smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1875

The first duel in this State took place Il
good many years ago. A killed B, and Il
sheriff, alter the proper legal tormalities
had been gone through with, hanged A.
Now it is no doubt very chivalric and all
that sort of thing to be killed by q bullet
through the heart fired by the man who
has wronged or insulted one, but death
by a rope around the neck, with the sher-
if for second, is q very different affair
And thus it came to pass that duelling
came in to disrepute in this State. LChica-
90 Tribune.
Year: 1875

It adds not little to the impressivenesE
of these words to recognize them as put by
ancient prophecy into the lips of our blessed
Redeemer Himself. In that application, how
perfectly they describe the nature of His
obedience, and the support He received from
a constant sense of His Fathers presence
and love- But if Christ could use this Ian
guage in the expression of His off ,ial SUBJ
ordination, how much more His people !
And yet it is no slight declaration, that we
"have set our Lord always before us.


1t imparts constant recognition of the
divine authority and rule. 1t is not enough
to think Of God as an abstracsion-as mere
power, the sum of all the forces in the uni
verse--as philosophical necessity, without
which We cannot account for the existence of
anything. He must be more to US than a
first cause, or the sum Of all being. He
must stand before our thoughts in the dis
tinctness Of His personality, and in clearly
defined moral relations to ourselves. This
alone gives sense of sin; without which the
law is dead letter. Bat when the convic-
tion Of Gods personal presence, and of His
rightful authority, rests upon the soul, We
are restrained from sin by the solemn awe
which falls upon US like the shadow of His
majesty.


1t implies the conservation of our whole
life and of each single action, as obedience
to God. Men fatter themselves if their &C.
tions only be right as to the matter or SUBJ
stance of them. It should be remembered
that they are not acts of obedience, unless
performed in Difference to the divine author.
ity. AS life is made up of successive mo-
ments bound together in continuous glow, 80
this principle Of conservation to God must
be the nerWs between all the single acts Of
obedience.


1t involves q trustful acquiescence Of
Gods providential protection and care
The assurance that He is at our right hand
is the only talismau we need in the journey
of life. 1t explains all the contradictions OF
Christian experience-strength in weakness,
comfort in tribulation, rest in toll, joy in sor-
row, and triumph in defeat


The language especially points to Gods
covenant relations with us, as Father and
Redeemer. 1t is only when viewed in Christ,
not imputing our trespasses to us, that He
ceases to be our fear and our dread. But
when He draws nigh to us in these tender
relations of grace, we rejoice in Him as the
everlasting portion of the soul. "Whom
have we in heaven but Thee? and there is
none upon earth that we desire beside Thee. "
IS. ". Presbyterian.
Year: 1875

Twenty-seven years ago, in the congrega
ton of my first charge, was lady whose love
for the Bible was something remarkable. Ii
the confidence of pastoral visit, she told mt
of her JOY in the divine word, and also recit
ed the incidents of her experience in this re
gard She had formerly read her Bible al
so many do-a chapter now and half chap
ter then-without much interest or profit
She was even then most interested in religl
Gus things. But her chief source of spirit
ual strength were in such writings as those
of Baxter, Payson and Robert Phillip. Il
was her custom to read the Bible from duty,
and then turn to these uninspired volumes
for the kindling of higher devotion. For
awhile this satisfied her. But at length she
came to feel grieved about it. She thought
it dishonor to Gods word that any book
should be az interesting to her as the Bible.
She tried to change this, but at frat with
little success. The Bible was still duty
Baxter was pleasure and spiritual elevation.
At length she could bear it no longer
So she took the case to God with strong cry.
ing. She told her heavenly Father how
grieved she was that any book should rival
the Bible in her affections. She asked this
one thing-and she renewed her prayer
every day-that her first delight might be
in reading the word of God. think it was
some time before she felt that her request
was granted. But at length the. answer to
her prayer was complete and marvellous. A
strange light came over the sacred page. A
fascination held her to her Bible. She dis
covered a depth, a meaning, curiosity, a
charm, which were all new and most wonder
full. Sometimes when she had finished read
ing her Bible for the night, and had closed
the book and had moved towards her bed,
she would go back again and enjoy the lux
ury of few more verses. At the time Of
our interview she was thus delighting in the
law of God.


