r
B
L
VOLUME n.
OXFORD, X. C., WEDNESDAY, .SER'I'EMJiEU 27, 187G.
XTMi’.KR, r,!l.
OUlt llOSIKS'l’KAO.
Our oltl Itfowii homestead roared its walls
Kroin the wayside dust aloof,
■VVlicro the ajiple-bouglis could almost cast
'J'he fruitage m the roof .•
And the cdiorry-trec so near it grew,
That wlicn awalvo Tve lain,
In the louesoiue nights Tve hoard the limbs,
As tlu'v creaked against tiio })ane ;
And those orcliard trees—oh, those orchard
trees!
I've seen my little brothers rooked
In their tops by the summer breeze.
The sweet brier upon the window-sill,
Wliic'h the early birds made g'lad,
And the daniisk rose hy the gardcm ftmce,
■\Vcre all the llowers we had.
I’ve h.okod at many a flower since then,
Tar brought, and rich, and rare.
To other eyes more beautiful,
])ut not to me so fair:
Tor those roses bright—oh, those roses bright!
I’ve twined them with my sisters locks,
That are laid in the dust from sight!
AVe liad a well, a doe)) old well,
AVliere the s))rings was never dry,
And the cool drops down from the mossy
stones
Were falling cou.stantly;
And there never was water half so sweet
As that in my little cup,
Drawn up the curb by tlie rude old sweep
Which my fathers hand set up ;
And that deep old well--o]i, that deep old well!
I remember yet tim plashing sound
Of the bucket as it fell.
Our homestead had an ample hearth,
Where at niglit we loved to meet;
' TlieVo iny mother’s voice was alway.s kind,
And her .emilc was always sweet;
And there I’ve sat on my fathers knee,
And watclied his thoughtful brow,
Witli my childc.'^b band in his raven hair—
That hair i.-. silver now !
I3at tliat broad hearth’s light—oh, that broad
hearth’s light!
And niy father’s and ny mother’s smile,
They are in my heart to-night.
—PJicche Cary.
From tile 'Shelby Banner.
EDUC-ATE \:OVil CifilLOSSEIV.
Ediicalioii is a preventive of
■crime, 'i'lio statistics of all coun
tries show that the large majority
■of criminaLs are uneducated. Go
to your own State penitentiary.
Walk within those enclosed walls
—bcdiold four or five luindrcd
■criminals. Who are they “1
Nearly tlw whole of them are ig
noramuses. 'i'h.c}’ .are cctarse, il
literate, uneducated men. There
is not, Olio educated inau among
tile whole group of them. Go to
the Peuitentiarios of other States,
to the jails, the houses of correc
tion, and you find tlte sacae truth
that ignorance is the mother of
■crimes. If we go to the barbar
ous tribes of Africa—(M’tlie.Soutli
■Sea Island., we find that such
■crimes as stealing, murder, a^nd
gross licentiousness are the rule
of action—no.t tire exception.
■Sins and crimes there are as thick
as the trees and as luxuriant as
these tropical growtlis. In that
■countr)^ roam the lion, tiger, the
panther—there lurk huge and
deadly vipers; bu.t the people m-e
more dangar-OMS than these wild
■beasts of the jluugle. Because of
■their rudeness, maligiiiit)', -savage-
nes.s, all the outgrowth of their
long ages of profound ignorance.
We apneal ito statistics for fur
ther demonstration.
In France, :95 of every hun-
■dred criminals are iditei'ates—
persons unable to read. This is
not guess work, the facts drawn
from official records. And is one
of the most startUng and conviiie-
ing proofs that can bo given. In
Ireland, 74 of every hundred
criminals ;u'e ignorant piersons.
In Switzerland, 93 in every hiin-
lired are uiialjle to read aiul write,
in our country, 87) in ever)- hun
dred are uneducated persons.
Here is jirnof strong as Ilolv
Writ of the relation between
crime and ignorance. Education
then is a jiowerfiil restraining
force—restraining men from the
outbreaking crimes of illiteracv.
Tile reasons are obvious. Igno
rant men commit crime with the
belief tliat tliey can escape detec
tion. They ha\-e not mental
power enough to see how almost
impossilile it is tor criminals to
escape the thousand wavs of de
tection. Xcitlior have fliov cul
ture enough to make conscience
any restraining power. Nor
mind ciioiigli to foresee the terri
ble result of crime.
Education confers power upon
persons to supply their wants,
fn make a living, to take care of
til inselves. Eveiy person ha.s
numerous wants — iieccessaiy
wants. lie must have food or
die, he must be clothed or go
naked, he must have slielter or
be turned out of doors to the
pelting storm. These wants are
daily and life long. Now how is
he to get them I Well there are
three ways. He may mlierit
them from rich ancestors, or lie
may attempt to steal them, or beg
them, or do the honorable way
of making his money. Now a
man may make u)ono\', by the
practice of law, medicine, teach
ing, hut in these professions ed
ucation is a iiecessit)'. lie may
make money by- trading, by farm-
ing, hy mechanical work, in these
things, the more intelligence, the
better. The rising generation is
to he educated to secure the reg
ular ju'Ogress of society. The
mejital attainments of jireceding
generations iiiust be transmitted
to the rising ones in order to keep
the world on the In’gii plan of
Christian civilization. Education
then has referonco to the general
good of sooiet-t’, as it qualifies hy
an intellectual appi'enticoship the
youth to take the place., in order
of organized comnimiitios, of
those wh,o are removed hy death.
