Newspaper Page Text
No. 80. J
MIDDLEBURY REGISTER, KEPTEMBEft 3, 188G.
JL'srS TJIK TRUE VIXE.
DR. JOHN HALL'S NOTES ON THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL. LESSON.
ttonn X f tlio Intrrnntloiiiil Serlcs l'nr
Sumlny, Sept. 5 (lcilili-n Tcxti "I Am
thc Vine, Yo Aro tlic IJranclies."
John x , 1-10.
Tho lnngunge of this lesson is morc than
usunlly fnmilinr. Perhaps itsmeanlngdllTers
soinewhnt froin tho coinmon impression.
Let us try to know it, nnd look l'or God's bless
ing with it.
Some havo supposed tbat tho conipany
Jesus niul the dlsciples going down tho
stoep, outsidc tho wnll, snw n vlno which sug
gestod this llgure. Others hnvo hiiiigined a
viw 011 tho wull nnd its branches liy tho win
dow briiigmg upthis iningejothors think "tho
fruit of tho viiic"' suggested thc llgure, Ilut
tho fnr greater likelihood is thut Josus had in
tnind the new dispoiuatiou ho was bringing
bi, and was rnther tcaching his ilisoiples what
thcy had to d- in it thau setting out tho shn
ploand great truth reganllng union with him
wliich is i'- whero tauht. (John xiv, 10.)
Now th.- Hchrcws wero used to tho vine as a
description of their church and nation "a
vino out of Egypt," in Ps. lxxx, S; ' the viue
yard of the Lord of hosts," in K-i, v, 7; "a
noble vino," iu Jcr. ii, 21, Ezok. xix, 10, etc.
But (1) Isrncl was typicnl of God's wholo
church, with Jesus at tho head. ('-) Isrncl was,
according to Hos. x, 1, an "ompty vine,"
anil so romovod. It is with roferenco to the
real fruit to be brought forth tliat Jcsus says,
"I am tho truo vino." If hohadsimply nieaiit
to show that a soul must lie in him to bear
fruit, as a branch in tho tree, it would havo
been enough to say, "I nin a vine," or llke a
vine. Iiut "truo" implies tho roality as dis
tinguisbed froin tyi?s and flgures, just as vo
mny say, "C'hrist is tlio true paschal lamb."
(Soo John vi, JS2.) Ho joins lifnitclf and tho
churcb in ono for roasons that will uppenr.
Tliis is not surprising. It is only in another
fonn the truth of Christ tho head, and the
whole body joined to him, as in Eph. iv,
14-10. He is as such the truo Israel, the truo
"seed of Abraham." ForthopurjKiseof being
a blessing to all tho world, ho and his peoplo
aro ono. So ho represents the Father ak 1ms
bandman to him, and his jieople as in him.
This, of course, is not of him as tho Son of
Ood, but as one with his Cburcli. Of him by
hiiuself God is not the liusbaudnian. Ilut he
cores for the mystical body of which he is the
head. (See I Cor., ili, it.)
This should be noted at the outset. The
need of a soul lieing joined to Christ for sal
vation, they hal learned (v. 8), Ho is now
tcaching them coneerning tho churcb they
wero to found. Jo.sus nnd his church nmko
one groat treo, for which tho Father oares.
While the words includo spiritunl truths wo
nll need to know, tliey wcro mount first und
most for the men who wero to represent him
after he was gone.
V. 1, "I am tho true vino." The Hebrow
economy was tho shadow. Tho substunco is
now hero. God tho Father iu makiug the
covenant and giving His Son plnnted this
vhio, nnd as u "huslinndmnn" (vines wcre
what grain crops now are) eures for the vine
ho plunted, pruncs it (v. 2), ilesires it to lio
fmitl'ul iv ."), throws away tho doad, uscless
branches 'V Oi, does all tliat is for tho good
of tho treo iv Ti, and lia- crodit wlion lnuch
fruit is borne. f5o tho Father (v. s) doi-, with
bk pooilo.
V. Tho "branoh" niay bo a sertion of tlio
chureh, or a fnniily, or an iinliviiiual. If it
bear not l'niit l-ee for "fruit" Hob. xii, 11;
Gal. v, '.-'j:li, it is tnken away. Th" candlo
stick of a fruitlcxa chureh will bo reinovod
(Rov ii, .1). I'ngodly tinnilics like Jorolioam's
aro brokon otl'. Fuithlen inilividuali liko
Judas, who had "gono out," and who was
brobablv in C'hri'-t's mind, go to dostruotion
(Stv .Mntt vii, 21; Rov. iii, Acts i. 17-),)
So tho ijUiMion, Is such and such a denomi
nation n branch of tho churcb ( is not so
iinportant as this, Is it fruitfuK So a family
in the church, boaring mi fruit, will 1k- tukun
away loo its advantagos. So a dead pro
fessor will be east out.
