davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
FRANKLIN's

BEN FRANKLIN's MoNEY.-In
1890 will end the term Of hundred
years during which the cities OF Bos-
ton and Philadelphia have each enjoy
ed the revenue from q bequest of95,-
600 made by Benjamin Franklin.
The money was to be loaned out to
young married artificers and the the
trust has been executed; although the
lapse of the century requires new
disposition of the funds. It is signifi-
can't that while in Boston the $1,000,
has grown to nearly $328, 900, In Phila-
delphia the 5000 has become only
$4,000, and in both cases the amount
is less than Franklin estimated 1t
should be. But as the natural philos-
ophers of Franklin's day generally fell
short of the sage in ingenuity, 30 too
the successive boards Of trustees have
been far from equal to him in business
ability. It is interesting to note, how
ever, that the two funds still exist,
and that part of the Boston reserve
goes in the purchase of public recre-
alton ground to be known as Franklin
Park.-IHe Electric World.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

Never hurt any ones self-respect:
Never trample on any soul, though 1t
may be lying in the veriest mire; for
that last spark of self-respect Is its on,
ly hope, it's only chance; the last seed
of q new and better life; the voice OF
God which still whispers to 1t, "You
are not what you ought to be, and you
are not what you can be; you are still
Gods child, still an immortal soul:
You may rise yet and conquer yet and
be man yet, after the likeness OF God
who made you, and Christ who died
for YOU" D why crush that voice In
any heart? If you do, the poor Great
ure is lost, and lie where he or she
falls, and never tries to rise again.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
The First Tangle.
BY ANNA BCRSHAM.

Once in an Eastern palace wide
A little child sat weaving.
So patiently her task she piled.
The men and women at her side
Flocke ed round her, almost grieving.
allow is it, little one" they said,
"You always work so cheerily?
You never seem to break your thread.
Or snarl and tangle il, instead
OF working smooth and clearly.
"Our weaving gets SO worn and soiled,
Our silk so frayed and broken,
For all we've fretted, wept and toiled.
We know the lovely patterns spoiled
Before the King has spoken"
The little girl looked in their eyes.
So full Of care and trouble;
And pity chased the sweet surprise
That filled her own. as sometimes flies
The rainbow in bubble.
81 only go and tell the King"
She said abaShed, and meekly,
"You know, he said, In everything
why, so do we!' they cried, I'VE bring
Him all our troubles weeklyT
She turned her little head aside;
A moment let them wraLgle,
"Ah, but" she softly then replied,
"I 90 and get the knot united
At the first little tangle"
Olittle children-weavers all!
Our broidery we spangle
With many tear that need not fall,
If on our king we would but call
At the first little tangle!
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
ssBe Ye Coin to Burn the Bridge
Anyway

It is said that out west q train raj
against farmers calf, and doubled j
up so that it wasen't worth much as ,
calf afterwards. The farmer sued thu
company, but lost. Coming away
from the courthouse he said to q dea
con of a church, "I'll get even with
the railway company"
"How so"
"I'll get even, if 7 have to do then
damage. I'll burn the bridge yorder
tonight"
The deacon demonstrated to no eff
feet. He mentioned the circumstance
to his wife, who, when night came
insisted upon doing something to pre-
vent the crime.
''He was only joking I'm sure hi
won't do it," said the deacon.
"But we must do what we can tt
stop it," said she.
So they set out, and found the man
sprinkling the bridge with coal oil
He drew out match, but the vino
extinguished it. Finding he had nc
other matches, he spied the deacon
approaching.
"Let me have match, deacon"
The deacon horrlfed, refused to be-
come party to it, and endeavored to
dissuade the man.
"Come, now, there are lots of match
es, and if you don't give me one, I'll
get one elsewhere but I'd rather give
you dollar for a match than delay
this business" said the man excitedly
"My dear sir. think"
"I'll give you dollar; come, be
quick; ~ interrupted the man.
"Be ye goin' to burn the bridge any
way?" asked the deacon, slowly fumb'
ling in his vest pocket.
eyes, I am"
The wife caught hold of the deacon's
coat tails to pull him away.
''Now come, wife. It's my duty to
look out for an honest penny. I'm
the one that's to support the family
My taxes are pretty heavy, and
must tighten 'em by every business
like method )" and wrenching himself
from the grasp of his helpless wife, he
handed the match over, repeating the
question:
"You be a-goin' to burn the bridge
away?"
"Yes.n said the man.
"Well. then I wash my hands Of the
whole business" said the deacon, as
he backed away.
A moment more, and the structure
was in flames. Who in the sight OF
God and eternity, is the most respon.
s;ble for the burning Of that bridge:
And yet the attitude of thousands Of
Christians on the liquor question is
that of the deacon. That which light
ems taxes appeals to them with tire:
mendous logic. 1.-THE business will
be carried on anyway, and we might
as we'll get what financial benefit there
is in it." God have mercy on such
sordid co-workers of iniquity. So far
from washing their hands of the whole
business, in the flippant way they i'm
agine, the day of judgement will re-
veal the awful fact, their palsied hands
won't wash.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
Speaking Out.
Central Christian :4dv0c0ke,
.HoLjtez.n .1zeLh0dssL.)


