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? > ' i > * * - " ? , . " * The Abbeville Press and Banner. BY HUGH WILSON. ABBEVILLE, S. C., WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1887. VOLUME XXXI. NO. 50. Christian Neighbor. BY KKV. KIMl ir. BKOW.VE, Of the Snuth Carolina Conference* The Firwt?The Second. As early, as far and as fast as a child can understand he should be taught the existence of God?"that ho is." Such teaching will lead to a corresponding/<u7/i ?the belief that God is. This is the boginning of the training of a child in the way he should gj?the A ii C of the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of tiMdlfMn tlia n!U?fl Of' tllfi "hom book" of the first aiul great commandment?love?which all subsequent reve" lations and teachings from Moses and the prophets and Christ and the apostles are designed to make manifest to the glorj' of God in the beatification of man. The child should be instructed in the revelations which God has made of himself in creation, providence and grace, - -- - -- - - ? specially that "Ills eyes are in every piace beholding the evil and the good," and that "he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Without such belief in the existence and nature of God it is impossible for either an adult or a child to please him ; and without such teaching it is impossible to have such belief. Faith oomes by hearing, and hearingapprehension of teaching?by the word of God. All faith, whether it refers to things human or divine, to things temporal or eternal, whether it be the faith of a barbarian or scythian, a bondman or freeman, male or female, Jew or Gentile, and whether it be the faith of a child or an adult, is obtained in one and the same way?teaching?and that too whether the teaching is addressed to the ear, the eye . or one or more of the other senses. There can be no faith without teaohing, nor can the faith of any man bo otherwise than according to accepted teaching. As "like people like priest," so like faith like teaching. It may be said that children thus started in the way they should go, and from the beginning are brought up "in nurture and admonition of the Lord" ' know the salvation truths of the Bible from childhood, even as it is said of Timothy that "from a child" he had known the holy Scriptures which are able to 1 make timely and properly instructed children "wise unto salvation through | faith whieh is in Christ Jesus." I If persons from childhood may know the holy scriptures, may they not also at , the same time and to the same degree i kcowtho holy Saviour, and thus pass, < without falling and rising again, from the state of unconditional justification? ( *1>a ^itTmalrr oonnrn/1 >?i rf \\ rinrllf nf DVflVM 1 fcUO UITIIIOIJ OOUUiVU W? ft Vftft* ig, >< V v* v . W.J man that cometh into the world?unto the state where they live, and walk by ( personal faith. i Koine Old Qucfttlon*. t Strange doctrine was preached in a ser- 1 mon we once heard. Was it "ortho- i dox?" The subject was prayer, and j from at least one illustration the speaker < taught that if we pray aright we will receive what we ask?not merely an answer to prayer, but the very answer we < desire. Now as we have 110 strait-jacket to fit ourselves to, and are not bound to make our belief support any fixed "ology" or "ism," we feel free to say what 1 common sense, and a not wholly un- 1 AnlivhtonaH winopiAnpo "Rllt < V?IMDU>VMVM vw..^w.v..vvy J ? to return to the illustration: "A widowed 1 mother saw her only child inarch away ( to meet the fortunes of war. "My son," i said she at parting, "I shall pray for you every day, at morning, at noon, and at night. I believe that God will grant my ! prayer, and return you to me in safety." The war closed, but the young man did not return to his home. The mother still felt that her prayers were not in vain, and that her son would come hack strong and well, able to relieve her of heavy responsibilities. Six months after peace was proclaimed the young man did return, and?his mother's prayers were answered. Many questions arise. Of all the men kilbd in the late civil war were there none who were prayed for ''aright ?" ?were there not some righteous women who did not ask "amiss" when they priiyed that the husband, the father, the son might be preserved from the bullets /v?A?v*?? O T\I/1 nrvf manir fmm VI Hie CllOUtJ ^ X/1U UWI Ulitiij ligav ??vu? the firing on Sumter to the sad close at Appomattox who neither prayed for themselves nor had prayers offered for them? What is an answer to prayer? Is the good (?) we crave at the hands of God a good that is best? We ask a life? Our loved live on, but not in our company. The separation saddens for all time the life left behind?but?what is best? Who knows? God alone. Again, what constitutes an answer to prayer? We can truly say all prayers are answered, since a granting of the request or its denial may be considered an answer. Unfortunately the word answered is commonly used as meaning a favorable answer, a granting of the thing desired, hence much confusion on a subject the wisest and best touch with some hesitancy. ? ^ ? Turning: again to Folly. The recent competitive military drill at Washington by the "soldiers" from various sections of the United States, was somewhat deranged by tto presence of the "brother