smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Rainy Sabbaths test the mental and spir-
itual resources of those who remain at home
because of the storm. How do they spend
the time which, in other circumstances, they
would have given to the house of God? We
have often laughed at the story of the Scotch
housewife who, on looking forth at the clear
sky on beautiful Sabbath, exclaimed, "Pity
me, anither dry Sabbath; I'll no get my
drawer cleaned out yet" and we would be
far from supposing that any Of our readers
employed themselves on wet Sunday in any
such way; but how do they engage them.
selves? The answer to that question will
determine very much the measure and
strength of their piety. Do they relish a
quiet hour of personal communion with God ?
Do they gather the members of the house
hold together, and spend awhile in the study
of the Scriptures? Have they any books
upon the closet shelf which they reserve for
such opportunities as wet Sunday affords ?
Or is the hour wasted in sleepy idleness or
gossppy conversation? Do they content
themselves with the perusal of some so-called
religious novelette,, which is made up of three
parts sentiment and one part unreality? Or,
entering fully into the meaning of the grand
old scriptural word "meditate," do they
take a subject out of the Bible and hold
their attention to it for time, turning it
round and round, and shaking it as one
shakes heavily laden bough until the fruit
falls into their laps? These are important
questions. A Christian is really what he is
when be is alone, and so rainy Sunday
may be heaven-sent test to lead US to the
discovery of ourselves Christian at Work.
Year: 1878

DR.. Schsff has word of counsel to the
illogical students Where philosophy ends,
theology begins. The former is the knowl,
edge Of the natural, the latter the knowledge
of the supernatural. The one is the science
of reason, the other the science of revelation.
But the natural points to the supernatural
as the only rational explanation of its own
existence. So the body points to the soul,
which animstes and uses it as its organ so
the house points to the architect who built it
the law presupposes law-giver; the crea-
ture is inconceivsble without Creator
Reasons highest function is to prove the
necessity of revelation. Philosophy teaches
that there may be God, and that there
ouqht to be God; that man may be immor-
tai, and ought to be immortal Theology
knows that there Is God, and that man is
immortal for veal or for woe. Philosophy
cannot deny the terrible fact of sin and the
mortal disorder of the universe; but it can
not explain it, and still less remedy it. The.
ology knows both the poison and the anti
dote. To him who knows from experience
that he is a sinner, justly exposed to the
wrath of holy God, and who believes that
Christ is his Saviour, who satisfies all hil
spiritual wants and aspirations, the objections
of infidelity have as little weight as water
upon rock or paper balls upon fort
| Presbyterian.
Year: 1878

WHEN we hear people ready to speak Of
the faults of others, or to censure them as
holding scandalous errors, or to lessen the
wisdom and piety of those about them, that
themselves may seem the wiser and better,
this is a sign that they have vain religion.
Year: 1878

for a while on such events, and make the
most ample allowance for tho incorrect and
exaggerated reports which are always gener-
ated in the excitement of catastrophe.


The probabilities that vessel which found
ers few hours after leaving port was either
unseaworthy or improperly loaded. are of
course very strong, and rigorous investiga-
ton of this case will be called for. The
weather on Wednesday off the Capes was
heavy, but the full severity of the storm
had not yet been felt there, and the
Metropolis had apparently received no worse
treatment from the elements at the time
of her breaking down than all ships ought
to be prepared for at this season of the year
in the vexed North Atlantic. If she became
helpless under such circumstances, it is natural
to suspect either that she was not suited
to the long and dangerous Winter voyage
upon which she was dispatched. or that
she was too heavily loaded, or that her
cargo was carelessly slowed. We publish
all the information our reporters and cor
respondents have been able to gather bearing
on these points of inquiry; but, as we have IN
timated, it will perhaps be necessary to wait
for more thorough investigation than Is pos
sible on the spur of the moment, before we
can place the responsibility for this dreadful
event where it rightly belongs.


Naturally there will now be close scrutiny
of the condition of the third vessel which is
about to be dispatched to Brazil by the same
persons who sent out the Mcrcedita and Me-
tropolis, and we trust that she will not be
permitted to leave port without most severe
inspection When steamers are chartered for
an extraordinary expedition like this there Is
always danger that the outftters may be tempt
ed to risk the employment of vessels that are
too old, or too small or otherwise unsuitable /;
vessels that are insuflicicntly manned or
equipped. and crews that are not drilled. The
liability to accidents is always greater on
such extra ships than on the boats of a
regular and well established line, where the
officers and sailors understand their ship and
are perfectly familiar with all her wants; and
as the peril is greater, the inspection should
he more rigorous in proportion.
Year: 1878