So alio tho fruit bonring branclios are
purged, eleanscd, as by trials, to make thoin
more fiuitfid. (Seo as proofs and oxainplos
Itev. iii, IU; Hob. xii, 11; II I'et. ii, M This
is the training we nocd.
V. .'i. Tlio disciplcs had lieon trained
"clean" so as to bo llt for their iilace
through the tenching ho had given thom.
Thoy wero engrafted, had Iwlioved his word,
and boen iu purt made good spiritual men by
it (Soe I Pot. i, aa.)
V 4. That this is tho meaning is elear f rom
v. 4, in connection with v. ?. "Kut'p lieliuv
ing what I havo told you; so let me by my
words abide in you." This word from him
in them is counterpart of the union lietween
branch and stcm in tho vino. Cut oif the
branch and there is no fruit. Tnke God's
word out of men's hearts and they obey self,
tho world and the devil. (Seo I John iii, !i4
and Gal. ii, 20.)
V. 5. eniiha.sizes this and drops the flgure,
"without me," etc. Seo Hos. xiv, 8, ,-from
me is thy fruit found." Take, as an oxample
of this, Paul in Phil. i, 11.
V. 0 expamls tho idoa of v. 2, ''taketh
away." They necd not wonder at Judas'
courbe. When a uian, no matter what ho
professed, no longer bolicves in Christ's word,
he no moro doos Christ's work. He is liko
the withered, dead branchos which men
gather and burn. (See Jlutt. iii, 10.) On tho
other hand
(V. 7), if thoy havo his word in them, they
aro of ono mind with him and shall ask and
get what they will. It is safo to givo this
privilego to thoso who lieliovo as God says.
It is liko leaving tho koys with a son ora truo
Bcrvant. "Ho will do nothing but what I
would do," says tho trusting parent or master.
V S is to bo read thus; "I havo bi-on glori
fying my Father on tho earth, but, us you
know, I nm going away. You remain here;
as you preach, livo aud work as I havo done,
you glorify my Father, nnd will thus Ikj secn
to bo my disoiples to bo continuing what I
had in hand, under my tcaching." Soi Phil.
i, 11 and John viii, i!l.) Then our I)rd givca
instructions as to duty, privilego and encour
agoment in tho placo which ho has showu
them they aro to occupy.
V. 9. "Tho Father loved me, made me his
representntive to menr so I havo lovcd you
and make you my rcpresentatives. Continuo
ye in my love." (Seo Judo xx, 21.) So a good
father dying might say to his boys, "You
know how I loved you, and what I wished to
havo you be aud do. Koep on that samo Ilnu
always."
V 10 expands this idea. The way to abide
In the Saviour'k lovo is .to do his will. So
Josus, as God's "rightoous servant," aboilo in
his love. He could look up and say, " Not
my will but thine Io dorio." "The cup that
my Father hath giveu me' shall, I not drink
it?" So aro they to do.
V. 11. He was going away, His presence
gave them joy, but if they kept His words iu
thcir hearts and did them, His "jo."- tho joy
Ilis presence gave them would coutiiiue
theirs and be full. It mado Stephen's faca
thine. It mado Paul aud Silas sing praises in
prison. It made haiuts glory in tribulation.
"Joy in the Holy Ghost" tho tanio thing U
the third elemi'nt in tho kingdom of God
witliin men il'om. xiv, 17).
V 12. Uranchos in the sanie vin" aro oni
thing to ono another. So Gou's sorvu;.t
imihrth' FRtno Mstcr nrc iclati'd, and aro
M love ono nnotlur, Lnvo U pntleut, gentlo,
p'tu roii". It rt nipts .ofoirlvonoss. Itcn
laiV. U roo'. hoif, and lnal.is us tho serv
antsoftl.c iiolovcd. llcnco Chrkt's "new"
comniandincnt. The law snid "Love thy
nelghbor as tliysclf." I say "Lovo nsl havo
lovcd you." This 'is "nnw" iiidccd. So we
soo iu
(V. 1"), which noeds no oxplanntion but tho
fact of John x, 11, It is only becauso he is
s)ionking to them in so closo nnd tonder a
way forgetting nll tho past, as it wero that
hc says "li iends." In point of fact, it was
for "oiieinU's (Ps. v, i) ho gnvo his llfe.
Hence he adds
(V. 14), "Yo are," not "yo will liecomc,"
but "ye will bo suro to bo my frionds, if yo
do," etc. Tho word "fricnds," in v. i:i, sug
gcsts this nnd lcads up to it, and v. 13 makcs
the idea cloarer aud gives a fresh l-cason for
their apineciating his lovo. Ho is not trent
ing them as "servants," though thoy wero so,
but as "friends," for ho is taking them into
his conildonco, unfolding his plnns nnd giving
thom to know his father's mind as ho was cur
rying it out iu tho world. Xn bottcrexikma
tion ot this cnn bo given than wo hnvo in
Gal. iv, JJ-7. Tho fullnoss of tho timo had
come, and they wero not at a distaneo; not
servants, but sons. God was doing with
them as with Abraham. (Soo Gen. xvlil, 17.)
