Earlier text: A NEW CREATURE“It’s such a pity,” said Mrs. Lee, and she turned her eyes from the window. Kate, her little daughter, a small, blue-eyed, cherub-like creature, stood near her, looking out upon the road. A man had just passed, and it was of him that the lady said, “It’s such a pity.” “A greater pity for his wife and children,” said Mrs. Lee’s sister. “Oh dear! It’s a pity for all of them,” said Mrs. Lee, in quite a troubled voice. “Why doesn’t the man drink cold water when he is dry, and not pour burning liquor down his throat? I’ve thought more than once of meeting him with a glass of cool water as he came by, hoping he would turn back to his shop, and not keep on to Huber’s tavern.” “That would be too pointed,” said the sister. “It might do good,” Mrs. Lee went on. “Suppose he did feel a little annoyed, he would hardly refuse the cool drink, and he might not feel so strongly drawn toward Huber’s tavern. The next time I saw him coming I’d offer the drink again, and with a pleasant word. I could ask about his wife and children, and show that I felt interested. I’m sure, sister, good would come of it.” The sister did not feel so hopeful. “It will take more than a glass of water to satisfy his fiery thirst, and then, you know Barclay is easily offended. He would understand just what you meant, I fear, and grow angry and abusive.” “I don’t believe it would make him angry to offer him a cool drink of water.” The child, who had been listening to her mother and aunt, said this quite earnestly. The two women looked at each other, but did not answer. Mr. Barclay was a carpenter. He had been very well off but would take a glass of liquor now and then. This led him into the company of those who visit taverns, and by them he was often drawn away from shop and home. So neglect of business was added to the vice of drinking, and the carpenter’s way in the world turned downward. Mr. Barclay had several children. The youngest was named Fanny, and she was just four years old. He was very fond of her, and often struggled with his appetite on her account. Many times had he gone backward and forward before the tavern door, love for Fanny pleading against love for rum, and urging him to spend the few pennies in his pocket for a toy, or some candies, instead of for beer. But the dreadful thirst for beer had always gained the mastery. Poor man! On the morning after Mrs. Lee and her sister were talking about him, it happened that Mr. Barclay was without a penny in his pocket. What was he to do? Not a single glass of liquor could be had at Huber’s tavern, for he was in debt there, and they had refused to trust him until the old score was paid. But how was he to go through all that day without drink? The very thought quickened his craving thirst. He opened a bureau drawer to get a handkerchief, when something met his eyes that made him pause with a strange expression of face. He stood gazing with an irresolute air, and then, shutting the drawer quickly, turned away to the other side of the room. For some time he remained there, his back to the drawer. A bitter struggle was going on in his mind. Alas! he was not strong enough for this conflict. Slowly, step by step, listening, looking just like a thief, Mr. Barclay returned to the bureau, and opened the drawer. What did he bring forth? It was a little wooden box, only a few inches square; he had made it himself, of fine, dark wood, for his dear little Fanny. The pennies were few, but all she had received for many months were in this box. She was saving them to buy a present for her father, Christmas. A desperate look was in Mr. Barclay’s face as he clutched the box. Hurriedly he took from his pocket a small screw driver, and in a minute the lid was off. Half the pennies were emptied into his pocket, and then the lid replaced and the box returned to the drawer. He had scarcely taken breath while the box was in his hand. Now he sat down, like one suddenly robbed of strength, and panted. The dark flush went off his face, and he looked pale and guilty. “Papa!” It was Fanny herself. The loving child came in and put her arms around his neck. It was as much as he could do to keep from pushing