THE great plan of the gospel of human salvation is progressive in its accomplishment; and the two great, leading events of it—the first and second revelations of Christ—were, according to the promises of prophecy, to be heralded in their approach by special proclamations. Before the first manifestation of Christ, John the Baptist came as the "messenger" foretold by Malachi, Chap. 3:1, and as the "voice of one crying in the wilderness," as predicted by Isaiah, Chap. 40:3.
In like manner the second coming at hand is to be proclaimed in the fulfillment of three successive and harmonious messages, foretold under the symbols of three angels flying in the midst of heaven. Rev. 14:9-12. These angels, or messengers, symbolize proclamations of truth to be made through the agency of men, the same as the "voice" of Isaiah, and the "messenger," or angel of Malachi. Those were fulfilled by the preaching of a man; these also will be accomplished by human instrumentality. They are messages of the "everlasting gospel," the preaching of which Jesus committed to chosen men, saying, "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Matt. 28:20. To the end of the world he will have men to preach his gospel. Thus it is proved conclusively that the closing messages of the gospel will be preached by men, and not by angels from Heaven; though these always have, under God, the oversight of His work on earth.
THE FIRST MESSAGE.
"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on, the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7.
This is a special message of the everlasting gospel, a proclamation of the time for the session of the judgment. As the clerks in our courts announce the opening of the session to all interested, crying, "Hear ye! hear ye!" &c., so God determined that the time when his judgment should begin should be proclaimed to the inhabitants of the earth.
The gospel was first announced to our first parents, that the seed of the woman should crush the head of the serpent. Abraham, and afterward David, were cheered with the glad tidings that of their descendants should come the Christ, the Redeemer of the world. John the Baptist was entrusted with a message of the gospel; but it was not given to him to announce the hour of judgment come; but to proclaim that in the fulfillment of God's gracious purpose the promised Redeemer and King was at hand. The apostles preached the gospel. Their message was the good news that Christ had died for our sins, according to the Scriptures, that he was buried and rose again, as also it had been promised in the Scriptures, and that remission of sins could be obtained through him and him alone. But they did not preach the hour of God's judgment come; but, in reference to this they could only say that God had "appointed a day in which" he would "judge the world in righteousness" by Jesus Christ. Acts 17:31. They placed the time of the judgment in close connection with the coming and kingdom of Christ,—"Who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom." 2 Tim. 4:1.
It was reserved for the servants of God to make the proclamation of the hour of judgment at the proper time. When the appointed time is at hand the message must be proclaimed.
Men are yet upon probation when this announcement is made; and it is not the last merciful warning to men; for the third angel's message is addressed to mankind while on probation. It calls upon all to choose between the worship of the beast, and the keeping of the commandments of God. Hence the time and work of the judgment begins before the second coming of Christ.
The books are opened and an investigation is made on which it is decided who are to have a part in the first, or "better resurrection." See Luke 20:35. Then Christ comes and that resurrection takes place. Men are first judged, and then rewarded. But the saints are to be "recompensed at the resurrection of the just." Luke 14:14. When Christ comes he brings this reward; for "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump," they are raised from the dead, changed to immortality, and thus enter upon the reward of eternal life. 1 Cor. 15:52. They must have been judged before this; hence the decision must be made who shall have part in this first resurrection and the kingdom of God before the coming of Christ and the resurrection. "The rest of the dead" do not "live again" till the "resurrection of damnation," which takes place a thousand years afterward. See Jno. 5:29. Rev. 20:4-6.
The beginning of the judgment is described in Dan. 7:9-14. "I beheld till the thrones were cast down, [or placed], and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool; his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and come forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened." Vs. 9, 10.
The scene of this judgment is in Heaven. The Ancient of Days, the Father, occupies the throne, and the Son of man comes—not to the earth, but—to the Ancient of Days, and is brought near before him. The saints in general are not there, for they have not yet been raised from the dead. Those who stand before the throne are angels, as may be seen by Rev. 5:11, where the same number "round about the throne" are said to be angels.