V. Ili. Alurther lvasou for their valuing
his lovo is that it drcw thom to him. Ho
choso nnd ordaincd them, mado thom his
siK'cial servants that thoy should go and bear
fruit, abiding fruit. Tlio npostolic doctrino
and 'npostolic ways "romain'' now in tho
XineU'euth century. Ho gavo them in that
snnio lovo tho right nnd )K)wer of prnyer, as
cxplninod in v. 7. While they moved on tho
linos ho laid for thom and in th"i right spirit,
thoy would llnd God tho hearer of prayer.
(See in illustrntion Aots il.)
Soino tcachcrs may flnd it casier than tho
explanation of ench verso to take tho topics,
the vino, the hu'bandman, tho brnnchcs of
two kinds, tho oueuess ot vmo nnd branches,
tho kind of fruit to bo borne.
Lenrn (1) Wo niay lio in the church visi
blo and yet not in beaven. Wo mny be un
fruitful, withered, do;id branches.
(2) Afllictious are not iiroofsof God's anger,
but to GihI's iwople jiroofs of love. Ho is
clennsing tho branches for moro fruit,
f J) Tho word of God is vital ; it must be in
us as the sap of the treo in its branches, if
thcy aro to livo nnd bear.
(4) Tho branch Iwnrs truit nftcr its kind
lovo like Christ's to the Father and to one
another, joy and holy obedience. The Sun
day School World.
Suniliiy ft'chnnl Touehlnc.
When we tnko ui the cnlllng inconsider
atcly or thoughtlessly, wo are in dangcr of
treating this great work with too inu"h in
difTercnce. This is tho reason why so many
continue for n brief time in tho Suiulny school
nnd then lonve it. I foar such suiwrlicial
workersdid not count tho cost. "Ko man,
hnving jmt his hand to thc plow, and looking
back, is llt for tho kingdom of God." Tho
prosfiit dny niiiiros toachers who will
work with zcal, discrction, pationee, flrm
1HS.S, irayerfulncss and studiousness, having
tho Master'.s help very nenr. Thus Suiulny
school tcachcrs will bocome mighty instru
ments in tho hauds of the Saviour; in nll
their eiroits thcy will produce a powci ful in
llui'nco ovcr their scholars. Wo rciiuirc more
tcaclu'i having such qualitics. Tho Kun
dny schiKil neeils sti'iidy, jieix-vcring wnrk
from tcachcrs who hnvo a solcinu consiilcr
ation of tho rcsponsibility of tho work, as
thoso w ho have to givo nceount. Our lcssons
nnd aildiesscs and disclplino in tho Sunilay
school .sliould nn'nn that wo aro m carncst, as
cngagud in wnrk of tho hight-st imjKirtnnro
Wo must not think that anything will do fnr
tho Sunday school, whosc chiof aiiu is for tlia
sidvation of tho young. AVhcn wo cousnt.jr
tho gri'iitncss of tho Snviour's lovo in commg
into tho world to dio tho ilrendfcil
ileath of tho cross to rceoncile man
to His Father, wo mny verynioii seo tho
importnuco and charactcr of tho work wa
co-o))erato in. The riileiuption of man wns a
btupondous und inlinito work which the
Saviour achioved, Wo, his servants, sUouid
labor with prnyvrful and solemn considera
tion. Tlio Sundny school is a nurscry foi th
training of the young immortals for an etcr
nal destiny. Tho rownrd to the faithtul will
lo glorious in a liettor world. Yes, an im
perishable crown, which will never fad
away, ctornal in the hoavens.
It liohooves cver- Sundny school toncher,
in considerntion of tho vastness of the work,
to deeply consider what is neces.sary, when h
takvs tho tcacher's chair. Let mo say that
llrst of all, Josus must dwell in our hearts,
having tho control of their workings and as
pirations. Keeping closo to the Master, and
recciving his help, his Spirit, tho wisdom h
is able to givo, wo shall gain greater influenco
ovcr our scholnrs, nnd in God's hands win
them as trophies for tho Rcdoemer, to shine
forevcr and ever. Thomasneath, Plymouth,
Eng.
Suiulny Scliools in tlio AillromlnrUs.
