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92
smth Mim
A Child’s Wisdom.
When the cares of day are ended, | »
And I take my evening rest,
01 the windows of my dumber
This is that I Idve the beat;
This one facia* to the hilltops
And the orchards of the West
All the woodlands, dim and dusky,
All the fields of waving grain,
All the valleys sprinkled over
With the drops of sunlit tain—
I can see them through the twilight.
Bitting here beside my pane.
** I nan see the hilly places,
With the sheep-paths trod across;
Bee the fountains by the waysides,
Each one in her house of moss,
Holding up the mist above her
Like a akein of silken floss.
Garden corners bright with roses,
Garden borders set with mint,
Garden beds, wherein the maidens
Sow their seeds, as love doth hint.
To some rhyme of mystic charming
That ehali come back All in print.
Ah l with what a world of blushes
Then they read it through and through,
Weeding out the tangled sentenoe
From the oommas of the dew I
Little ladies, choose ye wisely,
Lest some day the ohoice ye rue.
I can see a troop of children—
Merry-hearted boys and girls—
Eyes of light and eyes of darkness,
Feet of Coral, legs of peat Is,
Racing toward the moruing school-house
Half a head before thetr curls.
Alice Carey _____
< Wee Maggie.
Little Maggie used to sit in the *pew next
to ours almost every Sabbath. She was
the youngest of a large family, and evident
ly the pet, but beyond this I knew nothing of
her. In a large city it is often thus; acquain
tances are not so easily formed as in a village
or in the country.
One morning last summer we were start
tied by reading in the paper that she and
another little girl had been drowned in the
great ocean !
Her afflicted says : “ May God
grant that the sudden call of my little one,
and her hopes of eternal happiness, may be
the means in the hands of God, of drawing
other little ones to trust in that Saviour in
whom I feel she trusted.” That little prayer
may be answered, we wish to make her brief
history known.
The Sabbath before her death, her teacher
said to the class : “If any of you should die,
where do you think you would go V’
Maggie, then in full health, looked earn
estly at her and replied, “ I think, Mrs.
D. 1 would go to heaved.
“ Why Maggie? is it because you are so
good you think so?”
With surprise in her face and tone she re
plied : “ Oh, no! not because lam good, but
because Jesus died for me. He bore the
punishment of my sins, and I believe if I die
he will take me to heaven.”
The family had gone to the sea-shore. A
few days after, Maggie and a little playmate
were on the beach, about to bathe. The oth
er little girl ran into a place where the water
was very deep: finding herself sinking, she
called for help. Maggie ran to her aid—the
drowning girl seized her round the neck, and
they sank together. It was many hdurs be
for their bodies were found. Hid she not
show the spirit of Christ in thus trying to save
her little friend?
But it was not only her last act that was
Christ-like. When at home she never heard
a cry of distress from a child or an animal,
without trying to give relief. Her mother
used to say to her sometimes, “ Maggie, you
ought to keep a poor-house, or a hospital, for
you want to bring home all the poor, crying
children or sick dogs or oats you see.”
Another fine trait of character was her
truthfulness. Often while she was living,
when her father and mother were alone talk
ing about the children, they would say, “Mag
gie always speaks the truth, she never tries to
deceive.”
Then too, she was generous, not only ready
toshare her toys and sweetmeats„but tog vs up
her pleasures and privileges to others. When
several new dresses were brought home for a
sister a litttle older than herself, their moth
er watched to see if Maggie appeared jealous ;
but though she loved to bs neatly dressed,
and had quite outgrown her last summer’s
elothes, she seemed pleased that her sister
was so well provided for, and said nothiug
about there being none for her.
Then her mother said : “ Now, Maggie, we
will go to wbrk to make you some’new dress
es. Jane wanted hers so much”
“ Oh, yes, mother, Jane is the oldest, she
ought to have hers first.
She was a merry nappy child, the sunbeam
of the house, loving and beloved. When her
father or brothers had been away from home
she was the first to hail their return, and af
ter an embrace would run to announce the
joyful news. Oh, how they miss her glad
welcome 1 But do you not think she has
gone home to our Father’s house on high l
has seen our Elder Brother there, and is now
watching for the coming of her loved ones
who mourn her lose; and will welcome them
when they arrive at the gates of the many
mansions Jesus is preparing for all who love
him 1
Dear children, will you not, like Maggie,
trust iu Jesus love? Will you not try to
make your home happy 1 to be generous kind
and truthful, because by so doing you can
please Jesus ? Oh, how much more sad would
her parents be, if they had no reason to think
that Maggie knew and loved the Good Shep
herd, who gathers the lambs in his bosom.—
S. S. Times. j Q T' 3C Hlfi A 3
The fiird and the Mirror.
As I was retiring from the dinner-table of
a friend in the country, one bright aunny day
last autumn, oasting my eye through the bow
window, my attention was attracted by a little
brown bird sitting on the ground near the
mirror, which the coachman had brought from
the city that morning, and left leaning against
the wing of the house. A group of friends
and children immediately gathered around to
see “ birdie,” and with one voice we said it
had reoeived an injury, and could not fly; but
the next moment we- found ourselves
mistaken, for it took wing, and was off. Very
soon however, it returned, taking its place
again before the mirror, and by its movements
we soon discovered that it was watching its
reflection in the glass—mistaking it for for an
enemy. It gazed a moment, moved its head
toward one side, then toward the other ; rais
ed its feathers, stepped back a little—-the re
flection of course, making the Same defiant
movements, —and then with all its power,
rushed . forward to strike its foe. The force
with which it struck the mirror was Such as
to send it backward; Recovering itself a lit*
tie it would resume the same position, and re
peatedly go through similar movements.—
Then it would fly away for two or three rain,
utes. -On returning If would repeat its attacks
with but-little variation, till it was again tired.
Sometimes before flying away to recruit, it
would step behind the glass as if looking for
its foe there.
The bird was left undisturbed by the fam
ily, though it was closely watched, till sunset
1 do not think itjwas absent five minutes |t
anytime ■ .'ijMg .
