but ever looking forward for all
enjoyment of good, is throwing away
the real sweets of life. You may as
we'll attempt to store up summer sun.
shine to warm in winter, or bottle
moonshine for cloudy nights. The
real and only true way is to find in
the present all the good God gives us.
Our whole lives may be filled with joy
if we are only willing to learn that in
all good work there is profit, in all sor'
row are some rays of sunshine, and in
all care some compensation. Make
the most of to-day, and your future
will grow brighter and brighter as you
step into it. Let the old saying thai
"Man never is, but always to be, bless
ed" be proven false by your finding ir
the present all the fullness of blessing
| it really possesses.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
"Study to be Quiet.'

"Better is handful with quietness
than both hands full with labor and
vexation of spirit" If Solomon had
written that sentence this week, sitting
in q New York Office or parlor, he
could not have been better suited to
these times than he was three thous-
and years ago; and this is proof that
he spoke with more than human wis
dom. He wrote for humanity in all
ages, especially for the hurrying, rush.
ing, out-of-breath humanity which Is
not satisfied even with "both hands
full" in these days. Come, friends, let
US consider the wise mans affirmation.
The whole family will feel relieved if
the fathers brow can be cleared up,
and how delightful it will be to have
the mother sit down and enjoy herself
with the children without having
somebody start up with the.thought Of
something that "must be done imme-
diately." 1t is true we are dealing
with a difficult question. The spirit
of the age is cyclonic in its movement
We seem to be pushed into run
whether we will or not but certainly,
we can regulate affairs somewhat and
avoid some of the rush if we will ac-
cept, practically, the wisdom of the
Preacher.
We undertake too much, we want to
accomplish too much, and we want to
possess too much, and so we are over
taxed in brain and nerve and muscle.
How can help it if keep up with
other men in my business ?" Proba-
bly, you cannot help it if you keep
up." But suppose somebody Goes out
strip you for the time, and get two
hands full while you get but one-per-
haps you will live the longer to enjoy
your one handful, and 80 in the end
have more than he. And if you can
take little "quietness," in which to
enjoy what you have, it is certain you
will be winner in the race for true
riches. And as for the worn out
housekeepers and the busy women
fretting over $50 much sewing"-dear
friends, one change of garments and a
simpler mode Iof living, with quiet
ness," would be thousand times bet
ter for you and for all your friends
than all these elegancies you have
"with labor and vexation Of spirit.n
Cheerful activity is good for both
soul and body. But the "fever and
fret and aimless stir" which, before we
are aware, carry us down the current
of this restless age, is destructive to
both. Let US try. as Christians, to
take our handful with quietness, and
leave to the rest of the world that
knows no better both hands full, with
its uncomfortable accompaniments.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
"Take a Sheep"

A farmer once employed a young
man to labor upon his farm without
inquiring as to his habits, and upon
learning that he was addicted some.
what to drinking, the farmer offered
him as a reward choice sheep II he
would refrain from drinking during
the season. A grown son of the farm
er, on hearing this, said:
"Pa, will you give me a sheep, too
if I will not drink this season." :
"Yes," replied the father, "you may
have sheep"
Then little son spoke up and said !:
"Pa, will you give me a sheep, too.
if I'll not drink?n
Yes son, you shall have a sheep,
ALSO" -
After a moments pause the little
boy turned to his father and said:
"Pa, hadn't you better take sheep.
too?"
There are good many fathers who
should "take sheep"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

The Boston Transcript recalls an an
ecdote of merchant who died lately,
which will bear repeating for it's amia-
BILE lesson, whatever general opinion
may be held as to the policy of encour-
aging begging in the streets:
For many years the lower front Of
flee of the China Mutual Insurance
Company was the daily rendezvous for
business and social chat Of merchants
and many of our solid men.
One cold, wintry day young, poor
ly clad girl entered in quest of aims.
She received nothing but frowns and
repulses until she came to Mr.. Inches,
the last one, who gave her a kind look
and quarter of dollar. With CRATE.
full looks and thanks, she went out
Then some of the group began to criti-
else Mr.. Inches.
"What good will it do, and who will
be any better off for your giving mon
in that way?" asked one.
"It will do good deal of good" re-
joined Mr.. Inches. II feel a great
deal better for so doing already"
No more said OH that subject,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
A Long Account.

