Farmer Dawson kept missing his corn. Every few nights it was taken from his crib, although the door was well secured with lock and key.
"It's that lazy Tom Slocum," he exclaimed one morning, after missing more than usual. "I've suspected him all the time, and I wont bear it any longer."
"What makes you think it's Tom?" asked his wife, pouring out the fragrant coffee.
"Because he's the only man around who hasn't any corn—nor anything else, for that matter. He spent the summer at the saloons while his neighbors were at work. Now they have plenty, and he has nothing—serves him just right, too!"
"But his family are suffering," rejoined his wife; "they are sick, and in need of food and medicine; should we not help them?"
"No;" growled the farmer; "if he finds his neighbors are going to take care of his family, it will encourage him to spend the next season as he did the last. Better send him to jail and his family to the poor-house, and I'm going to do it, too. I've laid a plan to trap him this very night."
"Now while Tom is reaping the bitter fruits of his folly, is it not the very time to help him to a better life?" suggested the wife.
"A little course of law would be the most effective," replied the farmer.
"In this case coals of fire would be better. Try the coals first, William, try the coals first."
Farmer Dawson made no reply, but finished his breakfast, and walked out of the house with the decided step of one who has made up his mind, and something is going to be done.
His wife sighed as she went about her work, thinking of the weary, heart-broken mother, with her sick and hungry babes around her.
The farmer proceeded to examine his cribs, and after a thorough search found a hole large enough to admit a man's hand.
"There's the leak," he exclaimed; "I'll fix that," and he went to work setting a trap inside.
Next morning he arose earlier than usual, and went out to the cribs. His trap had caught a man—Tom Slocum, the very one he had suspected!
He seemed to take no notice of the thief, but turned aside into the barn, and began heaping the mangers with hay, sweet-scented from the summer's harvest field. Then he opened the crib door, and took out the golden ears, the fruit of his honest toil.
All the time he was thinking what to do. Should he try the law or the coals? The law was what the man deserved, but his wife's words kept ringing through his mind. He emptied the corn in the feeding troughs, then went around where the man stood with one hand in the trap.
"Hello! neighbor, what are you doing here," he asked.
Poor Tom answered nothing, but his downcast, guilty face confessed more than words cou'd have done.
Farmer Dawson released the imprisoned hand, and, taking Tom's sack, ordered him to hold it while he filled it with the coveted grain.
"Here, Tom, take that," said the farmer, "and after this when you want corn, come to me and I'll let you have it on trust or for work. I need another hand on the farm, and will give steady work with good wages."
"Oh, sir," replied Tom, quite overcome, "I've been wanting work, but no one would hire me. My family was suffering, and I was ashamed to beg. But I'll work for this and every ear that I've taken, if you'll give me the chance."
"Very well, Tom," said the farmer, "take the corn to the mill, and make things comfortable about home to-day, and to-morrow we'll begin. But there's one thing we must agree to first."
Tom lifted an inquiring gaze.
"You must let whisky alone," continued the farmer; "you must promise not to touch a drop."
The tears sprang into Tom's eyes, and his voice trembled with emotion as he said:—
"You are the first man that's ever asked me that. There's always enough to say, 'Come, Tom, take a drink,' and I've drank until I thought there was no use in trying to be a better man. But since you care enough to ask me to stop drinking, I'm bound to make the trial; that I will, sir."
Farmer Dawson took Tom to the house, and gave him his breakfast, while his wife put up a basket of food for the suffering family in the poor man's home.
Tom went to work the next day and the next. In time he came to be an efficient hand on the Dawson place. He stopped drinking and stealing, attended church and Sabbath-school with his family, and became a respectable member of society.
"How changed Tom is from what he once was!" remarked the farmer's wife one day.
"Yes," replied her husband, "'t was the coals of fire that did it."—Mrs. H. E. Blakeslee, in Royal Road.
Her Way.
“I don’t see, for my part, why the Lord allows such people to have the handling of so much,” said Mrs. Trewin, with a snap of her black eyes across the breakfast table! “it’s a great trial to my feelings.”
“What?” asked the doctor rather absently.