A vcrj- worthy mcmber of tho Society of
Friends, who is fnmiliarly called tho Quaker
missionary of thu Americnn Sundny School
1 Union, writcs to tho primnry class of a Con
giegationnl Sundny school in Ilrooklyn, of
liis work among tho Ailirondack mouutnins,
i uhcro so many go for health:
j "My dcar littlo helpcre: after organizing a
Union Sunday school, I promisisl a prctty
card to cvery scholar thnt would bring mo a
dollnr for tho library. One littlo girl said,
j 'Wcll, I knowgrnnilpa isuwful tight, but I
am going to try to lovo a dollar out of him
1 some wny.' "
To the Sundny school of Plymouth Congre
gatlonal Church, Hrooklyn, ho writes of
ineoting nhennlt who has lived nlone among
tho mouutnins for tliirty yem-s, on eorn meal
and wator, but has given 2,.00 largo Tcsta
ments to such os would ngreo torend in them
evcry day.
To tho GosihjI Chopvl Sunday school ho
j writcs: "As I drovo up in front of a grog
i shop a man said, 'Mistor, you need a icvolvor
I moro'n a Riblo up hero; nary a Christinn
(hero. Wcdon't go much on 'ligion; ruther
havo n keg of bcer and n dancc' This com-
muimy wns n ny-woril Nothing worso this
sido of Atricn.' " Ilut tho missionary i.tarted
threo schools in that neighborhood and round
about.
All tlin Oolil un Keurtli.
Somo ono with a mathemutical mind
hns flgured it out that nll tho gold on
earth to-day, in whatover sb,.pe tliat is,
mined gold, or, to put it plainer, the
gold in uso in all nations aud tho pro
duct of all uges if wulded in ono muss,
would Iw contained in a cube of less
than thirty feot. Exchango.
Tlm Unrth'ii Inliubitmita.
All tho people now living in tho world
say 1,400,000,000 could find standing
room witliin the liinits of a licld tcn
miles squaro, and by aid if a telephona
could bi addressed by a bingle speaker.
In a fleld twenty milB sqimiv they could
all ba comfortably seated. The Argo
I naut.
A GAHDEX STORY.
Tho story bcgnn on a picco of grounil,
or purlmps I ouglit to say, in it, wliore
thero lind been n ilowor garden foryeara
nnd years, of tho most old-fnsliioned
Bort. It ahvnys spenied in tlio spring as
if nobody need toucli it, tia if nll the
flowera had come up nnd blossomed so
ninny times tliat they might bo left nlone
to look after themselves.
She would not hnvo n man nbout tliat
part of lier small domain not sliot Old
Jlike O'lirien had been a gardonor to a
lord in his nativo country, and might be
trusted to take the wholo care of lier
short rows of beans and forty liills of
potntoes; but sho nover could let him
looso among tho ilower beds only once
when sho had to spend a great deal of
time with a sick sistcr, and gavo him
patterns of threo kinds of weeds which
he might pool; even then, scornfitl ashe
wns of lier directions, sho found tho top
of one of her best lilies, and nearly all
tho sprouts of her favorito mist-iilant
lying with the pig-weed and rag-weed on
the garden walk.
Sometiines she got very tiredj but
rfter all it was very good for her to
spend so much timo out of doors, and
she had tho prettiest sweet peas, and
poppies, and marigolds, in town. It was
her one great luxury and pleasuro, and
one friend after another found a chance
to give her a raro bulb, or a slip from a
new geranium, or some raro ilower
seeds, as the years went by.
The ministor's wifo had a very rich
cousin near Boston, who lived in a tine
place, and was mistress of a hot-house.
Miss Dunning had onco succeoded in
making something bloom that the
cousin's gardener had failed to persuado
into flowering, and thero had been moro
than ono niessage and tribute pass to and
fro. It was a great triumph, and Miss
Dunning was asked to write her course
of treatment for the gardener's beneflt.
The only pain sho ever had all sum
mer in regard to her little garden, was
her fear lest sho should bo indulging
herself selfishly. She really did spend
too much, according to her slender
means, in this gratiflcation, She knew
thut there were other ways in wliich the
money might do more good, and if a
contribution box passed her by in church
after sho had been buying a new roso or
a named geranium of high degree, she
felt as guilty as if she had directly robbed
it, and had been caught, by tho deacons.
But, dear soul! she tried in many ways
to give as many people as possible a
sharo in her joy, and the whole country
j village was the better for her beloved i
ilower garden. Sick people and little '
children were suro to have enough of
j posies; tho pulpit in the old meeting
I houso was ndorned Sunday after Sun- I
day. Thero was never a bride or a fun- J
eral in Littletown that did not depend,
more or less, summer or winter, upon
Miss Dunning's stoie of blossoins.
This ycar she had added to her bene
fnctions. Sho hnd sent her name to
Boston as one kind soul who would givo
a little child her ble.sscd country week.
I "No boys," Miss Ann had written in
her plainest hand, with two or three un
dorlinitigs, and if she had picked Boston
, all over sho could not have found a littlo
l maid thnt was moro to her mind than
the one who fell to her share.