soldier-in-black" and by repeated storms of wind and rain. The grand ulcerous pageant would have been pronounced demoralized but for the weather-cock discourse of Dr. Talmadge and the glamour reports which of course covered all retreats and defects. It had to be made grand and glorious of course? i t was military. The editor of the Neighbor reached! home too late and too tired from a trip to Abbeville, Anderson and Belton to write anything this week about the country and the people antl the things he saw. Next week he may say something, if the tread mill and Providence permit. .Military Parmle?'Thunder Storm. The first day (May 24) of the competitive military drill at Washington was seriously interfered with by a furious wind and thunder storm. An exchange says: A furious thunder storm ?nd wind storm camo up about 4 o'clock and put an end to the proceedings. The crowds scattered at once. The roof was blown ofl' a large part of the grand stand, and the canvas rocks, forts and war vessels, and lighthouse of the "pyorama" were tipped over and scattered. The order for dress parade at 5 o'clock was rescinded. "I returned and saw under the sun, * * 1 * - ? A * ? *tAM tKn inai me race is noi iu mw ??vm, nui tuc battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance liappeneth to them all." Ecc. ix: ii. No more significance should be attached to the competition between the soldiers and the storm than this scripture gives. God permitted tho soldiers as moral agents to assemble for the drill, and he permitted the storm, according to the laws of nature, to meet tho soldiers in competition. We presume that during the storm, not a few of the men would have preferred being somewhere else. - Newberry has had two weeks of special religious exercises, which closed Sunday night, May 29. The first week was a meeting of the "Holiness Association," tho next was a protracted or revival meeting. The result of the two meetings, one immediately following tho other, was the addition of 30 to the membership in the churches of the town, the greatest number united with the Methodists. The meetings were held within a large tent, made for such occasions. There were many conversions, tfce exact tiumber we havo not learnea. South CarollnH Peace Society. Having receutly lectured on Peace at different places in the State and not having with me at tho time copies of the Constitution of the S. C. P. Society, I think it well to publish the following for the information of all who may wish to to know something more concerning the L'ause of peace and the object of the Peace Society. Columbia, S. C., Oct. 22, 1872. Persuant to a call through the Christian Neighbor, for a State Peace Convention, delegates assembled in this city, this evening, at half-past 7 o'clock. On motion, Rev. Sidi H. Brown was called to the Chair, and John A. Elkins was appointed Secretary. The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. Joseph Lanhon. The report of the Committee on a Constitution was submitted, and was taken up by sections, and, after debate, participated in by the members generally, was adopted. It is as follows: We, the subscribers, kuowing that war causes a vast amount of expense, cruel-1 ty, suffering, destruction of property and life, vice and crime, and believing war to be directly contrary to the gentle, meek, compassionate ana peaceful spirit and * " ^ * ? - a dnsnna gospel 01 our .UIVIUO OSVluur, vuv X Iiuvu 3f Peace, and that it is his will that war should ceaso throughout the world, and ulso believing that it is the immediate du-1 ty of all men to be co-workers with God in extending the kingdom of peace imong men, do, therefore, form ourselves into a Society for the Promotion of Peace, and accept the following CONSTITUTION : Article I. This Society shall bo called " The South Carolina Peace Society." Article II. The officers of this Society shall be a President, a First Vice-President, a Second Vice-President, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer, who shall constitute a Board of Directors. In conjunction with whom shall be added one member from each county represented in this Society, to be elected by the officers in the intervals of the annual sessions. Article III. It shall be the duty of this Society, according to its opportunities and ability, to obtain and circulate tracts and books in favor of peace and against war, among the people at large; to hold meetings from time to time, as often as the President may think desirable, for prayers, singing and sermons, or speeches, addresses or discussions, for the purpose of showing that peace is agreeable to Christianity ana war hot; and it shall be the duty of this Society as a body, and its members as individuals, to endeaver to promote peace in, between and among nations and all mankind. Article IV. Any person, male or female, may become a member of this Society by signing its Constitution. Article V. This Society shall elect its officers annually. Article VI. The President, a Vice President or a Director shall have power to organize, in person or by another, Peace Societies among the colored people. Article VII. This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two thirds of the members present, above the age of twenty-one years, at anv regular annual meeting. The Convention then proceeded to ballot for officers, which resulted as follows : President?Rev. Sidi H. Brown. 