Tlie superiority of an .educated
mind is clearly seen in its ability
totrace out theohsonre hints in the
law.s of nature .aii,d turn these dis
covered laws into useful ends to
society. To illustrate take a few
cases, Gallileo, sitting in an old
cathedral, observed that the
chandelier susiiended ,to the ceil- i
iiig when touched swung to .ajid
fro. Its vibrating motion sug
gested the idea of clocks -Jiaoved
by the swing of the pendulum.
That was the beginning of the
millions of .aloeks so useful in giv
ing the time of the day all over
the civilized world. The fall of
an apple suggested to tlie odu-
eated mind Sir Isaac Newton the
grand discovery of the great law
.of gravitation.
The uplifting of a .tea kettle
lid hy steam generated in boiling
water suggested the idea of steam
engines. And what a far reach
ing blessing is this discovery of
steam power to the world.!
Steam iiower, unknown to the
ancient wo,rld, is made to grind
our grain, saw our lumber, .spin
our cotton, rusli our ships across
the sea and send the ponderous
looomativo thuiicleriug on its iron
track. 'Po-dai- tlie aggregate
steam power of England alone
is equal to the, labor of four inin-
dred millions of men. Whence
comes the lightning rod, that
turns the firev bolt of the storm
cloud from our home.s ? Erom
the educated mind of Franklin,
Wlioiico the 'relegrapli flasliing
intelligence aroinid the world in
the twinkling of an eye ? d'he
printing press whoso rays of
knowledge beam upon society
like an orb of light 1 Jaiok at
the valuable implement.s in agri
culture, architecture, in naviga
tion—all made by educated
minds. Jioiital forces now rule
the world. AYe close with a word
of exhortation to parents. Have
you sons and daughters? Strive
to educate thorn. It costs money,
you say, yes it does. But as
Erankliii says : “If a parent
empties his purse into the head
of his son, no man can take it
away from him. An investmei.t
ill knowledge alwavs jiavs the
interest.” Addison remarks, “An
industrious and virtuous educa
tion of children is a better inheri
tance for them than a great es
tate.”
“TJIEY SSaAI,a, IVO'il' JSEllSIS
i'OSS TllEiK EATHEJS,”
-“Two men had entered into an
agreement to rob one of their
neighbors. Everything was
planned. They wore to enter
his house at midnight, bre.ik open
his chests and drawers, and carry
off all the silver and gold tliey
could find.
“lie is rich and we are poor,”
said they to each other,' by way
of oncourngfeinent in the evil they
wore about to perform, “lie will
never miss a little gold, while its
liossossion will make us happy.
Besides, what right has one man
to all this world’s goods.”
‘Thus they talked togetlrer.
One of these men h.ad a wife .and
children, but the other had noth
ing .in the world to care for but
himself. Tlie man wlio had
children went li,omo ,a»d joined
his fainil}-, after agreeing upon a
place of uieeti,ng with the other
at the darkest hour .of the coming
night.
“Dear father,” said one of the
children, climbiijg upon h.is knee,
“I am so glad }'ou have come
liome.”
The presence of his child troub
led the man, and he tried to
push him awa}'; but liis arms
clung tigiitly about his neck, and
he laid Ids face against his cheek,,
and said in a sweet and gentle
voice:
“ I love you, father !”
Involuntarily the man drew the
innocent and loving one .to his
bosom,, and ki.-ised him.
Tliere was two older .clfildren
in tne man’s dwelling, a boy' and
a girl. They were poor, and
.these children worked daily' to
keep up the supply of bread,
made deficient more through idle
ness in ,tho father than from lack
of .eroploymeiit. These children
.came home soon after their father’s
return, and brought him their
.earnings for the day.
“ oil, father,” said the hoyq
“ such a dreadful tiling lias hap
pened.! Henry' Lee’’s father w.as
arrested to-day- for robbing ; tliey
took him o.ut of our shop when
Heiirv was (here, and carrieii liiiii
off to priaoii. 1 was so glad when
1 saw Henry -weepiiig. And he
hiiiig his head for slianie of his
own father! Only ihink of that!”
“ jVshained of his father,”
thought he. “ And will iiiy- chil
droll hang- their heads, also, in
shame! No, no; that shall never
be.”
At the hour of inidiiiglit, the
man who had no children to throw
aroniij him a sphere of bettor iii-
tluenco, was sitting at the jilaco
of rendezvous lor him whose
children had saved him, But ho
waited in vain. Then ho said :
“ I will do tlio deed myself,
auk take the entire reward.”
i\nd he did according to his
word. When forth to his labor
on the next (hu', he learned that
his accomplice had been taken
in an act of robbery, and was
al
ready in prison.