Two incidents connected with the
Inaugural Centennial continue the
subject of conversation and newspaper
writing: Bishop Potter's address at st.
Paul's and the disgracefu1 conduct OF
the closing hours Of the Centennial
ball. The readers of the secular papers
are much better informed in regard t4
the former than the latter. The Re
publican press especially has been very
tender and charitable in regard to the
drunkards and very courageous in CEN
suring the Bishop. The political man
ayers for the most part believe In
wine drinking, and they do not relish
the truth told about themselves by the
preachers, and it is much easier for
them to snub preacher than the COM
.mittee in charge Of public ball. We
wish to say that no charge Of i'll con-
duct lies against the presidential party,
or indeed any one of national reputa-
tion, 80 far as we have heard. And,
on the other hand, we stand with
Bishop Potter. His criticism of ma
chine politics and the spoils system
was truthful and courageous. When
is life is written, probably nothing in
it will receive more honorable men,
ton than this speech. 1t was not aim
ed at the President, as the partisan
press have tried to make it appear In
order to shield the political managers.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

Some people are afraid of anything
like joy IN religion. They have none
themselves, and they do not love to
see it in others. Their religion is
something like the stars, very high
and very clear, but very cold. When
they see tears Of anxiety, or tears OF
joy, they cry out, "Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm" II sat down under bis
shadow with great delight" Is this
enthusiasm? ''May the God Of hope
fill you with all joy and peace In be-
lieving." If it be really In sitting un-
der the shadow Of Christ, let there be
no bounds to our JOY. Oh II God
would but open our eyes and give us
simple, child-like faith to look to
Jesus, to sit under his shadow, then
would songs of joy rise from all our
dwellings.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

The prayer meeting contains within
itself the possibilities OF the Church..
No congregation can 60 spiritually be-
yond the faith, zeal and attendance
represented therein. "The work OF
NV church, said faithful pastor, "fs
done in the prayer meeting" Full
houses, plainly dressed people and de.
cent behavior on Sabbath are well
enough, but our victories lie In the
prayer and class meeting. Try II.
The one serviceable, safe, certain, re-
munerative, attainable quality In ev-
ery study and every pursuit is the
quality Of attention. My own inyen:
ton, or imagination, such as 1t Is, !
can most truthfully assure you,, would
never have served me as 1t has but for
the habit of commonplace, humble,
patient, daily, toiling, drudging atten-
ton.
Herein is found one Of the chief rea-
sons for pressing our work Of Church
Extension vigorously. The Church or
God ought to keep abreast these waves
of Western migration. The Church
ought to appear before the saloon.
Such cannot be the case without some
such instrumentality as the Church
Extension Board. Men who have
turned their backs on churches, and
have gone to churchless regions tor
gold, cannot be depended on to build
churches. M.
If your preacher is q studious man,
It is probable that he needs q book
which he has not the money to buy.
It is also probable that you have mon.
ey enough to buy him the book hs
needs. Buy it and send 1t to him
ANONYMOUSLY, and then see II you
don't have some new, fresh, inspiring
thoughts from his pulpit that will DO
your soul good. A good book Is the
best gift to a thoughtful preacher; II
beats overcoats and silk hats all 70
pieces.
You may preach the law of God, and
remain on the level of paganism: The
Greek philosophers and poets did that
You may preach the universal father
hood of God, and remain on level o.
Judaism. Moses and David and Isaiah
did that. John and Paul did more
Fear rules paganism. Hope smiles II
the Old Testament. Assurance Ia tn
ringing keynote of the gospel.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
Six Short Rules.