1st Vice President?John II. Klnsler. 2n Vice Presid't?Rev. E. A. Bolles. Rec. Secretary?John A. Elkins. Cor. Secretary?II. Bascom Browne. Treasurer?Charles D. Stanley. Mr. J. H. Kinsler offered the following resolutions, which were adopted: Resolved, That it shall be the duty of the Board of Directors, whenever circumstances may warrant, to take such meas* ??Ati no moTT /loom rvvAnor fnp tliD Ui VO OO tUCJ UiOJ 14 4 IVt vuv i organization of Auxiliary Peace Societies) throughout the State. Resolved, That the following form of Constitution be recommended to the Au-1 xiliary Societies for their adoption: Constitution for Auxiliary Societies. Art. 1.?This Society shall be called the Society, auxiliary to the "South Carolina Peace Society." Art.2.?The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Art. 3. ?Any person, male or female, may become a member of this Society by signing its Constitution. Art. 4.?It shall be the duty of this Society, according to its opportunity and ability, to obtain and circulate books and tracts in favor of peace and against war, to hold meetings from time to time for public addresses, sermons or discussions, showing that peace is agreeable to Christianity and war not. Art. 5.?This Society shall elect its officers annuallv. Resolved, That any person desiring to become a member of this Society, during the interval of the annual sessions, shall, upon the approval of the President or a Vice-President, be enrolled by the Secrbtary. The first Tuesday In October, 1873, at 7i p. m., was selected a.s the time for holding the annual session, and Colum 1 bin as the place. COMMONS. How Easy It is. How easy It Is to spoil a day! The thoughtless words ol a cherished friend, The selfish acts of a child at play. The strength of a will that will not bend, The slight of a comrade, the scorn of a foe, The smile that is full of hitter things? They all can tarnish Its golden glow, And take the grace from its airy wings. How easy It is to spoil a day By the force of a thought we did not check. Little by little we mold the clay. And little (law* may the vessel wreck. The careless waste of a white-winged hour, That held the blessing we long had sought, The sudden loss of wealth or power. And lo! the day Is with ill inwrought. How easy it is to spoil a life !? And many are spoiled ere well begun? In home light darkened by sin and strife, Or downward course of a cherished one: By toll that robs the form of Its grace, And undermines till health gives way: By the peevish temper, the frowning fuce, The hopes that go, and the cares that stay. A day is too long to spend in vain, Some good should come as the hours go by; Some tangled maze may be made more plain, Some lowered glance may be raised on high. And life is too short to spoil like this, If only a prelude, it may be sweet ; Let us bind together its thread of bliss, And nourish the flowers around our teet. A Shrewd Young1 Man. The year before last a bright-looking young man entered a countingroom in response to an advertisement for an assistant shipping clerk. He told the usual tale of how he desired a position more than wages for the time being, and was willing to accept a nominal salary to start in on. The old merchant was feeling in a particularly good humor that afternoon, and said pleasantly to the new comer: "Well, sir, what do you consider a nominal salary ? What would you be willing to accept in the beginning?" The young man picked at the lining of his hat with his fingers, and deferentially replied: "I want to show you sir, that I mean business, and I will work for one cent the remainder of this month, provided you think it would not be too much to double my salary each month thereafter." "That's a novel proposition, surely," said the old man" with a smile. Do you know what you are talking about, my dear boy?" "Well, sir, my principal aim is to learn the business," responded the young fellow, "and I would be willing to work for nothing, but I'd like to feel and be able to say that I was earning something, you know." "I'll take you," remarked the old man. "One cent, two cents, four cents, eight, sixteen," he enumerated. "You won't get much for awhile," he added. He took him up to the cashier. "This is John Smith," he said. "He will go to work as assistant shipping clerk to-morrow. His salary will be one cent this month. Double it every mouth from now on." "In consideration of my working for this small salary, might I ask you to assure me a position for a definite period ?" inquired John Smith. "We don't usually do that," replied the governor, "but we can't lose much on you anyhow, I guess, and you look like an honest fellow. How long do you want employment?" "Three years, sir, if agreeable to you." Well, the old man agreed, and young Mr. Smith, on pretense of wanting some evidence of "stability of his place, got the governor to write out ana sign a paper that he had been guaranteed a position in the house for three years on the terms I have stated. He worked along for six months without drawing a cent. He said he would draw all his earnings at Christmas. The cashier one day thought he would ligure up and see how much would be coming to the young man. He grew so interested in the project that he kept multiplying for the three