“Dr. Trewin,” vociferated the lady, “you don’t mean to tell me that you haven’t heard a word of all I’ve been saying?”
A little anxious smile flitted across the doctor’s countenance.
“I think, my love,” said he, “you were speaking of Miss Deborah Bither.”
“I should say I was,” responded his wife with a spice of grim pleasantry in her tones.
“I told you that when I called on her yesterday with a subscription paper for the Hewetts, who, if you will remember, were burned out last month, and are in very straitened circumstances, she refused to put her name down for a cent. She’s money enough to buy out the whole of us, Deborah Bither has, and no chick or child to take it when she’s gone. And I think it would stand her in hand to make righteous disposal of some of it while she can; shouldn’t you?”
Dr. Trewin maintained a discreet silence. He swallowed his coffee and left the table; and presently his wife viewed his departing figure through the elms, as he took his way toward the village office.
“He’s the strangest man,” said she, when she had brought her work-basket to the breezy keeping-room window; “a body never can tell what he does or what he doesn’t think. But I’m sure he can’t but see that Deborah Bither is the closest fisted old maid that ever lived.”
Her gaze wandered out through the window, and up to the great red-brick house on the hill. There were broad acres on all sides of it; uplands and orchards, just now giving promise of an abundant harvest. It was the finest estate in the county, and Miss Deborah Bither was mistress of it all.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof,” murmured Mrs. Trewin, breaking her thread with a jerk. “Deborah Bither ought to remember that. It goes against my grain to see anybody so stingy.”
She sewed steadily for an hour, and then, folding away her work, she put on her bonnet and shawl.
“I’ll go down and see how Mrs. Hewett is getting on,” said she. “She needs sympathy and help, if ever anybody did.”
She walked rapidly down the street until she reached the little low house into which the Hewetts had moved with the remnant of their household goods that they had saved from the flames. Through an open window sounded the busy hum of a sewing machine, which ceased as she entered the door, and Mrs. Hewett came forward to greet her.
“And how are you getting along?” asked Mrs. Trewin, settling her portly form in a rocking-chair.
“Oh, nicely now, thank you,” was the quick response.
“I was out with a subscription paper for you, yesterday,” continued Mrs. Trewin. “Has Deacon Gregory brought it in yet?”
“No-o,” hesitated Mrs. Hewett. A look in which perplexity and pain were mingled crossed her face. “I am sorry to have given you so much trouble; I think we shall be able to get along now. Oh, Mrs. Trewin,” her voice trembled beneath a weight of tears, “don’t think me ungrateful, but indeed, I—I cannot bear to be a beggar.”
“Tut, tut!” exclaimed the doctor’s wife. “To my mind, it should be a duty and a privilege to help a neighbor who has been unfortunate; and everybody seemed to feel it so, except—” she stopped with a shrug, and a grim closing of her lips, thinking of the red-brick house on the hill, and of its owner.
“I am sure we shall get along now,” reiterated Mrs. Hewett, hopefully, apparently without noticing the break in her visitor’s remark.
“I wish you may, truly,” answered Mrs. Trewin. She looked an interrogation point at the bright, new sewing machine by the window, with the heap of unmade clothing near it. Mrs. Hewett saw the glance, and answered it with tears gathering in her eyes.
“Oh, yes! I’ve all the work I can do now; and the machine is a perfect godsend. I’m to pay for it when I can.”
“Why—what—where did you get it?” asked Mrs. Trewin.
“Let me tell you,” the little woman smilingly said. “Yesterday, only yesterday, it seemed to me that I must give up. I rebelled, oh, so fiercely, against the harshness with which I thought God had treated me and mine. At this dark hour who should come in but Miss Bither. She had just heard of our—necessities. She stayed an hour or more, and you can’t think how she cheered me up. It was she who sent the machine, Mrs. Trewin; and besides giving me all her own sewing to do, she will get shop work for me from town. She has given John work on her farm for the summer; and we’re all so happy, and relieved, and everything! And you won’t think us ungrateful if we do not accept the—the subscription, if we can get along without it?” Here Mrs. Hewett broke down entirely, her blue eyes swimming in tears.
Then the better quality of Mrs. Trewin’s heart came uppermost. She drew the little woman’s head down upon her breast and soothed her as a mother might a child.