AS Brownlow North lay on his
death-bed he enjoyed, according to his
own confession, "perfect peace.n TO 8
by-stander he said: "You are young
in good health. and with the prospect
of rising in the army; am dying,
but if the Bible is true, and I know il
is, I would not change places with you
for all the world" Mr.. North wrote
the practical counsels which follow:
l. Never neglect daily private pray.
er; and when you pray, remember
that God is present, and that he hears
your prayers.-Heb. ri. 6.
2. Never neglect daily private Bi.
ble-reading; and when you read, re-
member that God is speaking to you,
and that you are to speak and act up
on what he says. I believe that all
back-slidings begins with the neglect
of these two rules.-John v. 80.
s. Never let day pass without try
ing to do something for Jesus. Every
night reflect on what Jesus has done
for you, and then ask yourself, What
am I doing for him ?-Matt. v. 1916.
4. If ever you are in doubt as to a
thing being right or wrong, 60 to your
room and kneel down and ask Gods
blessings upon it.-Col. iii. II. If you
cannot do this, it is wrong. Rom. xiv.
%.
S. Never take your Christianity
from Christians, or argue that, because
such people do so and so, therefore you
may.-2 Cor. x. IL. You are to ask
yourself, How would Christ act in my
place? and strive to follow him.-John
K. 27.
6. Never believe what you feel, if it
contradicts Gods word. Ask yourself,
Can what I feel be true. if Gods word
is true ? and if both cannot be true, be-
lieve God, and make your own heart
the liar..--Rom. iii. 4 John v. 10, il.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

Look once again, poor heart, into
thine own bosom, and see VIII ether
thou findest not some strength sent in.
to thee which thou didst overlook be.
fore. This may be. yea. is very ordi-
nary in this case when God answers
our prayer not in the letter, or when
the thing itself is sent; but it comes in
at the back door, while we are expect
ing it at the fore and truly thus the
friend thou art looking for may be in
thine house.
1t is easier to pretend to be what you
are not than to hide what you really
are. -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
WHEN FIRST KNoWN.-First jury


Pins made, 1450.
Needles used, 1915.
First cast iron, 1914.
Matches made, 1929.
Surnames used, 1162.
First newspaper, 1894.
Coal used as fuel, 1884.
Lead pencils used, 1895.
Window glass used, GA.
First gold coin, B. c. 266.
Tobacco introduced, 1883.
First steam railroad, 1880.
First wheel carriage, 1859.
First postage stamps, 1910.
Kerosene introduced, 1926.
First Illuminating gas, 1892.
Electric light invented, 1874.
Iron found in America, 1915.
First insurance, marine, 1888.
First American express, 1921.
Musical notes introduced, 1888.
Latin ceased to be spoken, $50.
Bible translated into Saxon, 637.
Gunpowder used by Chinese, 80.
Bible translated into Gothic, 872.
Photographs first introduced, 1902
Old Testament finished, B. C. 430-
Emancipation proclamation, 1868.
Paper made by Chinese, B. C. 220-
Bible translated into English, 1884
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
Two things from Burdette both

Two things from Burdette both
worth repeating.
l. God doesn't ask much of us now.
No voice comes from heaven saying,
"Take now thy son, thine only son,
whom thou lowest, and offer him" "
But when you ask some men for $40 for
the church, you would think by the
Mortified countenance that you had
asked them to sacrifice the whole fami-
ly.
2. It's the easiest thing in the world
to invent new religion any fool can
do that. It is a thousand times easier
to invent a new religion than to live up
to the old one.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
The Ruling Passion.