The next morning when the family assem
bled in the dining room the first inquiry was
Ine left
minute’s recess, till latein the afternoon, when
the mirror was taken away. vsa **jg*
THE, CHRISTIAN INDEX AND SOUTH-WESTERN BAPTIST: ATLANTA, GA„ THURSDAY, JUNE 8,1871.
Aal watched the little creature’s movements
and saw its persistent, unforgiving spirit, I
thought how much this is like the spirit and
conduct of too many human beings, both of
larger and smaller growth. How many, like
‘ ‘ birdie,” are fighting shadow or imaginary en
emies ; how many think they have defeated
their opponent, when if, like <r birdie,” they
will look behind that which caused the shadow
they will find that there was none to defeat.
A f Blindfold.
It’s very well to go blindfolded in a play-room
half an hour; but some people don’t stop at this
They blindfold themselves, and go out into
the world. They jostle and run against other
people and then say : “ Oh II didn’t see,” One
blindfolds himself, and goes into a saloon to
make money. He runs against hundreds of
families and breaks up hundreds of hemes;
but he can’t see it. Another blindfolds him
self and drinks. At first he can scarcely
guide the cup to his lips; but it soon becomes
easy. He is not catching others in this game
but gets caught himself. He was blindfold
ed alittle too long. Let us all go through the
world with eyes wide open. —National Tem
perance Almanac.
■«© JW** The Little Guide.
One day the teacher visited a large tenement
house. It was difficult to find the way through
the dark passage, up stairs, and down, and
from room to room. At length she camp to a.
room where a very old woman lived. She was
alone, and poor and miserable. But the old
woman was glad to see a stranger. Perhaps
she thought she might get some money. At
any rate, she was glad to tell over all her
troubles. The teacher soon discovered that
this poor old woman drank a good deal of rum.
This was why she was fretful and unhappy.
She did not care to go. to church. She did
not care to hear any good advice. She only
wanted pennies to get more of the dreadful
liquor which made her wicked and poor. The
teacher often finds people who are sick and
poor and is sorry for them; but she Was itforO
sorry for this poor old woman, because tin is the
worst sickness, and to be without the love of
God is the worst poverty. The teacher sat
quite silent for a few moments, not knowing
what to say.
Suddenly the door opened a little way and
a small face surrounded by brown curls look
ed in. It was a sweet fair face, but timid and
serious. The teacher held out her hand and
said, “Come in my little girl.” Then the
door opened wide and the child came in. She
passed the stranger shyly, and leaned upon
the old woman's Tap.
The little free was full of trusting love, and
the old hard face relaxed as it returned the
caress.
“Is this your little girl?” asked the teacher.
“ Yes, ma’am; it is. Bessie, my grand
daughter. She lives - With Malmf her
father and mother are dead.”
“ Poor little orphan!” said the teacher. —
And tlfe child- assured%■ a kind tone, return
ed the teacher’s smile.
“ Would you like to come to the children’s
meeting, little Bessie ?”
“Oh! yes,ma’am,very much!”
“The little children learn to sing there, and
hear many stories, and about the way to be
good and happy, and about God who is so
good and kind.
Littie Bessie put her arms about her grand
mother’s neck, and the clear young eyes look
ed into the old bleared ones. She was not used
to enjoying anything which she might not
share with her oid parent.
“ Will yon go, grandma?” she asked.
“ Lor, child ! how can I go out at nights
with my rheumatiz!”
Bessie only dropped lower on the old neck;
but the brown eyes lost none of their trusting
love. She was not much acquainted with lan
guage ; her heart could only love, and wish
grandma might be happy too.
'ihe teacher looked at them a moment, and
then bidding the old woman good-by, left her
to the mute appeal of those soft arms.
Ihe evening came around for the meeting.
The children had taken their places in order
for the opening prayer. In came little Bes
sie, holding by the hand her old grandmother.
Her curls were covered by an olu wollea hood.
Her dress was soiled, and her shoes broken
and soaked with water.
But Bessie did not think of these. She on
ly thought to get her grandmother to a good
seat where her dull ears could hear every word.
Had the child thought more of herself, she
would have been frightened at finding herself
in a strange qrowded room. But innocent love
can be brave.
W eek after week Bessie came, leading the
old woman. She never had to urge her any
more. The poor old heart was finding hope
and comfort in the simple services. Some
times she would stop after their class to bid
the teacher good-night, and, with streaming
tears and broken voice, bless her for the
words she had heard. Then she would hob
ble away, grasping the hand of the Mttih girl.
One dark, rainy night, Bessie came late to
the meeting, and alone. She sat very still
and pafe through the service, and when it was
done, stole to the teacher’s side and said tim
idly, “ Grandma is sick.” This was all she
said, and went away.
A few days after a second message came.
The old woman was dying, and wished to
see the teacher. The teacher made haste to
go; but it was too late. Cold and white up
on the pillow lay the aged faoe. But it had
seitled into sn expression of rest whioh had
not been there for years.
•‘She died very happy said a kind neigh
bor who had come in. “ She said that Jesus
Christ had forgiven her sins. She wanted to
see you, to tell you about it.”
Bessie sat by the bed-side quite still. She
had never learned to read. She could not
express her thoughts much in words ; but her
hand had led her grandmother where others
might teach her ; and so, through God’s bless
ing, had been her little guide to heaven./
The Echo.
The Blind Boy.
Harry had been a long time ill; so ill that
hie,mother feared he would die. Sometimes,
when the fever ran highest, the little boy
would not know those around him. He
would call for bis mother and hie sister An
nie, and beg them to com* and help him, to
his own sweet home and lay him cm his little
cot.
This made Harry’s mother feel very bad
ly, and many, many times she knelt beside
his bed and asked God to spare him. When
in health, Harry Ws* a bright active little
fellow, full of fun and frolio, and with a heart
running over with affection—a great oomfort
to both mother and sister.
It was pityful to see him lying so white
and skiU upon bis little bad, or tossing and
raving in the delirium of his fever, but Mrs.
Wiilkhns loved her Saviour, and trad learned
to cast all her care upon him. Hard as she
felt it would be to give her boy up, and
dreary as she felt the world would seem with-
out him, for but a few months bofore the kind
husband and father had been laid in the grave
she could say, ” Father thy will be done.”
