davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
The Power of Silence,

The one thing greater than human
speech is silence. The: silence of
Christ in the presence Of falsehood and
detraction was ?godlike. In: the pres
ence of criticism and exposure! vice
can i'll afford to close its lips !; its hope
lies in the :witcherys and deception Of
speech the Establishments ,of the
tongue must be used in defense of an
i'll cause and iii deeds Virtue, on the
other hand, can ill afford to be still,
for the reason that there Is no wrong
to be concealed. The good man can
ear his character OH his sleeve and
allow his deeds to be proclaimed on
the ho;setop. He has nothing he
need be ashamed Of. In fact, his best
defense, in many cases,is his silence.
TO the outrageous misreprtsenI ations
of his enemies, John Wesley usually
made no reply. His silence was often
sublime. On one occasinO. when, his
bit ;erest enemies had combined with
the set purpose to ruin his reputation
and therefore discredit the work in
which he wac engaged, his, brother
was nervous and thought he ought to
speak in his own defeuse. He' had
trusted his soul with God, and he
could also trust his good name. Time
made his ample vindication. Silence
is often q more powerful defense than
argument .-XiOn's Herald. ... :
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
A GENUINE GHOST STORY.

Some years ago there was lone
house standing near q plantation not
far from Guilford, Conn. This. house
nobndy would ever take because 1t
was haunted, and strange noises were
heard in 1t every night after dark. .-r.
Several tenants tried it, but were
frightened away by the noises. AT
last one individual, more courageous
than the rest, resolved to unravel the
mystery. He accordingly armed him
self cap-a-pie, and having put out the
light, remained sentry in one of the
rooms. .,..
Shortly he heard on the stairs pit,
pat; a full stop; then pit, pat; a full
stop again.
The noise was repeated several
times, as though some creature, ghost
or no ghost, was coming up stairs.
At the last thing, whatever it was,
came close to the door Of the room
where the sentry was placed, and lis
tening, his heart, too, chimed in with
the tune, pit, a pat, but rather faster
than IL was wont to do. -
He flung open the doOr-hurry skur-
ry, bang something went down
stairs with tremendous jump, and all
over the bottom of the house the great
est confusion. as of thousands of de-
mons rushing in all directions, was
heard 3. .
This was enough for one night. The
next our crafty. sentry established
himself on the first landing, with q
heap of straw and box of lucifer
matches. ~.
Soon all was quit. Up the stairs a.
gain came the pit, pat-pit, pat.
|. When the noise was close TO mis- am
bush he scraped his match and set fire
to his straw, which blazed up like q
bonfire in all instant. And what did
he see? Only rabbit, which stood
on it's hind legs rs much astonislled as
was the sentry.
Both man and beast having mutual.
ly inspected ch other, the biped
hurled a sword at tie quad-uped
which disappeared down stairs quicker
than he came up. The noise made
was only the rabbit's fore and hind feel
hitting The boards as he hoped from
one stair to another. The rabbits had
got into the house from the neighbor.
ing plantation, and had fairly frigh'
tened away, by their nocturnal wan.
The more courageous sentry was re-
warded for his vigil, for he. held hi:
tongue as 10 the cause of the ghost,
He got the house at reduced rent
and several capital rabbit pies made o
the ghosts bodies into the bargain.-
Golden Days.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
baptist Teacher.)

|. 1t is not our purpose to plead for o
revival of Puritan asceticism, but to
enter our protest against the tremend-
Gus drift in the direction of mere sem
sual indulgence; especially in the
whirl of>.the fashionable dance. 1t
used to he under the ban, and !partici-
patton in it was commonly regarded as
furnishing occasions for summary
church discipline, No longer is it
dealt with thus, but Christian parents
are coming to think that the art of
dancing is an accomplishment to be
acquired and necessary to be practiced
in, order that young. people may. cary
themselves gracefully and have suita-
BILE social standingin fashionable cir
cles. After all that may he said in
apology for the fashionable dance, the
fact remains that it allows the taking
publicly OF such liberties as under any
other circumstances would be or should
be Indignantly resented. The further
fact remains that unless there be the
interminglirg of opposite sexes in the
dance it presently loses its subtle
charms. '.~.,.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Mi.appropriated Adiectives.

