Illinois News Index

McHenry Plaindealer (McHenry, IL), 20 Feb 1878, p. 6

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* 53* >? -ir 4»OUT ten years ago, a mw&by the tame of Elkanah Flint moved with his fomilv from one of the New England to fiennepiu County, Minn., lm wfcere he took up land under the Home­ stead law. Being unable, for some reason* to '***': 4>btain a clear tide to his land, he Js**i%!oved again, and settled on the St. .Jjouis River, about thirty-five miles northwest of Duluth. It was while at Duluth that the writer Was told the fol- ;v * itewing story: Flint's family consisted, beside his jfrife and himself, of three children, names were Jason, a boy of fif- •" -tpiw.n. a daughter, Abigail, two years jrounger; and a little girl but three Sears old, whose name, I think, was "flora. : »*•. Their first clearing was made on a . ̂ fertile wooded interval, on th£ right bank of the river. About a hundred * nods back from the stream stood their •T^House, built of cottonwood logs. ' ̂ It was a wet season, and their loca­ tion proved to be a damp one. From v-'ttis cause, very likely, Mrs. Flint and > flier little girl sickened from colds, and l ifeoth died of pneumonia. The death of 4he child occurred two days after the death of the mother. 1 j yV All the care of the household thus fell Abby Flint, now in her fourteenth * ' year, and who seems to have been a •erv capable girl. Her brother Jason si was of a different stamp, and rendered bis father but little help. He was at­ tracted by nothing but hunting and scouting. Often he brought home a deer, or a quarter of moose, but it was With the greatest reluctance that he set •" fcumself to plowing or planting. To trap along the upper course of ij siihe river was far more to Jason's liking than felling trees. He was very adroit in trading with Uie Indians, parties of whom often (Game to the settler's house. So sharp, Indeed, were his bargains in furs with them, that they had, within a year, be­ stowed upon him the nickname Tarouch- m-gippoo; which I should translate lib­ erally as " Young Skinflint."" It was not very long afterward that memorable troubles with the Sioux * Ijegan, marked by those horrible mas­ sacres of the settlers in the back coun­ ties of Iowa and Minnesota. During the first days of June of the ear of our story, Mr. Flint set off in is 44 dug-out" boat for the then small illage of Duluth, to procure some farming implements. He ordered Ja- *; t *%on to remain close at home, and set trim to hoeing in a small field of pota- ^ "'/toes on a piece of ground recently '**%|jleared and burned over. ---- But Jason, whose mind was intent <ii! 4>ii Indians, believed it necessary to s&lsgnake a scouting tour across the coun- i fo«try to a neighboring settlement. This "trip occupied the first day of his fath- g*!?^pr's absence. * -?•.'*I- The next morning he set to work on 31 jthe potato-patch--all the more diligent- ftM«ly because Mr. Flint was expected liome that night--and, as was not very Uncommon with him, he coaxed his sis- "•^t||er Abby to leave her work in the house tund help him. Sprouts from the roots and stamps £ the lately-felled trees had come up lentifully among the potatoes. Abby en! ahead with a bush-hook, or bush- ill, and cut up the sprouts, while Ja- *f£on followed and hilled up the potatoes ^with a hoe. >k* But his eyes roved about a good deal *$ts he hoed, and for once, at least, ^those sharp, wandering eyes of his did frdMiini good service. Chancing to look J* forward to the end of the row, where ^*:|fche forest bordered the clearing, he saw *•* un Indian in the act of stealing for- • ward from behind the trunk of a great tnaple to a blackened pine-stub, which _ |iaa been burned out hollow by the re- " ĵjjent fires, and which stood in the out- 'M*'jBkirts of the potatoes fil ,Cu '2 Boy though he was, Jase was at no Jtog&to understand the movement of the «avfcj£e. He knew that he was only waiting there for his sister and him- *elf to approach nearer, when he would ^njawobably shoot him, and endeavor to •b&ake Ms sister prisoner. f The distance to the pine stub was ^Haeighteen or twenty rods--too far for **/#*j&eTcdski2'J3 gun to shoot with certain- . Dropping Ms eyes, Jaae hoed on with apparent carelessness. Abby had not seen the Indian, and dared not even whisper a warning to her, lest she.should take fright, and thus bring the savage at once upon • ;;«ihem. Jase's own gun, though load­ ed, was at the house, which was out of sight behind the bushes. , IVith gpreat presence of mind, Jase . said to his sister: "Don't hurry so, Abb. It's too