When the Huron was wicked on the North
Carolina beach, the public and the press were
for two or three days unanimous in censurc of


the shIpbuilder who was supposed to have
put in bad engines. and the naval authorities
who allowed weak and defective vessel
to go to sea in storm. 1t turned
out, however, tina, the ship aud machinery
were both good, and the disaster was
entirely attributable to the reckessness
of Captain RyaL Yesterday morning every
body blamed the unfortunate commander Of
the Metropolis for disregarding the lesson of
the previous disaster and taking the same
course which had led the Huron to her fate.
But the later intelligence which we print to-
day puts different face on the affair. How
the Metropolis, bound from Delaware Bay to
Brazil, came to be so far out of heI
course, in the hollow of the coast line
near Hatteras, is now explained. She was
not run upon the shore by accident, nor car
ricd into the breakers by treacherous Cur
rent, but she was beachcd because she was
sinking. She appears to have sprung alcalS
the night after she left the Bay, and to
have been put about in search of a
port of safety and when her captain
drove her aground the fires were already ex-
tinguthed, and the shin was unmanageable


We may learn from the incidents o. this and
the other great ca<mity, to suspend judgment
Year: 1878

ly ever disputed. Men have known
that it was in tho creeds which they
| weekly reclted; preachers have made frequent
use of it; every church received it, except two
or three; and all this time the doctrine, ter
rible as it is when seriously considered, GER
tainly did not excite the fears or disturb the
euuanimity of the masses. By what chance,
according to what law, through what chain OF
causes, has the topic become suddenly one of such
interest, that 1t is warmly debated, philosophl-
cally discussed, turned over in the light OF
logic and of scriptural exegesis, and, in fact,
made leading subject of conversation and OF
pulpit dialectics3 If Mr.. Buckle were living
still, it is possible that he might solve the
problem, at least to his own satisfaction. We
content ourselves with the fact and with what
the fact indicates.


All this dispute means something. 1t proves
that there is a strong natural inclination to
speculate upon the subject, which some nilu-
ence unseen by human eyes may call into
activity. There may be low motives and there
may be high ones. 1t may be mere curiosity
which arrests the attention OF some minds I;
Others may be moved by a morbid love OF ex-
citement; while with others the interest Is as
deep and serious as anything can be. upon
the whole, may we not regard the discussion
as indicating more than one creditabe feature
of human nature-its abiding sense OF
abstract Justice, its innate belief in immor-
tality, its acceptance or the infinite difference
between right and wrong, and its acknOwl'
edgment of the accountability of man to his
Makeri Here, then, is a social quality which
ought to he regarded as of infinite value, no
matter what may be thought OF the point
upon which Just now it may be, by chance or
for some reason, exerted. We ought TO DE
able to make men better here, less inclined to
idleness, vice, dishonesty, if they have enough
sense of retrbutlon to talk about the manner
of it, and its duration hereafter. Eternal hap
plncss and eternal misery both are gigantic ideas
which no mean nature could have evolved.
Putting aside, therefore, the purely theologl-
cal merits of the theory Of future punishment.
we see In the anxiety with which it Is just
now handled. O widespread feeling, which,
properly appealed to, must result in peace and
good will, in more active philanthropy, In
higher and purer lives, in sweeter and more
admirable characters. We suppose that those
who think that secular newspaper should let
religious matters entirely alone, will not OBJ
iect to our admission that the world stands in
great need of improvement. We have never
found any one worse temperance man, or
moral reformer, or phllanthropist, or father or
brother, because he believed that he was living
through a short life of great responsibility,
and that his happiness hereafter would depend
somewhat upon his behavior here.
Year: 1878

All over the country the subject of eternal


punishment is now vigorously, if not anxiously,


debated. Ii is far from being our purpose to
take any part in the controversy, or to add III
the least to the commonplace irivOlity into
which it sometimes degcnerates John Foster,
in speaking of the jokes with which Hume So
laced his dying hours, said, that if the story
of them was true, 1t was not at all creditablc
to the Scotch philosopher, because whether
there was or was not future state,
tho surrender of life and OF all Its re-
latiOns was at least Il serious event TO
rational man. There is something very un-
pleasant in the lightness with which this
cognate matter of hell is talked OF and written
about in some quarters. No point which is
worthy Of the attention of mans best intel
lcctual powers, is likely to be much clucidated
by such rbaldry, and religious faith which


is entertained by sincere cOnfessors ought to
be protected from ridicUle, whether erroneous
or not We may be permitted, however to
express our surprise at the particular aud
widespread interest which seems TO have been
awakened, we may say without disrespect,
quite accidentally. The doctrine of eternal
punishment is one of the oldest In
the world. For centuries it has been
preached. and for centuries it was hard.
Year: 1878

hoped that this knowledge will come to them
in time before their reviving industries are
blasted, and the credit (which they need more
than any other section of the United States Is
Lost fnravar
Year: 1878