That this judgment scene transpires in Heaven before the advent of Christ, is further proved from the fact that the beast, the great antichristian power on earth, is not yet slain, but is afterward destroyed as the result of the decision of this judgment. Said the prophet, "I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame." Now the Apostle Paul says that this wicked power shall be destroyed by the brightness of the Lord's coming. 2 Thess. 2:8.
Again, during this session of judgment the Son of man receives his kingdom. But in the parable of the nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom, Christ represents himself as receiving the kingdom before his return to earth to reward his faithful servants and slay his enemies. Luke 19:12-27. Therefore the proof is abundant that the investigative judgment sits, and eternal decisions in regard to men are made, while men are here on earth, still in a state of probation. And the fact that this session of judgment is out of sight of men upon earth, makes it the more proper and necessary that the proclamation should here be made, "The hour of his judgment is come."
R. F. COTTRELL.
The Message in Alexandria, Egypt.
By H. P. Ribton
I FEEL I am a debtor to my dear brethren in America, not having for some time sent any accounts from this most interesting country. The Work has so crowded upon me that I have been obliged to steal hours from the night, even for the necessary correspondence with the churches in Italy, every hour in the day and evening being occupied in the labor of preparing souls for the coming kingdom. Our hall is most invaluable for the work of the Lord; all day long we hold school in it, and in the evening we have either Bible-class or preaching of the present truth.
I have now been here three months, and although Satan has used mighty efforts to overthrow us, my encouragement is great. This town is crowded with people from every nation of the three continents (even from Sweden, China, and Madagascar), and perhaps no other town offers such facilities for the wide diffusion of the message which it is our all-important duty to announce. It is time that the truth should flow forth from Egypt. From Alexandria were poured into the early Christian church the anti-biblical doctrines of the school of Plato; and now in Alexandria we have firmly established a school which teaches in five languages that immortality will be the gift of Christ at his coming, and that the wicked will perish from off the new earth.
I have sought in the beginning to consolidate our center, before laboring to increase our circle. It is necessary that our fortress should be firmly established, and provided with spiritual armor both defensive and offensive, before seeking to extend our lines. And this object is already nearly accomplished; for I have now around me several brethren well grounded in present truth, whom I have labored to instruct in the deeper subjects of the advent announcements given us by Daniel and John, and especially to show them the importance of the Sabbath as the seal of God. I have witnessed with pleasure their increasing fervor, and their desire to impart these truths to others. They have already voluntarily adopted the custom of opening and closing the Sabbath with prayer; and have begun to hold meetings from house to house in the houses of brethren who are prevented by illness or other causes from attending at the hall, thus increasing prayer and opening new centers in distant parts of the town; and having thus employed our first quarter, during which God has increased our number to double what it was when I came, we are now prepared to announce the truth in five languages to all who will come.
For this purpose I have announced a series of lectures on prophecy in English next month, and requested our sisters in Bale to print the announcements, as printing is enormously expensive here. I have already found several English friends who read our tracts with interest, and have also, through them, sent several addresses of influential people to Bro. Loughborough in England. I have found among others a Scotch lady who has for several years observed the Sabbath alone, having recognized it as God's day from reading the Bible.
I must make special mention of one brother whom the Lord has given us. He is of the house of Israel according to the flesh. His father still reads Moses in his native Hebrew, with the veil upon his heart. But God has taken the veil from before the son. I have found in him a very valuable assistant in the school, and being well acquainted with Arabic and modern Greek, he labors much at evangelization in both of those languages, as well as in Italian. He has also brought his sister and his younger brother to our school, where both have learned of Christ, the promised Messiah.
Our school is by far the most important work that we have yet undertaken. The chief schools here are that of the Roman Catholic Church, an immense establishment, where some five or six hundred children are brought up under the banner of antichrist; the Greek school, overflowing with saint worship; the schools of the German and Scotch churches, where the children are brought up in Platonism and in the veneration of the day of the sun; and the Italian public schools, where atheism is openly taught. Our brethren could not educate their children save by sending them to one of these roads to soul-ruin.