foiwiwarm to hurry. I'm going to fetch some water." An<f setting down his hoe. he strolled leisurely across the •piece, whistling as he went, half-ex- pecting at every step to feel a bullet. . t Getting among the bushes, he ran to the house, and caught down his gun • and powder-horn, with the intention of lt. ,, making a circuit through the woods, , Juid coming round in the rear of the i: M savage, who, he thought, would be in- •i, * tent watching his sister. But the leathern poach which held . bis stock of bullets was gone from the „ 'peg- In doing her work that morning, /«» Abby l1 ad herself knocked it off, and it 4,, fallen down through an opening in ^ the floor. K >*' *','b* breathless haste, Jason searched ~1®room oveF and over, but could not and the pouch. Knowing there was not a moment to lose, he set off, with !«®tthei single charge in his gun. He had out just got out of the door when he heard Abby scream. Then *here followed a smothered sound. And *hen he heard her try to call his name. Even then the boy's presence of mind •®d not desert him. He knew that if W savage were alone, his sister's sole cpiance of life lay in the Indian's not discovering that he was pursued. He ran to the edge of the bushes that •skirted the potatoes, and looked out The redskin was dragging Abby after him by her wrists, and was just enter­ ing the woods on the farther side, going out toward the river. From this, Jase concluded that the - 'Indian had come down the stream in a -canoe, which he had probably left not £ar off If the savage should regain His canoe, Jason's only chance would be to shoot him from the bank. This he resolved to attempt. Not much more than a mile above the clearing, the river makes a great bend, and at one point is quite swift and narrow. Making a circuit through the woods, Jason ran to intercept the Indian at the bend. He was right in his conjecture, for he had but just crept through some thick alders on the bank, when he saw a ca­ noe coming swiftly up the stream. The Indian's paddle glittered in the sun as he sat in the stern, and, with quick, strong strokes, propelled the little craft against the current. He could see his sister crouching in the middle of the canoe, with her head muffled in some coarse cloth. Jase cocked his gun, and, with the greatest caution, brought the piece to bear on the savage, determined to fire the instant he came near enough. But the wary Indian either heard some sound from the shore, or suspect­ ed danger at this narrow point in the channel, for, before he had come with­ in range, Jane saw him creep forward and crouch beside his captive, in such a manner as to shield his own body with hers. Jason saw the 'savage's sharp eyes scanning the bushes, but he did not fire, lest he should shoot his sister. Though baffled by this trick, the bold boy was not disheartened. Three or four miles farther up the river was a rapid, where the channel was broken by ledges and large bowlders, against which, near the upper end of the broken water, were piled great heaps- of drift-logs and brush. Jase had trapped there and knew the place well. There were three piles of drift in the stream at that point; one near the right bank, another on a ledge a little farther out, and a few rods higher up, and a third one lodged against two enormous rocks, still nearer the opposite bank. It was between these banks and the shore that boats and canoes going up the river usually passed. For the cur­ rent was here neither so strong nor so swift, but flowed smoothly over a peb­ bly bottom. With a line, a canoe or boat could be pulled up against the current; and the water was not so deep but that a man could wade and draw a boat after him. To shoot at the savage when he drew his canoe up the rapid was Jase's next thought. After a hot run, he came ont near the rapids, and easily waded across to the first pile of drift. There were rocks on which he was able to jump to the second of the three. But it was only by wading that he was able to get to the farthest drift-pile, the point he wished to reach. Several times he was nearly swept away by stumbling over the slippery rocks upon the bottom. But he got over, and, hiding himself partly under some of the brush, and behind an old tilted-up stump, he lay in wait for the Indian. From this lurking-place he could not see down stream; but in about twenty minutes he heard the Indian wading in the rapid, splashing his way up, pull­ ing the canoe after him. A minute more, and Jase caught sight of him--bent over, as he carefully planted his moccasined feet among the* slippery stones on the