She had said bhe would be ready any
timo after tho first of June; and sho was
' a little dismayed to be taked at her
word. She wished that she could at
' least havo got her weeding done; but
I tho spring had been very late.
I On the first of June itself, sho had
gone to the depot to meet the unknown
visitor, and the little white house was
put in as careful order for the reception
of small Peggy McAllister as if sho had
been Queen Victoria herself.
II.
Three ladies had read Miss Dunning's
letter together in Boston, and had smiled
at it a little. Tho "No Boys" had divert
ed one of them particularly, and she in
stantly began to make a little picturefor
herself of tho dear old-fashioned coun-try-woman
who . had writlen the prim
note.
"I can seo just how neat and nice the
littlo house is, and I know what grows
in her garden. AVomust keep that place
for a very deserving littlo person. I
really should love to spend n week with
Miss Ann Dunning myself 1"
"I believe I know just the right child,
now," said one of the ladies. "I was at
tho Blank street liospital, yesterday, and
ono of the sisters sjioke to mo about a
child for whom sho evidently had a
great alfection; a littlo Scotch girl at
least her father and mother wero from
Scotland, originally. They had both
died and an aunt took Peggy. Tho sis
ters sent for her so I could seo her. The
aunt and tho child wero brought to the
liospital sick, early this spring, and the
loor woman died, but Peggy remains be
hind. Sister Ilelen asked mo if I
couldn't iind boincbody who would like
to adopt her. She said she had been so
dear und useful they should hardly know
how to do without her; but it is really
no placo for her at tho liospital. I
thought she hnd a sweet, wiso littlo face,
but sho nceds sun and air now. I never
thought of tho country week! Do let us
send her, Something may como of it!"
"This seems to be the very place," said
tho first speaker, smiling. They were
used to Mrs. West's enthusiastic descrip
tions of people, and to the sensible
promptings of her warm heart.
"I am going through Blank street on
my way homo," said one of Peggy'a
would-be benefactors, "and I will see
Sister Ilelen about it. If your Peggy
ronies back ive will try to find her a
better friend."
Poor, lonely littlo Peggy! Sho had he
gun to wonder what was going to bo
come of her and whether there was
really any placo for her in such a big,
busy world. Sho had been grieved enough
when her nunt'a housekoeping was
hroken up, and when they went to the
liospital everything had seemed strange
und sad. N'ow, just as sho had learned
to feel :it liome thero and to really love
dister Ilelen and two or three of the
other kind-faced ladies who nyrsed th
the sick people yes, and two or threi
of tho sick peoplo themselves sho had
found that sho nitist go away, though no
hody know exaetly whoro. Sho hnd
tricd so haril to run errands quickly and
to wait upon every one, sinco she hnd
felt better and had hegun to mis's her
nunt a littlo less and not to cry about
her quito so nitlch. Bhe was a silent,
gravo littlo child and old for her years.
Sho hoped if she wero very good and
gavo no trouble that Sister Ilelen would
let her stay. It was, indeed, a great
sorrow when sho was told about tho
country week visit. They said it would
only bo a week, and yet Peggy cried
herself to sleep that night. Sho was to
go on Saturday, and Sister Ilelen was
going to tako her to tho train; but Peggy
could not bear to seo children go by on
tho street when she looked out of the
liospital window. They were all going
liome; they hnd brothers and sisters, she
was sure. Nobody guessed in thoso
days how snd this little heart was grow
ing. It would have made the tears como
quiek to all our eyes if wo had known
her and had seen the poor child sitting
nlone on a wido red seat in the cars.
bound on her snlitary journey.
We aro
so glad thnt wo know nlready something
about Miss Ann Dunning.
Ul.
Only two business men and Peggy
herself were landed by the train at tho
Littletown station; but all the idlers in
the villago were there to look at them.
The brakeman, to whom Sister Ilelen
had spoken about Peggy, helped her
down tho car stops very kindly into the
middlo of the awesome crowd. Then
Miss Dunning, who was waiting, too,
puslied her way eagerly forward to say:
"This must be the little girl that ha3
come to mako mo a visit," and tired, be
wildered Peggy looked up with brim
ming eyes into tho homely, pleasant
face, and said:
"Yes, please," without a doubt or
fcar.
"I liked her tho minute I saw her,"
Miss Dunning whispered to everybody
the next day, going and coming from
church with Peggy fast held by the
hand. "She's so handy and sensible I
don't know as I ever shall send her
back. She's got no folks. Come here
from the liospital."
And ngain:
"You'd never take her to be a 0-year-old.
