davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Speaking to People.

"Who in the world is that you're
speaking to?" said one young lady tt
her companion of the same sex anC
age as they walked down one of the
lavenues the other day.
"That man? He is the man thai
mends my shoes when they need it,
was the reply. 49,
"Well," said the first speaker, 81
wouldn't speak to him; don't think
it's NICE"
IT do" was the rejoinder. II speak
to every body I know-from DR.
Brown our minister, to the colored
man who blacks our stoves and shakes
our carpets-and I notice that the
humber the one in the social scale to
whom I profer kindly words, the
more grateful is the recognition I re-
ceive in return. Christ died for them
as much as He died for me, and per-
haps if some of them had had the op'
portunities my birth and rearing have
given me they would be a great deal
better than I. That cobbler is really
quite an intelligent man. I've lent
him books to read, and he likes quite
a high style of reading, too"
The two girls were cousins, and they
finally agreed to leave the question as
to recognizing day laborers, mechan-
les, and tradesman, to a young lawyer
of whom they had a high opinion.
So the first time the three were togeth-
er one OF the girls asked him:
eff you met Myres, the grocer, on
Broadway would you speak to him?"
"Why, yes, certainly; why do you
ask ?"
"And would you speak to the man
who cobbles your shoes"
Certainly, why not?"
"And the janitor of the building
where you have your Officer"
"Of course"
"And the boy that runs the eleva-
tor"
"Certainly."
"Is there any body you know that
"Well, yes; I don't speak to the
Joneses, who cheated poor widow
out of her house; or to Brown, who
grinds down his employees and gives
them starvation wages; or to Smith,
whom 7 know to be in private any
CnlnS DuC Tue Saint he SeeulS to ue LII
public. I speak to every honest man
I know whom I chance to meet.
Why do you ask?"
Because we simply want to know"
replied the yonng lady who had taken
her friend to task for speaking to "a
cobbler. In fact, she was ashamed to
tell him that he was referee in the dis
cussion on this point held a day or two
before.
1t is the privilege of nobility to be gen.
tie and courteous to all. Kindly words
hurt no one, least of all him or her
who speaks them.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31

When a patient is suffering from fe-
yer, and the skin is hot and dry, sale
ratus bath is often found to give at
least temporary relief. This bath can
be given to the patient in the bed,
without removing the bed clothes, or
his own clothing. Have the water as
hot as it can be borne with saleratus
dissolved in it, in the proportion OF
perhaps half a cupful to quart of the
water. Wet q sponge in this, and then
squeeze it so dry that there vii! be no
danger of dripping. Battle the face
and hands first and dry them instantly
with soft towel. Then putting your
own hand and arm beneath the bed
clothes, hold them up bridge-like to
keep the clothes from the sponge, and,
at the same time, push back the night
dress and undershirt of the patient, SO
that with the other hand you can push
the warm damp sponge over his body.
Take limited surface each time and
dry it quickly, before attempting the
next. All this is done beneath the
bedclothes so that no air can get IN to
the body. Push up the sleeves so as
to bathe the arms in the same way. II
is slow and careful work, but not diffi'
cult, and the relief and comfort afford
ed, even if not permanent, will repay
the effort. These baths may be given
once day, or in some cases at morn
ing and at night.
Youths Companion.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
The Good Fruits of Confidence.

NV experience with criminals, when
I was on district bench, taught me
that there was no man devoid of man
hood. Place anybody, however de-
praved, on his manhood, and you will
observe his eye brighten up. I have
taken men who have been convicted of
serious offenses, and, after sentencing
them to the penitentiary, have said t:
''Now, intend to place you on your
manhood, for I believe you have man
hood in you. I will give you a mitti-
mus, and the marshal will provide you
with money to 60 home and bid your
family good by. After you have stay
ed there day or twoI want you to re-
port at the door of the penitentiary
named in the papers you will receive
and serve out your sentence like q
man. And when you are through I
want you to return to me, and l want
to see what can be done to restore you
to the confidence Of your fellow men
in society,"" I never was disappointed
in a man thus trusted, and those con-
victs whom I have helped on their re-
turn from prison have always been
faithful to the trusts imposed upon
them.-Judge Gresham in Indianapo-
lis Journal.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
The Problem Solved.