bottom. He had the line over one shoulder, and the canoe, with Abby, was ten or twelve feet behind him. The girl was now sobbing bitterly, quite despairing of escape or rescue. The Indian had come within thirty or forty feet of Jase, but at that moment his quick ear caught some sound from the drift-heap. He stopped and turned sharply round. This was Jase's chance. Before the savage could stir, the young backwoods­ man nad fired at him. And it was a most fortunate shot--for Abby Flint, at least. Jase had hit the Indian in a vital part. Uttering a dreadful cry of pain, the savage let go the line, and attempt­ ed to reach the drift-heap; bit being so severely wounded, he lost his footing and rolled down the rapid. The canoe, too; caught sidewise by the current, was npset, and Abby, clutching at the gunwale, which was wound with basket-stuff, was carried with it into an eddy beneath the other bank. Hang on to it, Abb!" were the first words she heard from her brother. Jase had waded into the stream, and, crossing over, he seized hold of the canoe; but stepping into a deep hole near the eddy, both he and his sister sank completely out of sight. For a moment they were near drowning. The boy struggled out, however, and pulled his sister to the shore. Neither of them saw anything more of the Indian. Probably he was carried into the deep water below the rapid and was drowned. 1 wish I had been able to learn more of the subsequent career of Jase Flint; but 1 could only hear at Duluth that he had become a scout and Indian lighter out West. He was certainly a cool-headed, steady-handed youngster--if not a very good farmer's boy. I wish he could nave been both. But there is an old proverb that "it takes all kinds of folks to make up a world;" and also another, that 44 you cannot have every­ thing in one boy." So, while we re­ gret Jase's failings, let us praise his pluck and energy.--Youth's Companion. w- «*M .-•w HI 'W U --Wnen Mark Twain lectured re­ cently at a town in Massachusetts, it was arranged that T. B. Aldrich, the >oet, should introduce him. When Mr. Aldrich was about to step forward to perform his duty, Mark checked him. Then, advancing slowly to the edge of the platform, while the aiuazed poet resumed his chair, the humorist remarked: "Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, Mr. Aldrich, was going to tell you who I was, but I would rather not--he knows me too well.1' GOOD dairymen contend that milk is partly absorbed when kept for a long time in the udder, also asserting that cows milked thrice daily produce more milk and butter than if they were milked only twice a day. --Oliver P. Dunn, ninety-four years of age, of New Brunswick, N J., is seeking a parson to unite him in mar riage with a Mrs. Way, some twenty years his junior. " „ fJ>nr Clirlii ,: : i.: I ® b e ^ g r 4 f c l * M f l s a i d , during the last twenty or thirty years, concerning the health of American women, and the general spininess and delicacy of American ffbrls. We have never given much credit to the state­ ments in general on the subject, having found, in our own observation, an average of health comparing favorably with that of most English and French women, and with that of the more in­ telligent and cultivated German wom­ en, and holding the matter to be more the stock in trade of certain paragraph- ists than anything else. The frame of the American woman, we know, does not in her youth greatly incline to adipose, although in her ma­ turity she is likely to be round and plump enough to hinder wrinkles for some years after they are overdue, while the natural American complexion is of a peculiar soft and tender tint, that ignorant people might take for pallor. Butneither absence of adipose nor tenderly-tinted skin really consti­ tutes, or is a symptom of, ill health, and the thin and delicately-fashioned young woman will undergo a world of fatigue and strain, and will rise from her sleep the next day fresh as a lark, while the rubicund and roly-poly one will be overcome with exhaustion, and good for nothing; and while the latter may have died before fifty, the former, wiry and indomitable, a bundle of nerves, will be able to give younger people odds at eighty. But the random and long-continued statements of which we speak, whether true or false, have really done a good work, and fathers and mothers of late have paid a very different sort of atten­ tion to the health of their children from that paid a half-century since; so that children now not only inherit such good health as there was in the past, but have all that the added solicitude, the