“I’ve got back all my faith in God—and man,” said Mrs. Hewett, smiling through her tears, “and I never mean to let go my hold on it again.”
“Amen!” ejaculated Mrs. Trewin.
At the dinner table she related to the doctor the sum and substance of Mrs. Hewett’s recital.
“I am sorry I misjudged Deborah, and I intend to tell her so,” said she. “But she might have said she meant to help them. And why can’t she do things like other people?”
Dr. Trewin pared a potato in silence.
“I suppose it’s her way,” continued his wife musingly.
“It’s a very good way,” said the doctor.—Ada Carleton, in Sunday-school Times.
The Home Circle.
By Charles H. Crandall
A PARABLE.
A sturdy stream flowed fast along,
'Twas merry as a mower's song;
Its look was glad, its waves were bright
And broke in drops of purest light.
Over its surface, all the way,
The blossoms bent in sweet array;
It gave them kisses, cool and fleet,
Which left them still more pure and sweet.
This traveler was so kind and true
That it would any service do;
Though it enlisted every brook,
It always gave more than it took;
Thus lived a life of gracious giving
And grew each day to greater living.
A pool of water, stagnant, still,
Lay listlessly beneath a hill.
It served no purpose save to nurse
Vile weeds, which made its visage worse;
For foulness was upon its face
And beauty shrank from all the place.
On Nature's fairness 'twas a blot,
A most unwholesome, evil spot;
And all because it idle lay,
Contented in itself all day.
Supplied by a few little rills,
It locked them up among the hills,
And, always asking, never giving,
It daily died and thought it living.
Thus generous souls live like the first,
But selfish ones die self-accursed.
—Charles H. Crandall.
The Worst Time Is Sometime
"SOMETIME" is the worst time to have for any duty. The clock strikes "twelve" every day, but it never strikes "sometime."
Almost Right Is Always Wrong
"ALMOST right" is always wrong.
News and Notes.
By Editor
—The reduction in the public debt during the month of October was $15,650,000.
—An earthquake in Syria, Nov. 5, destroyed several villages. No loss of life is reported.
—The Chief of the Secret Service says that $10.00 counterfeit notes are circulating in New York.
—There is great destitution in the county of Clare, Ireland, owing to the failure of the potato crop.
—There is great fear among the respectable classes of Italy that serious outbreaks similar to those in France, are impending.
—Destructive gales and inundations continue throughout England. In Radnershire, the grain-crops have suffered complete destruction.
—The floods in southern France have caused great damage to property in the vicinity of Mentone. The estimated loss aggregates 3,000,000 francs.
—An official dispatch from Manila states that twenty merchant ships were lost, and over 100 sailors drowned, during the terrible typhoon which occurred October 20.
—All the saloon licenses in Iowa City expired the last day of October. Most of the saloon-keepers tendered the amount of their licenses for the next six months, to the Mayor, but he would not receive them.
—The total British force now remaining in Egypt will number 11,000. Cairo will be occupied by two and one-half battalions of infantry, and a battery of artillery. A company of engineers will occupy Alexandria.
—The German Government has ordered the police of the various cities where Socialists chiefly congregate, to watch them with extra diligence. It is thought that they have formed some sort of alliance with the French Anarchists.
—The young Utes of Colorado threaten to go on the war-path, and scalp every male settler living on the Dolores River. The settlers are greatly alarmed, and say that unless the Government takes the matter in hand, bloodshed will surely ensue.
—Accounts from St. Petersburg mention a strong revival of the Nihilist agitation. Since the Czar's return from Moscow, fresh precautions are taken for his safety. No one is allowed to know twenty-four hours in advance what his movements will be.
—A student at Bowdoin has received $2,700 as damages for injuries inflicted by hazing. This sum comes from seven guilty collegians. When it is understood that ruffianism at college will be punished the same as elsewhere, we may expect it to be less frequent.
—On Tuesday of last week, the wife of Dr. Seguin of New York, in a fit of insanity, killed herself after first killing her three children. The children were all blindfolded, and it is thought that the deed was done while they were having a game of blind-man's-buff with their mother. The case is the more striking because Dr. Seguin is one of the most noted of specialists on diseases of the brain.