years. Tne result almost staggered him. This is the column of figures he took to the old man: First month, .01; second, .02; third, .04; fourth, .08; fifth, .16; sixth, 32; seventh, .64; eighth, $1.28; ninth, $2.56; tenth, $5.12; eleventh, $10.24; twelfth, $20.48; thirteenth, $40.96; fourteenth, $81,92; fifteenth, $163.84; sixteenth, $327.68; seventeenth, $655.36; eighteen, $1,310.72; nineteenth, $2,621.44; twentieth, $5,242.88; tweniy-nrst, S10,485.76; twenty-second, $20,971.52; twenty-third, $41,942.04; twentyfourth, $83,884.08; twenty-fifth, $167,768.16; twenty-sixth, $335,536.32; twenty-seventh, $671,072.64; twentyeighth, $1,342,145.28; twenty-ninth, $2,684,290.56; thirtieth, $4,468,581.12; thirty-first, $8,736,162.24; thirty-second, $17,472,324.48; thirty-third, $34,944,648.96; thirty-fourth, $68,888,296.92; thirty-fifth, $137,776,593.84; thirtysixth, $275,553,187.68: total salary for three years, $551,106,375.36. The governor nearly fainted when he understood how, even if he were twice as rich as Vanderbilt, he would be ruined in paying John Smith's salary. ? Too Cheap. The dog was altogether worthless. It seemed cruel to kill him, and the puzzled owner resolved to give him away. All day long he went about the streets, but no man or woman or boy wanted so cheap a dog. Next day the tactics were changed. The animal was offered for twenty dollars. Every body was immediately interested. A j crowd was attracted, and bidders flockI ed to the sale, so that long before night the worthless cur was disposed of at full price. Such is the story. Perhaps it is not true. But true or not, it teaches the lesson that even a sorry dog will bring more when held at a high price, and too much cheapness is calculated to throw suspicion on even the best of dogs. Therefore, the whole moral is that he would be successful in the market of life must not set too low a price on himself or his goods. And even ministers may here glean a suggestive moral. No man is to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but every teacher and every Christian is to think highly of the gospel message he is to deliver, and the work for Jesus that he is commissioned to do. Like Paul, every follower of Christ should magnify his oflice. When you are examining yourself never call yourself merely a "sinner," that is very cheap abuse, and utterly useless. You may even get to like it and be proud of it. But call yourself a liar, a coward, a glutton, or an evileyed jealous wretch, if you indeed find yourself to be in any wise any of these. One hundred and ninety-five thousand lives were lost to our nation in the ' four years of civil war, while 400,000 are lost every four yeara by intemperance.? Temperance Annals, 1887. A Cure for Doubt. What Christian lias not, at some time, experienced the dreariness of doubt, the chilling sensation of uncertainty? "There are hours, and they come to us all, when the hand of mystery seems to be heavy on the soul? when some life-shock scatters existence, leaves it a blank and dreary waste henceforth forever, and there appears nothing of hope in all the expanse which stretches out, except that merciful gate of death which opens at the end?hours when the sense of misplaced or ill-requited affection, the feeling of personal worthlessness, the uncertainty and meanness of all human aims, and the doubt of all human goodness, unfix the soul from all its old moorings, and leave it drifting, drifting over the vast infinitude, with an awful sense of solitariness." One describes such an experience as being in the strangling depths, with worse than sea weed round his head ; as a horrible night, a night starless and black ; a night of storm and tempest; a winter night, cold, bleak, cheerless ; a night in the sea with its billows rolling over and its waterspouts flooding the soul, with naught around but the rush and gurgle of the merciless wave. And is there no cure for such a state of mind? no voice to calm the roar of the billows? no ray of light to penetrate and scatter the mists and fogs? no hand to touch and annihilate the horrible nightmare of the soul ? In the hour of doubt and gloom, when the night is dark and not a yard of path is known, what remains? Obedience. Let him go forward, let him be true to duty as far as known, ana ne will not long oe leu in uuuui. As the command is obeyed, as the will of God is done, as an advance is made along the path of duty, difficulties vanish, mists are scattered and avenues to light and hope are discovered. If you are entangled in the meshes of a subtle skepticism, are lost amid a night of unbelief, and are ^honestly asking, "What must I do?" the answer is, "Go forward." Do as much of the will of God as is plain to you, and "you shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God." Obey the divine command with a ready mind and cheerful heart. The difficulties that now hinder the discharge of duty, and the clouds that 1-1 XV? _ i 3 J. ! 