It was urgent in the extreme that we should open a school where the children of our brethren might learn the truth as it is in the Bible. But how was it to be done without teachers and without means? Well, we thought we would begin in God's name and look to him for help, and so we opened a school in our hall on the first of February, and have undertaken to do the teaching until help comes. And now we have already four or five precious little souls that give marked tokens of birth in Christ, who scarcely knew the existence of a God two months ago. They can now find chapters and verses in the Bible, and with their little lips they express their hope in the resurrection, and their esteem for God's day.
Our situation, however, is difficult in the extreme. The number of our scholars is increasing rapidly, the hall will soon be too small to contain them. I have the whole burden of the school on my shoulders; and unless I can soon employ some experienced Italian teachers, I know not how we will be able to get along. We have a very experienced master in the number of our Sabbath-keeping brethren at Naples; I hope we may be able to employ him. I ask most earnestly the prayers of our brethren, and the help of all who can help us; for I have already been obliged to refuse several children from not having the means or accommodations for taking them.
Our sister churches at Bari and Naples in Italy are holding firm in the Sabbath. Our brethren there are still firm in their zeal to announce the truth. Two or three new brethren have joined our meetings at Naples since I left.
Bro. Bertola writes that in Greece there are many who observe the Sabbath, and gives us hope that there also we may obtain fruit in the preaching of the commandments. I still keep up correspondence with Malta, where, although it is a most worldly and bigoted place, there are a few who take an interest in the Sabbath and advent questions. Our tracts have also gone to Cyprus, and I have obtained a correspondence with Melbourne in Australia. I have recommended friends there to write directly to California for tracts, as it is nearer to them.
The time has now come when we require tracts in modern Greek. We have had much discussion already upon the Sabbath with Greek friends, of whom there is a great number here, but many of them do not understand any language but their own. I find I can acquire their language easily, and hope to be able to preach in it shortly. They are a very interesting people, and there is much encouragement to work among them; for their church, unlike the Latin one, favors the reading of the Bible, and many of them are well versed in the Scriptures. Moreover, many of them recognize the Sabbath, and as for baptism, it would be impossible for them to read the New Testament in their language and sprinkle infants. It is true, they immerse them, but they are very open to conviction on the subject, and their word baptisma has already gained half the argument. I remain with Christian love, Yours sincerely in the Lord, H. P. RIBTON.
A Good Example Is the Best Sermon
A good example is the best sermon.
How to Make Life Pleasant.
It is a secret worth learning, to know how to be cheerful one's self, and how to make other people, and especially the home circle, happy. Some people seem to live in perpetual sunshine, and wherever they go, carry sunshine with them; others diffuse a kind of chilliness and gloom, and are always managing to say uncomfortable things. There are some persons who seem to treasure up things that are disagreeable on purpose. I can understand how a boy that had never been taught better, might carry torpedoes in his pocket, and delight to throw them down at the feet of passers-by and see them bound; but I cannot understand how an instructed and well-meaning person could do such a thing. And yet there are men that carry torpedoes all their life, and take pleasure in tossing them at people. "O," they say, "I have something now, and when I meet that man I will give it to him!" And they wait for the right company, and the right circumstances, and then they out with the most disagreeable things. And if they are remonstrated with, they say, "It is true," as if that was a justification of their conduct. If God should take all the things that are true of you, and make a scourge of them, and whip you with it, you would be the most miserable of men. But he does not use all the truth on you. And is there no law of kindness? Is there no desire to please and profit men? Have you a right to take any little story that you can pick up about a man, and use it in such a way as to injure him, or give him pain? And yet how many there are that seem to enjoy nothing so much as inflicting exquisite suffering upon a man in this way, when he cannot help himself! Well, you know just how the devil feels! Whenever he has done anything wicked, and has made somebody very unhappy, and laughs, he feels just as, for the time being, you feel, when you have done a cruel thing, and somebody is hurt, and it does you good.