Mr.. George Walker, who is ono Of the most
jealous of the bimetallsts, but is not to be
confounded with the fnanciers who pass by
that name in our enlightened Congress, re-
news in another column his suggestion that
the wisest course to be taken in the present
controversy is to act only after consultation
with other nations. An international confer
ence alone, he thinks will avert disaster.
Year: 1878

Marine as well as fire insurance has suffered
from the depression which has interfered with
all branches of business. The losses have
been heavier, the rates of premium lower.
Besides this, there is the loss in the value OF
Government securities. Under these circum-
stances the Union Mutual Insurance Company
is abont TO withdraw from business, and the Sun
Mutual has decided TO call in and cancel its scrip
certificates. At present, with threat of greater
loss and uncertainty in business and values
staring them in the face, it is not at all as
tcnishing that prudent managers of large in
stitutions are anxious to withdraw from the
conflict. There was a very different state of
feeling before the silver agitation became Sc
rious, when it was hoped that resumption of
honest SD ecie payment was near at hand.
Year: 1878

so exalted me the previous day; | haC
| received a letter from Boston, from


Mrs. Dudley, giving me an account o.
! her escape in an open boat; the days


of exposure, a long and WearisomC
! voyage in a sailing vessel which picked
up the boats crew and carried them
about until it landed in Boston; and


she had written 10 me, as Dudley s


most intimate friend, to ascertain ifhe


were alive, and if so, to break to him


the news of her safety. Poor thing.


during all those months of hardship


she had been compelled to endure the


uncertainty as to her husbands fate


| had Immediately telegraphed to her


that Dudley was alive and at home;


that she must come on by the next


tain; that ! would receive her at the
depot, and in the meantime prepare
Dudley for the news.


When | had gone to his house the
previous evening | had been troubled
how to communicate my joyful Ii
dings. l was afraid the greatness of
the change from despair to such bliss
would shake the reason which seemed
already ON the verge of madness -
The chance mention of the photo
graph suggested the idea to me of
gradually preparing his mind IN the
manner which | carried out for the
final consummation of his happiness.
| intrusted my plan TO Caroline, who
approved OF it. At the most il would
only be keeping him from his wife an
hour or two longer.


Caroline herself brought the dress,
perfumed with violcts, which
had elsFe been favari issSiE>-ss Il ssz,.-.
n0,'a's, ftlyt5 had iong rain alfIouG the
precious relics of the supposed dead. !
The privacy of the dressing room gave
the two women an opportunity to az
range the scenic effects. Probably it |
was as hard for EleOnara to restrain |
herself as for Dudley when, as he said !
truly he heard the rustic of her gar |
ments, and felt the living warmth of |
her breath upon his cheek.


All necessity tor further restraint |
was now over happily; the young wife
lay sobbing upon the bosom whose
Every thrOb had been so constant to
ler. Caroline was i'll tears, and I am
lOt ashamed to confess that my own
Eyes were not as clear as usual.
Year: 1878

An abandoned baby in Cleveland
wore the following explanation: ~
was born on the 2lst n January, 1878.
have no father or mother but God i'm
heaven. am not baptized, but
would like to be, and then find a faith
er and mother to take care of me in
honor of God. Yours in Christ"
Year: 1878

That is the great problem now before tl e country. For more than five years we have been suffering under a general business prostration and stagnation, such as was scarcely ever known before 10 the oldest in. habitsnt. Our commerce is destroyed, our manufactories are idle or languishing, our merchants are unable to find customers our farmers can scarcely get enough to pay their taxes, which have been grind ing them like the mills of the gods, ''slow but exceeding fine," and our laborers seek in vain tor work with a hard winter before them and their children crying for bread. All business seems par alyZed in every limb-even that important business which is so essential to the welfare aud happiness of every community (of course we mean the law business) seems to suffer from general debility, and if lawyers couldn't find some other business to help eke out, such as being Governor, or postmaster. or It presentative, or newspaper publisher, Or something of that kind we don't know what they would GO. Statesmen and fnanclers, Congress and Legislatures have tried to solve the problem, but in vain. Ev- en the Greenback movement which promss- cd so much, especially in this town, seems to have left it as far from solution as ever. Hard times still continue and are getting more 80 all the while.