her with strong arms away. “Are you sick, papa?” The child had caught a glimpse of his pale, disturbed countenance. “I don’t feel very well,” he answered. His voice had so strange a sound to his own ears that it seemed as if some one else were speaking. “I’m so sorry,” and Fanny drew her arms tighter around his neck, kissing him. This was more than the wretched man could bear. Rising hurriedly, and almost shaking off his child, he left the house and started for the shop. He did not go to work immediately, but sat down on his bench. He had no heart to work just then. “Oh, Jim Barclay!” he cried out at last, in a tone of mingled shame and anguish, “that you should come to this.” He got up and walked about like one bewildered. Just then a man rode up to his shop. “Is that shutter ready for me?” he asked. “It will be done to-morrow,” answered the carpenter, hardly noticing what was said to him. “Just what you told me yesterday,” said the man roughly. “The fact is, Jim Barclay,” the man added, “there’s no dependence in you any longer, and I shall take my work somewhere else.” He was in no mood to bear patiently a hard speech from any one; so he replied as roughly, and the customer rode off in anger. Barclay stood looking after him, his excitement gradually cooling until the blindness of passion was gone. “Foolish every way,” he muttered, turning slowly to his work bench and taking his plane. “It wasn’t so once. No dependence in Jim Barclay.” He was hurt by the accusation. The time was when no mechanic in the neighborhood could be more depended upon. If Barclay promised a piece of work, it was sure to be ready. Alas! how changed! He was just as fair in promise now—just as sincere, perhaps, when his word was given—but in performance how slow! He would start in earnest every day, and get on very well until the desire for liquor grew strong enough to tempt him off to Huber’s tavern for a drink. After that no one could count on him. Some panels of the unfinished shutter lay on Barclay’s bench. He began to grow worried just as it had been with him so many times. But where to begin his day’s work, which of his customers to serve first, he did not know. His hands were unsteady; a sense of heaviness weighed down his limbs; in body and mind he felt wretched. He thought of Huber’s tavern and a refreshing glass. Just one glass, and his shattered nerves would be steadier for the day’s work. Then he thought of the pennies in his pocket, the treasure of his dear little Fanny, stolen from her that morning; and such shame fell upon his heart that he sat down upon his work bench and groaned in pain. “I’ll get one glass,” he said, starting up, “for I must have something to put life into me. The pennies are only borrowed, and I’ll return them179two for one. Just one glass to make me all right,” and off he started for the tavern. Between the shop and the tavern was a pleasant cottage. Mr. Barclay was nearly opposite this cottage, when out ran a child, holding in her hands a small glass pitcher of water, her golden hair tossing in the wind. She was about Fanny’s age, and beautiful as a cherub. “Won’t you have a cool drink, Mr. Barclay?” said the child, stopping before him and offering her pitcher, while her earnest, tender eyes, blue as violets, were lifted to his face. Surprised and startled by this sudden vision of innocence and beauty, Mr. Barclay did not hesitate for an instant, but took the pitcher and drank almost at a single draught every drop of the pure, cold water. “Thank you, my dear,” dropped from his lips as he handed back the empty vessel, and then he stooped and kissed the child. She did not turn from him and go back into the house, but stood between him and the little tavern, gazing up into his face. He took a step forward. The child caught his hand. “Oh don’t, Mr. Barclay!” she cried eagerly, and in such a pleading voice that her tones went further down into his heart than human tones had gone for a long time. “Don’t what, little darling?” he asked, bending toward her in a new surprise. “Don’t go to Huber’s any more,” answered the child. Mr. Barclay drew himself up and stood as still as a statue. The child looked at him with a half