11 Air*** aarKen me juuguaem wm uut um?ppear before the halting and doubting. Every step in the path of obedience is an advance toward the light. "If any man will do, he shall know." Why, then, are any persons in doubt? The answer is simple. Those who are in doubt are either indifferent to the knowledge professed to be desired, or are unwilling to obtain this knowledge at the cost of doing God's will. This is Christ's way of putting unbelief to rest, his infallible cure for doubt. He said, "Do rightly, and you will judge justly; obey, and you will know." The moment a man puts forth an act of loving will, wills to do God's will, that moment he scatters the forces of skepticism and disperses the clouds of doubt, as a morning sunbeam, "touching the mist upon the mountain side, makes it vanish into thin air." [A. It. Presby terian. Rained Girls.. We think it high time that this thing of recognizing a girl as ruined, because she has made a single mistake, is ended. This Christian world allows any young man a chance to redeem himself and become something even after he has committed blunder after blunder, and has deliberately sinned again and again, but a girl who has made one single mistake of the heart is ruined and literally damned forever. This is not right?not as it should be ?not as it will be when we become true followers of the great and good teacher, Jesus Christ. A girl should be given the same opportunities to outlive a sin committed by her, as her stronger brother has, and until she has these opportunities granted, she can not be recognized as the equal of her brother. Why the girl, who is the weaker of the two, should be ruined and brai.ded as such for a lifetime for having committed a single mistake; while her brother, who is strong and well able to take care of himself, should be forgiven and again taken up by society, is something we can not understand. We think if some of our preachers, teachers and parents would for the time being give the heathen in distant lands a rest, and devote some of their spare time to the thousands of alleged ruined girls in our citieii; teach these girls that there is a future worth living oVi/\Ttr thnm l-inwr tn llVft Hpht, aild give them the necessary encouragement to do something, that society would be the better for i t and ou r confidence in each other stronger than it is at present. Any man who has committed a sin and lias outlived that sin, yet is willing to brand and condemn a v/oman for having committed the same sin, is a coward and a cur of the meanest type. This is plain talk, but g03pel truth all the same. Burdens ok Crabs.?As crabs approach old age and no longer increase in size, their shells, which in youth were shed frequently to accommodate growth of body, are often retained several years, and the creatures be come liable to fall victims to the stranggestsortof parasitism. Barnacles and all sorts of marine growths collect upon the shell, and in many cases almost completely hide the crab. A remarkable example of this may be seen in the British Museum, where has been placed an old crab of the edible species, with some half dozen oysters of large size fixed to its back, which load, ever increasing, the old crab was doomed to carry to the end of its days. Another curious specimen preserved is that of a hairy crab, which, though not larger itself than a walnut, is saddled with aspouge as big as a man's fist. New Jersey 9mall boys are proverbially smart. One of the brightest in the state was playing at shoveling snow from the board walk in front of the house the other morning when a wide-awake book-agent came aiong; and saluted him with a cheery "Good morning, my little friend. Is your mother engaged ?" "No, sir," was the emphatic answer, "she isn't engaged ; she's married and I'm her boy; and she's got another besides me. No, sir, she isn't engaged." The gospel affords a cure, but supplies no anodyne. HOUSE AND FARM. The One-Horse Farmer. The one-horse farmer has a life-long ambition to gain a reputation for wearing a dirty shirt. He will alarm the neighbors by getting up two hours before day, then sit around and not go to work until after sunrise. IT r\ mm 11 u!/1 a omnnj] n uronlr 1 nr\l* I n rr axe; >yjji i lut aivuiiu ci uctn luuniu^ for a $2 hog. He will complain of hard times, then tear his pants climbing a fence , where a gate ought to he. He will pay three dollars for a new bridle, then let the calf chew it to pieces before Sunday. He will get all his neighbors to help in getting the cow out of the bog, then let her die for want of attention. , Stock, will get in and destroy his crop at a place in the fence that he has been putting off fixing for six months. . He will strain his back lifting something to show how strong he is. , He will talk all day Sunday about what he knows about farming, then ride around the neighborhood Mon- ; day hunting seed potatoes. 1 He will go in his shirt sleeves on a cold day, to show how much he can stand, then return home at night and ( occupy two-thirds of the fire-place un- i til bed time. He will ridicule the mechanism of a cotton planter and go out and mash ; his thumb trying to nail a board on the fence. He will go to town on Saturday and come back with fifty cents worth of > coffije, a paper of pins, a dollar's worth of chewing tobacco and full of whisky. , He is economical; economy is his i forts; he will save ten cents worth of , axle grease and ruin the spindle of a , $70 wagon. He won't subscribe for a newspaper, ( but will borrow his friend's and forget ] to return it. , New System of Preserving. It appears probable, says VicWs < Magazine, that the days of patent i fruit jars are ended, since the testimo- I ny is so satisfactory in favor