tSplendidn means shining, supert
and magnificent. Don't therefore cal
every mean little thing splendid; We
have. heard one of the. superlatiVe eX
pletive women say dish of ice cream
was "spIendid.n : A chicken stew was
"splendid,n too and when she ale
sausage and buck~heat cakes there
was nothing for it but to call them
splendid, too. How she would have
described q gorgeous sunset, dazzling
iewelry display or shower of meteors
after calling ice cream splendid, one is
1T q loss to know. a.. -.
No word is vulgarized and dragged
down more than this fine. old Latin
adjective "splendid'' unlessit be the
adjective "elegant" With some .
scuttle of coal that-burns up we'll and
makes clear fire Is elegant" while
Wagner's "Lohengrin' or the sculp
tGred lion of Lucerne would be ele.
CANT too. Some people have. no sense
anyhow. 80 =. -: -: O.. 81.
DO not exhaust your superlatiye
terms on common and insignificant
things. When the bread is good, say
it is good. Don't say it is splendid
When u thing is merely pretty, say
iult that. Don't say you. were never
80 cold or so hot before in your life
You have been so 20 times. The little
girl who was badly frightened on one
OCCASION eX pressed the superlative ha
bit to the full when she exclaimed, 81
never was 80 scared TO death in my
life" g.. -. ...:
Don't say it was the heaviest. rain OF
the worst storm you ever witnessed
You have lived through dozen such
and will do so again. Tell a story eN'
artly as it is, coloring it not an :intini'
tessImal tint TO snit YOUR wishes. One
of the most difficult things in life is tt
tell the exact truth. 1t takes high
order of intellect TO do it. .........:
t Don't plaster any common thing al
over with adjectives or .expletives. II
you do, it shows that You are not q
person of good Judgment and that you
cannot see things as they are: If you
use all the fine words up over trifes,
you will have none left .o' describe
really great sensalihns. Remember
this and use just plain, moderate
words TO describe merely ordinary. OBJ
jects and events. So shall your die
ton become elegant and expressive
and not be wordy and sloppy; -.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Richmond Christian Advocate.

There are seventy thousand sermons
in the morning and seventy thousand
sermons at candle lighting on each
Lords Day. To bystander it might
seem the cartridges were smokeless
powder, silent caps and shotrof saw
dust. It is known the pulpit winds
up the rundown pew. There is scarce
ly tick in weak works on Saturday
night.
Yet if He should'come to our Capt.
tai and abide with sanity sisters on
the suburbs. whose brother is brakes
man or swings a sledge, what would
He suggest? 1t might be He would
hush the sermon and shut the church
for one Sabbath, and send the disciples
to the. miserable, the fatherless, the
dog licked pauper. The sight of socie-
ty in silks seeking the desolate, the sot,
the friendless and filthy in reeking
novels would stir the city and still the
scorner. A cry would go up: Chris
tians are in earnest.
Pentecost would kindle in every
Church.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

You hire a man to qo The gardening
at Mount Auburn of Forest Hills and
find that he has SO planted the shrubs
and flow ers that every bed spells his
own name; and in place of cross,
crown or anchor, you see him. Some
times churches amount 10 just that,
places where private names are spell !
ed ont, private ends served, ministers
glorified, but it is wrong. Paul and
Apoll0s are nothing Gnd il every
thing. On a copy ola Engli-h paper
Epps's Cocoa was solarsely advertised
that women stopped at the news
stand and asked for Cocoa, and not
the PAPER. When any nhurch or
church party forGets Christ in Paul or
Apollos they sin. When the name of
an artist on all engraving is' more
prominent than the engraving there is a
failure prefer the photographer's
name on the back of the picture and
the face of my. friend on the front.
The Church should be the photograph
card presenting the face of Christ to
the world. Ifhuman names must be
put on. put them behind, not. before
o. p. Clifford.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Cumberland PresbH ierian.)