scared expression, but she kept firmly hold of his hand. Suddenly catching his breath, he stooped quickly and touched the child’s fair forehead with his lips. He said not a word, turned resolutely, and went striding down the road in the direction of his shop. From the window of the cottage, mother and aunt looked on the scene with surprise. The act was her own. They had no hint of her purpose until they saw her cross the road with the pitcher of water in her hand. Her own act, did I say? Let me lift your thoughts higher. God’s love and pity for the poor drunkard had flowed into the child’s heart and moved her to do just what she did. So it was God acting through her just as he acts through every one of us when we try to do good to others. Think of this. God working mercy through us, and making us angels of mercy. Mr. Barclay returned to the shop, took off his coat and went to work. The cool water, but more the good resolution the child had awakened in his heart, gave tone and refreshment to body and mind. His nerves, all unstrung when he started to the tavern, were steady now. No tremor ran through his hand as he grasped the mallet, chisel, or plane. He worked with a pleasure not felt for a long time. After an hour this feeling began to wear off, and the old heaviness and thirst for liquor returned. His thoughts went to Huber’s tavern and the tempting liquor there. But there was something in the way that he could not pass; no fierce lions, but a pure and innocent child. He felt sure that when she saw him coming along the road she would meet him with her sweet, pleading face, and pitcher of water, and to pass by would be impossible. “Go around by the old mill,” said the tempter, “and the child will not see you.” He hearkened a moment, then with an almost angry tone, he said: “No, no, no! God’s angel met me in an evil path and turned me back. I will not go around by any other way.” There was a spring not far from his shop. He drank freely at this, and then, refreshed, took up his work again. How clear his mind was—clearer than it had been for a long time. Like a beautiful picture, was the image of that beautiful child meeting him in the road and offering her pitcher of water. It was always before him, and the longer he looked upon it the softer his heart became, and the stronger his good resolutions. For the first time in months, Mr. Barclay came home that evening sober and in his right mind. What throbs of joy his pulse gave as he saw the look of happy surprise in his poor wife’s face, and felt the delight of dear little Fanny’s heart as she sprang into his arms and hugged him in a way that told what a new gladness was in her soul. Not until he had returned the pennies to her box did the red spot of shame fade from his manly face. Mr. Barclay was never seen in Huber’s tavern again, nor any other tavern. “If,” he said to a friend, years afterward, “the old desire came back, and my thoughts went off to Huber’s tavern, it never got past the white cottage, for out from its porch I would always see coming to meet me, pitcher in hand, that heaven-sent child, and to have passed her would have been impossible.” The Home Circle.
By Ella Wheeler
In the long run Fame finds the deserving man;
The lucky wight may prosper for a day,
But in good time true merit leads the van,
And vain pretence, unnoticed, goes its way.
There is no Chance, no Destiny, no Fate,
But Fortune smiles on those who work and wait,
In the long run. In the long run, all godly sorrow pays,
There is no better thing than righteous pain;
The sleepless nights, the awful thorn-crowned days,
Bring sure reward to tortured soul and brain.
Unmeaning joys enervate in the end;
But sorrow yields a glorious dividend,
In the long run. In the long run, all hidden things are known,
The eye of Truth will penetrate the night;
And good or ill, thy secret shall be known,
However well 'tis guarded from the light.
All the unspoken motives of the breast
Are fathomed by the years, and stand confessed,
In the long run. In the long run, all love is paid by love,
Though undervalued by the hearts of earth;
The great, eternal Government above,
Keeps strict account, and will redeem true worth.