An eminent Christian layman, who
has had more to do with city mission
work in New York than any other
business man, said to me recently !:
"The ignorant and ungodly regions of
the city do not require more church
buildings or chapels. What they need
is live Christians to come among
them; and what we cultured Chris
tians need is to give ourselves. Thii
takes our loving sympathy, our labor
and our money. l place money last
the first two will bring the last; the
last does not bring the first two.
Christ first humanity second. When
we are filled with Christ, we want to
let out, and be filled again, and stay
filled. The minister cannot do all
this !; their people must; and 1 only
wish that my rich fellow-members in
DIS church would all 60 and see
for themselves what I see. Gods rich
and strong and educated people must
20 down personally among the lowly,
and lift them up, or they never will be
saved" There is the city evangeliza.
tion problem all in q nutshell. Until
the Christianity of New York is ready
to put itself, not into stone and mortar,
and not into bank checks, but into per-
sonal, loving contact with poverty, ig-
norance and sin, the city will wax
worse and worse. The same is true OF
every city.-Rev. z. II. cIy1e1.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31

A GOOD Observation-Disclosures -
said Alfred, II prayed three prayers,
and the Lord answered two of them.
Do you think he'll answer the otherW
II think He will, my dear. What
were the prayers ?" y Fl
Zone was that he would make you
well, and you're not sick any more.
Another was that he would make papa
more kind"
"Yes, dear. Now, what was the
third?n
II prayed that God would keep us
children from quarreling; bat He
hasn't answered that yet, for Daisy
and quarreled dreadful to-day"
"Ah, my son, you will have to help
the Lord TO answer that.n 81
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Much that pasges for untruthfulness

Much that passes for untruthfulness
in very young children may be only
the exercise lively imagination. To
inflict punishment in such cases, as il
there had been willful misrepresenta-
tion of facts, is one of the surest ways
to make the child liar. He does not
see the true proportions of things, and
parents should remember that an in.
tellectual perception is not quickened
by punishment. While it is we'll un-
derstood that fear often leads to un-
truth, with adult as well as children, It
is sometimes forgotten that motives Of
love will operate in the same manner.
A boy or girl of generous impulses will
often equivocate through a desire to
shield one who is dear to them. In
these cases it should be clearly shown
that a mistaken sense of loyalty to .
friend is treason to God, our best
Friend. Habits of exaggeration, 80
natural to most children can be easily
corrected, if taken in season. All mac
euracies Of speech having their root in
mental perceptions should be treated
very differently from untruths told OF
acted to gain purpose, and involving
the moral nature.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Look HIGHER I'm.

"IS this the door 2' l asked myself
hunting up an address in bewilder-
ing street. II ought to know it."
mo-" I said, II doubt if this is the
door,"
1 chanced though to look higher up,
and there was the name sought after,
q name honored, beloved, valued.
Looking lower, had failed to notice
that help. I saw it now, standing out
in clear, distinct letters.
A simple incident, it has set me busi-
ly to thinking.
There are many of us trying to find
some door of blessing. Bewildered,
we look and may be disappointed.
We are in sorrow. It may be the dis
appointment of aff1iction, or sickness,
of business losses. We look along the
range of human resources and human
helps, ever seeking some door OF
peace. Look higher up. Look unto
the name of Him called "Wonderful." "
Measureless are His resources, giving a
personal presence to support us, an in
dividual reconciliation to our losses,
strength now. Look unto Jesus!
We are perplexed about duty. But
it may not be the thing that perplexes
so much as the way not the end, but
our course to do it. We want wisdom.
We need advice. We seek it at hui
man lips; we err if We stop there.
Look higher up! Look unto the name
of Him called "Counselor." Ask the
Saviour. Look unto Jesus!
We are tempted. We are weak be-
fore the hour of decision and helpless
after it,. We cry, "No man careth for
my soul" Self then shall be the
friend showing sympathy, self the
friend that promises the strength of its
cooperation. "Is not this the door ?"
some one asks. "That door is a
SNARE" we say. No; victory has an
other portal. Look higher mp: Look
uuto Him called the ''mighty God"
He is able to save from sin and save
unto holiness. Look higher up, unto
Jesus
When the end comes, when our feet
may falter in death, when our sight
may be dim, how precious the name Of
the Unchang gable. One, the same yes
terday, to-day. and forever, His glori.
Gus name shining out in letters of flre
In the hour of dying may we look on
high, and looking we shall live as we
pass into the Fathers house, no more
to 60 out forever.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Waste of Prayer.