care­ ful diet, the warm clothing, the out­ door pursuits, of the present can give them. With all those having any abil­ ity to do so, a care has been taken of health of girls, especially, that can hardly be rivaled in any other land; they have been encouraged in most of the sports of their brothers, that they might live the more in the open air, fed on simpler food than once, although abundant, and allowed to take such sleep as they need, without regard to the unwise old saws about early rising, and all in such manner as to counteract any unfortunate influence that too-stim­ ulating study might exert; and the re­ sult is a tribe of rosy, rounded creat­ ures, whose sparkling eyes, shapely forms and elastic steps are full of prom­ ise for the health and strength of the future. | It is a pleasure to see these children stepping along; they are satisfactory to mind and sight; objects of beauty in their abundant health, they are objects of a yet greater beauty in view of the health they are hiving to give to the generation that is to come, doing their part in the physical, and therefore in the closely-following mental and moral; perfection of the race.--Harper's Ba­ zar. A Romantic Love Story. Mr clock on this occasion misled me, and I arrived at my hostess' at too early an hour. As I went in I met a young lady preparing to go out. We exchanged a word or two and I gave a second rapid glance to discover what it was that made me wish she would stay. There was no beauty in one sense, but piquance and grace and something else It was a face that suggested events, and I said as to my hostess. "How strange!" she answered. "I will tell you about her. You see she is young and this moment particularly sad. She has hardly a footing, she says. She is in a half dream or in a world not exactly real, as it is to the rest of us. Two or three years ago a well-known publisher in Paternoster Row, who for many years had been prosperous in business, and deserved his prosperity, failed through no fault of his own. The ruin was so complete, save that his honor remained untarn­ ished, that he has been obliged to take an humble situation^ ana the older daughters of the family to become governesses. The youngest daughter, Alice, the young lady you met in the hall, has been kept at school, that she might be educated to fill the place of a governess. Last year, when the ani­ mals which had been presented to the Prince of Wales on his Indian journey were exhibited at the Zoological Gardens, this child, with the rest of London, was anxious to see the Prince's pets. She went to the 'Zoo,'as it is called here, and while in the crowd, observed a thief pick a gentleman's pocket and get off with his stealings. As soon as she cduld, she touched the gentleman on the arm and pointed out the thief. The gentleman said, ' Let us watch and see if he relieves anyone else of a purse.' The light-fingered party pursued his craft, and they on the watch gave the alarm, and the thief was arrested. Alice started for her home. The gentleman begged that she would give him her name and address, that he might fittingly thank her, but this she declined to do. He must have followed her, for the next day he met her on the way to school, and again asked for her ad­ dress. saying that without her testi­ mony it would be impossible to convict the pickpocket, and she complied. He called at her father's house, made the acquaintance of the family, escorting Alice to the Magistrate's Court, where, on her evidence, the sharper was sent to hard labor for two years. This new- made acquaintance continued his visits, and was marked in his attentions to Alice. He gave her valuable presents, and begged that he might oe at the cnarge of her education. He took up the role of guardian in the most natural way, and became the dearest friend of the whole family. He was an invalid, and traveled more or less during the early season for his health. Not very long ago he surprised them by coming to take leave, saying that he was obliged to go to San Francisco to take possession of a valuable property that had been left him there. He wrote to Alice during the journey, and after his arrival; and then came the last letter saying that he was ill and must die; that i he hoped to make her his wife, and that, by his will, he had left her £600 a year for life. Shortly after the receipt of this, Alice received a visit from his father, who informed her that his son had died a few days after writing to each of them, and that he had exacted a pledge from him that he should see that the provisions of the will were ex­ ecuted. He himself was going to San Francisco to attend to his son's business there, and settle the estate. A few days ago, on his departure, Alice received from him a magnificent bouquet, in which was a most tender not6 and a diamond ring of the rarest value. Here the story pauses for the present. Later on I may be able to tell you whether anything further comes of it. My friend has the idea that the father, who is a widower, is as much pleased with Alice as the rest of us."