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VOLUME II.
OXFORD, N. C., WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1876.
NUMBER 29.
WfiSAT SISE €OEE».
In a quiet anil ilarkeneil cliainbcr,
Shut out from the happy sky,
And the pleasures that make it so sweet to live,
And make it so hard to die,
Lay one with her meek eyes heavy,
And her hands on her heart a-straiu,
Because she could do no more than hear
Her hurdeu of hopeiess pain.
On the pillow of sleeping childhood.
Harassed with the wearing day,
A mother emptied her tired arms,
And dropped on her knees to pray.
A sob to her lips kept rising,
That her strength liad but sufficed
For the needs of homo, when, all the while,
She had wanted to work for Christ.
At her seams, through the long, long sum
mer,
One sat with a drooping head,
And sighed as she thought of her fresh, young
life
Just slipping away for hread.
But the tear that dropped on her needle
Hcdd in it a prayer :—“ Ah, who,
Djar Lord, hath labored so little for Thee,
And there is so much to do V'
They perish for lack of knowledge!”
'Twas a maiden heard the call;
And the sacred things the soul hold dear,
She freely renounced them all,
To sit with the dusky Hindoo,
In her sad zenana’s gloom,
And tell her the story of Bethlehem,
The manger, the cross, the tomb.
And yet unto each, as she suffers
In patience, and prayer, and trust,
As she ministers, lavishing life and love,
Or toils for her daily crust,
Or lays her soul on the altar,
Alike will the Savior say ;
“Shehatli done what she could:” and the
spikenard scerit
Shall never dissolve away.
—Marnayet J. Preston.
S3iirsR« foir
dross 5^oSda‘»'i
iiistitui ion was incoi-pov-
attd in 18.54, luiviiig- been organ
ized the veiir previous, the ob-
jeet being the cure and education
of all white children under 12
Years of age who should be vol
untarily surrendered by their
tiithei's or guardians, and to ap-
jsrentice -them to useful trades,
the bovs until 21 and the girls
u.itil 18 years of age, or to return
them to their parents at the dis
cretion of the management. An
other object was that commit
ments might be made to it by
any judge of the supreme court
of Pennsylvania, or of the district
court and court of common pleas,
or by the mayor of Philadelphia,
of children needing special moral
care. By a subsequent act, this
power was extended to the pre
siding judges of the courts of
common pleas in tlie other coun
ties of the Commonwealth ; and,
further, it was made the duty of
the judges of the common-pleas-
and district-courts of Philadelphia
and of the recorder of the cit}’ to
visit alternately the institution at
least once in two weeks, to exam
ine into all the commitments, and
to discharge such children as have
not been properly committen.
The estimated value of real
estate and personal property of
the institution is $125,000, mostly
the result of private efforts and
enterprise, only $5,000 having
been appropriated by the State
for the purpose. For several
years annual appropriations to
aid in carrying on the work were
made by the legislature of the
State.
Children are received from all
parts of the State, and are well
instructed in the branches of a
good elementary education.
The institution is conducted on
the most liberal principles consis
tent with economy.
Food, clothing, recreations,
and arausement.s are abundantly
provided, and perhaps no otlier
institution is so profuse in its pro-
visiotis of a domestic and social
character for its beneficiaries as
the Northern .Home for Friend
less Child ren.
After the war had assumed
colossal proportions and many
children had been reduced to or
phanage, the Northern Home was
the first to provide a homo espe
cially for them upon its own
ground.
This Home for the Orphans of
the Army and Navy, now called
The Soldiers’ Orphans’ Institute,
the first in thecountry, was formal
ly dedicated and opened in the sum
mer of 1802, the dedicatory ser
vices being performed by the late
lamented Rev. Dr. liutter and
Rev. Dr. Brainare.
The buildings were both after
ward much enlarged, and again
rc-dedicated to the good cause of
caring for the orphans and friend
less. A new and elegant chapel
is the latest improvement, and of
recent erection.
The Northern Home has thus
constantl}" been spreading itself
in good works.
The beautiful park, attached to
'TIome” and “Institute” on the
eastern side, serves as a play
ground for the lai'go and hapjjy
family of children gathered iiere.
The average number in all the
buildings is usualiy nearly 400.
An infirmary is owned acioss
Brown street, and entirely sepa
rate from all the other buildings,
but the children enjoy such ex
cellent health that an infirmary
for the sick is scarcely needed.