Mother" said a black-eyed boy Of
six years, "when you get old, and
want some one to read to you, 7 will
pay you off," Little Alexander's
mother had been in the habit Of read
ing to him good deal, and on this
Sabbath day she had read to him a
long time out of the Bible and q
Sabbath-school book. The child was
just able to read a little himself, and
the progress he was making doubtless
suggested to him how he might at
some future time return in kind all
his mothers care. ~ will pay you of,
mother" said he, looking up into her
face with childish satisfaction, as If q
new thought from heaven had been
sent down to light up the little world
Of bis soul. His mother pressed him
to her heart with delight that seemed
to say. II am more than paid off al
ready"
But, children, you can never pay off
your mother. Her thoughts Of love
and acts of affection are more in num-
Der than the days of life. How often
has she nourished you, kissed you.
rocked you on her knee and in the era.
die, carried you in her tender arms.
watched over you in sleep, guided
your infant steps. corrected at times
your misdemeanors, thought of you in
absence, and guarded your life in the
unvarying remembrance of moth
er's solicitude, and the free-will offer
ings of mothers devotion. All, dear
child! you can never "pay off your
mother" Mother has taught you to
read and to pray. She has patiently
sat by you and taught you the letters
OF the alphabet; and then she helped
you 10 put them together and spell
words of thought. She taught you to
spell "God." Before you could read
she taught you to say, "Our Father
which art in heaven" Mother has
trained you with lessons and hymns
and prayers to come to Christ. She
has prayed for you when none but God
knew it, and has prayed with you
when your wandering eyes understood
not the meaning of her grave and inn
ploring looks. She has pointed you to
heaven and lied the way.n Dear
child, you can never "pay off your
mother" ~
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
He is lucky who forgets what cannot

He is lucky who forgets what cannot
be mended.
That is not ours which is got by un
lawful means.
Be friend to thyself, and Others
will be so too.
The way to avoid great faults is tc
beware of less.
AS fast as laws are devised. their eva
sion is contrived.
A smile through tears is the souls
rainbow of peace.
The time to come is no more ours
than the time past.
You will not be loved if you care fol
none but yourself.
He that picks up all sorts of wood,
soon gets an armful.
We punish little thieves, and take
off our hats to great ones.
The defects of a true mans charac-
ter are seen only by those who know
him intimately and watch him criti-
cally in his fierce struggle for the vic
tory over the wrong. He whose tenn
per is naturally fiery and violent is far
more worthy of credit when he pre-
serves a calmness and serenity of man
ner under strong incentives to resent
ment than the man who is by nature
obtuse in his emotions, and is seldom
aroused to any show of anger or petu-
lance under the most exasperating pro-
vocation.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
Doing and Being.

A young girl had been trying to dc
something very good, and had not sue
ceeded very we'll. Her friend, hearing
her complaint, said:
"God gives us many things to do
but don't you think he gives us some
thing to be, just as we'll ?"
20 dear tell me about Jcing," said
Marion, looking up. II will think
about being, if you will help me-"
Her friend answered:
"God says:
"Be kindly aftectioned one to anoth'
er.
"Be ye also patient.
"Be we thankful.
"Be ye not conformed to this world.
"Be We therefore perfect.
"Be courteous.
"Be not wise in your own conceit.
"Be not overcome of evil"
Marion listened, but made no reply.
Twilight grew into darkness.
The tea-bell sounded, bringing Mari
on to her feet. In the freight Eliza
beth could see that she was very seri-
GUS.
"I'll have better day tomorrow
I see that doing grows out of being"
awe cannot be what God loves with.
out doing what he commands. It is
easier to do with a rush, than to be
patient or unselfish, or humble, Of
just, or watchful."
II think it is," returned Marion.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
Training Parents.