--London Cor. Hertford (Conn.) , , » w A Mormon Romance* * - IN the year 1876, there lived near the Town of Richmond, Ky., a family by the name of Stevens, consisting of fa­ ther, mother, two sons and daughters. The youngest of the daughters, flattie, was a beautiful girl of some fifteen summers. Living near was a young and well-to-do farmer named Lucian Robertson, who occasionally called at the house to pass the evening, and in the course of time an intimacy sprang up between the two that ripened into love, and, unknown to her parents, they were engaged. When the family learned of the fact, Robertson was for­ bidden the house, and their meetings afterward were very seldom, yet they Were not daunted, but in their stolen interviews vowed eternal love and fidel­ ity to onp another. In the meantime her family moved with her to this State, settling in Tarrant County. Her lover soon followed, purchasing and putting into cultivation a farm on the Neuces River, in Live Oak County. Last fall, when the Mormon fever swept over some of the western coun­ ties in the State, her father and all the family, s£ve herself, were converted to the faith, and he determined to sell out and leave for Salt Lake City, which he did. The girl, who Is represented as being very intelligent, greatly deplored the religion her family had adopted, and begged her father to allow her to remain in Texas and teach school to make a living for herself. This he pos­ itively refused to do, and they left last fall for Mormondom with a party of con­ verts that left Fort Worth. She noti­ fied her lover by letter of the fact and he soon followed, opening up a store in Salt Lake City. Finding that Robert­ son had followed in their wake, the fa­ ther and his two sons began a system­ atic persecution against him, and nothing was too mean in their eyes to do against him. The girl, true to her lover, defended the slurs and slams that were hurled at him, and she, too, in tnrn, was also per­ secuted by her fanatical father and family in a most cruel manner. She was made to keep in the house days at a time, while her and her affiance's notes were intercepted. The father's objection to young Robertson was that he was a Gentile, and he swore he should never wed his daughter. Dur­ ing this time her mother died. Think­ ing the old man might possibly be soft­ ened by the death of his wife, Robert­ son once more essayed to gain his con­ sent, but was rudely and indignantly repulsed. Her brothers threatened to kill him if he was ever caught making further overtures to their sister. AJi this time the young girl was undergoing a most merciless persecution, while an attempt was being made to force her to adopt the Mormon faith. She managed to communicate with her lover, howev­ er, now and then, and finally wrote him that she could not bear the treatment and persecution to which her family and their brother Mormons subjected her, and begged him, if it were possi­ ble, to aid her in making her escape. The young man took a sensible view of the case, and reported the matter to a United States officer, who, upon the swearing out* of an affidavit, released the young girl, whom he found shut up in a dark room. The two repaired at OT*ee to a Magistrate, where they were married, and they lost no time in taking a hasty leave of the scene of their trou­ bles, and yesterday evening the happy pair passed through the city en route to their farm on the Neuces. "We learned the particulars of their rather roman­ tic life from a friend of Robertson's, who rode down from Denison with them. He is well acquainted with her two brothers, and is afraid they may yet wreak vengeance on his friend.