This bears on another point—that of saying pleasing things instead of disagreeable things. There is a person that never fails to say a pleasant thing when I meet him. If, for the sake of saying a pleasant thing he ever said an untrue thing, I should be sorry; but I trust that all of us do things in one place or another that are sufficiently praiseworthy to justify their being pleasantly spoken of; and I would rather have a person take notice of my good points than my bad, and speak of them. It makes me happier, and I feel better toward him, and toward everybody else. If a man has done anything that is creditable, is it best to praise him for that, or to find fault with him for something which he has done that is not so creditable? Is it best to encourage persons by commending them for that part of their conduct which is commendable; or to discourage them by holding up to condemnation that part of their conduct which is faulty? I know there is danger of going to extremes in this direction; and yet it is right for us to maintain a thousand courtesies that tend to give pleasure, and to avoid many rudenesses that tend to give pain. Choose things that will please men. Nutgalls are not the only things in the world. There are roses and honeysuckles.
In the family, the law of pleasing ought to extend from the highest to the lowest. You are bound to please your children; and your children are bound to please each other; and you are bound to please your servants, if you expect them to please you. Some persons are pleasant in the household, and nowhere else. I have known such men. They were good fathers and kind husbands. If you had seen them in their own house, you would have thought that they were angels, almost; but if you had seen them in the street, or in the store, or anywhere else outside their house, you would have thought them almost demoniac. But the opposite is apt to be the case. When we are among our neighbors, or among strangers, we hold ourselves with self-respect, and endeavor to act with propriety; but when we get home we say to ourselves, "I have played a part long enough, and am now going to be natural." So we sit down, and are ugly, and snappish, and blunt, and disagreeable. We lay aside those thousand little courtesies that make the roughest floor smooth, that make the hardest things like velvet, and that make life pleasant. We expend all our politeness in places where it will be profitable—where it will bring silver and gold.
My friends, our kindness should begin at home. It should not stay there; but there it should begin, and there it should be nourished. And nowhere else should you be so considerate of politeness as in your own house, when there is nobody there but your wife and children; for what has a man that is worth more to him than his wife and children?
There are non-Christian families—families that do not profess to know the truth, or to follow Christ—that might well be models or examples to us in single things.—Ladies' Repository.
Dakota.
By S. B. Whitney
In company with brother John Richards, who speaks the German language, I visited the Russians, with whom I had long desired to form an acquaintance. We found a very interesting company of about thirty-five Sabbath-keepers. Their experience in the old country has been such as to make them somewhat distrustful of strangers, but by the blessing of God we were enabled to overcome their prejudices in a remarkable degree, and, as these yielded, the melting Spirit of the Lord came into our midst, inditing earnest prayer, and causing our hearts to run together, until we wept like children. Altogether, our visit to them was a success, and I am satisfied that there is an excellent field for a competent, judicious laborer, and one that should be improved.
S. B. Whitney.
Howard, Dakota, May 5.
The Home Circle.
OTHER MEN.
THE golden precepts of our God,
The thorny path our Christ has trod,
Seem meant for other men.
The pulpit in its eloquence,
Feels every word that drops from thence,
Is meant for other men.
The sins it sees, the crimes unseen,
The outcast soul, the wretched mean,
Are all of other men.
And so from pulpit down it goes,
The list of sins our paper shows
Are deeds of other men.
And all good Christians as they read,
Rest safely in their chosen creed,
And sigh for other men.
"God save these souls; but as to ours,
We do not feel the threat'ning powers
That conquer other men."
And yet, oh, reader, search your heart,
And see how little 'tis apart,
From those of other men;
How much of strength is due to chance,
The happening of a circumstance
To you and other men.
In prosperous days you fear no fall,
But fickle fortune changes all
For you and other men.