Give thy love freely; do not count the cost;
So beautiful a thing was never lost,
In the long run. —Ella Wheeler, in The Advance. —Several inches of snow fell in Northern Virginia April 7, being the third snow this month in that State. —Delaware peach orchards have been severely injured by heavy frosts, and the crop for this year ruined. —The heaviest snow-storm of the season was reported at Des Moines, Iowa, April 8. It soon turned to slush. —Hobart Pasha has been ordered to prepare a defense in the Dardanelles against vessels creeping in at night. —Lord Beaconsfield's health continues to be very precarious. Gladstone has recovered his health and strength. —At Burlington, Iowa, April 9, an elevator was burned with 17,000 bushels of flax seed and 4,300 bushels of grain. —Work drags on the Canada Pacific railroad, few hands being employed, and they are dissatisfied with their treatment. —A fire in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, April 8, destroyed a two-story engine and iron works building with a large stock. Loss, $115,000. —Notwithstanding the severity of the winter in the North-west, Bradstreet's reports that winter wheat has not been seriously injured. —A resolution unanimously passed the House of Assembly, at Cape Town, April 5, expressing satisfaction at the conclusion of the Transvaal war. —April 5, the thermometer was at 28 degrees in Danville, Virginia. Ice covered the streams and ponds and it was feared that the whole fruit crop was ruined. —The difficulty in Greece is to find a minister who can induce the country to accept the proposed frontier settlement. The position of the King and Cabinet is critical. —The election, March 9, for a member of the House of Commons from Northampton resulted in the re-election of Bradlaugh, as follows: Bradlaugh, 3378; Corbett, 3253. —Already since the meeting of the Presbyterian Assembly in May last, over seventy ministers have died, many of them prominent workers and leaders in the denomination. —The Duke of Argyle has resigned the office of Lord Privy of the Seal, owing to a difference of opinion with his colleagues on some provisions of the land bill. Lord Caird succeeds him. —It is proposed, at Chicago, to belt the city with a line of railway that will take in every other running in or out of the city, and thus form a connecting link for all the railways centering there. —The authorities of the Custom House in London have been warned from Liverpool that an attempt to blow up that building will be made shortly. Extraordinary precautions are being taken. —The authorities of the Oxford and Cambridge University Presses authoritatively announce that the publication of the revised version of the New Testament will take place about the middle of May. —The perpetrator of a horrible outrage and murder in Santa Barbara county was promptly executed by the citizens, who expressed a determination not to leave him “to the uncertainty of a California jury.” —The Inter-Ocean's St. Paul special of April 9, says, The St. Paul and Sioux City branch of the Chicago and St. Paul, M. and O. Railroad was opened at noon through to Sioux City, having been blockaded since February 3. —Employing Chinese has not worked satisfactorily in New Jersey and New York. They seem to have presumed too much on the sympathy for them in the East, and have been guilty of “too muchee foolee.” Sympathy seems to be ebbing. —An unusual number of Americans are going abroad this season, and the best berths in the Atlantic steamships are already engaged. It is hard to tell what Europe would do but for the money extravagant Americans squander there every year. —Nearly 3,500,000 letters and packages were received at the Dead Letter Office during the last fiscal year. Of these, 290,000 had no stamp, and over 9000 were not directed at all. The aggregate of checks, notes, etc., was $1,526,217, and of money, $49,463. —While a dozen policemen were escorting a process server in Ballinamore county, Leitrim, Ireland, April 6, they were attacked by twenty women with stones and sticks. A girl aged twenty was fatally shot, and another wounded. Several police are seriously injured. —Judge Macomber, of Rochester, N. Y., has rendered an important decision to the effect that a majority of the church Board of Trustees, although sustained by a majority of the congregation, cannot carry the Society and its property over to another denomination. —A curious cause is assigned for the spread of smallpox in Sullivan county, New York. Physicians there believe the opinion that the disease was carried from one house to another by a cat, and owners of cats have accordingly been notified to keep them from roaming about. —Brooklyn now has two Chinese Sunday-schools, one having been recently started in the Central Congregational church. The first, opened about eighteen months since with nine scholars, has now an average attendance of twenty-four, with as many teachers, representing six denominations. —The Prussian Reichstag adopted a