She's forever a-watchin' me to try
and get what I want and save steps. She
set the table as handy as could be last
night, two hours after she come when
I was busy cuttin' and bastin' for Miss
Farlev. You know she was called away
to stay with her mother, and has ended
up her schooK-"
After such a promising beginning we
need not be surprised that arrnngements
were made for Peggy 's further continu
ance. And here again were solitary set
in fnmilies Miss Dunning, tho busy
village dressmaker; Peggy, the lonely
child who clutig to the new friend with
double atrection, because the littlo house
was in a way so much like the two
rooms in wliich she and her elderly
aunt had lived together. 'What could
have been more fitting than their being
housemates?
Miss Dunning did not prosper the less
though money was not too
plenty in a
village where there was a vounger and
moro fashionable person busy at her
trade, and almost every one of her cu?
tomers had very few dresses, and made
them herself after good Miss Dunning
had cut and basted them. But she had
some good, generous friends, and at any
rate never once thought about Peggy, as
sho did sonietimes about the garden
seeds, that she was ashamed to look the
contribution box in the face. This
brings me back again to the garden.
Thero was ono pleasant June evening
just after Peggy came I know that it
had not yet been decided that the visit was
to last any moro than a week when the
new friends wero busy together among
the llower-beds. Miss Dunning was
right in saying cheerfully that this was
a good growing year; ilowers and weeds
aliko were springing up as closo together
as they could, and just beforo it wns
dark the good woman told her little
guest that she might tako the old hoe
and wago war against a velvety growth
of seedlings that spread from one sido of
the path nearly to tho other. Nobody
had taken tho timo to attend to tho dis
orderly narrow path, thero had been so
much to do with transplanting and more
important things. Peggy's eyes had
shono at her first glimpso of tho garden
on Sunday morning, and she was prov
ing herself a most apt scholar under
Miss Dunning's instructions. Sho had
been tho somewliat neglected liospital
garden a few times beforo she left town,
and already knew the names of many
plants.
Sho looked up in unmistakablo dismay
when Miss Dunning sjioko; but she went
dutifully to the sido of tho doorstep and
brought tho hoe; then she stood still and
looked down at the green bit of seedling
cnrjK't,
"Ilurry up, Peggy!" said brisk Miss
Dunning. "It's getting dark, and wo
arn't near through with what I set my
self to do to-night."
"Do you want mo to kill them all?"
whisjiered Peggy. "Did you seo that
they weren't weeds. I could find nico
littlo places over thero by tho fenco."
"Mercy me!" oxclaimed Miss Dunning,
with great amazement. "We can't save
every sprout in she garden. I do have
a feelin' for 'em sometimes, but we
might just as well let 'em grow up into
a wilderness at onco,"
"They would all bloom and bo flowers,
wouldn't they?" asked 'Peggy, timidly.
Perhaps the poor child felt as if she had
been saved out of just such a crowd that
nobody seemed to want. "I wish I could
put them in little boxos and tako them
back to Iioston. They would grow, and
bo so pretty in the liospital."
Sho spoke as if she were asking the
greateat favor in the world.
"I'll givo you better things than these,"
said Mrs. Dunning, with a sudden feel
ing of desperate jealousy at tho mere
niention of liospital and Peggy's native
city. "Well, you needn't murder the
petunys and things to-night, anyway.
Jly back aches and I feol a chill; so we
must go in, and you can help mo set my
bread to riso bcforo wo go to bed. Tis 8
o'clock now, if it's a minute!"
And Peggy carried the hoo back again
with a sigh of relief.
Littlo tho seedling poppies and mari
golds and petunias know about their
fate, when they came crowdlng up to
gether through tho rich, hard soil of tho
footpath that lato spring; but this is
what hapiiened to them. Who over
thought of saving such llves but quaint
little Peggy McAllister? But sho dreatned
that night about carrying a llower-pot
full of small green plants to everybody in
tho sunny liospital wards, to stand
on tho tables beside tho bed or in the
windows, so that all the sick peoplo
could watch them grow. Sho did not
know how sho could really carry so
many; but sho was suro Mis3 Dunning
would let her, when she waked up in tho
morning and thought about tho dream.
It took a good deal of courage to ask
Miss Dunning at breakfast time, nnd
the kind little dressmaker laughed until
Peggy felt that she must have been very
foolish.
"It's a reasonahle dreain enough, cer
tain; but, there! I don't know how I'm
ever going to let you go back again,
you dear little thing!" she said to Peggy.
I believe I shall keep you all the timo,
if you liko well enough to stay?" and
Peggy's wondering face grew rosy for a
minute; then slio dropped her head and
felt as if she were going to cry.
"Oh! pleaso do keep me!" she said, and
that was all dear, anxious, homeless
I'eggy; and yet sho gave a thought
at that very moment to Sister Ilelen,
whom she might never seo again. But
Miss Dunning, too, was very good to
her.