Oh, how much better would it be,
If you could only—only see
Yourself as other men. —Sel.
Some Thoughtless People.
HE is not vicious, and he has no special malice in his heart, but his thoughtlessness leads to more human misery than results from the premeditated wickedness of a deliberate transgressor. On Saturday he scattered orange peel on the stairs and lobby of our building, and continued this along down the street as he went, occasioning several strains and one severe fall as his victims incautiously trod thereon.
He belongs to a large family, all of which throw banana skins and orange peel upon the pavement, not for the express purpose of endangering the life or limbs of the wayfarers, but because they have in their hearts no thoughtful regard for human welfare.
His brother is the man who carries an umbrella over his shoulder, with the point well back, which describes an arc of three feet as he swings his body in walking. Several persons have been injured in the face, one nearly lost his eye, and a number of lesser grievances have been inflicted through his habit, although he will not stop the practice unless it is made criminal by the act of the Legislature.
His own cousins, quite a number of them are the men who cross their legs in the cars and omnibus, thus wiping their feet on the dresses and pantaloons of their fellow passengers. One of them is generally found in the cabin of the ferry-boat, either near the door or the narrow passage by the wheelhouse, where his protruded boots trip every passer who does not go by him with great care. He would not put his feet on the floor and draw them in a little while the throng goes by, to procure a life-membership in any one of the great benevolent societies he so fondly patronizes in his Sunday contributions.
His more distant relatives who stand tatling with a friend in the middle of the sidewalk, thus greatly obstructing the travel, or saunter slowly up the street with curved elbows, or whisk through a crowd with a cane under their arms, are all recognized without any further description. They are a large family, and they are nuisances in whatever community they take up their abode.—N. Y. Journal of Commerce.
A General Candle-Snuffer.
In one of Dr. Chalmers' ragged schools in Glasgow, there was a boy who could not be controlled and was a constant interruption to the school. After bearing long with him, it was resolved to expel him. The superintendent of the school, seeing elements of power in the boy, pleaded for one more trial. It was before the days of gas, and the schoolroom was lighted with common candles. They of course needed frequent snuffing, and so the superintendent appointed this uncontrollable boy general candle-snuffer. From the commencement of his work a change came over him. He entered into his work with spirit, and became one of the best boys in the school. His active energy only needed employment.
Reports from the Field.
By John G. Matteson
Christiana, Norway.
The past week has been much occupied with meetings, nine being held in five days. This is the passover (easter) week, during which work is forbidden except on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath we had, nevertheless, a larger congregation than usual.
On easter-day it is the common custom to bring an offering to the meeting. The friends brought $25 to our meeting, besides $2.66 being placed in the contribution box.
Among the Sabbath-keepers in this place we have a good representation of Swedes and Danes, as well as Norwegians. And we have already good evidences that we could find no better place in the three Scandinavian kingdoms from which to spread the truth than this city. During said meetings a number of hearers have been present from other places, among whom was a member of the legislature—our friend Jaabak—and a Baptist brother from Sweden who came on purpose to hear and understand the truth. He returns home with a number of tracts, and in union with the truth. He has preached some. Another brother from Sweden, who is preaching, writes that he is fully convinced of the truth except on the end of the wicked, and he wants books and help through correspondence. Another young brother, who has preached with good effect, has also through reading accepted the light. He is a Swede, lives now in a small city in Norway, but has expressed a desire to come here and gain some needed information, and then go into Sweden to help spread the truth.
The religious movements among the people in Sweden are such that there can be no doubt that Sweden will be the best field, at last, in Northern Europe, when proper help can be obtained.
JOHN G. MATTESON.
April 15, 1879.
East Otto, N. Y.
By John Nevins Andrews
THE State quarterly meeting of the Pennsylvania T. and M. Society held at this place May 3, 4, was well attended, being the largest meeting ever held here by our people. All the directors except one, the Conference Committee, all the preachers belonging to the Conference, and other leading brethren from the different parts of the Conference, were present, and so good a degree of interest was manifested in the important work of the meeting that it was continued until Monday evening.