During the twent3^-one years
of the existence of this institution,
it has received, cared for, and
indentured, or otherwise disposed
of, nearly three thousand five
hundred children. The average
number of inmates during the
vear was 255. On May 1,1874,
the number of soldsers’ orphans
in the institution was 240 and
of friendiess cliildren 113.
The Solders’ and Sailors’ Insti
tute was the out-growth of a spon
taneous aud unrewarded charity
towards these wards of the nation,
exercised long and liberally in
their behalf, before any system
atic provision was intended by
the State or anj^ re-imbursement
expected for tlieir maintenance
and education. Not only orphans,
but children impoverished by the
absence of their fathers, were also
received, ted, clothed, and educa
ted, to be returned to their homes
or adopted and permanently cared
for as circumstances required.
Several hundred of such cliidren
were thus maintained, for whoSe
support recompense was ever re
ceived.
The locality and the resources
of the Nortlieru Home being bet
ter adapted to general service
than any like institution of the
State, it has been continuously
recognized by the legislature by
yearly grants to aid in its beiiev-
lent operations. Thes appropria
tions are, however, now disoon-
tiuiied.
FIVE FSEFFE PI5EEEPTS.
SELECTED liY J. T. B.
1. Use all the means you pos
sess for gaining information ; and,
whether in religion, politics, or
moralit}', think aud act for j’oui-
self, and have an opinion of your
own. You may let another take
your purse, but never surrender
wdiat constitutes the glory of man,
the freodom of the mind.
2. In all your speculations, in
all your researches after truth,
divest your mitids wholly of prej
udice, whether derived from hab
it, tradition or the opinion of oth
ers ; look at things as tliey really
are, and form your judgement
a(!cordingly.
3. Never enter upon any im
portant undertaking without first
considering wheth.er jmu be eve-
r}' way competent to the task ;
and whether, all things consider
ed, the accomplishment of your
object will bo for the greatest
good.
4. After you have fully deter
mined in your own mind that a
particular course of action will be
for the greatest good, let nothing
divert you from your purpose.
The path jmu pursue may be
rugged ; difficulties and obstruc
tions will probably present them
selves but remember that time,
patience and perservance will ao-
oomplisli all things.
5. Whatever ma^ be jmur oc-
cuuation, observe strictest regard
to order, both as to the distribu
tion of time, and the management
of 3'our concerns. Let 3U)ur
whole life be but the execution
of a well laid plan. A journal of
daily transactions would have a
happv^ effect; and a correct book
of debt and credit, save much
money, and prevent much trou
ble.—Christum Sun.
A very little word is no. Anj-
ohild can spell it. Diminutive in
size, evident in import, easy of
utteriince, frequent in use, and
necessary in speech. It seems
one of the simplest and most
harmless of all words, yet there
are those with whom the little
monosyllable sticks in the throat.
Before it eri’or has fallen, and
truth has risen in its splendor.
Move of courage is required,
This one word to say,
Than to stand where shots are fired
In the battle fray.
Use it fitly, and ye’ll see
JIauy a lot below
May be schooled, and nobly ruled
By power to utter.—No.”
“Oil
lEEALTSl BETTER TSSArV
WEAETH.
Little Martin was a poor ho}^
who had no father or mother. He
earned his bread by going on er
rands. One daj’ on his way home,
he sat down to rest, and to eat his
ju'ece of dry bread near the door
of an inn. As he sat there a fine
carriage drove up, and the master
of tile inn came out to serve two
gentlemen who were in it. One
of them was vciy young—not
much older than Martin—and
Martin thought to himself that he
would like to bo in his place.
Wliea he looked at his own crust
of bread and bis own clothes, and
then at their fine things, he could
not help saying aloud :
“ Oh, dear, I wish I bad that
young gentleman’s grand coach.
I wish 1 could change places with
him.”
The other gentleman, who was
the boy’s tutor, heard this, and
told it to his pupil, who made
signs to Martin to come to him.
“ So, little boy,” he said, “ j'ou
would like to change places with
me, would you I”
“ I beg pardon, sir,” said Mar
tin, “ I did not mean any harm
by what I said.”
“ I am not angry,” said the
young gentleman ; “ I only wish
to know if you are willing to
change places with me ?”