of tying 1 cotton oatting over tne mourn or me 1 jar containing the fruit. The fruit is I cooked, or rather brought to the boil- i ing point, and then poured hot into ] the jars, which are at once covered 1 with white paper, and over that a lay- i er of cotton batting, just as it comes i off the roll, and tied down securely ' with cotton twine. The philosophy of I it is that the cotton prevents bacteria, which is the cause of all ferments. < ] To build a chimney that will draw j forever, and not fill up with soot, you ' must build it large enough?sixteen ' inches square; use good brick, aud | clay instead of lime up to the comb; plaster it inside with clay mixed with salt; for chimney tops use the very best of brick, wet them and lay them in cement mortar. The chimney 1 should not be built tight to beams or j rafters, as most chimneys settle a lit- 1 tie, and if too tight between the beams ' and rafters, there is where the crack in 1 your chimneys come and where the ] most of the fires originate, and the chimneys sometimes get red hot. A chimney built from cellar up is better 1 and less dangerous than one hung on j the wall. Don't get your stove-pipe; hole too close to the ceiling?eighteen inches from it is near enough. It is ever to be remembered that the reputation of the church is only the sum of the reputations of its individual members. A lady was once asked by a guest, "Who is the man who conducted your prayer-meeting so'well ?" She replied, "That is our carpenter, and last year he did a large amount of work for me, and he did it so faithfully that I like to hear him pray just as well as I did before." Can that be said of all work done by church mem- , bers?" It ought to be. * For these three } directions in which human energy | displays itself?business, politics, re- ( ligion?stand or fall together. { When in any writing I have occa- 1 sion to insert these passages, "God i willing," "God lending me life," etc., i I observe that I can scarce hold my J hand from encircling these words in a j parenthesis, as if they were not essen- ] tial to the sentence, but may as well 1 be left out as put in. Whereas, indeed they are not only of the commission at large, but so of the quorum, i that without them all the rest is noth- 1 ing; wherefore, hereafter I will write i these words fully and fairly without i any inclosure about them. Let critics i censure it for bad grammar, I am sure i it is good divinity.? Fuller. 1 Child training begins, and child character is formed, much earlier than < most persons suppose. A child whose 1 training is not fairly started before he i is six weeks old, is likely to be a loser t *?i -e , lor me uecause 01 una ncmcvt. xhju t the permanent trend of a child's character is likely to be given by the time , he is seven years old. Many a child is {; not counted by his parents old enough r to be fairly under training, until his j habits and his character are practically already influenced for all time. To keep the hinges in order, big or . little, and prevent the disagreeable j creaking, don't oil them. The oil is j sure to soil the hands, the garments, or the carpet, and "the remedy is worse than the disease" when a sitn- 1 pier method lies awaiting us. Rub the v hinge that creaks, or the latch that ? will not slide, with a soft lead pencil. 1 and you will find the application will WOTK HKe LUUgii;. Not alone for every idle word, but 0 for every grasping after vast fortunes e too unwieldly to be utilized, for every ? superfluous dollar, to get which the precious moments of life-and health, anil the joys and opportunities of Christian fellowship are sacrificed? for all these, as for all other "deeds a done in the body," man must give an 0 account when the books are opened at f the Great Assize! As at sunset sometimes the wind t rises, or a tempestuous night may fol- 0 low a sunshiny day, so there are men, ft affable in business and public life, who take their auger and petulance home at night and drop theru on the domes- _ tic circle. To prevent smoke from a lamp, soak Mio wink iii stroner vinegar, aud dry it , thoroughly before using. It will then ? bu rn both sweet and pleasant, and will ? give a great deal of satisfaction for the trifling work in preparing. "Did you break your father's will ?" * ""Ves." "I suppose, then, you are quite rich now ?" "No; poorer than ever before." "How in that?" "You see, I 0 broke the will, but the lawyers broke me." fl What Others Say. [Illustrated Christian Weekly.\ We hear it said frequently that what is needed to carry onward the good work of the world is more heart. The remark is true. This quality is needed in the pulpit?not less brains, but more piety. It is needed in any work of charity?not less system, but more sympathy. It is needed in the home ?not less stress and force of wise government, but more affection. We talk about mental culture, about educating the mind. Surely there is equal need of culturinpc the heart, educating the affections. Thi9 work can be done. Each one must study for himself the measure in which it needs to be done in his case. There are those who are royally gifted in mental endowments, but who are lacking on the affectional side. Such need to cultivate their hearts. Perhaps no one ha9 ever too much heart; if any one has, its faults are more easily forgiven than