A few weeks later a wholo company
of ilower pota that Miss Dunning gath
ered from her own stores and one or
two neighbors', was sent to tho lios
pital in Blank street from Peggy. She
had rooted the rescued seedling
anew, and tended thein patiently until
they were growing again. Perhaps somo
day we will follow their fortunes and
see who they bloomod for, and whether
they bloomed well. But tho happiest
day of all was when a long letter came
to Peggy from Sister Helen, with many
messages in it from the sick people
whom she had lovingly remembered in
her new country liome.
"I declare!" said Miss Dunning, "mv
garden is worth toiling over. Think of
all those folka in Boston being so pleased
to have the leavings. The Independent.
Tho Young I'nglUh Lortl.
At a coming of age of the heir there is
a great celebration. This is of courso
far more of an event than a meet of the
hounds, for it occursonly once in a quar
ter of a century. It is a feast for tenauts
and family relatives, intimate friends,
and laborers on tho estate. The house is
crowded with guests, and the neighbors
of rank often open their establisliments
and assist in the hospitality. There aro
booths and inarquses upon the lawn, an
ox is roasted whole, beer and wino are
abundant, and tho best of hitmor pre
vails. All classos minglo freely, and the
upper tenantS aro invited to the dining
room. A speech is mado by the heir,
often on the stens in front of the house.
so that more may see and hear than can
be crowded under roof or canvas. The
father and mother and other relatives
stand near, tho flag flies over him, the
tenantry and retainers cheer, the brothers
and sisters are proud, or envious, who
can say which? and the young lord feels
all his grandeur and importance, perhaps
moro keenly than ever again.
There is a drive over the estate, which
is every where decorated with indications
of loyal regard; presents are made to the
poor and their children; tho parish
church bells ring, and sometimes even
poachers aro forgiven or released. At
night the great houso and the village are
illuminated. Everything is done to fos
ter the feudal feeling that still lingers,
and the paternal system and inlluence of
the aristocracy are as conspicuous as on
any occasion yet left in England. Adam
Badeau's Letter.
The Kecoril of n I'lgeon.
Eight hundred and sixty-six miles in
four and one-fourth days is the record of
a Newark pigeon, It was liberated at
Montgomery, Ala. This time, it is
claimed, is the fastest ever mado in the
world by a pigeon for SOO miles or over,
the best previous record being nine to
ten days, also in this country. This bird
was hatched April 5th, 1SS4, from some
German military stock. Before it was
six months old it flew in dilferent races
under club rules, the great distance of
1,582 miles, tho last race being from
Morgantown, N. C, 535 miles air line,
this being tho farthest distance young
birds were ever shipped. During tho
season of 1885 it was left at liome to do
as it pleased. This season the bird was
put on tho road again. It was flown
from Altoona, Pa., for tho Yerinder
prize. It was liberated in rainy weather
and did not return tast enougli to win.
It was again tried in tho west, this time
from Steubenville, Ohio, 333 miles. The
bird did not como homo in good speed,
but in its raco from the south it has no
bly redeemed itself. Chicago Herald.
New ITse for Scrup Tln.
It is only witliin a few years that any
uso was found for old scrap tin. All ef
forts to reclaim tho tin by smelting wore
failures. At last somo ono hannened to
think tliat to placo it around tho outsido
oi tno iounuatiou waus oi muuungs, anu
to uso it beneath the flooring of cellars,
would lio to render new buildings ver
min proof. Tho plan was tried and waa
a big success. You can imagino how
tired a rat would get trying to burrow
through a Iot of sharp and jagged tin.
Tho demand for scrap tin during the
building season exceeds tho supply.
Globo-Democrat.
In the Three Profosstons.
Tlio numbor of men in tho professions
livinity, law, and medicino was, in
1880, 254,520, of whom G4,C9S wero min
isters, 04,137 lawyers, and 85,071 physi
cians and surgoons, 12,314 dentists, und
28,700 pharmaciste.
Tho American colonists of Great Brit-
ain havo a population of 3,375,000, and
JOAQUIN MILLER ON CALIFORNIA.
Irrlgntlon Noodfnl to Incrnnte Cnllfor
nln'n A;rlcultiiral l'riipcrlty.
For foity years tho Amcrican has
foolishly fought tho Mexican mothoda
of agriculture. IIo insisted that naturo
would provido tho rain. Indeed, I onco
heard a preacher, who was flghting
rather against tho priests than for his
followers, insist from tho pulpit that it
was sinful to irrigate. And his text
was that "God sends His rain on tho
just and tho unjust." And so to-day I
look away, 300 miles to tho south, and
seo a brown land glcaming and glitter
ing under tho precipitato sun, with tho
unhappy settlors sweltering in 104 do
grees of heat. Not a spear of verduret
Not a sign of any green thing, savo tho
solemn and impressivo old oaks that dot
tho boundless scono and shelter tho
sheep, and cattle, and pigs. But many
of the croatures must perish. The val
loy is, of course, sparsely settled. And
how could it be otherwise where wo
havo farms with 00,000 acresl
But away over yonder, beyond tho
capital, lies tho less fertilo vulley of San
Joaquin, green, fruitful, restful; beauti
ful and bountiful as in middlo May.