-- Dallas (Tex.) Herald. Religions. » ,'wHnW ii«." i"iilHlii|i ii ; nun' I HI! I* 'i Pll • t m'lii r LITTLE CHRIS' LETTER TO Jti$XT8. k POSTMAN stood with puzsled brow. And in his hand tamed o'er and o'er * *,, v A letter, with addreas »o strange , . Ait he had never seen before. -t;/ t: Hie writing cramped, (he letter* •mall.r s And by a boy's rough hand engraven i i The words ran thus. To Jemas Clmst,'*' ^ And underneath inscribed, " In Heav»«»- The postman paused; full well he knevT i ' No mail on earth this note could take, F And yet 'twas writ in childish faith. |m And posted for the dear Lord's MUM. f With oaxeful hand he broke the seal, And lev'rently the letter read; Twas short, and very simple, top, Por this was all the writer said* '..y'-W. Surprises of California. THE California coast is full of mar­ vels. Every year brings something new to the surface. Things extraor­ dinary in size, character and mystery are turning up every day. When Cali­ fornia was first settled, gold was the freat thing. The soil appeared to be a eap of dust. It took a long season to find out how rich this country was in everything that pertains to agricultural life. A single night's rain will turn these dust hills into a verdant pasture. The grasses are annual. They must be re-sown every year, unless the seed hid­ den in the earth Is sufficient for a new crop. Even in the absence of rain, cat­ tle turned out on what seems to be a plain or a hillside, dry as ashes, pick up a good living on what is known as the dry crop. The valleys are hot-beds of vegetation. This is true of the San Jose valley, the Napa Valley and the Sonoma Valley. Fields are laid out by the mile. The wheat fields are small when they embrace only 100 acres They are large when they are thirty miles long. The taste here is for huge farms. The land is worked by ma­ chinery. The world don't show such inventions to aid in agriculture as are found here. It is common to see eight horses, four abreast, drawing a gang of plows. Without machinery these im­ mense fields could not be cultivated. One of the machines takes off the heads of wheat and leaves the stubble to be burned or plowed in. Before the ma­ chine has done with the crop the grain is threshed and bagged, ready for the market, before it leaves the field. The sheep and cattle are kept in immense quantities, and 1,000 head of each is a small allowance.--Cor. Boston Journal. 1 My Lord and Savior, Jesus Chnsd, -I've lately lost my father dear; / 5 Mother is very, very poor, ' Airnu ii£« m» uw i* tfw and dreary * '*"&« Yet Thou hast promised in Thy Word v That none can ever ask in vain ' Si. For what they need of earthly V-' * H only asked in Jesus' name. " ^ ' 80 1 am writing in His name, lb ask that Thou wilt kindly send 8ome money down; what Thou canst spuria, And what is right for us to Rpend. I want so much to go to school; While father lived I always wwit, Bat he had little, Lord, to leave, Aud what he left is almost spent. I dp not know how long 'twill be , Ere this can reach the golden gate; Bat I will try Mm! pniieut be, And for the answer trhidly wait." The tidings reached that far-off Jasid, AJtiwwph the letter did not goj And straight the King an angel sent . To help the little boy below. Oft to his mother he would say, >•'"' " I knew the Lord would answer make When He had read my letter through, Which I had sent for Jesus' sake." Ah! happy boy, could you but teach My heart to-trust my Father's love, And, to believe where aught's denied Tis only done my faith to prove. --Christian at Work. ' Sunday-School Lessons. . ; *IEST QUARTER. 1878. Feb. 17,--Jomh Repairing the Temple ........ v-.j. .......2Chron.24: 4-13. Feb. 24.--Uzziah s Pride Pun­ ished . .2Chron.26:16-23. Mch. 3.--Ahaz Persist nt Wick- edness..... . . . . . 2 C h r o n . 2 8 J 9 - 2 7 . Mch. 10--Hez kiah sGood Keijm.2Chron.28;, 1-11. Mch. 17.--Hezekiah and the Assyrians 2 Chron.82: 9-2L Mch. 24.--Manaaseh Brought to .Repentance. 2 Chron.83: 9-18. Mch. 31.--lieview of the Lessons for the Quarter. Tfee Bight Education of Youth. WHAT is an education to the youth without the pure teachings of religion being intermingled, as a surer and bet­ ter guide to the youthful mind in its pursuit for knowledge? What is a ship at sea without chart or compass or some one to guide its course aright? What is a household without some one to guide its multitudinous affairs in the rignt way, and keep all things in order? What is the formation of character without some guiding hand to shape its course and mold it aright? I fear were there not a sustaining hand in shaping, controlling and influencing the youthful mind, that there would be more wrecks of people about us than we now see. A mother's influence, a father's counsel, the prayers of Christian people, help to guide, and control, restrain, encourage and improve the young. Review for the moment the catalogue of names of those who started life's voyage with you, and see the result attained by those who thought themselves com- Setent to manage themselves. What o you see to flatter