The conversation made an indelible i'm.
preston upon my mind. remember it, after
80 long time, with vivid interest 1t might
be expected that such Bible lover would
be foremost in every good work. She was
an example in attendance upon the church
services. Her mode of listening to sermon
was vastly encouraging to her pastor. Her
sympathy with the entire work of the church
was most marked and influential. She was
active and earnest, without any extravaganza
or enthusiasm. The very memory of such a
helper moves my heart with tender thankful.
ness. A pastor never outlives the influence
of such parishioner. This Berean type Of
piety in the pew is the strongest bulwark of
the pulpit. 1t brings fidelity, sincerity, and
whatever else belongs to loyal church mem
Der.


I believe the experience of every pastor
will justify the statement that by such things
we live, and that we can always lean with
confidence upon those who find Gods pre-.
cepts "sweeter than honey."-Nev York
Observer.
Year: 1875

This noted man of faith makes much of
the Word of God. Take the following out
line of his address to young converts at
Mildmay during his recent preaching tour;
Let me press upon you the deep impor-
tance of reading the Word with meditation
and prayer q Peter ii: 2, 3, 'As new born
babes desire the sincere milk Of the Word,
that ye may grow thereby AS neglected
babes never become healthy men and women,
so young converts who neglect Gods ap-
pointed food, the Word never become
bright Christians.


/. Read the Word of God regularly through.
Begin with Genesis in the morning and Mat
thew in the evening, making mark where
you leave off. When you have finished the
Old and New Testamenta begin again. Aa
an earthly will is always read through with
great care, go Gods will ought to be read
entirely through with reverence and godly
fear. Consider the advantages Of this plan:


a. We arc kept from making e system
of divinity of our own, and confning our
selves to a few favorite doctrines and truths.
We also become lovers Of the whole Word.


G.) Variety is pleasing.


(c.) When we have finished reading it
through, we shall be glad to begin it again.
In forty.six years l have read my Bible
through hundred times; yet it is always
fresh and new when I begin it again.


2. Read in prayerful spirit.


3. Read with meditation. Ponder over
what you are reading.


4. Read with reference to your own heart.
So many preachers read for their hearers;
parents read for their children; and school
teachers read for their scholars. AK your
selves


How does this suit me?


How does this warn me?


How does this rebuke me?


How does this comfort me?


If you do this, God uses the Word by you
for others.


5. Always seek to mix 'faith' with your
reading.


G. Practice what you read. We must
carry out what God tells US. lie expects us
to be obedient children-'If ye know these
things happy are ye if ye do them Come
in childlike simplicity to the Word of God.
Give heed to it with all earnestness, and let
it settle all questions.
Year: 1875

KINKs.-A kink is spontaneous twist in
a thread, and constitutional whimsicality
in man. A thread kink has all the effect
of knot in thread, interfering with the
work of the seamstress. A man kink so
twisti6es him, and knots him up, that the
pastor can't use him, and society don't know
what to do with him. A thread kink is
great annoyance when it occurs too often.
A man kink, whim, crotchet, aunoys a
pastor, wearies and disgustS a church and
interferes with her work. A kinky church
member never agrees with his brother mem
bers, always has word of advice for his
pastor, is always trying to carry point, is
happy only when he can crafty notion,
give his views or force dissgreeable al
tentative upon his " dear brethren" and all
for the "glOry of God" Brethren, pray to
be delivered from kinks.-Baptist Union.
Year: 1875