But God beard the widow’s prayer for her
only son. The fever left him. Slowly die
color came track to his cheeks ami strength
to his limbs. One thing, however, troubled
his mother. When littte Harry began to be
better, bis eyes began to pain hup so much
that he could not boar the light, and some
times bis mother was obliged to bandage
"them.• ' < **
One day when Hairy seemed much better
he asked to be dressed. Yery tenderly his
mother lifted hjm from his low couch. * Sis
ter Aohic w&s by to bring whatever was need-
ed. When Harry was dressed in the nice
newsait he bad liked to wear, his mother car
ried him in her arms to the sitting room.
Takings seat in a low chair, she removed the
bandage from His eyes. Harry did not shrink
from the light as he had done, but lifting his
head, he asked, “Is if night now ? Why don’t
we have a light ?”
“ No, my dajrling,” his mother answered, it
is morning, and the sun is shining brightly.
Do you not see where it falls across the floor
and how beautiful everything is 1”
“No, Mamma,” Harry answered, “I do
not see at all. It is all dark to me.” Then
Mrs. Williams knew that her boy was blind .
Harry turned his face to his mother and sild,
“ Tell me, mamma what makes it so dark to
me?”
If w.as hard lor the mother to tall her
child her fears, but holding back her tears,
she told him that perhaps he would never see
again, and asked him if he could bear that, if
it should be his dear Heavenly Father’s
; will.
Harry laid his head upon his mother’s bos
om and sobbtd aloud. Mother and sister
wept too. For a long time Harry did not
speak. When he lifted his head, he said,
“Oh, mamina, it will be so hard never to see
again, never to look up to the blue sky, nev
er to see the sweet flowers and all the beauti
ful things that God made! and oh, so hard,
dear mamma, never to see your face again,
nor sister Annie’s! but God knows what is
best. I shall see in heaven, mamma.”
Harry never saw again. Everything was
done for his relief, but all to no purpose.—
The dear little fellow was blind.
But was he unhappy? No; he was the light
and comfort of the household, and his moth
er and sister loved him more tenderly than
ever. They delighted to read to him, and
when they were busy, he would sing to them
some of the songs he had learned, or repeat
beauiful hymns or passages of Scripture,
which they had taught him or he had learned
in the Sabbath-school.
But what made Harry sopatieutaud happy?
He loved God, and asked him to help him to
bear his great sorrow. He often talked of
the timid when he should go home to heaven
and live always in that beautiful world where
there is no darkness and no pain. Harry
though blind, felt that he had much to thank
God for.
How ia it with you little reader ? God
kept you well. You can run about and play.
You have a pleasant home and kind friends.
Do you thank God for all this gift to you?
Do you love him and try to servo him.— S.
L. Visitor
An Unexpected Lesson.
Mr. Ely used to tell a little story of a broth
er clergyman, Rev. Mr. Gay, of Suffield,
which story was a good illustration of Yan
kee “ cuteness.” Several similar anecdotes
have appeared in print; but this is a genuine
“ Simon Pure,” I believe.
Among Mr. Gay’s parishioners was a well
to-do farmer, named, we will say, Brown, who
was especially generous in his free-will tithes
to the good minister. This farmer’s errand and
“ chore” boy getting big enough to take his
place at the plough, anew boy was taken into
service—a rough, untrained ...little fellow, I
think from the poor-house. *T6 him the pro
moted boy discoursed quite condescendingly •
You hev got into a pretty nice place, I I ell
you, and if you behave they’ll use you well,
give you plenty of good victuals, a suit of
Sunday clothes, winter schoolin', and not work
you tew hard. But one thing—you’ll have to
go to the minister’s pretty often, and lug big
baskets of things; and the worst of it is that
you’ll never get nothing but thanks from the
parson and his folks—not so much a9 a shill
in’ lor your pains.”
Johnny heard and plundered ; and it hap
pened the very next morning he was sept to
the minister’s with a heavy quarter of veal,
about as much as he could carry. The way
was long and the weather was warm, and
when he reached the parsonage be was not in
the aweetest of tempers. He marched into
the breakfast room, without knocking or re
moving his hat; and setting down his basket
said, rather gruffly ; “ Mr. Gay, Mr. Brown
has sent you this here quarter of veal.”
“ Ah ! indeed,” said the minister, blandly,
“lam obliged to him. Are you Mr. Brown’s
M Yes[”
“Wen my lad, when you have been in his
family a while longer, your manners will
doubtless improve.”
“ Why, what’s the matter with my man
ners ?” asked the boy, with a look of stupid
astonismeut.
“ Why my son, they are a little abrupt and
discourteous. Now, your way of presenting
Mr. Brown’s present was not just what it
should have been. I think I can show you, so
that you will know just how to do next time.
I will personate you, and you may pretend
you are me, for a few minutes”
Saying this, the minister took up the bas
ket, went with it into the entry and dosed
the door. Then be knocked gently.
The boy having seated himself in the minis
ter’s chair, and put on a grave and reverent as
pect, called out, “ Come in.”
Entering quietly and deferentially, though
with difficulty preserving his gravity, holding
his hat in one hand and the basket in the oth
er, the minister approached his small proxy,
and said with a low bow; “ Mr. Brown sends
his compliments, and begs you will accept
this quarter of veal, Mr. Gay.
“ 1 am very muoh obliged to Mr. BrowD,
and to you, too my fine boy,” said Jonny,
with the air of the utmost seriousness; “ but
it seems to me it’s a big load for so small a
lad to carry. Just take it into the kitchen,
and ask Mrs. Gay to give you a quarter of a
dollar.”
Nobody ever enjoyed this story more than
Mr. Gay himself; except, perhaps, Mrs. Gay,
who promptly paid over the quarter to the
clever litte actor.
He ought to have made a great lawyer.
Perhaps he did, and ended his days on the
Bench. —Grace Greenwood.
Do not Despise Good Adyice.
There was once a little bird of the kind who
was in the habit of building their nests in high
trees, walls and other out of-the-way places,
away from birds of prey and other dangers.