Murmuring is a species of bias
phemy. You are in the Loid's guest
chamber. You sit dt his table. If
you complain of the fare, YOU insult
him on. whose bounty, you live. If
you doubt whether you will be taken
care of, you impugn the truth fulness
of him who declares that he is more
willing to give good thi2gs to them
that ask him Than parents are to give
bread to their children. Mark Guy
Pearse says: "God does not pitch
men into the world haphazard don't
cry out so much against your circum-
stances, ii is half blasphemy; what
you have to do is TO find Christ. He
will be a match for your circumstan-
ces.'' If we had eyes and hearts of
faith, we would see that what ever he
gives is best for us. -.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
(Rani's Horny

The tiny ray Of sunlight which stole
iii through the crack of the shutter
yesterday wrote with it, golden pen
these words upon the darkness within:
"There is a great big world of sun
shine, just lik,e me, outside" Don't
keep sunshine, barred ont from your
soul. Open vide tire shutters. Do not
interpret the meaning of life from the
darkness, but from the sunshine which
falls upon it. The joy of yesterday
which crept into your clouded life
points you to a world that abounds
with it. The satisfaction you felt to-
day upon doing that good turn for an
other was as a drop to the ocean Of sat
isfaction you will find il you make
every other day just like this.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

Never can there come ime in the
farthest onward reach of the celestial
journey when q living soul will no
longer hunger and thirst after right
eousness, for TO do 80 is to hunger and
thirst after God. Angels and archargels
must stoop beside Us 10 fill their golden
chalices, as we our cups of clay, at this
,iuexhaustible Fountain. To hunger no
more and to thirst no more is but TO
have our ever-returning need perpetu-
ally satisfied and from the overflow
of our blessedness 10 become
wells of the water of life TO other souls.
Lucy Larcom.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

parish, and he must needs show. his
generosity by having a drink, and
treating his friends. He would pay
for whiskies all round, whatever the
cost.
Half an hour later the master rode
.nto the field and found the horses
standing idle. They had drawn the
plough from the furrow and were con-
tenletlly nibpliug at the young grass
Just coming up in the hedgerow. The
master rode round the field, hut Will
was nowhere to be seen. lie drove
the horses forward a few paces,, then
unharn messed them and took them to
the stables e.
Will did not make his appearance at
the farm that day. He was having 8
spree at the "Wagon and Horses,
and was spending all the money lie
had won. At closing time he was
helplessIy drunk and all his money
was spent. Tom Needall was no,
gone quite so far as Will, and he took
him into the ontbuilding, and they
slept of the effects of their carousal
in the hay. Will woke the next morn
ing with dreadful headache, and he
began TO think about the horses he had
left in the field. He crept out of the
hay and SUNK like thief along the
road. .....
|. When he came to the farm he went
to the stables, and began to put the
harness on the horses Before he had
harness sed one of them ismaster came
to the stable and frankly lold him all
After severely reprirnanding Will for
his conduct and pointing out the
serious consequences of giving way tC
such temptations, his master forgave
him and added
II advise you TO get in some quiet
place where you can, collect your
thoughts, and think about the act o
folly and sin you have committed, and
r. snIve to give up the drink. ASK
Almighty God, in His great mercy, to
help YOU come to a wise decision
Drinking and betting mean ruin tc
YOU. Pray God to help you to have
done with the two evils. :. -
A few hours later Will signed the
pledge and promised amendment. He
had heen in an old stone quarry with
his face covered by his hands, think.
ing of his mother, and how it woHlC
break her heart if'he went home in
disgrace. He had been thinking, too
uf the time when he kneeled ut hel
knee, ana said, "Our Father" The
memory of the old days broke up thu
fountain Of his soul he kneeled once
more at the footstool of, mercy anc
prayed like the publican on the fioo
of ihe temple, "God be merciful tt
me sinner"
When he rose from his knees the par
don and peace Of God filled him
bringing with them the promise o
better aud brighter days.-Britist
Workman. 49,.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
A Happy New Year.

Coming. coming, coming!
Listen! perhauS you'll hear
Over the snow the bugles blow
To welcome the glad new year.
In the Steeples tongues are Swimming,
e. There are merry sieigh bells ringing
And the people for joy are singing,
It's coming, coming near.
Flying, sighiDR. dying,
Going away tonight,
Weary and old, It's stOry told,
The year that was full and bright.
Oh. half we are sorry it's leaving;
(iood-uye has q sound Of grievlns;
Rut It's work is done. aud tts weaving:
God speed its parting flight!
Tripping, slipping, sk ipping.
Like Il child In its wooing grace,
With never II tear and never II fear,
And Il light in its laughing face;
With hands held ont to greet MS,
With gay little steps 10 meet us.
With sweet eyes that entreai uS,
Thenew year comes 10 It's place.
Coming, coming. coming
Promising lovely things
The gold and gray Of the summer day,
The winter with fieecy wings:
promI ing swift bids glancing,
.. And the patter of r. In drops dancing,
And the sun. beamssprrowy lancIng.
Dear gifts the new'year brings.
Coming, coming, coming!
The world is a vision white:
From the powdered caves TO the sere-brow'
leaves.
That are hidden out Of sight.
In the steeple tongues are swinging,
The bells are merri,r ringing,
And Happy New Year" we're singing,
For the old year goes tonight.
- Margaret +. Sangster.-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Simple Preaching.
From the Observer.