your conception of human greatness? Go back to their early homes and see what kind of train­ ing they had. Were they there taught obedience to their parents; and was there mingled with their teaching Biblical instruction? Were they taught to venerate the Word of God, and re­ spect its teachings, and love its truths? Is there not a spirit of worship innate in the human soul; and why should it not be properly cultivated, instead of being trampled upon and crushed out. Should religion be a one-day affair, or should it enter into our every-day affairs, and be as an aroma of sweet- scented herbs around about us, sanctifving and making better our every-day acts, and constantly purifyinar the channels of work? A beautiful character, or a beautiful life, is the ad­ miration of all. It may not show bold and striking points, but it does show consistent, salient and soul-stirring points that are worthy of emulation. It may not be the smartness that the w orld admires, but it saves its possessor from a long abode in the Penitentiary, or from a life of rcproach, and it af­ fords promise of a better home here­ after. Let religion be taught at home and in school, thaf the daily lives of youth may have its elevating and refin­ ing influence. Where can we better go to derive that comfort which we need than to the inspired teachings of the Bible? Let its sacred truths be en­ graved on the tablets of the heart as with a pen of steel, that no future events can wholly eradicate them. The pliant mind of youth takes in truths as the thirsty earth absorbs the drops of rain that fall upon its surface. What more noble conception can it have than from Nature to look to Nature's God?--what more trusty guide than the truths con­ tained in tne Bible?--what more fitting time to receive those truths than in early youth, when they can bless and render happy a life-time? Every day needs the mellowing influence of relig­ ion, that old age may seem sanctified to its possessor. Then, as they lay down tne burden and crosses of this life, they can in another world wear the crown of joy and receive the full frui­ tion of the blessed. Rejoice in the Lord. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.--Christian Union. IV Victory of Falflt* THAT is a very great Scripture, " This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith." Too fre­ quently we read it wrong. I read it thus for many years. I was wont to read it, 44 This is the victory that over­ cometh the world, even your fight." It is not fight, however, which over­ comes, but faith. It was thus I dis­ covered the real meaning of the Script­ ure: It was one wintry day. The ground was snow-covered. I was passng along the street. My child, a little girl, was coasting with her sled. Some rude boys seized her sled. She had been in tussle with them. She could do noth­ ing with the boys of herself; they were too much for her. Just then she saw me coming round the corner. Imme­ diately *he left the Jtoys, sled, every­ thing, and ran to me. " Faoa." sal she, 441 want my sled." TkSTihe wa quite sure she possessedlt, kecaus she knew that 1 was mightier tha, the boys, and could get it for her, am would. That was tne victory whic overcame the world of that ehildis trouble--even her faith. She put th whole matter in my hands, ana by he faith in. me was conqueror. Since then I have read this Scriptur as it stands. The victory that ovei cometh is that of faith. Toward th temptations, toward the trials, towa the troubles of our lives, we are - helpless in ourselves as was my littl daughter toward the boys who ha< seized her toy. Toward the temptaP tions, toward the troubles, toward th^ trials of our lives, we may be as ooni» quering as was my little daughter tor ward those boys. It is not needful tha| - we be vanquished Christians. Therf is for us infinite resource. It is faithEsv however, that unlocks it, and not fightf Carry your pain or peril to the Lord|- in the same definite acttMT way ia which my child carried her capture<§ sled to me, and the might of Christ i|™ pledged you. This is the secret of vic­ torious Christian living. It was Paul'l- * secret. 44 The life which I now live ig^ _ the flesh I live by the faith of the Softf of God."