—Judge Advocate-General Swaim, in reply to an inquiry of the Secretary of War, takes the ground that officers of the army who refuse to pay their debts, are liable to the processes of common law the same as civilians, and that where their acts tend to bring discredit upon the army, or in any way impair the efficiency or discipline of the service, they constitute sufficient cause for a court-martial.
—Just at present, Russia seems to be the cause of much anxiety in Europe. The armament against Germany and Austria is being carried on with great activity. An order has been issued by the Russian Government entirely prohibiting the exportation of horses from Russia. This is regarded as being a mark of hostility to Germany, as the cavalry of that empire is mounted almost exclusively on Russian horses. The Persian authorities are also alarmed, because Russia has moved her military stations almost to the Persian frontier.
—About a week ago, Temescal, a suburb of Oakland, was the scene of a regular Arizona cow-boy fight. A party of roughs connected with a canning factory, have organized themselves under the name of the "Hoo Gang," and on the night in question started out with the intention of "cleaning out the town." Saloons were entered and despoiled of their contents for the benefit of the crowd. Thus stimulated they tore down fences, smashed in doors, ruined furniture, and shot at or knocked down any one who ventured to oppose them. The police were in judicious retirement, but the Sheriff has since captured a part of the gang.
—Instead of Germany occupying the Baltic provinces as was predicted some time ago, it now looks as though Russia were preparing to make war on both Germany and Austria. The internal disturbances of Russia render the aggressive policy very possible to be adopted, and should war be declared between that country and Germany, it would necessarily result in a terrible bloody campaign; principally fought out in the north. Russia, proper, would like a war to-day, if only to divert the attention of the Nihilists from their amiable scheme of blowing up the Czar; and Germany is not very contented with its hordes of Socialists. It is, therefore, very possible that St. Petersburg and Berlin may find grounds on which they can agree to differ, and sound the tocsin of war at no very distant date.—Alta.
Religious Notes.
By Editor
—Since 1845 the membership of the Catholic Church in New York has increased 900 per cent., while all the Protestant Churches have increased only 76 per cent. It is estimated that there are 500,000 Catholics in the city.
—Heretofore there has been a law in New York against profanity, and each offense was punishable by a fine of one dollar, or by imprisonment. That law has been repealed, and people can swear without any fear of the civil law. Probably no more people will swear now than before, for the law was a dead letter.
—The story is told of a heathen convert to Christianity that he was urged by his employer to labor on the Sabbath, but declined. "But," said the master, "does not your Bible say that if a man has an ox or an ass that falls into a pit on the Sabbath-day, that he may pull him out?" "Yes," answered the convert; "but if the ass has a habit of falling into the same pit every Sabbath-day then the man should either fill up the pit or sell the ass."
—The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, in Chicago, has "Solemn High Mass," among its performances. On a recent occasion it was announced that Bishop McLaren would officiate. The Bishop, however, declined, giving as his only reason therefor, the fact that "The Book of Common Prayer contains no such office." He might have also said the same thing of the Bible, but he wisely quoted the authority that is most consulted and best understood.
—A Mr. Fisher, in a political speech in Alameda, said in regard to the Sunday Law: "The descendants of the Puritans are the last who would restrict any one in the pursuits of happiness or the observance of his religion." But the fact remains that the Puritans themselves did seriously restrict a good many persons in the "pursuits of happiness and the observances of religion," as the history of the Baptists and Quakers testifies. And who will presume to-say that the descendants of the Puritans are any improvement morally on their sires?
—The California Christian Advocate comes straight to the point on the religio-politico-temperance crusade, and states its position as follows: "For ourselves, we have been anxious that no harm should come to the holy cause of our Christian Sabbath. That has been our chief concern. As for prohibition, we desire to take that up in such form that success may be assured in time." Just so. That is just what we have said all the time. Sunday first, at all hazards, and prohibition afterwards if it is convenient. And yet they still continue to accuse us of being in league with liquor men, because we do not join in their Sunday crusade. We can stand it if they can.
THE SUNDAY LAW!