Much of the thing commoly called
prayer IS no praying. The New York
Witness well says: cit might perhaps
be a safe estimate to assume that more
than three-fourths of the prayers offer
ed by protesting Christians have none
the of elements of prayer. In very many
cases the individual does not really de-
sire the thing prayed for, but merely
repeats form of prayer, or asks for
things which he thinks ought to be
asked for. In other cases, people ask
for what they do want, but with no
expectation Of getting it. There is no
promise to answer that kind of prayer.
The trouble is, that there are so few
who really pray, there are so many
who pretend to pray, and people Judge
of the value of prayer by its outcome
in the case of the many who pretend
to pray rather than by what is accom-
plished by the earnest, believing pray
ers of the few"
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, fol
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. p
Thus our blessed Saviour opened His
sermon on the mount; and from His
example we may be assured, that hu,
mility is the richest garb that the soul
can wear. BY this is to be understood
not all abject poorness of spirit, that
would stoop to do mean thing but
such an humble sense of human na'
turc, as sets the heart and affections
right towards God, and gives us every
temper that is tender and atfectionate
towards our fellow creatures. This is
the soil of all virtues, where every
thing that is good and lovely grows.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31

FATHER KNows.-A gentleman
was one day opening a box of goods
His little son was standing near, and
as his father took the packages from
the box he laid them upon the arm OF
the boy.
|. A young friend and playmate of the
merchants son was standing by look.
ing on. AS parcel after parcel was laid
upon the arm If the boy, his FRIEND
began to fear his load was becoming
too heavy, and said:
Johnny, don't you think you've
got rs much as you can bear?"
"Never mind" answered Johnny
in happy tone; father knows how
much can carry"
Brave, trustful little fellow! He
did not grow restless or impatient un'
der the burden. There was no danger
he felt his father would lay too heavy
a load Oh him. His father knew hi:
strength, or rather the weakness o
that little arm, and would not oyertasl
it. More than all, his father loved
him, and therefore would not harm
him. 1t is such spirit of loving trust
in Him that God desires all His chill
dren to possess.-Home Journel.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Interference in Home Discipline.

Not the least of the trials that the
mother has to contend with is outside
interference. 1t begins before the
baby comes, and says, off were you,
I would" and IF I were you,
wouldn't" with wearying chatter
which has the form, but lacks the
spirit of advice. Also it says, not in
frequently, "Do you dare do that p"
with disappearing emphasis quite:
indescribable. After the nurse has
gone, and the mother, distrustful of
herself, aud often weak and disturbed
by fears, takes up the sweet burden of
care, and goes about what will thence
be an unceasing duty, then begins,
Don't you feed your baby anything ?"
"Do you rock her ?" Does he sleep
with you ?" Don't you dress it too
warmly ?" and so on indefinitly.
A more serious thing is the med
ding with the mothers manner of
discipline. While the mother, alas
is not infallible here, it is better that
that she make mistakes than that she
be by others moved from that course
of action which she believes is for her
child's good. The intelligent, con-
scientious mother will probably find
her way through her mistakes to bet
ter thinking and wiser ways. There;
are plenty of unthinking people who
do not hesitate to demonstrate and
suggest and make excuses for the
childish delinquent in the presence Of
the little offender. A child out visit.
ing is perhaps cautioned by parents
not to touch certain articles of adorn
ment, instantly the hostess says
"Nhy, let him have it. You can take
it if you want it, dear n' The embar.
rassed mother will need nerve if she
insist he cannot have it, when insist
ing may. seem ungracious. Again, al
meals it Is often fact that she must
combat the pleadings of every indi
vidual at the table if she decide to de-
ny her child some article which he
would like, but which she feels would
be hurtful.
Illustrations might be multiplied
Ordinarily no one but parent knows
a child from first to last, and what
that child's needs as to indulgence and
discipline are. Except in rare instan
ces no outsider has any right to at
tempt to influence parents decisions
Unobtrusively as may be, but, above
all, firmly, parents should exercise the
privilege which is theirs by divine
right of doing for and by their own
what seems to them good.-Ba6yhood
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31