One day he told his lithe wife that he should
like to build a nest in a lower place in the
company of other birds.
To this his wife answered it was not advis
able to do anything contrary to the laws of
God, and the'rature and customs of their an
cestors ; but it would be better in this oase to
stand by the old customs.
But do you not think, “aaid her husband,”
there could anything wrong in trying to
So they oame down to a thicket by the road
side, built a nest. But it was not long
before some boys came and took their young
ones away, and when the mother-turd laid
eggs, a weasel sucked them. So they left this
unsafe place by the roadside, and built their
neat near the water, where they fancied they
would be safe. But when they again bad
yound ones, the water roae and carried off
both the nest and the little birds.
Then said the bird-wife -to her husband :
“ You see that all plans which are contrary to
the laws of God, are sore to fail.”
Then he was ashamed, aud admitted the
truth of these words, and built a nest again
on a high tree.
Remember that God, who made the fishes
in the water, and the birds in the air, and the
beasts in the forests, and everything that
creepeth on the earth, every one after his own
kind, wills that they should live according to
his laws, and not violate them if they wish to
obtain his blessing. This concerns men as
well as other beings.
Why ?—Athene of his lectures, George
Francis Train shouted, “ Now then any body
can ask me questions!” And a crazy Nancy
got up and said, “ Mr.-Train, I would like to
know what makes a pot-leg always bum in
two in the middle? The great American
traveller was nonplussed. He was not familiar
with the phenomenon.
Ik Jundag jiftol
‘Tn Due Season.”
Ye who sow with anxious yearning
Till the tiny leaflets peep,
Waiting, watching, patiet.ee learning,
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap/'
Though the harvest long delaying
Cause yon, sorrowing, to weep,
Still believe this taithtul saying—
“lf ye faiat not, ye shall reap."
Ground now dead and barren seeming,
Blooming shall awake from sleep,
For the promise rises beaming—
“lf ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
Seeds of trath around you flinging,
On fair~nrieed and rugged steep.
In your eaesone truth be ringing—
!‘lf ye faint not, ye shall reap."
Fearless tread the path of duty,
Joy shall cause your hearts to leap,
When from fields of golden beauty,
“If ye faint not, ye shall reap.”
—B. S. World.
Hints to Superintendents.
To your hands are entrusted the oversight
and management of the school. Its punctual
ity, its good order, the character of its teach
ing, its general influence, and its success,
must depend greatly upon you. How shall
you do your work so that the school may be
a great success.
1. Get your own heart thoroughly interest
ed in your work for the school. It is a work
which your Lord hath put into your hands.
He says to you, “ Manage that school for
me.” Your work is an honorable one. If
you do it weH there will be a rich reward. Stir
yourself up to a hearty and constant interest
in it. Think and pray, and pray and think,
until your heart is fully in it. Nothing can
compensate for the want of this real heartiness
in the superintendent.
2. Have a plan for your own work in the
school. If you were entrusted with the care
of some large business, and hsd as many per
sons under yoar charge as you heye in the
school, you could not expect to get along well
without much, planning. Plan also for the
school, so as to make the most of each session.
Have your scripture and hymn selected, think
what you shall say and what you shall do, in
order to make the most of the time.
3. Be punctual to the very minute. A
punctual superintendent will make punctual
teachers and scholars. By want of punctuali
ty, you will spoil a whole school. When
the time to open school comes, begin. Wait
for no one, and you will soon have no one to
wait for. It is a great shame to allow a whole
school to waste any pat of the short working
hour.
4. After the opening of the school, see at
once that the whole of the school is going
properly on. If a teacher is absent from his
olass, withjjjtA substitute, provide, one. If
the librarian is missing supply his place. If
new are present, assign them promp
ly to their appropriate classes. You have no
time to sit-down to anything else, until you
have the whole macljirjeyr of the Bflhqol work
ing smoothly and successfully.
5. If teachers are frequently tardy or ab
sent, put others in their places, who will be
prompt and regular. You cannot afford to
have a whol* olass spoiled, and the work of the
school hindered, by a careless teacher. Let
it be knownljy your teachers that they must
be punctual.
0. Acquaint yourself with the way in which
the teacher does bis work. He may be reg
ular and punctual, yet have no faculty for
teaching. If he cannot learn how to teach,
then seek for one who can, and put him' in his
place. In a business establishment, it is not
enough to tave men there, and have them
punctual; they must be able to do the work
that is to be done, or you might as well have
so many wooden men. Wooden men would
be better in a school, than incompetent teach
ers ; for they would at least do no mischief.
The scholars'eome to the school to learn. You
must therefor, have teachers who can teach,
or your school is a grievous failure.
7. In general, bring to your work in the
school thejheaitiness, the punctuality, the prac
tical tact,’tho sound, common sense which you
would carry into the management of any large
business; and when you have done all this,'
wait earnestly upon the Lord for his blessing,
the school may be a great success, that
the scholar may be faithfully taught in the
truths of the Bible, qpd iqay be led to sit,
39 learners, at the sees .of the Lord jesqs.—
Nat. Baptist. -
Progress in Sabbath Schools.
Progress b life; stagnation is death. Sun
day-schools are not an exception to this rule ;
and yet every ohange is tot progress. Some
times heavy, formality is replaced with aneo
dotes, dull routine gives way to sensational
exhibition, or monotinous singing is ohanged
into lively musio, without any real progress.
Yet, without progress Sunday-schools decline
and death very soon appear. The Sunday
schools of ten or twenty years ago could not
beai; the standard now. The cause is “ march
ing on.” TANARUS& Spirit of God seems to be
“ moving on the face of the waters.” Simul
taneously over our land, and in other lands,
there arises at the present time, an earnest
call for real progress in Sunday-schools.
First, there is a demand that the institution
shall be more religious , more devotional—
brightly, cheerfully devotional. The whole
atmosphere of Sunday-school life needs reviv
ifying and elevating.
Next, the opening exercises, which are usu
ally dull, inappropriate, and uninteresting to
the children, are now required to be entirely
changed, and adapted so that every child shall
delight in the opening exercises of the Sunday
school. I will have nothing tedious for a mo
ment in the exercises, from the commence
meet to the close of the school; on the con
trary, everything should bereligiously attrac
tive, and can be made so.