those that lie in an opposite direction. If one is conscious that he has too little heart, let him set himself to practical work for the good of his fellows, and he will find his affections growing apace. Practical sympathy is a great oromoter of affectionate interest. When we do anything for the benefit of another we cannot help being affectionate towards him. Let us cultivate for use in all the spheres of life, not mere weak sentiment, but genuine heart love. fIllustrated Christian Weekly.J Not by Machinery or Plans.? The great temptation of the Christian worker is to rely too much upon plans and machinery. Although he may acknowledge-in all sincerity his dependence on God for a blessing, yet in the moment of action he does often forget not only that he can do nothing of himself, but also that there is no inherent virtue in the instruments which he employs. The sword of the Lord and of Gideon was not a Damascus blade, the workmanship of cunning artificers, chosen out of all the weapons known to the conquerors of Cauaan. It was a continuous prayerful trust in the Almighty Jehovah, a belief that he would by his own might work the victory. The trumpets and the lamps within the pitchers were 3raftily chosen to excite panic in the hosts of Midian, but while filled with the Spirit of the Lord Gideon could rirtf foil tn hop ovorvfrhintr wh?f?h nrnm ised help, he would not use anything without remembering that success lay in the divine presence and power. We talk about different church orders, different plans and methods, of a hundred ingenious ways of reaching sinners and stimulating saints, and at-1 tribute our success and failure to the jmployment or neglect of this or that method. This is all wrong. It is very wrong. [United Presbyterian.I The common Christian sentiment that the theatre is a school of vice is not a mistaken one, as they who know best easily testify. Even when it does not teach what it is thus fitted for teaching, it exerts an influence that is pernicious, so that there always will be, as there always has been, a conflict between it and real piety. This is true of the theatre as it has existed ind has been managed. The ideal institution need not be considered. But it is not alone in the great cities that the vice is cultivated. Since travel bas become so easy, all kinds of tenthrate troupes are carried about the country, so that every town large enough to gather an audience is visited. ThouloriHa rtf Hnllara?mnro t.lifin in iriven to support the gospel?are carried away luring a season from many communities by theatrical companies whose inluence is wholly debasing. * (Buffalo Christian Advocate.) How Reforms Begin.?In the ivork of reform men are continually ittempting the apparently impractica3le. If it were not so, nothing would jver be gained. To wait until men say, "Now is the time, strike," would 3e to wait in vain. Great reforms do lot begin in that way. The truth has ts birth in the heart and brain of a ew who are willing to undergo the jibes and sneers and contumely of the nany for the sake of principle and filal victory. ^ m Prayer is the bow, the promise is the irrow and faith the hand which draws ;he bow and sends the arrow with the aeart's message to heaven. The bow ivitbout the arrow is of no use, and the irrow without the bow as little worth ; ind both without the strength of the land to no purpose. Every new privilege leaves a man >ither better or worse than it found lim. It is so even with religious privleges; for familiarity with sacred liings euner uiane? a ujuii uiuicictci>nt or less reverent. Restlessness and fretfulness hinder godliness. The very restless will nev;r be very godly; the very godly will lever be very restless. "Be still, and enow that I am God." The person to whom you have spokm evil is thereby removed farther berond your reach for good. The helpng hand and the blistering tongue lave no fellowship. The children of this world have heir all in hand and nothing in hope, vhile the children of God have their ill in hope and next to nothing in land. "We sDeak of self-made men. None ,re great who are not so made. No me receives enough from ancestry or nvironments to make him truly ;reat." One offer of salvation To all the world make known, 'Tin Jesus Christ, the first and last. He saves and He alone. The word of God will stand a thous,nd readings, and he who has gone ver it most frequently is the surest of inding new wonders there. It is a poor, an unworthy, life-plan hat is all on the earth, that lifts no eye r thought upward, that does not take leaven into its purpose. j He who prevents a conflagration de- ( erves more credit than those who put ut the fire after it has done a vast mount of damage. ( The fool knows nothiug of shame. , I man can hold up his head under | nv circumstances when there is noth- j ng in it. True goodness is like the glow- . porm?it shines most when no eyes s xcept those of heaven are upon it. J Plants do better when not watered j ften, but copiously. Soap-suds is a splendid fertilizer for I lowering plants. j SCHOOLS. That Boy. Through the bouse with laugh and Bhout, Knees threadbare and elbows out, Mamma hears, with anxious doubt, That boy. Vain are all the lessons taueht. In one short hour they are rorgot, Gentle manners learneth not That boy. Thus she muses while she tries To soothe