By Editor
ENFORCEMENT OF THE "CHRISTIAN SABBATH."
A VINDICATION OF THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, AND THE POSITION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS
This tract was written with special reference to the Sunday Law agitation in California, but is of universal interest as showing the tendency of Sunday legislation, and the relation of Seventh-day Adventists thereto. The comparative claims of both the Sabbath and the Sunday are presented, also the position which both occupies in prophecy. The candid reader of this tract cannot fail to be convinced that every attempt to enforce by law the observance of Sunday as a Christian ordinance, is a step toward the union of Church and State.
Read it, and pass it to your neighbor. Price, 4 cts; $3.00 per hundred.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Obituary.
By J. B. Goodrich
BARKER.—Died, in South Norridgewock, Maine, Oct. 18, 1882, Bro. Geo. W. Barker, aged 61 years, 2 months, and 21 days. He embraced the truth under the labors of Elders Andrews and Cornell, when the tent was pitched in Norridgewock. He was President of the Maine Conference two years, and since then was a member of the Conference Committee ten years, and one of the Camp-meeting Committee ever since we commenced holding camp-meetings, some twelve years ago. It is sad to think we shall have him with us no more in this world. Our house of worship was well filled at the funeral. It was a sad time. J. B. GOODRICH.
[We are exceedingly pained to learn of the death of Bro. Barker. He and his dear family, now so sadly bereaved, always made a pleasant home for us at his house when we were in Maine. He was a kind husband and father, and an exemplary Christian. The Maine Conference never had a more faithful officer. His church will miss him. But hope is strong in his case; the Life-giver will soon appear, and we have no doubt that Bro. Barker will “appear with him in glory.” The family has our deepest sympathies. May we live so as to meet him in the coming day. EDITOR SIGNS.]
LIFE SKETCHES.
By Editor
THE EARLY LIFE, CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE, AND EXTENSIVE LABORS OF
ELDER JAMES WHITE, AND HIS WIFE,
MRS. ELLEN G. WHITE.
The production of this book was the last literary labor performed by Elder White. As nearly the whole of his active labor was performed in connection with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, which he was largely instrumental in founding, the work is necessarily quite a complete history of that people.
The book abounds in interesting incidents, personal sketches, and religious experiences, some of which are quite remarkable, and altogether it forms a volume at once instructive and interesting.
416 pp. Price, $1.25.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
SMITH'S COMPREHENSIVE DICTIONARY OF THE BIBLE.
By Editor
NEW EDITION, octavo size, 1,200 pages, with many important additions and improvements from the works of the most eminent scholars, commentators and travelers. It is designed to be
A COMPLETE GUIDE
In regard to the pronunciation and signification of Scriptural names; the solution of difficulties respecting the interpretation, authority, and harmony of the Old and New Testaments; the history and description of Biblical customs, events, places, persons, animals, plants, etc.
In this book it is designed to make everything intelligible to those who understand only the English language, and to place them as nearly as possible on a level with the scholars who are familiar with the original languages of the Scriptures.
All the words in the vocabulary are pronounced and divided into syllables, and words or parts of words are respelled whenever this is necessary to indicate the pronunciation.
The book contains numerous maps, and is abundantly supplied with superior engravings, which are of real utility to the student.
No one who desires to study the Scriptures intelligently will be without a copy of this most excellent book.
Price, in cloth, $5.00; in library binding, $6.00
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE SEVENTH PART OF TIME.
By W. H. Littlejohn
A SERMON ON THE SABBATH QUESTION.
By W. H. Littlejohn.
This is a refutation of the theory that God sanctified simply a seventh part of time as the Sabbath, without fixing that time to any definite day. The necessity for a
UNIFORM DAY OF REST,
is admitted by nearly all, and is advocated in this book. The author also shows that the Creator understood and anticipated this necessity, and proves by five different processes of reasoning that the seventh or last day of the week, and no other, was in the beginning, and is now, the Sabbath of the Lord.
32 pp. Price 4 cents; $3.00 per hundred.
Address SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
THE NATURE AND TENDENCY OF MODERN SPIRITUALISM.
By Eld. Joseph Harvey Waggoner
By Eld. J. H. Waggoner.