There is a great deal of talk abou
the training of children by parents
Not much is said about the training o.
parents by children, and a great dea
might be said about it.
While the parent is forming, or try
ing to form, habits Of self-control in
the child, what habits of self-contro.
the child is forming in the parent
While the mother is teaching her little
one to talk correctly, how carefully is
her little one teaching her to avoid all
incorrect, inelegant, improper, slang
expressions. Every effort she puts
forth for her child, by certain retro
active force comes right back upon her.
self. Her child, by the very necessities
of its being, trains her in self-forget-
fulness, lovingness, obedience to law.
She must know in order that she may
teach her child, guard it from harm,
lead it in right ways, foresee and pre-.
vent evil from happening to it. The
ljoy and responsibility of maternity
transforms many a gayland careless
woman into a thoughtful, earnest,
painstaking student of child-nature.
What lessons of faith and trust do
our little children teach us. We love
to lavish on them every possible evi-
dence of our love, and the word comes
home to us: "If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your
children how much more shall your
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit
to them thatssask Him?'
By and by our children grow up and
60 away from us. They have homes
and lives of their own in which their
parents have comparatively small
part. They have their own business
and social circles, perhaps their own
religions circle. Caught in currents
running at right angles to those they
were in when in the parent bone, they
may drift far away in their faith and
practice from that they showed allegi-
ance to when under the parental roof.
Here comes for the parent a training
in tolerance, in waiting, in trust. We
cannot believe or suffer or experience
Joy or vicissitude for our children.
We cannot live their lives for them.
They must learn for themselves the
lessons of life. AS we see them pursu-
i ing courses which must end in sorrow,
we can only wait and'pray that out of
evil God will still bring good.
AS the years bear US on, and we re-
tire more and more from the labors
and responsibilities of active life, our
children become to us increasingly
what we were to them in early matur-
ity, in youth, in childhood. 1t seems
strange to look for support and protec-
ton to the children that were once,
and so short time ago, utterly de-
pendent on us to let burdens fall from
our shoulders onto theirs, and to feel
that their hands and hearts and brains
are stronger than ours, and more capa'
BILE than ours now are of meeting the
demands of life.
Happy the parent who so trains his
children that their training Of him is
agreeable and beneicent.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
Tae UnbOlted Door.
An aged widow sat alone

An aged widow sat alone
Beside her narrow hearth;
The silent cottage never heard
The ringing laugh OF mlrth.
Six children once had sported there; but nov
the churchyard snow
Fell softly on five little graves, all filled 81
long ago.
She mourned them all with patient love,
But since her eyes had shed
Far bitterer tears than those which dewed
The faces of the dead.
The child which had been spared to her, hel
darling and her pride,
The woetul mother lived to wish that she had
also died.
Those little ones beneath the snow,
Not lost but gone before;
Faith taught her all was we'll with them,
And then the pang was Ger;
But when she thought where Katie was, she
saw the city's glare,
The painted mask of bitter Joy which neeo
gives Sin to wear.
Without, the snow was thick and white,
No step had fallen there:
Within she sat beside her fire,
Each thought silent prayer,
When suddenly, behind her seat, unwonted
noise she heard,
AS though O hesitating hand the rustic latch
had stirred.
She turned, and there the wanderer stood
With snow-fiakes on her hair,
A faded woman, wild and worn,
The ghost Of something fair,
And then upon the mothers neck the Wither-
ed brow was laid,
"Can God and you forgive me all? Tor nave
The widow dropped upon her knees
Before the fading fire,
And thanked the Lord whose loving hand
Had granted her desire.
The daughter kneeled beside her, too, tears
dropping from her eyes.
And prayed, God help me to be good to
mother ere she dies!"
They did not talk about the sin,
The shame, the bitter woe;
They spoke about those little graves,
And things OF long ago.
And then the daughter raised her eyes, and
said in tender tone.
"Why did you keep your door unbarred when
you were quite alone?"
my child" the widow said, and smiled,
A smile Of love and pain;
al kept it so lest you should come,
And turn away again;
I've waited for you all the while-a mothers
love Is true;
Yet 1t is but the shadowy type of His who
died for you." j. F.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