motion with only three dissenting votes for requesting an agreement among the Powers to make it a penal offense for either citizens or foreigners to aid in or incite to the assassination of rulers. The motion originated with the representatives of the people. —Rev. Dr. Cuyler preached his farewell sermon, March 20, and sails on the 23d, in the Cunard steamship Bothnia to visit Norway, Sweden, Russia, Egypt and Palestine. His principle object is to visit the “holy land.” This trip is made at the invitation of his church. Gifts to the amount of $1,700 were made at his last meeting. —At latest accounts the floods in Spain were doing great damage. At Seville four square miles in the city were flooded, including the St. Elmo palace, the water being in some parts, twenty-seven feet deep. At the mouth of the Guadalquiver about twenty miles of country are under water, and the flood was increasing at last accounts. —The April Conference of the Mormon church at Salt Lake, after a session of four days, adjourned. The necessity of loving their religion and preaching polygamy was firmly impressed upon the saints, who have been very much encouraged over the decision of the Miles polygamy case in their favor by the supreme Court of the United States. About 100 missionaries were set apart for work in the United States and Europe. Of this number, 25 are to be sent to Arizona, which Territory the Mormon church is determined to control politically. —On Sunday, April 3, a terrible earthquake shook the island of Scio, off the west coast of Asia Minor, destroying thirty villages. The number of killed is estimated from 5000 to 8000, and the number of injured still greater, while the destitute and homeless are reckoned at 40,000. Kastro, the capital, contained nearly 4000 inhabitants, and only 150 are known to be alive. At latest dates the ground was still trembling so that it was dangerous to go near the ruins, so that the suffering wounded could not be relieved. At some points the stench from the unrecovered dead is so great that pestilence is feared. —Although some papers have made merry over Edison's electric light, it seems destined to shine, and will probably effect a great change in the lighting of cities. Major S. B. Eaton, Vice-President of the Edison Electric Light Company, said to a Tribune reporter yesterday, in regard to a resolution passed by the Board of Aldermen giving the Company permission to lay wires through the city, if the resolution becomes a law, the Company proposes to go to work at once and light the district bounded by Wall, Spruce and Nassau streets and the East River. The Etna Iron Works building will be lighted in two or three weeks by several hundred electric lights. The system is now absolutely complete. There are eight miles of mains in Menlo Park. We have obtained the right of way in Detroit and Toledo, and arrangements are making for obtaining that privilege in Chicago, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Baltimore, and Boston. —The flood of the Missouri river continues with still increasing violence in some places. It would take a full page of our paper to give a fair idea of the situation. Green Island, a town of 30 houses in north-eastern Nebraska, has been entirely swept away. At Yankton the water is receding, but farmers throughout the river country are destitute, not only losing their crops, but their teams and implements. When the gorge gave way at Yankton, the steamer Penina was torn from her moorings and left on the railroad track. The lower part of Council Bluffs is inundated, a strong current moving down Broadway street. The 9th, the water was reported within three inches of the floor of the U. P. Transfer Depot, with deep and swift water on each side of it. No trains could reach Council Bluffs that day. The Kansas City, St. Louis and Council Bluffs branch from Council Bluffs to the Pacific Junction, which is used also by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and is temporarily by the B. and M. in Nebraska, is under water and washed so badly that trains cannot run over it. Omaha is cut off in every direction except from the west. The damage by this flood is beyond estimate. J. H. WAGGONER
By J. H. Waggoner
DIED, in Oakland, Cal., April 6, 1881, Willie Emerson, son of George H. and Lizzie Arnold Roberts, aged 7 months and 26 days. After much suffering, the fair little one rests till the Restorer comes. The bereaved have the sympathy of their many friends in this city. Remarks at the funeral on Jer. 31:15-17. (Review and Herald, please copy.) Constitutional Amendment. Condensed, 336 pp. 40 cts. Sanctuary and 2300 Days. Condensed, 224 pp. 30 cts. Facts for the Times. A collection of valuable extracts from eminent authors. 224 pp. 25 cts. Eleven Sermons on the Sabbath and Law. By Elder J. N. Andrews. 226 pp. 25 cts. United States in Prophecy. 200 pp. 20 cts. The Nature and Tendency of Modern Spiritualism. By Elder J. H. Waggoner. 