Speed ia the rulinp idea of fl1e ara
Even the traveller in Search Of 'heaifh
ia in a hnrrv and insists ON comhin-
inc the Excitement Of q match aosiast
Time with the pursuit of Hyaeia.
Fifteen miles an hour over the gurface
of a plorious river winding tirourh
the finest scenery in the world. don
not satisfv the mar, of leisure on =
suromer ,excursion. He Drefara a
stripht rush through seas OF dust and
a Storm of cinden at Thrice the pacc..
He votes the sbeamboat a .taIow
coach.U and takes the express train.
from which he can distinguish no fea.
ture of the yanishine landscape as IL
streams To the rear' and ,thanks hia
stars that he is darfi1p over The earfh,a
mrface of a rate which renders m
hesnties nndistinonishebIe. : 81
Rnt nerhans aftar All. the passion
for rapid tmotion is no stronger nov
than before steam was mt I'm harnees.
The hnnoan racelas naturally nrone "a
velocitv Noth}nr in thei story8 az
Jack tie Giant-kiiler delights children
80 much as the episode Of the seyan-
h ieaaned boots. and we remember 'the
fiying CARPET and aerial .steed of the
Arabian Nights, ENTERTAINMENTS,
when all the 'ssIower,, reauIta az an.
chantment are FORGOTTEN. sixty wears
sco q carria0e and fonr was consi2ered
q S snirit. 4 .stirriSo ~ arrancenent @ and nost-
hoys were feed mnnificentiv- "a keen.
thsir cattle an the Gallon. fhe Hbar.
sIit,, "a tha oId uSnan who nfSarod,
has @ bonon | to ~ SaaI The tha fnrnaas no ( ~ (
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

Jessie had kept journal ever since
she could write letter; but she would
not let any body see it.
One day her mother asked her why
she would not let any body see it.
She said II have secret, mamma
''But you must tell me all your Sc
crets. DEAR" said her mother.
Mamma" said Jessie very softly
~ have a secret with God. God help
ing me to be a better girl; and I am
writing in my journal what I have
done every day that will please God.'
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07
Christian England. Twenty Five Thou-
sand Dollars Every Hour for War

SanV UOllhrS GioKy AoeH AvA IT, uelS'
Purposes.
The Herald Of Peace, published In
London says: - ;ss
We thank God we are not as other
nations, and yet we are spending for
war purposes alone s8,8a every hour
of every day and night throughout the
year! Since the beginning Of the pres.
ent century more than four-ffths Of
our entire expenditure has gone LOT
butchering other people. or for prepar-
ations to do that ghastly work whom
ever we should be called upon. We
pride ourselves upon our philanthropy
and our missions; but 1t Is surely tinne
to take some shame to ourselves -
vel, that without the slightest protest,
or the slightest thought, we allow
more money to be spent In a year for
the destruction Of property and LIE.
than we have spent In philanthropy
and missions for century. 81
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

One of the latest inventions is three
cornered steel nail that will drive easi-
ly and will not split the wood.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-08-07

81 We can do more good by being good
than in any other way.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-11-29

through the anguish Of an innocent
crcsture like that one. I'm young.
can work for my family. The Lord Al
mighty may punish old Dear, and Ill
do without my money"
Upon that he went to bed and slept
the sleep which hardship teaches to her
nurselings, until the landlord pounded
at his door about dawn.
whats afire?" asked Laplace, sitting
up in the nipping air.
Thomas hired mans come after
you said the mufficd voice OF the
landlord, ITO take you out to their
place"
I'm not going out to their place." re-
spondcd the young man. I'm going on
the first train. You tell him to tell Mrs.
Thomas have an engagement can't
take dinner with her to-day. plague
take people that get up at three in the
morning and sit on the fence with Ian
tcrn.') grumblcd the aggrieved sleeper.
II guess you'll have TO 60" urged the
landlord. The old fellows had another
stroke. and he's dead
The hired man. waiting solcmnly with
q democrat wagon and brisk team. in
formed Laplacc that the undertaken had
already gone out, and the honse was full
OF ncighbors.
They spun along the frosty road, win
ter twilight still holding the woods and
fields under its pail
The young man did not know what
was expected OF him or how to behave.
but as he entered the house and the
weeping woman came to meet him no
took her in his arms. lie comforted her
as II she had been his mother.
"Oh. how blessed 1t is to have you
here" said tho trembling creature, "and
It's been comfort 10 me every time
thought Of it-this awful night. NV
head Is so poor IL never came into my
mind last night that you were the heir.
And Dear, he couldn't speak. have my
dover all fixed, but Dear explained it to
me long ago that he had dealings with
your father that made him want to leave
his property that way, seeing we had no
children. You ought to have spoke out
palmer. And your namc-I knew IL was
in the will--but forgot. And now he's
gone from us. The best husband and
most upright man that ever livedr'
When she could control her weeping
she took Laplacc into the awful sanctum
and showed him what was yet her most
precious possession.
lie looked at the grizzled face which
had settled all scores with him, and
hoped sincerely that the spirit OF John
Thomas would receive forgiveness from
the Maker. But he prayed 10. himself
that II he should ever BE- stretched dead
before the woman he loved. she might
believe In him with better belief. might
stroke his hair and adore him With her
eyes and say over and over rid over
again: my Dear! My own saintcc Dear.'
MARY HAErwFLL CATRxRwooD.
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-11-29