the awnkentng baby's cries, While to other mischief hies That boy. With aching head bis mother mild Looks to the future of her child? Still heedless, yells In accent wild That boy. 8be hears the dread, unearthly tone, And stifles something like a groanTo some bad end will surely confle That boy. Patient mother, wait awhile; Summon back thy loving smile; Soon will graver care beguile That boy. r*ut?u we uuy witn ' cneeK 01 ian'' Wilt be the brawny, bearded man; If thou wouldst trust and honor then That boy. Trust him, now. and let thy care Hhield his soul from every snare That waits to capture, unaware, That boy. , And when, though worn and oft distressed, Thou knowest that God thy work has blessed, Then trust with him for all the rest That boy. A Mother's Promise. A little girl whose mother had always told her the truth and taught her to trust in her promises, went with her one day to a large town. The child had been used to live in the quiet country, and the noise and bustle of the city were not pleasant to her. A great crowd was gathered to see some show in the street, and Lucy preH?eu ner moiners nana, ior sne ieib afraid. "Don't be afraid, my child," said her mother. "I won't take you into any danger. Keep hold of my hand, and nothing shall hurt you.'' Lucy believed her mother and was happy. . After a while It commenced to rain. The mother looked at her delicate little girl and said, "Lucy, dear, I am afraid to take you any further, on account of the rain. I have some business in another part of the town. 1 must leave you in this store. Don't go away from it, and I will come for you as soon as I get through my er- ' rands." The child looked into her mother's face and said, "You won't forget me, I know." Then her mother kissed her, and left" her under the care of the store-keeper. At first she was amused by seeing the gay ribbons measured, and in watching the ladies who came in to do their shopping; but after a while she grew tired and wished for her mother to come. Then a little girl older than herself came in, and they began to talk together. Lucy told her she was waiting for her mother, who bad promised to come for ber when she got through her errands. "Aren't you afraid your mother may forget you?" asked the little girl. "No, I'm not afraid; I'm sure she won't do that," said Lucy. "How can you be sure? She may, you know." "She promised," was the child's reply, "and I never kuew my mother to break her promise." Another hour passed away. How long it seemed to Lucy* The customers had all gone home. The people in the store were putting away their goods. It was growing dark and the gas-lamps were lighted, but still her motner aia not come, a iaay came Into the store Lucy knew. She lived near ber father's, and offered to take her home in her carriage. "No, thank you, ma'am," said Lucy, "mother said she would come for me, and I know she will keep her promise." At length her mother came. How glad Lucy was to see her. And when they were sittting by the fire-side in the evening, her mother told her this was just the kind of trust that God wanted hifr children to exercise. He gives us promises in his Word and expects us to believe them, just as we believe the promises of our parents and dear friends. "What time we are afraid" we must trust in His promise, and then we shall fine comfort. The great promise of God in the Gospel is, "Whosoever believeth shall not perish." The way to be saved is just to trust in this promise with all our hearts. Then we need never be afraid about getting to heaven. A Dog Story. An English writer tells the following: A family let their house furnished, leaving in it a large dog. The tenant was au old lady, who liked to sit in a particularly comfortable chair in the drawing-room ; but as the dog was also fond of this chair, she frequently found him in possession. Being rather afraid of the dog, she did not care to drive him out, and therefore used to go to the window and call "Cats!" The dog would then rush to the window and bark, and the lady would take possession of the chair. One day the dog entered the room and found the old lady in possession of the chair. He ran to the window and barked excitedly. The lady got up to see what was the matter, and the .dog instantly seated himself in the chair. I ^ When you talk keep your hands still. Cultivate the habit of listening to others; it will make you an invaluable member of society, to say nothing of the advantage it will be to you when you marry. Every man likes to talk about himself. A good listener makes a delightful wife. Do not be guilty of the discourtesy of shaking hands with one person while you are looking at or talking to another. Napkins should not be used tucked in at one's neck. In eating with a spoon be careful not to put it too far into the mouth. When eating bread and butter at table, butter a small piece at a time, not the entire slice. "What's,a life insurance?" naked )iie boy of another. "Well, I s'pose," mid his companion, "it's a concern that keeDS a man poor all the time tie's alive, so that he" may die rich." The fondling of children is with ;ood reason commonly called the spoiling of them ; those that are train3d up to do nothing are likely to be jood for nothing. Young people would better consult iheir own interest, if they would less udulge their own will.