This is a thorough expose of the system of spiritualism. The author has carefully studied the subject, and has given such copious extracts from a large library of spiritualist publications, as to fully condemn them in their teachings and in their practices, by their own testimony.
It is also shown from the prophetic scriptures that spiritualism is one of the most impressive signs of the times. 184 pp. Price, 20 cents.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
WHO CHANGED THE SABBATH?
By Editor
This question very naturally arises when the evidence is presented that Sunday is not the original Sabbath of the Lord; and a complete and satisfactory answer to it is given in the tract with the above title. The following is the plan of the argument: 1. Scripture evidence is introduced to show that God regards his law as unchangeable. 2. The prophecy is quoted which clearly points out the Papacy as the power that should make the change. 3. Standard Catholic books are quoted from to show that the prophecy has been fulfilled. Every one who desires to know the truth in regard to the Sabbath should read this tract. 16 pp. Price, postpaid, 3 cents; $2.25 per hundred.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
NEW MUSIC! THE LAST IS THE BEST!
JUST PUBLISHED,
By GEO. D. RUSSELL, 126 Tremont Street, Boston, a new book of Music, entitled,
PEARLY PORTALS.
By D. S. HAKES.
The music and words of this book are mostly entirely new, and well adapted to the Sabbath-school and social circle. It is receiving the most unqualified praise from all who have examined it. The music is of a high order throughout, and yet not at all difficult.
160 pp. Per copy, 35 cents; $3.60 per dozen. Bound, 50 cents; $5.00 per dozen.
Address, SIGNS OF THE TIMES, Oakland, Cal.
Success of the Truth.
FROM a private letter from Eld. J. N. Andrews we copy the following words of encouragement:—
“We have considerable evidence that the immortality subject is being received with favor everywhere. The Italian Baptist paper, published at Rome, formerly edited by Cocorda, has just come to hand. It contains two short but very pointed articles on the immortality subject, written by myself in Les Signes des Temps. It gives them with due credit and indorses them. This is remarkable. We have also received to-day from Mr. Petavel Olliff, D. D., of Geneva, a bound book and several other publications, from his own pen, advocating immortality through Christ alone. Not a man has arisen during a long period to mock at the subject, and this seems something remarkable, inasmuch as when we first began to print on this subject, we received so much railing and abuse. We continue to receive demands for the paper from the advertizing, and continue to receive subscribers for the paper about as we have for the months past. We have no cause to be discouraged so far as the paper is concerned.”
Thanksgiving Day.
By Editor
THE following proclamation has been issued by the President of the United States:—
In conformance with a custom, the annual observance of which is justly held in honor by this people, I, Chester A. Arthur, President of the United States, do hereby set apart Thursday, the 30th day of November next, as a day of public Thanksgiving. The blessings demanding our gratitude are numerous and varied—for the peace and amity which subsist between this Republic and all the nations of the world; for our freedom from internal discord and violence; for the increasing friendship between the different sections of the land of liberty, justice, and constitutional government; for the devotion of the people to our free institutions, and their cheerful obedience of the civil laws; for the constantly increasing strength of the Republic, while extending its privileges to our fellow-men who come to us; for improved means of internal communication and increased facilities of intercourse with other nations; for the generally prevailing good health of the year; for the prosperity of all our industries, a liberal return for our mechanics' toil, affording a market for the abundant harvest for our husbandmen; for the preservation of the national faith and credit; for wise and generous provisions to effect the intellectual and moral education of our youth; for the influence upon the conscience of the restraining and transforming power of religion, and for the joys of home. For these and for many other blessings, we should give thanks. Wherefore, I do recommend that the day above designated be observed throughout the country as a day of national thanksgiving and prayer, and that the people, ceasing from their daily labor and meeting in accordance with their several forms of worship, draw near to the throne of Almighty God, offering to him praise and gratitude for the manifest good which he has vouchsafed to us, and praying that his blessings and mercies may continue. And I do further recommend that the day thus appointed be made a special occasion for deeds of kindness and charity to the suffering and needy, so that all who dwell within the land may rejoice and be glad in this season of national thanksgiving.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at Washington, this 25th day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-two, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and seventh.