The action of the Presby yteries this fall in
regard to the work of the Church is decidedly
encouraging. There seems to be manly
marching up to the demands of the situation
which gives token of better state of things
in the futnre. In number of cases past
derelictions are contested and determine


ton is evinced to be found wanting no more.
In other instances, Presbyteries thank God
for what has already been done and are en-
couraged to go forward with increased hope
and energy. Altogether the outlook is de-
cidedly propitious and cheerful. 1t only re-
mains that every one in his place shall put
forth his strength and take advantage of the
opportunities before him, and grand work
will be accomplished. The time has come
when it will not do to stand still, we must 60
forward. Every interest of the Church must
be pressed. Her enterprises must be sus-
tanned; her benevolent funds must be in
creased, and the means must be furnished
for establishing and strengthening Zion
throughout our bounds. 1t is important
then, that every minister, every church Ses.
sion, every member of our Church should
come up to the work. There is need of the
help of all, and if it be rendered by all, q
glorious progress will be achieved. We ear.
nestly hope that the EvangeliStic arm of the


Church will be greatly strengthened this
fall, and that provision will also be made


through the Sustentation Fund to aid more
Year: 1875

President Porter, Of Yale College, lays
down principles with regard to reading,
worthy of attention. Among other points
he suggests that


Reading should be followed by an earnest
and rejecting spirit. If we are careful in
the selection of books, We must be equally
careful as to the rag in which we read them.
"If man hss little time to read, he has no
right to allow these golden hours of his life
to be wasted or worse than wasted. If he
reads a great deal, he has no right to allow
influences which are silently but most pow
erfully aff, cling his whole character, to be
what the chance or mood Of the hour decides
them, to bring di,ease or health, life or
death to that which makes him man.


Read with attention. This is the golden
rule and more important than all the rest.
The great objection to omuiVerous and indls-
criminste reading is, that it jades and wea-
ries the power of attention. Edmund Burke
always so read a book as to make it his own,
a possession for life. Passive reading is to
be carefully guarded against, as habit that
will destroy all good in reading.


Read with interest. Find out what will
Interest you, ask yourself in what particulars
your ignorance most disturbs or annoys you
With what class of thoughts, facts, princi-
Piles or emotions, would it please you best to
be eonversant.- "Read what will satisfy your
wants and apPesse your desires and you
will comply with the first condition to read
ing with interest and profit, is direction
that must be received, however, with caution
for you should see that your wishes and de
sirss are correct, before you attempt to sat
isfy them.
Year: 1875

Some years since, an English gentleman
spent several weeks in Shiraz, Persia. He
attended a public dinner with party of
Persans, among whom was one who took but
little interest in the conversation. He was
below middle age, serious, and mild in coun-
tenance. His name was Mahomed Rahem.
In the course Of religious conversation the
Englishman expressed himself with some
levity, at which Mahomed fixed his eyes upon
him with such a look of surprise, regret and
reproof as reached his very soul. Upon in
quiry the gentleman found he had been edu-
Gated as priest, though he had never Off
ciated, that he was much respected, was
learned, retired in his habits, and was drawn
out to that party only by the expectation of
meeting an Englishman, to whose nation and
language he was much attached. In a sub.
sequent interview Mahomed Rahem declared
himself Christian, and gave the following
account of the happy change in his views
and feelings:


"In the year 1926 (of the Hegira) there
came to this city an Euglishman who taught
the religion of Christ with holiness hither-
to unparalleled in Persia, in the midst of
much scorn and ill-treatment from our priests
as we'll as the rabble. He was beardless
youth, and evidently enfeebled by disease.
He dwelt among us for more than year.
l was then decided enemy to infdels, as
the Christians are termed by the followers of
Mohammed, and visited this teacher of the
despised sect with the declared object of
treating him with scorn, and exposing his
doctrines to contempt. Although perse-
vered for some time in this behavior to him,
I found that every interview increased my
respect for the man, and diminished my faith
in the religion in which had been educated.
His extreme forbearance toward his oppo-
nents, the calm and yet convincing manner
in which he exposed the fallacies and sophis-
tries by which he was assailed, gradually in
clined me to listen to his arguments, to in
quire dispassionately into the truth of them,
and, finally, to read tract which he had
written in reply to defence of Islamism by
one of our chief priests. Need l detain you
any longer? The result of my examination
was conviction that the young disputant
was right. Shame, or rather fear, withheld
me from avowing this opinion. 1 even
avoided the society of the Christian teacher,
though he remained among US so long
Just before he quilted Shiraz could not re-
frain from paying him final visit. Our
conversation-the memory of it will never
fade from my mind-sealed my conversion.
He gave me book; it has ever been my
constant companion. The study of it has
formed ny most delightful employment; its
contents have often consoled me-" Upon
saying this he produced copy of the New
Testament, and on blank leaf was written
=" There is Joy in heaven over one sinner
that repenteth. HENRY MARTYN."
Year: 1875