Again, the superintendent should be a live,
earnest, kind, sympathizing, watchful, intelli
gent Christian man, instead of alight, trifling
or a cold, stately, important personage. A
man can never pass himself off on to children
for more than be is worth. The superinten
dent needs ordess—rsuch as is the fruit of calm
ness, good temper, and self-control. He needs
disinterestedness, that will lead him ever to re
gard the rights and to respect the feelings and
persons of all his teachers, of all his scholars
and of all their parents—rrespect them, too,
in spite of their faults. He should strictly
conform himself to all the rules of the school;
while his spirit andftemper should be only such
as will be safe to’diffuse throughout all the
school. The Sunday school will be very much
what the superintendent makes it.
Onee more, there is an earnest demand for
better teaching, better modes pf teaching, with
more teaching power, more scriptural teach
ing that is better adapted to the laws erf the
youthful mind. The Bible itself ought to be
the most interesting of all books to ohildren ;
and would be, if well presented to them and
properly taught. Teachers are enquiring,
How can Iso leach the Word of God that
children shall behold its beauty ? How can 1
substitute for barren words the precious, ani
mated truths of the Bible ? How can Iso re
veal that Bible, whose words now hang like lead
en weights upon children’s minds, that hence
forth they may understand and with joy receive
the words of life in the spirit of them, without
any sense of weariness ? Surely the stories
of Joseph of Moses, of David and Solomon,
and Daniel, of Peter, and John, of Martha
and Mary, and above all of Jesus Christ, are
unequalled in interest and adaptation to youth
ful minds. Therefore, teachers are calling
for help in the way of clearer, better princi
pies and practice of teaching; teacher’s meet
ings are being revolutionized, and teachers’
Institutes and training classes are called for,
with the best suggestions and examples of ob
ject teaching, infant-class teaching, and black
board exercises in our Sunday schools,!n order
to make Bible truth clearer, more impressive
and more lasting. This is the present demand
of all-our Sunday school conventions. The
300,000 Sunday-school teachers of our land
in this crisis appeal earnestly to the ministers
and professional teachers of our land for sym
pathy and assistance in this matter, in order
that all our children may be taught of the
Lord. For “ education is indeed the highest
and most valuable of ail the sciences, and
teaching the most important of all the arts.”
— R. O. Pardee.
Frnlts of Sunday-School Labors.
From the American Baptist Year Book we
gather the following figures :
Sundy-school scholars in 1809 337,647
“ “ “1870 473,664
Scholars baptized in 1869 5,660
“ “ “1870.. 7,816
Baptized in 1869... one in every 59.
“ “ 1870 “ “ “ 00.
But in some of the States, while the num
ber of scholars was reported, there were no
returns of baptisms. If we subtract the schol
ars in these States from the sum total of schol
ars r we obtain the following average of bap*
tisms in the other States :
Baptized in 1869 one in 52.
“ “ 1870 “ “ 50
Where the returns have been the most
complete, both of scholars and baptisms, we
find that there is a steady approximation to
one average, which we assume from the data
given to be one baptism to about thirty-three
scholars. It would probably be a larger pro
portion could we get accurate returns. In
one school, the minute books of which have
been submitted to us, we find that the baptisms
of scholars in ten years average one in every
twenty-five. This was by no means a school
whiph would be selected as a model. It was
abQUtas well conducted as theordinary schools
which we have visited. It seems fair then
to infer that about three or four in every hun
dred scholars in our schools are baptized each
year.
The fruits of our Sunday-sohool labors, as
shown by the number of baptisms, are very
encouraging, In 1870, out of 77,795 bap
tisms reported in our churches, 7,816, or
more than one-tenth, were from the Sunday
school.
But is this all which we should aim at and
hope for? There have been and doubtless
still are to be found schools in which a much
larger proportion than three or four of every
hundred scholars are baptized each year.—
Every school should desire a success as great
as the most successful, and seek out and use
faithfully the means. These means are :
1. More thorough preparation for the work
of instruction on the part of superintendents
and teachers. 2. More lively interest in the
school on the part of pastors, deacons, and
members of the churches. 3. More earnest
concern for the early conversion of the schol
ars, and iinore fervent, believing prayer for
this blessing from pastors, deacons and mem
bers of the churches, and from the superinten
ents and teachers of tlje school.
By a faithful use of these means \ye iqay
hope for more abundant fruits from our Sun.
day-school labors.— Dr. Q. W. Anderson in
Baptist Teacher,
Teacher's Resolutions.
“I am resolved what to do." —Luke xvi 4
I do solemnly resolve, that by the help of
God I will carry into praetioe the follow*
ing:
1.1 will thoroughly prepare myself for my
duties, by earnest prayer and study. 2 Tim.
ii. 15.
2. 1 will be punctual in my attendance, and
if unavoidably absent, will provide a substU
tute, or give ttife superintendent timely notice.
1. Cor. iv, 2.
3. I will be ordely myself, and will do
my best to preserve order in my ola9s. 1.
Cor. xiv. 40.
4. I will visit my scholars at least once a
month, and always in case of sickness or ab
sence. Acts xv. 36.
5. I will endeavor, to impress upon the
parents or guardians of my scholars the neces
sity of their oonversionjmd the duty of prayer
and attendance upon public worship. Isa. iii. 7.
6. I will always strive to enforce my teach
ing by example. 1. Tirr.. iv. 12.
7. I will, on every proper oocasion, speak
aijd pray with each member of my class, on
the subject of personal religion, and my great
aim and expectation shall be the immediate
conversion of my whole class, and their subse
quent Christian training. John iii. 3; 2 Cor.
vi. 2.
. I will endeavor to “present my body
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
which’’ I know to be my most * reasonable ser
vice.” 2 Peter iii. 8-14— Am. Sunday
school Union.
Singing is not a Pastime.
In an address delivered before the Brook
lyn Association of Sunday School Teachers,
Rev. Dr. Duryea made this suggestion:
Singing is not a pastime in the Sunday school.
It is not an entertainment for festival occasions.