The example of the Jews affords no
justification of the wars of Christians.
We are under another and a better dis.
pensation, even that of Christ, the
Prince of Peace, whose object was to
promote peace on earth and the prac.
tice of the Jews will no more justify
war than it would polygamy, sacri'
fees, or circumcision. Christ is ON
master; Christ is our example.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

Children, in their unconscious frank
ness, sometimes say things that are q
revelation to their elders. A little bow
was sent to his room to pray for pardon
for display of temper, and to ask God
to give him good temper. As he was
leaving he whispered, "And make
mothers temper good, too." y
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

"Give every man thy ear, but few
thy voice." Some men tell all their
secrets to every stranger. They annoy
their neighbors, display their igno-
rance, expose their follies, and betray
their friends merely to crafty their in
ordinate desire to talk. The tongue is
a mighty agent of good and evil. To
guard it well is a test of perfection.
BE swift to hear; slow to speak,"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

WRITING WITH A QUILL.-Nearly
everybody in England writes with 9
quill. You find them put for public
use in courts, in banks, in telegraph
offices and postofices-in fact, every
where where people must write. II a
man prefers to use a pen or pencil he
must carry it with him.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
A Shabby Trick.


was slowly toiling up long hill with
a load of potatoes, drawn by poor,
bony horse. Near the foot of the hill
stood the school-house, around which
the boys were playing. AS the old
man passed, one of them said:
"Let's 60 and raise the end-board OF
that old mans wagon and let the pota-
toes drop out. Won't it be jolly to see
him stare when he gets to the top of the
hill and finds them gomez"
"All right" says one and another
'Iet's co."
These boys soon caught up with the
wagon, quietly raised the end-board
and the potatoes dropped rapidly out
and were scattered along the dusty
road. The last bell rang, and in a
minute the scholars were sitting quiet
ly in their seats. Delaying the open
ing exercise, the teacher said:
"As I came into the school-house I
saw an old man picking up potatoes
from the dusty road. 1 want to tell
you something about him. At the be-
ginning of the civil war he and his on
ly son, a young man of twenty-three,
enlisted in the army and fought in
many battles, until at Gettysburg he
was dangerously wounded and his son
killed. 1t was six months before he
could leave the hospital to come home,
and what be suffered in trying to live
and get we'll cannot be told. Since
that time he has had many aches and
pains, and it has been very hard for
him to earn enough to support his wife
and himself. He is very lame, and
has to move slowly it will take him a
long time to pick up his potatoes. Peo-
pie say that he never did mean thing
in his life, and he is the kindest man I
know"
At this point one of the three boys
raised his hand and said he would like
to 60 out and help the old man pick up
his potatoes. The two other boys
quickly raised their hands, too and
offered to 60. The teacher looked
pleased, and gave them permission,
then the school went on quietly with
it's afternoon work.
1t was hot day early in September,
very dry and dusty, and the sun pour
ed down upon the three boys as they
hurried up the hill to the old man,
who was leaning with one hand upon
the wagon-boX to rest.
"Mister," said one of the boys, as he
stepped bravely up, 1--WE have done a
mean thing, and we are willing to say
so. We lifted the end-board of your
wagon to let the potatoes drop out.
Now, if you will sit down in the shade
of that tree, we will pick up all your
potatoes for YOU" The old man laid
his trembling hand upon the head of
the boy, and looking from one to the
other, said: swell! well! my dear
boys, you have done brave thing.
Never be ashamed to tell the truth or
confess a fault. I will gladly sit down
and rest, for am very tired"
The boys then took the horse and
wagon and spent a good hour of hard
work in undoing 1 mischief that took
them only few minutes to plan and
carry out.
When the boys returned to the school
the teacher said nothing to them !;
everything went on as usual, only
there seemed to be an uncommon
thoughtfulness and attention. The
pupils had learned lifelong lesson.
Its value consisted in the object lesson
of the three boys willingly doing what
they could do to repair the evil effect
of q mean action.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

To be educated above the common
things of life is not to be educated at
all. Take the Latin words out of our
language and we can still live, love,
sleep, eat and do with the rest.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06
The Sun.
r. X. MUNKITTRICK.