184 pp. 20 cts. The Atonement. By Elder J. H. Waggoner. An examination of a remedial system in the light of Nature and Revelation. 168 pp. 20 cts. The Ministration of Angels, and the Origin, History, and Destiny of Satan. By Elder D. M. Canright. 144 pp. 20 cts. 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The fearful earthquake disturbances, which have just resulted in such terrible loss of life at the beautiful and fertile island of Scio, or Chios, an island belonging to Turkey, off the west coast of Asia Minor, a few miles west of Cape Blanco, from which it is separated by straits about four miles wide, is a disaster of no ordinary magnitude, and clearly reveals a very unstable condition of the earth's crust in that locality. The city or town of Scio is situated in latitude 36° 33' north, longitude 26° 01' east, and the island, which was called by the ancients Chian, is credited with being the birth-place of the Grecian poet Homer, although Smyrna has sought to rob it of that honor. Its length from north to south is 32 miles; its breadth, 13 miles; and its area, 508 square miles. It is universally admitted to be one of the richest and most beautiful islands of the Levant. It produces wine of superior quality, mastic, silk, wool, cheese, figs, lemons, oranges, and other fruits. It raises corn or wheat, but other crops being more profitable, it imports a portion of the consumption used upon the island. In 1822 it was prosperous and its people flourishing as much as any among the famous Greek Archipelago; but the ruthless Turk invaded it with the cimeter of the Prophet, and from 120,000 to 130,000 of its inhabitants were massacred or sold into slavery by the Moslem invaders. Its present population is probably 75,000 or thereabouts, who are called Sciots, pronounced shee-ots or kee-ots, according as we accept the Cambridge or Oxford standard of Greek pronunciation.—Alta. We were much pleased to see so large attendance at the Sabbath-school last Sabbath. This school is prospering finely. In the forenoon we spoke on Rom. 12. In the afternoon, though it rained quite hard, more than eighty gathered to attend the ordinances. This church has steadily improved for the last two years. We wish every individual member had made visible improvement. It is a pity that some are satisfied to always remain weak. They will find their need of strength before this work closes. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
By Editor
We have received from Senator Horatio Gates Jones his argument in the Senate of Pennsylvania on the bill to protect religious liberty and to provide for the relief of those who observe the seventh day, for which we return our thanks. We shall give extracts from it in our paper. Senator Jones deserves the thanks of all lovers of Christianity and right and justice, not only in Pennsylvania, but throughout the United States and the whole world, for the untiring efforts which he has made to wipe from the statutes of his native State its odious laws against the conscientious observers of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment of the decalogue. RAIN AND EARTHQUAKE IN CALIFORNIA.
APRIL 6 a light rain fell, covering a considerable extent of country. In Lathrop, San Joaquin County, it was accompanied with quite heavy thunder. On the 9th and 10th it rained much harder, the fall extending from Washington Territory to Los Angeles. It is timely, and almost certainly secures good crops throughout the State. Some frost in St. Helena and vicinity the morning of the 7th. Have not heard that it did any damage. A smart shock of earthquake visited Oakland at 2:10 the morning of the 10th. It was still heavier in San Francisco. But reports indicate that it was heaviest in the valleys of the Sacramento and San Joaquin. A Modesto dispatch says: “Nearly all the principal brick buildings are cracked, and other damage done.” “Buildings were shaken with great force” in Hollister. It was unusual in the extent of country it affected. At Ione the storm of that night was accompanied with thunder and lightning. SAN FRANCISCO.
By S. N. H.
ELDER J. O. CORLISS commenced revival meetings in San Francisco last Sabbath. The church in Oakland was much revived by the meetings held with it. Some embraced the truth and six were baptized. It is hoped that good results will follow the meetings now commenced with the brethren in San Francisco. When God's people themselves put away their sins and draw nearer to him, he draws near to them and works for them. It should be a time of great humiliation, and a seeking God with all the heart, that he may go forth with our ministers and bless the efforts of his people. S. N. H. Our fifteen hundred copies of Geikie's Life of Christ, to be used as premiums with the SIGNS to new subscribers, have not yet arrived, although they were shipped over two months ago. This is the reason why some new subscribers have not received their premium books. But freights are beginning to move, and we expect soon to be able to fill all orders. W. C. W.