--Rev. Wayland Hoyt, in Chris*. , tian Union. Farm Life--Its Advantages and Com- forts. THIB then shall L>e the song we sin#, " Go work upon a farm. Do not wait until your hair is gray, and then go because you are compelled to go somewhere where a subsistence may be had whiph will hold body ana soul together. Begin in the commence­ ment, not at the end, of life, when youth, strength and manhood are wast­ ed away; then you are no credit to thfr profession, although the brotherhood is so kind that many are admitted at that late day. Farm life may be compared to a per­ son dressed in sober-colored garments, they may be of the richest and most substantial mateiial, and worn with ex­ quisite taste, yet a superficial observe* would fail to see any beauty car comeliness about such a dress, while ill gay attire would wake his admiration, even if it were of an undesirable quality and would not at any time bear exam* ination. Such is the town life in com- Sarison, the former being the better' ress. One must first become con­ vinced that such is the case before it will be adopted. As in religion, the beauty and utility of a Christian life must first be seen or felt before it can be embraced. Are the inducements of farm or country life so vague that they can neither be seen nor felt? Are they a substance or a shadow? Let us see. In the first place, all will admit that SQ long as we have bodies we must live < upon the earth, consequently must be clothed and fed, and where are the facilities better or surer for obtaining pure and nutritious food than upon the farm, and with the surplus an exchange can be made for comfortable clothing. If sickness or misfortune overtake tine farmer his farm is a bank which can be induced to supply his physical wants at least. Inactivity for a limited time does not hinder the hay or grain grow­ ing or prevent the beef or mutton fat­ tening, whereas in case of the lawyer, mechanic or tradesman, as soon as bjgjr stops his income ceases. •.% In regard to the favor the Tax Col­ lector shows him one may call it an evil or a good according to the misan­ thropic or philanthropic view of the case. He certainly is not compelled tie pay as much for public convenience and benefactions as his peer in the ad­ joining city. But let us hope he is lib­ eral minded enough to donate with free will to the extent of his ability. Let us consider the next advantage--his promise is fair for having a durable and comfortable home through life, and as he is generally found on the as­ cending scale, this is also much in his favor, for he has a solid foundation on which to build, the fear of falling thus being removed. Farm employment is conducive to in­ dustry, industry with frugality leads to wealth, and wealth ought to be a source of comfort and good to the pos­ sessor, and through him to the world. If it has not this effect, then it is only a stumbling wherever it. may be ' found. Experience, too, teaches the farmer noble lessons, bearing wisdom with its fruit; wisdom should bring contentment, and does not contentment bring happiness, the good of life? There is a quietness about the couilr try life that brings out the calmest anfi best part of our being, while in town life the friction produced by constant rubbing against so many natures emits sparks which oftentimes result in fire® neither pleasing nor profitable. Some verses taken from Frazer's Magazint, entitled 44 The Honest Farmer," I would be glad to copy here, but wijfl only take tne privilege of quoting a few lines: " Happy I count the fanner's life, . Its various round of wholesome toil; Thice happy, sorely! in his breast Plain wisdom and the trust in God; His path more straight from east to west Than politician ever trod. His gains no loss toother men; x i;. ilia stalwart blows inflict no wound. What better picture can be drawn of conscientiousness in any profession? As the conclusion of inward reasoning, providing I have failed to present it be­ fore others in a convincing form, it seems strange that some person with the power of one who said, 44 Young man, go West." does not now rise ana say to the young men and maidens who encumber the villages and cities, '"Go work upon a farm." If it could be sail in thunder-tones, and reverberate the length of time the famous expression above quoted has, who dare say it woul£ not accomplish much good. There art many who have the qualifications neces­ sary for a good farmer, but are blind te their own interest; in truth, they ar§ too much attached to the dry-goodi boxes of their native town. I do not believe in fixing upon a farm any per­ son who has a special taste or genius for some other profession; neither any who are particularly qualified to fill the many important positions which musfc. be occupied. As it takes 4'all kinds of people to make a world," so this varied multitude call for a diversity of em­ ployments.--Ckw. Detroit Jbst and Trib­ une.

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