From the observer.
"The more the Bible is preached in
simple language the more will Chris
liuns Of ull denominations recognize
the breadth of their common ground
of fellowship and union in Christ.
Whole towers of theory have been
built on isolated passages of Scripture,
and these huge structures have been
used by contending forces to do battle
against each other, profrssedly in the
service of truth. Truth. might be bet
ter served. We believe that the uni
versal study. of the Bible on the part
of preachers and people, and the deter
mination to avoid mere scholasticism
in eXpounding the word from the pul,
pit, would lead to new experience OF
the Bibles freshness, fullness and
Eforce.n -
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
EMINENT MEN ON WAR.

I would recommend the members of
the Peace Society, when they are ell
gagiug in this work, to take view OF
Calvary. do do not sen how a man
can claim discipleship, who does not
follow his Master in proclaiining peace
throughout the worid.-Richard Knill.
"Glory to God in the highest, on
earth peace and goodwill toward
men," How different that is from
some who profess to preach the gospel
and at the same time go forward with
the Bible in their pockets to slay their
frlIow-men /! How different o, how
different this is from my feelings al
this time Jesse Moon, on his death
bed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
wake up. Young Year.

"Come dear" to the ycar e..
Said Nnture, the mother,
"You must:go, sou know,
TO relieve yonr br0ther.-
1t is now his turn
TO sleep with the Past. g.
And he's Fastening home
On the midnight blast.
ri give you playthings
OF frost and rime,
FiIty-two weeks
Aud Twelve months of time,
blossoms aud buds ...
And dancing streams,
Rivers and floods
And rainbow gleaTns,
Corn and wheat
With their golden SheaveS,
Cold and heat .
And the ripened leaves, .
Birds TO cheer you,
Bees To- make honey, y
While men and women .-,-..
Are earning money.
So waken, year,
For the children call .-,....
You Happy and Bright 49, ... 3.
While the suow-fiakes fall.
You must haste, you see, 10.
To relieve your broLher, -.-.
Who is tired and DID,"
Said Nature. the mother
.. -Harper's Young People
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Mash Vile Advocate J

The kind word which you might
have spoken, but did not speak ; the
helpful net you might have done, but
did not do-these are your condemna-
ton in the sight ,of God. You felt
some impulse to let your better nature
assert itself. but smothered it down
and repressed it.. There was hungry
soul waiting to see your lips open, aud
your hands stretched forth. Alas you
missed your opportunity: .-
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
A New Years Motto.

There's work for me and there's work tor you
In the dawnIng New Year bright;
Let US labor 90 while the daylight lasts,
And rest In the dark ening night.
For labor is sweet In the Masters name,
And his strength and guidance are sure;
His promise is now and ever the same,
Tothose who in patience endure.
.' 81. :. Visitor.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
What Others Say.
(N. G.. Ch. Advocate.)

care you in debt so as to embarrass
you ?n This question is intended 10
probe to the bottom, and, is one of the
tests by which young preachers read
mess for the itinerancy is determined.
No preacher can afford to lug around
with him load of debt. Sooner or
later, twill sink him.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

give you that Bethlehemite's worq
lay down as foundAtion dor your
efforts: But seek N first his kin
and his righteousness; and all
things shall be added unt6 you.
follow that advice, and I'll hi
more grumbling. and no more
stop or slow up" 80
1 was tired, trying to keep d
the tireless old man, and L had
enough to set me thinking @tl
my life < Christian Nei
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

But peaceful was the night
WI oren the Prince OF Light
His reigu of peace upon the earth began;
TIE winds with wonder whist
Smoothly the waters kist, :.
Whispering new joys TO the mild OCEAN,
Who now hath quite forgot to rave,
While birds OF calm. sit brooding on t
charmed wave
Millions Hymn to the Nativity
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
NeWneRs Of Life

Behold, make all things new.-Rev. 81: 5.
Oh, New Year. teach us iaith
The road of life Is hard:
When our feet bleed, and scourging winds us
scathe,
Point thou TO Him whose visage was more
marred
Than any mans; who saith
snake straight paths for your feet" and to
the opprest-
"Come ye TO me, and will give YOU rest"
Miss Mulock.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Ninety.Fiye.