0ae of the habits Of many people in our
churches which calls for a reconstruction
from top to bottom is that which relates to
giving.


What was the custom in the days Of our
prosperity? speak not of all, but the re
marks to be made apply to multitules, to the
majority. The stare of the case was about
this They laid a scheme which included the
attainment Of certain worldly objects, and if
these were accomplished, if so much land and
other property could be obtained, if their
children could all be we'll settled and prOvid-
ed for, then, if any thing was left, it would
be 30 little they could hardly miss it, and a
mite was contributed to the support Of reli-
gious objects. That is to say, these claims
were needed after all other demands were
satisfied. Is not this plan of holding on for
our own use to all except very insigui6
cant portion for God, one of the plague spots
of the Church This was certainly true Of
the mass Of our people in the days of pros
perity. They gave but pittanee to the
cause Of Christ; they were so busy laying
up treasure for themselves, that they had al
most nothing to spare to spread through the
earth the saving knowledge of him who laid
down his life for US.


And now since desolation has swept over
their prosperity, what is still the case p
Many, we admit, have been brought to some,
thing like right views of the whole matter.
Many are living with strict economy, and
are conscieOtiously giving what they can.
Bat how is it with others Are there not
all over the land families much reduced in
deed in their means, who are still trying
their best to keep up, as nearly as possible, to
the old extravagsnt style of living? It is
painful to witness the process. Iostead of
cutting down expenses to the lowest, they
are keeping them up far towards the highest
point, bat after all succeed no farther than
to reach the elevation of the "shabby gen
tsel''-s6out the most eQuivOcal aud unsat
isfsetOry of all possible conditions.


There is no class in all the community so
much to be pitied as well as blamed. They
make a kind of unearthly futtering to
keep appearances alive, but cannot hide their
real condition. In consequence of keeping
up habits beyond their reach of income,
they are always pressed and in debt, and no
wonder they have nothing to spare


Oae thing is plain, and so plain that it
can be demonstrated. It is that, nOtwith-
standing the reduced circumstances of our
people, we have the ability to bear all the
expenses of the Church from beginning to
end-tO support all its enterprises, and do it
well. And this will be Effected nobly, and
fully whenever Christians learn as they
ought, to put the kingdom of God before
every thing else; and to feel that for this,
above every thing else We must live aud
make sacrifices and that such things as are
really needfol for Us our Heavenly Father
will add to our portion. Whenever this is
done, it will never be found among our Chris
tian families that they have "nOthing to
snare" HARDsCRABBLE.
Year: 1875

In a napkin smooth and white,


Hidden from all mortal sight,
My one talent lies tonight.


Mine to hoard, or nine to use,
Mine to keep, or niue to lose;
May not do what | choose2
All! the gift was only lent,


With the Giver's known intent
That it should be wisely spent
Aud / know he viii demand
Every farthing at my hand,
When I in His presence stand.
What will be my grief and shame
When l hear my humOle name,
And cannot repay ais claim!
Some viii double what they hold
Others add to It tenfold,
And pay back the shining gold.
Lord, 0 teach me what to do!
Make ne faith 'ul, make me true,
And the sacred trust renew.
Help me ere too late II be,
Something now to Do for Thee
Thou who hast done all for me
Year: 1875

EVERY DAY is little life; and our whole
life is but day repeated. And hence it is
that Jacob numbers his life by days, and
Moses desires to be taught this point of holy
arithmetic, "to number not his years, but his
days, and these so as to apply his heart unto
wisdom" Those, therefore, that dare lose a
day, are dangerously prodigal; and. those
that dare misspend it, desperate
Year: 1875