An d all this because last year tho obsti
nate Amcrican idea succumbed to tho
Mexican experienco of centuries. San
Joaquin valley is irrigated.
A poor French family, escaping from
death. brought a letter to a friend of
mine near here many years ago and set
tled down on the nearest spot of vacant
ground he could find. And that nearest
spot was four acres of tiand and gravel
and chapparal. It was so poor and
dusty and dry and withered, men toll
me, that even the rabbits would not livo
there. But it was not more poor ot
withered than tho weary family that
had worked its way here on an old sail
ship coming out from Liverpool for
grain. And so thoy sat down on these
four dry and dusty heaps of sand and
stone to stay. Let us pass over tho
wretchedness of the first year, during
which time tho man dug a well, put in
a windmill, raised a rivulet of wator,
and then planted his stoneheaps in black
berries. Briefly, his four acres is to-day a big
fortune. It is, literally, every inch a
garden! And theso four acres aro all
that this nian can handle or cares to
have. His one acre of meadow producea
six crops of alfalfa a year. He now haa
J cows, horses, pigs. In fact, he getsmore
1 out of these four acres of sand and
gravel than my good friend, Gen. Bid
well, gets out of any forty acres of all
I his G.1,000. And this is the way for
1 Californians to make California populoug
and profitable to cure the country of
1 tranips and communists. And I now
propose tho greatest scheme on this con
' tinent. Look at the niap. Liko a new
moon the vast lovel vulley of the Stcre
mento sweeps away from this ti)) of tho
upper horn around past the capital, Sac
raniento City, then down to San Fran
j cisco. Well, ttirn the Sacramento river
out of its bed here abovo Kedding and
I let it tlow down and lill the hungry hol
j low of the moon! Then will the fertility
and eternal richness of Egypt be onco
1 D1r with us as of old
It is all very easy. I urged this same
thing years ago, have gone over all tho
ground, and know what I say. Of
course I was laughed at years ago, and
derided as a lover of Mexicans, and all
that sort of argument. And even now
ono little paper is pounding me for urg
ing this greatest state measure, and
charging me with having come up from
Mexico tilled with Mexican ideas. But
timo will settlo it all my way and show
that I am entirely right. I am very am
bitious, liowever, to shorten the time of
sutrering for those thirsty and panting
brutes tliat stand in the burning dust
under tho noble old oaks over all thesa
thousand of square miles down toward
San Francisco.
I took a horse and rode out over tha
hot heaps of "tailings" that lie on the
deserted and worked out mines this
morning. I found tho few farmers who
havo settled down without first securmg
water for irrigation not in good heart.
Things are burning up where thoy are
not irrigated. But where water flowi
all things aro rank, and full, and fairly
tropical. And so let me put down the
invitation to this, or, indeed, any partof
California, with this qualification: Settle
almost any where, for tho land is all rich,
and farm or grow stock, if you can have
water. Otherwiso it is too much of a
lottery. You niay strike a "lieated term"
like this, and havo all your apples turned
to ashes.
Tliirty years ago, when I came here, a
great ditch tlooded all the place. Water
was sold at 75 centb jer inch at the head
of the sloping mining region. Then it
was bold a second, third and fourth time,
at scaling or declining figuros, till it llowed
into tho Sacraniento near this town.
Senator Jones, of Nevada, not long ago
tried to restore the great dttch. But
, ntter investjng a great many thousanda
ho let his noble enterpnso stop. And so
the whole world is simply scorching and
blazing and burning up. Small farmers
i who hoped the ditch would be restored
j are sitting by helpless and discouraged.
I And tho sightof them makes mecautious
hero today. Tho truth is, if all this
country this side of Arizona, where the
great rainfall tinds its liinits must pin
its future to irrigation.
11 theso great
rivers must ultimately flow over thesa
great valleys. Then surely seed-time
and harvest-time shall not fail. Kedding
(Cal.) Cor. Chicago Times.
l'eakn of thu CaRCiirie Kance.
Of tho Cascado Mountains in Oregon
and Washington Territory, thero are iive
1 notable poaks, Mounts Hood, Adams, St.
i Helen, Tascoma anil Baker. Hising al
I most from a sea lovel to a hight of from
10,000 to 14,000 feet, isolated and pre
dominant, thoy aro moro impressive and
heautiful than tho prominent peaks of
equal hight of tho Uocky Mountains,
which reaoh but a few hundred feet
abovo their fellows. Chicago Herald.
Tho common potato is full of most
dangerous narcotic properties, that aro
I onu- nmdered harmless by the cook