'.. Ninety.Fiye.
Once more the glass Of Time Is turned
BY January's hand,
And downward flow the tiny grains
or slowly falling sand.
To Ninety.f -four we'll say farewell
May all his good survive!-
And welcome In the glad New Year,
The New Year Ninety-five.
-. s. Visitor.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02

three most expensive dolls
them without q murnur, an6ode
ed with two glass jars Of barber
candy besides his original purchase
When Mr.. Edson returned home
descended to the cellar, and reappeal
with huge box half filled with st-a3i
and shavings ; this he carried acros
the yard to the big red barn. Prese1
ly he came back to the house, al
with silent tired he tip-toed throu
the kitchen and opened the door q
Mrs. Edson's "preserve closet" He
helped himself to an armfYl ofquince
marmalade Gn neat paper topped glass
esq and half a dozen G-%A berry JAM
To this he added greao bing gpum
kin and a bushel OF red checked -,
pies. Before long the sound OF LUST
hammering broke in on the still winI
ter air from the barn. !
Land sakes ~ exclaimed Mrs. Ed
son thenext morning. "What hal bel
come Of 10y ounce marmalade.? 4fra1
cious! its most gone ~
81 Dunno" replied her husband!
"cep'n somebody must hev took it.p Z
4 ,r
\ day or two later an eXprd
OH was driven up to ths =
house where "Rev. Fran =
City Missionary" lived With
and children. Great was the
of all when the box brought by
pressman was opened, and its ri
tents displayed. But the CREATE
piness was felt when the missiO
found a piece OF paper with some
ing on it in u close, crampsd hi
which bore this message:
"FHANKLYN EDS0N, missunary
Come Home and convert your
dad. bring Wife and Children.
FATHEi
|-Richdrd Barry, IN "Harpey's Y
Pcopie.'
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
s. f<
"Fiint Edson's New Year,

"Fiint Edsan's New Year
"Flint" Edison did not get,
Years box he sent it. Hii
was not "F'lint" either !; il
diah but his neighbors
FLINT" because he WIS so
only hard-featured, but itEl
ly reported that his heart
stone. Nobody ever caugf
ing anything away (he glor!
fact, and now he was sixtyN
age, and was considered past
ton by his neighbors.
Obadiah" said his wife.
you let meshave that big box
cellar? I'd like to take 1t
church." She added this LAST
Iy. Mr.. Edson did not approx
piety or of her charitable tendd
"What fur ?" growled the d
looking Up from the pages Of Il
Oak "Leader" in his lap.
missionaries" faltered Mrs. Edison
mot much," he answered, grabbed
ly. II may find it useful fur my
self"
"I'm sure-"began the poor 70
man.
"You never was shore in your
interrupted Obadiah, land I'm si
mlssunarles. Now, there was Fra
(Mrs. Edson's eyes filled with t;
He was likely boy, an I pail
his eddication, am sends him to.
lege. What does he do? He
city missunary, an stays do2
New York, an marries a school
agin my wishes, doesn'
home.n ~
perhaps, he thought it wosld
use tryin' to convert yom,n m
Mrs Edison, unexpectedly for it
old adage that "the worm will tn
"Waal, I'll be shingled ?! sal
old man to himself as his wife
her shawl and bonnet AstI
..of the house. "Thet Ss
S'manthy." e
He remained silent
tho window Mt tho s'W
the bare branchesS
lined the village stfstl
ed his heavy fist id 81
by his sidssa potdero9
book with a cpsp fe
and lay at hvfeet wi
open. He>bent to
some words caus
held it,inI
as he read
big words
deep-linedN
ed like quit
he closed hi
them with {
~ never Il
knowed, I GU
and he arose .
carefully on TIL
The truth WI
cared to listen.
a few minutes &c. -. i
the little combina
ner was astonished
of expression by To
oi "the closest ma
imagine L;ssensterL
diah Edson inquae1l
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-02
Consecrale the New Year.

This New Year thou givest me-.
Lord, consecrate To thee,
With all It's nights and days;
Fill my hand with service bles!,
FIJI my heart with holy rest,.
And fill my life with praise!