THE article below is from the Nelo York Tribune
of the 9th inst It's gratifying to observe that the
leading secular papers of the country treat this great
religious movement seriously and fairly.-CENrRAL
PREsBYTERIAN.
Year: 1875

The range Of human knowledge has
increased so enormously that no brain
can grapplo with it. The man who
would know one thing we'll, must have
the courage to be ignorant of . thou
sand things, however attractive they
may be.
Year: 1875




A MONSTER BEE-HIvE.-A correspon-
dent gives the following description of
a monster beehive on the eastern
slope OF the San Francisco range, Los
Angeles county, Cal. 1t. is large
story and has been extensively copied
by the press:


The hive is located on rift which
penetrates the rock to the depth
Of probably one hundred and sixty
feet The orifice is thirty feet long
and seventeen feet wide; four passa-
ges. The rift was discovered to be
the abiding place of a swarm of bees
that is represented as coming out in
nearly solid column, one foot in diam
eter. Certain parties have endeavor.
ed to ascend to the store of honey col
lected by these bees, but were invari-
ably driven back, and one man lost his
life in the effort. Others have, at an
expense of much labor and money,
built scaffold l25 feet high, in the
hope of reaching place whence they
could run drift into the rock and ex-
tract it's we'll boarded sweets; but f.
nally ceased their work. Within four
years the bees have added not less
than fifteen feet to their treasure, as
ascertained by actual measurement,
and it is thought at the present time
there can be no less than eight or ten
tons of honey in the rock. A man
named B. Brophy, who lived in a cab
in not far from the spot, obtained from
the melting Of the honey by the sums
heat more than enough for his family
requirements.
Year: 1875

New York, Aug. 1s.-Private dis
patches i'm this city announce the
death by assassination of Senior
Gabriel Garcia Moreno President of
the Republic of Eucador. Intelligence
was brought by special courier from
the capital to the Pacific Coast, thence
by packet to Panama, and by cable to
this city.


Gen. Butler, was invited to address
a public meeting under the auspices of
the Legal Tender Club of this city.
Other engagements making it impos-
sisle for him to be present, the General
writes: - am unable to comprehend
or appreciate, aud much less admire
that system of government finances
which has so wrought upon the bust
ness and production of the country,
that over two million working men
and women. who desire productive
employment, have not had it for the
last two years, aud by which produc-
ton they would have added to the
wealth of the country during that
time, is lost. Assuming that each
one of that number. skilled and un-
skilled, could have averaged two dol
lars per day for the working days of
the past year, then we have lost one
billion two hundred million dollars,
an amount about equal to half the
national debt, by their enforced idle
ness, to say nothing of the loss of
morale of the working men and wo
men. How long men of active bust
ness and property holders, and holders
of those KINDS of property which are
open to the taX-gatherer, will permit
a system of financial administration to
go on by which their property shall
depreciate SO per cent. in its value.
while the owners of property, such as
notes, mortgages and bonds, which are
untaxed, because not open TO the tax
gatherer, have their property appre-
ciate and escape taxation, is problem
which the good sense of the people of
this country will solve the coming
Presidential election"
Year: 1875

Du Quoin, H., Aug. Is.-The latest
news from the seat of war in Franklin
county, state that two arrests have
been made since the fight of the night
before last. Great excitement prevails
in and around Benton. The sheriff is
still in close pursuit of the remainder
of the band, and it is hoped he will
succeed in capturing and bringing
them to Justice.
Year: 1875

NoTE.-When the above oath is taken before justice of the peace or any other officer not using a seal, except Judge of a U. S. Court, the certificate of the clerk of a court of record must be added, under his seal of office, that the person who admin istered the oath is duly qualified as such officer.
Year: 1875

do swear that have the ability. pecuniari- ly, to fulfill my obligation as such bidder that the bid is made in good faith, and with the intention to enter into contract and perform the service in case said bid shall be accepted.