1 am afraid we are injuring a good many of
our children in this way. Somehow or other
music has a bad effect upon the performer.
Musical people get to be curious people some
times, and one of the ourious things about
them is thejr vanity, and another is their
jealousy. heads are made easily to
swim by success. I would rather attempt to
tame the happy family of Mr. Rarnum
than todirect a church choir. Nine out of ten
of the unpleasant difficulties of a church come
from the choir, and this is the secret of it;
vanity, love of praise, and jealousy. When
our little children are put forward on these
festival occasions and are made to sing solos
and duets, they are in danger of becoming af
fected iu the same way. The remedy is to
train them to the true spirit and oocasion of
worship.
The Hope of the Charoh.
The hope of the Church is in revival ; and
the fairest hope of revivals is in the teaching
and preaching of the gospel to the young. If
I were to turn Evangelist, I would enter this
field. Let every pastor who desponds over the
effect of his ministry upon world-hardened
minds turn to the lambs of his flock. Pente
cost will begin for him there. Let our Sun
day-school teachers seek immediately and ex
plicitly, not the entertainment or instruction
of their charge, but their conversion, and the
questions of the spiritual state of the Church
the scanotity of home life, and order of the *o
ciety.and the supply of Christian ministers and
Christian missionaries, are all answered in
words of hope and promise#—A. L. Stone,
Bad Faces in Bnndaylßohool .
“ What an excellent teacher Miss Brown
ia,” said an acquaintance to me. " Yes; one
of the very best in school. She is faithful,
constant, intellegent and prayerful. “Yet,
her class are not coming to Jesus. Why is
it?” “I cannot tell, unless an old pupil of
hers gave me the clue. He said, Miss
Brown was a most excellent teacher. She
was interesting, earnest and faithful. I loved
her very much, and was sorry to leave her
class.’ * Why, were you not influenced to be
come a Christian by her?’ “I asked him.
‘ I think,’ he answered, ‘it was because she
always seemed 90 sad when she talked to us.
She wept so mueh more than she smiled that
I felt that religion, though a good and neces
sary thing to die by, was not a glad thing to
live by, and so I kept putting it off as long as
I could.”
I have thought muoh of his excuse since,
and wished, oh, so muoh, that Christian teach
ers knew the happy influence of a smiling,
sunny face, when speaking to their pupils of
Christ. I remember good old Deacon Smith
used to talk in meeting with such a long,
gloomy face, and in such a doleful, dreary
way, l could but think he had forgotten
that Jesus was his friend. Teacher, do not
be afraid to smile in Sunday school, to laugh,
indeed, if you feel happy. Some soul may
thus be led to listen to your loving words and
to long for the joy that beams from your
eyes. Forget not that these blessed words
are written, “ Rejoice evermore.”
V rsiTiNo Schools. —ls there are such schools
as Rev. Charles Reynolds describes in the
Sunday School Workman, they are in urgent
need of reconstruction : Are there not schools
which, after a few brief comments on what is
termed a lesson, resolve themselves into
social visiting parties—teachers leaving their
classes to visit other teachers—pupils of one
class visiting those of another class—officers
congregating to talk a little about the school.
Thus the school (if school it can be oalled)
becomes a hive of busy buzzing bees, gather
ing—not honey, but tid-bids of scandal, fash
ion, and gossip.
Be in Earnest. —An old lesson, never un
seasonable, and pointedly put by a writer in
the Sunday School Times : Children cannot
be deceived. They can read you through
and through. Therefore, to be successful
with them, the first essential in you as a Sab
bath school teacher, is to be in earnest —to
feel that the soals of those children are in you r
keeping; to feel, that if you are unfaithful to
your heaven-imposed charge, you will be held
acountable in the last great day. With a
heart thus burdened, your manner and your
words will be in earnest. This will give
your class faith in you, which will be one
great point gained.
Support Your Superintendent.— Stand
by your superintendent. He may not be the
best man ; he does many things wrong. But
for the sake of the school, for the sake o f the
cause of Christ, give him a support. Let him
feel that every teacher is a friend. —Edward
Eygleslon.
DRUttS, MEDICINES, Etc.
pLUMB & LEITNER,
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA ,
Wholesale Dealers in
PURE MEDICINES, CHEMICALS, DRUGS,
PAINTS, OILS, GLASS, PUTTY, BRUSHES,
WABBANTED GARDEN SEEDS, FISH HOOKS, LINES,
POLES, and a general assortment of yiSHIfyG
TACKLE, including the oelebrated Augusta Bukau
Hook,
Plumb's, Single, Double, and Bolle Augusta Cologne
Waters,
are standard articles with the ladies
PLUMB A LEITNER,
2529 Augusta Georgia.
DR. WM. li. TUTT’S
IMPROVED HAIR DTE,
This DYE is warranted superior to any eyer discov
ered for imparting a Beautiful Natural Black or Brown
Color to the Hair.
It is warranted not to injure the Hair.
BT Its effect ia instantaneous. '
ty Any one can apply it.
Ey It preserves and beautifies the Hair,
fy The Barbers universally pronounce it the best—
Because it takes less time to Dye.
jar Because it imparts a natural color.
iar Because it does not stain the skin and bed linen.
|3T Because its application is so simple.
IST McKesson a ROBBINS, Wholesale Druggists,
New York, write—
“ Send us Five Gross’ more of your Improved Hair
Dye- It meets with ready sale, and is taking the place
of all others."
The most Fashionable Barbers and Hair
Dressers in New York USE NO OTHER
HAIR DYE but TUTT’S.
| Queens deli chi]
“18-A-D BLOOD”
SCROFULA.