 We have made up our mind that this thing has gone far enough and that there must be a change, and we can see no other way than to take off our coat and wrestle with the problem ourself. We have resolved that there shall be a 'resumption''-of bet ter times, if not of specie payments about the beginning of the new year. Our secretary of the treasury (his name is not John Sherman by any means, although
Year: 1878

It may be JoEn) has studied the question up pretty thoroughly and thinks it can be done And as the first step in that direction eve. gre willing 10 begin al home and practice what we preach) and to bring THE NEWS, notwithstanding the hard> times, within reach of all classes of the people, the poor

 8 we'll as the rich, the laborer as we'll as the bondholder, we have determined to re duce the subscription rates of the paper to hard times prices and to make it one of the cheapest as well as one ot the best papers ID the country. We do no, publish he pa Der to make money out of it. All we ask ls enough to pay expenses Our motto is Pro Bono Publico" and our ambition is to publish A good, cheap, family paper which shall be each week welcome visit or at every firesde.

 F'Om and after the lst day Of January next the subscription price of THR NEWS will be one dollar and .titty cents year. paid in advance. The present subscribers may avail themselves of the reduced rates by paying up to the first of January at the present rate and prepaying for another year tt the reduced rate, end if anyone has pre- paid at the old rate we will extend the time of his subscription SO as to cover the differ ence between the old and new rates. To any person furnishing us .tiUe new subscrib- CTS for year or more we will send copy of the paper free for the same period. Now if our friends will encourage us Tn the good work and will furnish us with some material aid, we think we may confident. ly hope that prosperity will again return to our beloved country and that we will ali soon be enabled to join In the good old song, ''Hard times, hard times, come again no more." Who will be the first subscriber at the reduced rrice and who will get up the first club
Year: 1878

their work be, for they must ever be cry. ing Repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" They must never cease trying to 'turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the dlsobedient to the wisdom of the Just."

 After evening prayer the Rector explain, ed in short address the fitness of our dec orating Gods house with symbols of joy and gladness at Christmas, when Christ the Son of God was born into the world.
Year: 1878

who was disappointed or dissatisfied with the entertainment. The negotiations, be- tween the old gentleman and the company resulted in the redemption of baggage and paying of the board bill, with the loss ot the salaries of the company, who forfeited each about three weeks time and Sunday evening the party took the mill train for New York, leaving Canaan, H wiser set of Merry Bishops than they en tered it.
Year: 1878

The theme in the Congregational church was classification. Justification is an in stantaneous act; sanctifitation is progress sive work. Justification is not acquital, or pardon simply, but lestoraion 10 favor and friendship with the judge. The grand conditions are faith and repentance. These are twin sisters; neither Can exist without the other. Works are not third sister, but the other two in living exercise. Works will follow us and be the measure of our reward. We may be saved by faith, but saved men will not be equally happy in heaveA. It is as if q benevolent person in. vited needy ones to his door. Some bring large vessels and others tiny cups. Each carries his vessel away full, but he might have rt celved more The more abundant the works the larger will be the reward. Every man by bis life is making his own meaSllle.
Year: 1878

A SLIGHT INACoURAcY-In the item recent
ly Published to the effect that the Rev. Mr..


Vail of Cape Elizabeth. and wife, were thrown
from their carriage last week and the former
seriously injured, some slight errors occurred.
Neither Mr. Vail nor his wife were injured
neither were thrown from carriage; neither
were riding in the town Of Cape Elizabeth last
week; and finally the former has not been in
that town for over month. With these tri-
fling exceptions the original item was correct
Year: 1878

A socable was held in the chapel of the Con-
gregatonai church Wednesday evening. The
chapel was crowded and an excellent supper
was furnished by the ladies Of the church and
parish, whose last names begin with any OF the
first four letters of the alphabet There is to
be another sociable at the same place in few
weeks
Year: 1878

SURPRISE .-The residence of Rev. J. f.
Morgan, pastor of West Church, was entered
last eyening,by large number of his church
and parish. They came in a body, giving no
previous hint or intmation Of their coming, to
give him and his family pounding" that is,
each one brought pound to add TO their New
Years greeting. After happy and very So
cial enjoyment they departed with the assur'
ance that neither the pastor nor his family had
always receive a cordial welcome when they
come 80 good-natsredly TO ''pound" their pas
Year: 1878

"RUTH"-A New Haven paper says of
Ruth:


There is much in this class of music to
awaken enthusiasm. A constant succession of
surprises greet the ear. Here a strong dramatic
effort arouses deep feeling. there beautiful
melody enraptures the ear, and anon beauti-
full ch9rus awakens one to new life.


The tickets will be ready Saturday morning
and we expect to see rush. There should not
be a vacant seat in City Hall when Ruth is
given
Year: 1878

a RARE opportunity is offered to any one wishing
n to engage in the GROCERY BUSINESS. The
right man can do a good business. Good location.
For particulars enquire at


ja3d1w1 STORE 9ss CONGRESS ST.