The quarterly report of labor in the tract society showed a good degree of interest in this work, and very harmonious action was taken in reference to the plans for labor for the summer. Four, and perhaps five, tents will be run in this Conference this present season, and laborers and fields were assigned to each.
By unanimous vote of the brethren, it was decided that the camp-meeting should be postponed till fall. If our brethren labor during the coming season with the spirit manifested at this meeting, we shall look for great success to attend their efforts.
J. N. ANDREWS,
B. L. WHITNEY.
Willows, Cal.
By J. D. Rice
HAVE been holding meetings here since the 2d inst. The weather has been unfavorable, it being very cold, or wet and rainy, with the exception of a few evenings. I have given but thirteen discourses. The attendance has been small; the country people are all busy haying, so they come but little. There are a few in town that are interested and come quite regularly. They are meeting bitter opposition; lying reports are circulated, and various means are used to keep them away.
The tent blew down Wednesday afternoon, and it was torn considerably. The center pole was broken, also two of the side poles and four of the small guys. A whirlwind struck it in the midst of a south west wind.
May 19, 1878. J. D. RICE.
Southampton, England.
By John Norton Loughborough
SINCE my last report two more have commenced the observance of the Sabbath with us. Our Sabbath-school has increased in numbers until we have four large classes and a Bible-class. The children are especially interested in attending.
New parties are attending the discourses given in our house, and our congregations are about as large as we can accommodate. Our tent is now completed, and is really the best one for a single top I ever had. All the ropes and the lacings of the top are on the inside. On the outside, the lacing seam is covered with a strip of duck four inches in width. Between each section seam is worked in, showing on the outside, a cord of red bunting, which gives it a very neat appearance. The tent-maker requested the privilege of putting this in.
As we examined our tent, with flag, poles, stakes, all completed, with sacks, in a substantial and tasty manner, for $425, we were thankful that we decided to purchase it here.
I wrote Bro. White that I thought it would cost about $600 here to purchase a tent and seat it, and get it ready for meetings. We have succeeded in finding favors to that extent that we decided to add to our furniture a harmonium, for which we paid $40. It has an excellent tone, and is just the thing for a tent. We trust with its use to add to the interest of the meetings.
The cost of our tent, with seats, lamps, stand, carpet, harmonium, etc., will not probably exceed $575. We have received donations toward the tent of $75, and others are planning to make sacrifices for the work.
One sister writes from the north of England: "I have dedicated a plot of our garden to the Lord, for the English mission, and have planted it with snow-drops. They look very promising. You shall have what they make for your tent. I think my bed of bulbs will make $5. If it makes more you shall have it."
I mention this to show that those here who receive the truth seek to do all in their power to advance the cause. We ask the prayers of all God's people that access may be gained to hearts and minds here.
J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH.
Clyde, Ohio.
By Dudley Marvin Canright
THE State Quarterly meeting was held at Clyde, May 2-6. We had the largest turnout from all parts of the State that we have ever had except at a camp-meeting. Nearly all the leading brethren from the various parts of the State were here. The Lord has greatly blessed the cause here since last camp-meeting. Seven or eight new churches have been raised up, most of the churches have been revived, and nearly two hundred, in all, have embraced the Sabbath. Promising fields are opening in every direction.
Many interesting things occurred at the Clyde meeting which we cannot even mention. Elder S. Shreves, Methodist minister at Newark, has just embraced the truth, and resigned his charge there. He now goes out with Eld. Burrill. Five were licensed for the first time at this meeting, and Brn. Rupert, Underwood, Gates, and Guilford were ordained. Two were baptized and three admitted into the church.
Thus closed one of the sweetest meetings we ever attended in Ohio, as all the brethren testify. We thank God, and take courage.
D. M. Canright
Pacheco, Cal.