This is a taint or inlection of the human organism, and
probably no one is wholly freefroifc'it: It tfxbibjtaitSelF
10 various shapes—as Ulcers and Sores, Deoayed Bones,
Diseased Scalp, Sore Eyes, Weak and Diseased Joiuts,
St. Vitus’ Dance, Foul Discharges from the Nostrils,
Eruptions, Glandular Swellings, Throat Affections,
Rheumatism, Heart Affections, Nervous Disorders,
Barrenness, Disorders of the Womb, Dropsy, Syphilitic
Affections, Liver Complaint, Salt Rheum, Dyspepsia,
Neuralgia, Loss of Manhood, and Geneial Debility. It
haa been customary to treat these diseases with Mer
oury and other mineral substances, which, though
sometimes producing a oure, often prove injurious, and
entails misery in after life. The long known injurious
properties of these so-called alteratives and purifiers
has led the philaotbropioal man of science to explore
tbs arena of nature, the result of which has been the
discovery of vegetable products which possess the
power of eradicating these taints from the Blood.
DR. WM. H. TUTT’S
COMPOUND CXTRACT OP
Sarsapparilla and Queen’s Delight,
Is the acknowledged antidote to all Blood Diseases.
By its use the afflictions above enumerated can be per.
manently banished, and the Souroe—the Centre ot Life
—THE BLOOD be maintained in all its vigor and pu
rity. For Diseases produced by the use of Mercury,
and for Syphilis, with its train of evils, this Compound
is the only sure Antidote. Being free from violent
minerals, it is adapted to general use. The old and
young may use it; the most delicate female at any time
may take it• the tender infant, who mayhavi inherited
disease, will be cured.
FOR PURIFY WO THE BLOOD— Use Dr. Tut ft
Extract of Sarsapparilla and Queen's Delight —lt aots
promptly on the LIFER AND KIDNEYS, producing
a healthy aotion of the important organs by which all
the impurities of the system are carried off, and the
result is a Clear Skin, Good Appetite and Buoyant
Spirits.
Sold by Druggists everywhere 2498—1 y
THE WORLD’S WONDER!
DR. ABBBTT’S ANTI-DYSPEPTIC,
—OR—
LIVER MEDICINE.
A safe and certain cure for all kinds of Liver Com
plaints, and all disaases and indispositions that origin
ate from a diseased state or inactivity of the liver,
such as
Chronic and Acute Inflammation of the Liver, Dyspep
sia, Sick Headache , Sourness oj the Stomach,
Lowness of Spirits, CoHc, Costiveness, Fe
ver, Ague, Bilious Fever, Dropsy
and Jaundice.
This Medicine is purely Vegetable, and perfectly
harmless; but its efficacy ta too permanently estab
lished in ail the Southern and Western States to re
quire further recommendation. The wise will not fail
give it a lair trial—that is all that ia asked.
Hundreds of certificates from the best men iu the
country attest the value of our Medicine.
PRICE #I.OO.
jay Sent bv mail on receipt of price. For sale by
ail Dmwistff. CRAWFORD A WALKER,
s . Proprietors,
8492—1 y West Point, Georgia.
STOVES.
THE STEWART COOK STOVE.
WITH DUMPING GRATE.
LATEST IMPROVEMENT! BEST IN THE WORLD!!
MANUFACTURED Br
FULLER, -WARREN & GO.,
TROY. N. Y.
, Stewart Stove, which has been in nse for more
than a quarter of a century, and by its economy and
complete adapiation to the wants of the kitchen, has
maintained an acknowledged superiority over all other
stoves, is now introduced to the public with all the
modern conveniences of Front Draft. Ash Drawer
*•4 Dumping Grate. The Flute have also been
enlarged and improved, so as to ensure an ncelfent
Draft at all times, and still to retain in the Stove its
unrivalled economical features. No stove has ever yet
been made to do as much work with as little fuel as the
Stewart. The following brief summary is the result
of One Day’s Work, recently accomplished at Glo*
versville, N- Y., with one Stewurt Stove:
Baked 415 pounds of bread, half a bushel of po
tatoes, 5 apple pies. Roasted 73 pounds of beef.
Boiled 1 barrel of water; also, IT gallons heated to
150 degrees. All this with one coal fire, not a particle
of coal being put Into the stove alter the Are was start
ed in the morning. Those in wantof Cook Stoves will
secure the most economy by procuring the best. Tbe
Stewart Stoves are for saie iu nearly every town aud
citythroughout the Uuited States.
FULLER, WARREN & CO.,
Exolusive Manufacturers,
Troy, N. Y.
IRBMfcSStfti
The Warren Double Oven Cooking Range,
the most perfect operating Kange iu the market, uud
the Lawson Hot Air Furnaces, the very best lor
heating Churches, Public Buildings, and Private Resi
dences, are also manufactured and lor sale by
FULLER, WARREN A CO.
Descriptive Pamphlets furnished on application.
For sa.e in Atlanta by J. WARLICK,
2486 Peachtree Street.
BUSINESS CARDS.
A. CONST Ahr TINE’S
Persian Healing Soap.
Patented March 12, 1867.
FOR THE 10ILET, BATH AUD FURS ERF.
This Soap has no equal. It preserves the complex
ion fair, tbe skin soft, flexib e aud healthy. It removes
all dandruff, preserves the hair soft uud silky, and pre
vents it from falling off. It cures Pimples, all Diseases
of the Scalp and Skin, and is a GOOD SHAVING
SOAP. Agents wanted. Office, 48 Ann St., New York.
Ask any dealer for A. A. Constantin it's Soap,
2582—t
MENEELY’S BELLS.
-*-*-*- (Established in 1826.)
a.VBBOtub. BELLS for Churches, Academies,
Factories, etc., of which more have
been made at this establishment than
SSjgPß|||3Bh& at all the other foundries iu the
eWiCTBn country combined. All bells war
ranted. An illustrated Cotalogue
sent free upon application to
E. A. & G% R. MENEELY,
T 2496 -y* West Troy, N. Y.
TRAVELERS’ GUIDE.
WESTERN AND ATLANTIC RAILROAD CO.
E- W. Cole, Superintendent , Atlanta.
Night Passenger Train—Outward.
Leave Atlanta 6 30 P M
Arrive at Chattanooga 1.43 A.M
Day Passenger Ttain — Outward.
Leave Atlanta 8.15 A.M
Arrive at Chattanooga 4.25 P.M
Accommodation Train — Outward.
Leave Atlanta 340 P.M
Arrive at Dalton 11.58 P.M
Night Passenger Train — lnward.