People who use horses and are wont
to strain them to the utmost, from ap-
parent necessity, will be glad to learn
that q simple and efficient device, has
been in use for some time in France
which relieves horse from the severe
strain that accompanies the starting of
a heavy Lead. In cities, especially,
such contrivances are needed, and
most of all by the usually overdriven
street-car horse. The device consists
in spiral spring, of power in proper,
ton to the average load carried, and
which is attached to the end OF the
trace. The horses at the Eastern Rail-
way Depot in Paris, where the springs
have been used for six years in shift
ing cars, show an Improvement since
that time in general soundness and
condition, while the number OF sore
and strained necks have greatly dl-
minished. There has also been a large
saving in the way of broken harness.
The same idea has been applied to
plowing harness, and our farmers
ought to adopt it for the relief Of their
teams. The Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty to Animals should see
that the device above mentioned is
speedily introduced and applied in this
country.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
The Nobleman's Greatest Compliment.

One wet, foggy, muddy day, little
girl was standing on one side OF a
street in London, waiting for an op-
portunity to cross over. Those who
have seen London streets on such a
day, with their wet and mud, and have
watched the rush of cabs, hansoms,
omnibuses and carriages, will not won
der that little girl should be afraid to
try to make her way through such a
Babel as that. So she walked up and
down, and looked Into the faces of
those who passed by. Some looked
careless, some harsh, some were in
haste; and she did not find the one she
sought, until at length an aged man,
rather tall and spare and of grave yet
kindly aspect, came walking down the
street. Looking in his face, she SEEM
ed to see in him the one for whom she
had been waiting, and she went up to
him, and whispered timidly:
please, sir, will you help me overW
The old man saw the little girl safely
across the street; and when he after
ward told the story, he said, "That lit
tie girls trust was the greatest compi-
ment ever had in my life"
That man was Lord SALISBURY.
He received honors at the hands of a
mighty nation he was complimented
with the freedom of the greatest city
on the globe; he received the honors
conferred by royalty: but the greatest
compliment he ever had in his life was
when that little unknown girl singled
him out in the jostling crowd of a Lon
don street, and dared to trust him,
stranger though he was, to protect and
assist her.
Men carry something of their char
acters written in their faces. Day by
day the acts of life chisel their impress
on the human countenance and the
record there kept reveals the character
OF the man. and the history of his life
and deeds. If worldliness, and sell
fshness, and sin, are written there,
the keen eyes of childhood will not
| fail to find the record; while if there
beams in that countenance the grace
and peace of Christ, and the gentleness
and kindness of the Lord, even the
children will be attracted by such a
face, and be led to trust in one who
himself has trusted in God.
Happy are they who know the rich
peace of Christ; and happy are they
out of whose countenance shines that
wondrous and celestial brightness
who have been illumined from on
high and who are themselves lights
in the world, city that is set on 8
hill, that cannot be hid.
Would little girl pick you out in 8
crowd, as one to whom she could ap.
ply for help2
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Art of Being Easily Pleased