By R. A. Morton
My labor in Pacheco resulted in the reclamation of three and the conversion of seven, four adults and three youths. Others are interested. One kept last Sabbath who has not signed the covenant. I trust there is a work begun here that will result in many more taking their stand for truth. The church is much encouraged. We leave this noon to join Bro. Rice in Colusa Co.
May 18, 1879. R. A. MORTON.
Gadsden, Ala.
By John W. Walker; Joseph Hoffman
THERE are a few here who are keeping the Sabbath, and there are many others who would embrace the truth, had they an opportunity of hearing it. The people here are very poor, yet we want to give towards the cause according as the Lord prospers us. There are seven here keeping the Sabbath who wish to be baptized. We remain yours in gospel bonds.
John W. Walker,
Joseph Hoffman.
Useful Information and Unnecessary Education.
A sensible woman and mother, writing concerning the ignorance of the simplest principles of hygiene shown by a large proportion of the people, says:—
I went to see a sick child the other day, the youngest of nine children, whose mother, otherwise intelligent, showed the most astonishing ignorance about treating the commonest things. Seeing me feeling the child's pulse, she said she knew nothing about the pulse, not even where to find it. That she always left that to the doctor. She had not thought it necessary to send for one yet, though the child suffered from severe internal pains and had a high fever, and she admitted that she did not know what was the matter with him. She said she had tried everything, and the doctor could do no more. On inquiry I found that among the multitude of remedies recommended by the good neighbors, and which she zealously administered, one was egg-shell tea, and another a good rubbing down with spirits of turpentine and vinegar.
I have known a young girl who prided herself on her accomplishments, when her baby brother was crying with cold and neglect, on the floor, to say: "If it was mine I'd spank him," and no doubt she would.
A young couple I once knew with their first child, a very bright little thing just beginning to walk. I have known the father time and again, because the baby wouldn't stop crying when he told it to, to spank it till it couldn't cry. He would make it mind, and succeeded so well that when he spoke to it—even his stern look—when badly hurt, would make it stop its crying instantly, and its little dry sobs went to my heart. You will call this man cruel, but he did not mean to be. He didn't know any better; and the most of the cruelty practiced towards the helpless little ones is the result of ignorance. You may think I have cited extreme cases, but I know they can be multiplied in any neighborhood, even among those who have a good common school education.
Now, what sense for pupils to learn all about the different countries in the world, even to knowing the names and exact location of streams in remote corners of Maine or Siberia; to learn all that can be taught about the planets and fixed stars—the higher mathematics—and be in such ignorance of the commonest needs of the human body.
How many daughters are "educated" till they are totally unfit to be wives and mothers in any sense; parents too often slaving and pinching, getting up before daylight, paring apples to dry after dark, that their girls may be kept in the high school till they graduate. If they go in with a good constitution, too often they come out pale, broken down, victims of various forms of weaknesses and aches. In short, chronic invalids, all ready to marry, for of course none of them expect to be old maids.
The boys can stand it rather better. They use their muscles to a good purpose in their games in the open air. Put veils and clinging skirts on a boy, and then see how he will run and jump.
And now ye wise, good educational boards, let me beseech you as parents and philanthropists to have every teacher in your primary and high schools qualified both in precept and example to teach their pupils how to be well. If this implies for the growing ones two or three hours of study and classes, and the remainder of the day helping their parents and each other in domestic duties, and working and playing several hours, if possible, in sunlight and open air, then all the better for that sweetness of temper, purity of life, and efficiency both of body and mind, which alone will ever redeem us as a nation from the weaknesses which threaten to be our ruin.—Sel.
Good Health.
By Will M. Carlton
A DOCTOR'S STORY.
MRS. ROGERS lay in her bed,
Bandaged and blistered from foot to head,
Bandaged and blistered from head to toe,—
Mrs. Rogers was very low.
Bottle and saucer, spoon and cup,
On the table stood bravely up;
Physic of high and low degree;
Calomel, catnip, boneset tea—
Everything a body could bear,
Excepting light and water and air.