“ Oh, now you are joking,’’
said Martin ; “ no one would wish
to change places with me, and
walk so many miles each day,
and have nothing to eat but a dry
crust.”
“Well,” said the V'oung in.an,
“ I will give you all I have, if
you will give me all that you
have, and that I have not.”
Martin did not know what to
say, but the tutor told him to
speak freely.
“ Oh, yes,” said Martin then ;
“ I will change places with you.”
But when the young gentleman
stepped out, Martin saw that he
was very lame. His legs were
bent so that he h.ad to walk with
crutches. His face was pale and
thin too, like one who is often ill.
Martin then began to think tliat
health was better than a fine car
nage.
“ Will you change places with
me now ?” asked the youth. “ I
will give you all that I have to
be strong like you.”
But Martin said, “ Oh, no ; not
for the world.”
Once upon a time there lived
an old gentleman in a large lioiise.
He had servants and everything
he wanted, 3mt he was not happy;
and when things did not go as he
wisiied, he was cross. At last his
servants left him. Quite out of
temper, he vvent to a neighbor
with the story of his distress.
“It seems to me,” said the
neighbor, “it would be well for
you to oil yourself a little.”
“To oil myself?”
“Yes, and I will explain. Some
time ago one of the doors in mj'
house cracked. Nobody, there
fore, liked to go in or out by it.
One day I oiled its hinges, and
it has constantly been used by
everybody since.”
“ I would gladlj' be poor,” said
the young man, “ if I could run
like you ; but as it is God’s will
that I should bo lame, 1 try to be
happy aud thankful as I am.”—
Church and State.
M.r Spurgeon’s church in Lon
don now numbers four thousand
eight hundred and thirteen mem
bers. Last year five hundred
and ten were added to tlie list,
but the loss by death and removal
brought the clear increase down
to one hundred and thirty-six.
ddie colportage society of the
church occupies forty-three dis
tricts of the city.
There is an energy of moral
suasion in a good man’s life pass-
of fthe or-
ing the highest efforts
-Chalmers.
WM.4T IS ESHSIST 'I'O 5JS i
is our way—ive walk in
truth—wo embrace
He
liim.
lie is our
him.
He is our life—we live in him.
Tie is our Lord —we choose him
to rule over us.
He is our master—we serve
him.
He is our teacher—instructing
us in the waj^ of salvation.
He is our prophet—-pointing
out the future.
He is our })riest—having aton
ed for us.
He is our advocate—ever liv
ing to make intercession for us.
He is our Savior—saving to the
uttermost.
He is our root—we grow from
him.
He is our bread—we feed upon
him.
lie is our fold—wo enter it by
him.
He is our sheplierd—leading us
in to green pastiires.
lie is the true vine—wo abide
in him.
He is {lie water of life—we
slake our thirst in him.
He is the fairest among ten
thousand—we admire him above
everything.
lie is the brightness of the
Fathei’s glory and the express
image of his person—we strive to
reflect his likeness.
He is the upholder of all things
—we re.st upon liim.
He is onr wisdom—we are
guided bv him.
He is our righteousness—we
cast ail our imperfections on him.
He is our s,anctificatioii—we
draw all the sources of life from
He is our redemption—redeem
ing us from iniquitjY
He is our healer—healing all
our diseases.
He is our friend—relieving us
from ,all our necessities.—Selected.
Nothing can be love to God
which does not siiajie itself into
obedience.—F. W. lioljcrtson.
There must bo something
wrong about a condition which
involves one in fresh trouble
every dav'.
Men preserve the fire by blow
ing it; so, by diligence, we must'
kindle the gift of God bestowed
upon us.—Cawdray.
SciiooLi.NO.—In Germany t,-
520 out ol every 10,000 of the
population are under school insti
tution ; in Great Britain, 1,400;
in France, 1,160; in Belgium,
1,140 ; in Austria and Hungary,
840 ; and in Russia, 150.
London Police.—The police
force of London consists of 10,-
457 men for a iiopnlation of about
3,500,000. There are 906 ser
geants, 247 inspectors, 21 super
intendents ; and one general su
perintendent.
Man is the highest product of
his own history. The discovery
finds nothing so grand or so tall
as liimself, nothing so valuable to
liim. The greatest star is that at
the little end ot the tolesoope—
that is looking, not looked after,
nor looked at.—Theodore Parker.
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