"Has your young visitor left you q
asked Mrs. Hale Of her afternoon call
er.
s'She has gone," returned Mrs. Free
man; land how we do miss her! She
was the most charming guest in the
world"
"That is strong statement" laugh
ed her friend. "What remarkable
gifts had she?"
"The gift of being easily pleased,
and the happy faculty of enjoying ev'
cry thing" was the emphatic reply
"Whatever was proposed for her pleas
ure seemed to be just the diversion she
liked best. She entered into every
plan with such zest and enthusiasm
that it was a comfort to see her. She
found such enjoyment in little things,
and was so content without any go
ings on whatever, that it was nc
trouble at all to entertain her."
IA model guest, indeed" said Mrs
Hale. "Had she any other periec'
ton ?"
~ might add one or two more to the
catalogue" answered Mrs. Freeman
smiling. "She was always prompt al
meals Ia credit to her mothers train
ing), and she ate what was set before
her with a respectable appetite. c
these dainty creatures, that mince anC
mince as if it were not polite to be
hungry I can't abide them - ano
the notable housewife made an indig
nant gesture, as if she would sweeI
the offenders from the face of the
earth. Mrs. Hale looked sympathetic
and Mrs. Freeman continued: 81 dt
like to see people enjoy simple things
of every sort. This is Clara Fosters
charm ; she is so easily pleased"
$50 easily pleased. 1t is an open Sc
cret, and all may test its virtue"
Is this happy characteristic gift,
talent bestowed? Then "neglect no
the gift that is in thee" Put the tai
ent ITO the exchangers," that the Civ
er may "have his own with usury."
Is it an art? That excellent and in
teresting book, the dictionary, makes
art synonymous with skill, aptitude
and readiness. Aptitude, indeed, ma!
be natural, but readiness must be &C
quired. 1t is not gained without etfor
and energy. Little preferences mus
be set aside, certain rough edges II
mind and manner must be smoothed
small antipathies conquered, selfisl
whims controlled, and all manner o
heartsomc, genuine interest, kind.
feelings, and gentle courtesies must b.
cultivated.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
PRAYING in Half n Room.

In a large and respectable school
near Boston, two boys-from different
States, and strangers to each other
were compelled by circumstances to
room together. It was the beginning
of the term, and the two students
spent the first day in arranging their
rooms and getting acquainted.
When night came the younger OF
the boys asked the other if he did not
think it would be good idea to close
the day with a short reading from the
Bible and prayer. The request was
modestly made, without whining or
can't of any kind. The other boy,
however, bluntly refused to listen to
the proposal. :,
"Then you will have no objection II
I pray by myself, I suppose 2" said the
younger. ut has been my custom,
and 1 wish to keep it up."
II don't want any praying IN th!s
room, and won't have it" retorted his
companion.
The younger boy rose slowly, walk:
ed to the middle of the room, and
standing upon a seam in the carpet,
which divided the room nearly equal
ly, said quietly:
hHalf of this room is mine. I pay
for it. You may choose which hall
YOU will have. 1 will take the other,
and I will pray in that half or get an,
other room. But pray I must and
will, whether you consent or refuse" "
The other boy was instantly con-
uuered. To this day he admires the
sturdy independence which claimed as
right what he had boorishly denied
as privilege. A Christian might as
well ask leave to breathe as to ask per
mission to pray. There is false senti,
ment connected with Christian actions
which interferes with their free exer-
else. If there is anything to be admir-
ed, it is the manliness that knows the
right and dares to do it without asking
any ones permission.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-31
Six Rules for Extempore Preachin,

Six Rules Tor EXJempOSe FreAchAhS
So good an authority on iSis subject
as Rev. r. S. Storrs. d. D., sums uT
the substance of his theory and prac'
tice in the rules below.
1. The physical vigor must be kep'
at its highest attainable point.
2. The mind must be kept in state
of habitual activity, earnestness anc
energy: ,,,d
8. The plan of the sermon should
be simple, natural, progressive anc
thoroughly imbedded in the mind.
a. The preacher should have a dis
tinct and energetic appreciation of the
importance of his subject.
S. He must speak for purpose
having in view from the beginning o
his discourse the definite end of practl
cal impression which it is to make OF
the minds of his hearers.
6. He should always take into th'
pulpit a sense of the immense conse
quences which may depend on his ful
and faithful presentation of the truth
and sense Of a personal presence o
the Master.