I opened the blinds; the day was bright,
And God gave Mrs. Rogers some light.
I opened the window; the day was fair,
And God gave Mrs. Rogers some air.
Bottles and blisters, powders and pills,
Catnip, boneset, syrup and squills,
Drugs and medicines, high and low,
I threw them as far as I could throw.
“What are you doing?” my patient cried;
“Frightening Death,” I coolly replied.
“You are crazy!” a visitor said;
I flung a bottle at her head.
Deacon Rogers he came to me;
“Wife is a comin' around,” said he,
“I really think she will worry through;
She scolds me just as she used to do,
All the people have poohed and slurred—
All the neighbors have had their word;
‘Twas better to perish, some of 'm say,
Than be cured in such an irregular way.”
“Your wife,” said I, “had God's good care,
And his remedies—light and water and air.
All the doctors, beyond a doubt,
Couldn't have cured Mrs. Rogers without.”
The deacon smiled and bowed his head;
“Then your bill is nothing,” he said,
“God's be the glory, as you say!
God bless you, doctor, good day! good day!”
If ever I doctor that woman again,
I'll give her medicines made by men.
—Will M. Carlton.
What People Want.
It is not always that a "little learning is a dangerous thing." It may be a very good thing, especially if it is Latinized. A case in point is given in Potter's Monthly. An invalid discharged his first physician because he was honest enough to tell him that he had a sore throat; and the second doctor, having some hints of the fact, answered the sick man, when questioned, that his case was highly abnormal, and had degenerated into synanche tonsilaris.
"Oh, doctor," cried the patient, "do say that word again."
"Why, sir, I said you were at present laboring under synanche tonsilaris."
"Why, just think, doctor, that fool told me I had nothing but a sore throat, and I told him I had no use for such a dunce. Doctor, what did you call it?"
"I told you, sir, in plain terms, that the morbid condition of your system was obvious, and that it has terminated in synanche tonsilaris."
"Oh, doctor, it must be a monstrous bad complaint. Think you can cure me, doctor?"
"Now, though your diagnosis is clear, your prognosis is doubtful; yet by prudent care and skillful treatment you may recover."
"Oh, well doctor, do stay all night, and I will give you anything you ask."
He got well of his sore throat, and paid the doctor a generous fee.
The Danger of Sedatives.
THE Popular Science Monthly gives this warning on the important matter of using sedatives for the little ones: "One of the great dangers attending the use of the various sedatives employed in the nursery, is that they tend to produce the opium habit. These quack medicines owe their soothing and quieting effects to the action of opium, and the infant is by them given a morbid appetite for narcotic stimulants. The offering for sale of such nostrums should be prohibited, as tending to the physical and moral deterioration of the race. In India, mothers give to their infants sugar-pills containing opium, and the result is a languid, sensual race of debauchees. In the United States the poisonous dose is administered under another name; but the consequences will probably be the same."
The Young Man's Course.
I SAW him first at a social party. He took but a single glass of wine, and that in compliance with the request of a fair young lady with whom he conversed.
I saw him next, when he supposed he was unseen, taking a glass to satisfy the slight desire formed by sordid indulgence. He thought there was no danger.
I saw him again with those of his own kind, meeting at night to spend a short time in convivial pleasure. He said it was only innocent pleasure.
I saw him yet once more. He was pale, cold and motionless, and was carried to his last resting place.
I thought of his future state. The Bible teaches, "Drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of Heaven."
Characteristic.
By Editor
How many persons are treated who endeavor to enforce even the liquor license laws may be inferred from the following item, which we clip from the Observer: "N. T. Manley, a farmer at Porksburg, Iowa, has been very prominent in prosecuting liquor sellers in the town. On February 18th his corn crib, containing 7,000 bushels of corn, was burned, and he received a card bearing the following words: To Mr. and Mrs. N. T. Manly; Warning! warning! This is to prevent this corn being made into whisky."