1t rises over yonder hill
A flaming golden cup;
It kisses light the crystal rill
And wakes the flowers up.
1t makes the murky shadows fly,
1t makes the apples glow,
And In the peaceful sum mer sky
It sets the bright rainbow.
1t gilds the cloudlet's fleecy wing,
1t draws the purple sea,
Spills roses in the lap OF spring
And wakes the belted bee.
see II now its tresses shake
Way down the West, and know
1t flies TO Chinu.land to make
The sweet tea-roses blow.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

Who comes undidden, departs un-
thanked.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

A disappearing smile is sometimes
as effectual as a frown.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

Anarehism is not indigenous to this
country, but the loaferism and drunk
enness on which this poisonous fungus
| fixes itself is.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

=: .s''
nFT!Da.,
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-02-06

LAW AND GosPEL.-There are some
ministers who manifest a pleasure in
seeing others give Especially if they
are the recipient), but fail largely
themselves in practicing and teaching
the Bible requirement of giving.
Telegram-herald., 1889-05-29

John ". B1rdette, for many years edi-
torial writer and business n manager OF the
Burlington Hawkeye, IA a younger brother
of the famous humorist He says: Bob
always bubbis3 over with fun. and his
stock ~ stories was exhsustIess. even
when a child He could make q OF
fairy tsle OF story of adventure a. a no
meats notice, and his younger brothers
were always after him for Just oue uors
story. Boo whenever we rot him alone.
A. bed time We were especially anaovlnz
- BIN. After We were a. cuddied up-for
We slept thrse,in q bcf-Bob would tel us
a score OF stories. ard We constantly
De Egsd f0r ere mere until be would be-
c0ue wearT. I guess that some . Bob.s
best stories were tod to re n those DAYS
1 would n't IKE - SAY t11usand tines for
fear ~ exsEgsratios. and + I sad less fhsa
. thousand tines it might rot - 20 n he
number of occasions when Bob was obi zes
- rcs "a both ol- q bed and roll himself
up the b ar yets ard e. - s'eap in snfts
cf IA. for we never tired q hearfrg A7--
70 matter how seepT snd tired 10 n zrr
become 81. = cne. n-lnfi~e3fh part 90 -se
fances. wltrc ans snd in~er 5r-s whf~h
Bob ENTERTAINED his Ette brothers wsta
ecuio b printed. The vorld uors6 -, I'm
a Zsnlgs 81 the most H.arveIous =s fr-
ths theusaud ta.es - the Arabfsr V~r-s
were sever more interesting -h4a wee
t6Cse winter nE1ts ta.es 81 ~ rs7
brctaer bco. Faere never uss bctter
brot5eE
Telegram-herald., 1889-05-29
COL. JOHN ATKINSON
Under Consideration for the SOHO
uor Generalship.
THE POSITION DUFfllD WANTED
The Attorney General said a. he Goa
sidoriag the spPotntaaeat Seriously
dhs once ons Nexf ia knportAnse
10 a Cabinet fosit4oa.


sst.seyss ~ sss Ns,SsN.s .tss.s
WAsHINsroS, May ss.-The Attor-,
General has under consideration
the name of Col. John At
kinson, of Detroit, foI the SOLICITOR
0eueralship, the place It wac under
stood Ia the FIRST instance that Gen.
Alger had secured for Col. Henry NJ.
Dufheld. Ii IL not known Who sng-
gesied Atkmson's name Ia the Attor-
ney-Generai, but that Il is seriously
beng considered ls eyldentyfrom the
fact that Attorney-General Miller has
made several inquiries regarding Col.
Atkinson. The Sohct0r-Generalship
j. the most desirable place IN the gilt Of
the Administration next 10 the Cabinet.
The salary is $1,000 a year. In the
absence of the Attorney General the
solicitor-General represents hlm at
Cabinet meetings. A. Nj. l..