Of the paper he had attempted 10 deliver.
II Was a statement made by Laplaoe's
father just before death. and had been
scaled up against the boys twcniy-hfth
year II specified how many head Of
cattle JOIN Thomas had robbed his sick
partner Of, how many thousands OF dol
lars not his own he had abscondcd with; IL
contained afiidayits Of witnesses. and in
dicated the part o. the country from which
John Thomas had come. and from which
his movements might be traced after the
lapse Of years.
The young lawyer had identified his
man. lie had the spoilcr Of his fathers
fortune. the oppressor Of his mother and
his childhood, whore he could blast the
mans reputation and strip him Of all he
owned.
"And will do II. said Laplace. He
rose up and walked the floor again. He
thought of girl who wore ring for
him and whom he could marry at once.
without waiting on the slow law prac-
tice of young man. So long had pow
crty pinchcd him there was rapture in
thinking Of the things he could give her
lars back. Beautiful journeys. an abun-
dant home. with none Of the mean shifts
Of poor people to degrade life in II. A
family would grow around them. Fort
une should make ii up to the homeless
boy for the way she had treated him in
the past.
And she'll be as fond OF me as that
old woman is Of her humbug Dear. But
wonder IL she would II tramplc down
that old woman now? Its actually the
woman have to deal with. The old
Dear is out Of the world now, as far as
responsibility goes. But am going to
let this old woman 60 on innoccntly
robbing my family? II am chicken
hearted now how will feel when |
can't do what wish by them in the fut-
ure? It's unfortunate she's where the
hammers going TO strike. Confound a
great lubbcr Of manrthat would hurt
that tender old thing. Suppose it were
my mother. But who had mercy on my
mother?'
SO he went on. stalking about the
room. while his watch licked the hours
Suddenly. after midnight. he opened
the stove and dropped both wafercd
document and copy in. They harcd up
and turned to ghostly parchment, show
ing written characters for a moment.
and then melting down and becoming
nothing. lie replaced the stoyc-lid and
threw his arms wide.
II won't take revenge on any woman.
My father never meant it that way.
My mother and my wife would think
me less a man if l took my rights
The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1889-11-29

rear. dimly outlined itself against q
hill back ground.
The hired man came from the barn.
yard with two frothing pals Of milk,
and was met at the side doorstep by a
stranger who had labored with the from:
knocker in vain.
Good evening" said the stranger.
s'Howdy do responded the hired man.
4'Docs Mr.. John Thomas live here?"
eyes, sir"
ssIs he at homer
"He can't very we'll be anywhere
else" replied the hired man, with an
explanatory grin Hes been help
less since year ago last August,
and can't 60 nowhere unless he's carried
out tend to the business Of the farm
for the old folks"
my business Is with him, not with
the farm" said the stranger.
'.Step right into the house, then in
vited the Tired man, himself leading
the way with his pals ~ milk.
Aunt Susan" he announced in the
familiar tone Of one who feels the de-
pcndence Of mis- employers, here's q
gentleman to see uncle
The clean kitchen. bright with lamp
light and preparations for a country
supper, held nothing else as hcarten-
ing as the old woman who turned from
her cooking-range. Her ripples OF gray
and auburn hair, patient. blue eyes and
trim and active figure won the young
man, though he tried to regard her
with callous Indifference.
She took him into an inner room
where a table was spread at the elbow Of
an old man propped in an easy chair. 1t
was a com Portable room. full Of pleasant
living. and signs Of such opulence as
an aged agricultural couple might care
for. On the mantel over the log fire
stood deliberate clock and two vases
Of those mummies known as winter
bouquets.
Locked in the calm OF paralysis the
useless farmer met and resisted that ap-
preaching strangers gaze. A lamp
burned in the middle of the table. 1t
showed every cast-iron line Of the in
valid's grizzled face. His weakness be-
came on sudden his strength. lie took