Thank heaven for virtuous
children !” said ho with fervor.
“They- have saved me. Never
will 1 do an act that will cause
them to blush for their father,”
Avoajipwsi yvoKii,
All thoughtful persons have ob
served the wide iiiflneiice of a
hea voiily-mimled men and vvom.eii
in the world, whether they are
engaged in active service or called
to a life full of quiet home duties.
I remember two instances of lives
in whose whole course no unusual
missionary effort was or could be
made, whose faithfulness was
blessed of God to results both
wide and lasting. The first was
a woman of largo family connec
tion. Poor in this world’s goods,
of timid ivaturp .and ivealc health,
whose family cares took up all
her time, ye,t this woman became
to her many relations an,d vvliole
circle of friends a very Great-
heart on the way- heavenward.
The second was a single lady,
dependent on her bro.tfier, to
whose family- her life was a means
of grace. It is no small thing to
send out soldier’s such as she sent
•—^S'trong men, act.iv.e jn fh.e battles
of the kingdom, and women de
voted to tlie cause of Christ.
Those things are encouraging
to those whose field of labor is at
home.
Some of ■us have a stranger
within onr gates; perhaps an ig
norant, awkward kit.oheji girl.
Aftc-i’ our dear ones she is more
dependent on us for happiness
than any one else. Isshonotthe
answer to the question “ Who is
my neighbor I” Yes, to her we
have a dutv which ma'V not bo
lightly neglected. She is a Ko-
raanist, and we say- if we even
lend her -a good book she would
leave at once; or she is a Protes
tant and we .say-, “I do not like
to speaJe to her on religion, be
cause it is like taking advantage
of iny position.” Ft may bo that
consciousness of our own incon
sistencies makes us fear ,to bring
up the subject. Now .these are
all hindrances.; but our duty- is.
to preach the gospel to eve.ry
crea.ture. W,i,iy- did God in His
Providence send her into a .Chris
tian home if not for a blessing ?
There are different ways of work
ing. Suppose a girl comes to us
who, apa,rt from her w-ork, seems
an uumitigated evil in our lives '?
IV 0 do not care to speak to her
beyond what is necossarx-; nor
can wo ill this spirit speak as wo
shouhl; but wo can in our own
room beg' the Savior to open her
eyes, to give us loving-sympatliv
for her, 1o give us grace to show
our faith iu (h)ily life, to gi\-o its
suilahlo words at all times..
“i will 1)0 to yon a mouth and
wisdom.” “ Mv grace is sufficient
for you.” “ If yo had faith as a
grain of mustard seed yo could
remove mountains.” These aro
promises iiooded in daily life ser
vice.
One thing which seems little,
but is of much importance in the
elevation of character, is oarofnl
attention to cmirtos\-. The mis-
tross who'says'a kind-good night
and a. cheerful good moriiiiig to
her servants, who respects their
feelings and chooses her words in
finding fault, taking pains in little
things for their sakes, acts a
Christian part to them, and often
has the ph-asiiro of seeing the ef
fect of such cxainjile njion their
heart a-i- well as manner,s. This
coiiduc.t opo.iis the way for •“the
woi-d in season” which our Lord
gives us iu answer to our praver.-,
imt us he single hearted then iu
His service, and He will glorify
iiiinselfin u.s.
B!SM,S.E SAYA.TIl' Ox\ ElItE.
The great Dismal Swtimp is on
fire. Oi-er 2,000 acres are nd'w
burning over, destroyiiig timber
and doing great damage to the
land, the surface of xvhicli is a
rich vegetable deposit several
feet deep. Gangs of laborers are
engaged in cutting ditclios and
using- all other jirecautionarv-
inoans to prevent the sjn-cad of
the flames to the richly- cultivated
fields of the farmers in the swamp.
As a result of these fires, Norfolk
and Portsmouth are overhung
with thick clouds of disag.reeabje
smoke.
In the United States there is a
population within the school ages,
of 13,000,000. The actua.l school
enrollment is 8,500,000. Of the
5,000,000 who do not attend
school it is not known how manv
aro illiterate. But it has been
ascertained that there are 2,000,-
000 of adult illiterates in the Uni.-
tod States while those above the
age of ten, in 1870 exceeded 5,-
500,000.
If you cannot bo a great river,
hearing great vessels of blessings
to the world, y-on can ho a little
spring by the v-aysido of life,
singing merrily all day and all
night, and giving a cup ot cold
water to every weary, thirsty
one wl o passes by.
“Please, sir,” said a boy- w-itli
tvvo bottles, to a grocer, “mother
wants a cents worth of your best
yeast,” “well, which bottle will
you have it ini” “Please, she
wants it in both ; and won’t -x’ou
put corks ill ’.em, and send ’em
home, as I’m going t’other wav ;
and mother says she ain’t got ito
cen.t, biff you must charge it.”
VTo can do more good by be
ing good -than in .any- otlier way-
Hili.
Persons will relraiu from evil
speaking when persons refrain
from ,evil-hearing.