Leave Chattanooga 5.10 P.M
Arrive at Atlanta 1.42 A.M
Day Passenger Train — lnward.
Leave Chattanooga ....500 A.M
Arrive at Atlanta 1.38 P.M
Accommodation Train—lnward.
Leave Dalton 3.25 A.M
Arrive at Atlanta 10.20 A.M
GEORGIA RAILROAD.
8. K. Johnson-, Superintendent, Augusta.
Day Passnger Train.
Leave Augusta 8.00 A.M
Leave Atlanta .7 10 A.M
Arrive at Augusta 5.40 P.M
Arrive at Atlanta (3.20 P.M
Nig/tf Passenger and Mail Train.
Leave Augusta 8.15 P.M
Leave Atlanta 5 30 P.M
Arrive at Augusta 3.45 A.M
Arrive at Atlanta. 0.40 A.M
Athens Branch Tbain leaves Union Point daily,
Sunday excepted, at 1-15 P.M., arriving at Athens at
4.35 P.M. Leave Athens at OJS A.M., arriving at
Union Point 12.50 P.M. On Monday and Tuesday
nights, a train leaves Union Point at 2 20 A.M , arrives
at Athens 5.15 A-M.; leaves Athens, 8 P.M., arriving
at Union Point, 11 P.lty.
Washington Branch.—Train leaves Washington
at 10 A.M., arrives at Barnett, 11.30 A.M.; leaves
Barnett 2.15 P.M., arriving at Washington at 4.10
P.M. On Monday and Tuesday nights, leaves Wash
ington at 10.20 P.M., arriving at Barnett, 12 at night.
Leaves Barnett, 1.50 A-M.., arrives at Washington,
3.30 A.M.
Macon and Augusta Rxiumad.—Train leaves
Cainak, 12.40 P.M., arriving at Milledgcville Junction
4.20 P.M; leaves Junction at 6.15 A.M, arriving at
Caroak, 9.25 A.M. Connects Augusta with South
Carolina, Charlotte, Colombia and Augusta, aud
Augusta with Savannah Railroad.
ATLANTA AND WEST-POINT RAILROAD.
L. P. Grant, Superintendent, Atlanta.
Day Passenger Train— Outward.
Leave Atlanta 7.10 A.M
Arrive at West Point 11.40 A.M
Day Paseenger Train—lt ward.
Leave West Foint ..1245 P.M
Arrive at Atlanta 5.15 P.M
Night Freight and Passenger — Outward.
Leave Atlanta 3.00 P.M
Arrive at West Point 10.45 P.M
Night Freight and Passenger—lnward.
Leave West Point 3.00 A.M
Arrive at Atlanta 10.07 A.M
MACON AND WESTERN RAILROAD.
A. J. Whitk, President, Macon.
Day Passenger Train.
Leave Atlanta 6 00 A.M
Arrive at Macon » 11 30 A.M
Leave Macon 7-20 A.M
Arrive at Atlanta - 2.23 P M
Night Express Passenger Train—Daily.
Leave Atlanta 3.28 P.M
Arrive at Macon .11.05 P.M
Leave Macoa 5.03 P.M
Arrive at Atlanta....- 10.15 P.M
AIR LINE RAILROAD
S. K. BrroßD, President.
Leave Atlanta for Norcross every Wednesday and
Friday at 5 A.M., connecting at Norcross with stages
for Gainesville. L°ave Norcross at 4 P.M. Passen
gers reach Gainesville the same day.
NASHVILLE AND CHATTANOOGA RAILROAD.
J. W. Thomas, Superintendent, Nas/iville.
Day Passenger I rain.
Leave Nashville... 9-30 A.M
Arrive at Chattanooga _. 4.30 P.M
Leave Chattanooga • 3 45 A M
Arrive at Nashville 1.30 P.M
Eight Passenger Train.
Leave Nashville 6.15 P.M
Arrive at Chattanooga 4.30 A.M
Leave Chattanooga 6-00 P.M
Arrive at Nashville 500 AM
Night trains run daily; day trains run daily, Sun
days excepted.
Both trains connect at Chattanooga for Rome, At
lanta, and all principal Southern cities.
SOUTH GEORGIA AND FLORIDA RAILROAD.
H. S. Hainks, General Superintendent.
Express Passenger Train.
Leave Savannah every day at 4.00 P.M
Arrive at Jessup (Junctiou M- A B. 11. R.)
every day at. - 6 53 P M
Arrive at Live Oak every day at 1.33 A.M
Arrive at Jacksonville every day at 8.19 AM
Arrive at Tallahassee every day at 6.22 A.M
Arrive at Quincy every day at b-27 A.M
Arrive at Bainbiidge every day at 5.15 A.M
Arrive at Albany every day at 7.15 A.M
Leave Albany every day at 7 00 P.M
Leave Bambridge every day at 7.45 P.M
Leave Quincy every day at- 6.42 P.M
Leave Tallahassee every day at 7 42 P.M
Leave Jacksonville every day at 7.47 P.M
Leave Live Oak every day at 12 45 A.M
Leave Jessup every day at 7 20 A.M
Arrive at Savannah every day at 10.20 A.M
Macon Accommodation.
Leave Savannah (Sundays excepted) at... .3 00 A.M
Leave Jessup (Sundays excepted) at.. 8.30 A.M
Arrive at Macon (Sundays excepted)at-....6 15 P.M
Leave Macon (Sundays excepted) at 9.15 ATVI .
Leave Jessup (Sundays excepiedj at 7.15 P M
Arrive at Savannah (Sundays excepted) at 10.15 P.M
No change of cars between Savannah and Albany.
Passengers for Bainbridge change cars at Thomas
vflte. , _ „
Passengers for Brunswick take 4 P.M. train from
Savannah.
Passengers from Brunswick 'connect at Jessup
with train for Savannah, arriving at 10.20 A.M.
Passengei a leaving Macon at 9.15 A.M., counect at
Jessup with train for Florida aud Western Division.
A Passe ny er (Jar will be attached to Way Freight
Train lea vi i g Savannah Tuesday and Thursday at 7
A.M., and a>ri ...» Wednesday and Thursday at 8.20
P.M. v -