Grandmother's scrap-book, or, The way to do good. Designed to encourage the highest religious attainments within the power of man .. online

Bear up, bear on ; the end shall tell
The dear Lord ordereth all things well ! "



223



THE LANDING AT CAPE ANN.

The last number of the North American
Review thus favorably notices the new contri-
bution to the history of Massachusetts, in a
volume lately given to the public by John
Wingate Thornton, Esq. Mr. Thornton's
book bears the following title : —

" The Landing at Cape Anne : or the Char-
ter of the First Permanent Colony on the Ter-
ritory of the Massachusetts Company, now
discovered and first published from the Orig-
inal Manuscript. With an Inquiry into its
Authority, and a History of the Colony, 1624-
1628. Roger Conant, Governor."

This monograph, says the North American,
relates to a portion of the history of Massachu-
setts which has hitherto been somewhat ob-
scure, and especially commemorates the worth,
and distinguished services of Roger Conant,



224 grandmother's scrap-book ;

whose name ought to lead the list of the Gov-
ernors of Massacliusetts. He came* to Plym-
outh, probably, as early as 1622, and shortly
afterward withdrew to Nantasket with a little
band of settlers, whose Puritanism was less
rigid and exclusive than that of the main
body. In 1624 he was invited to serve as
governor of a colony established at Cape Ann
by the Dorchester Company, who held posses-
sion of that tract of territory, as purchasers
under a charter granted the previous year to
Robert Cushman, Edward Winslow, and their
associates at Plymouth. After two years and
a half, reverses and discouragements led to the
disbanding of the Cape Ann Colony ; but
Conant, by his prudence and energy, was en-
abled to retain the best of the planters in the
vicinity, removing with them to Naumkeag,
now Salem. In 1628 he was superseded by
Endicott, under the Massachusetts Bay Char-
ter, and for tlie remaining half century of his
life he no more appears prominently in tlic
affairs of the colony ; though his name occurs



225

several times in the records, and in connection
with offices and trusts implying the general
confidence. He was a man of eminent dis-
cretion, gentleness, and probity, though lie
probably lacked some of tlie commanding
elements of character, as he certainly did the
sternness and austerity that marked his suc-
cessor. He felt, in the latter years of his life,
that he was suffering unmerited neglect. In
1630 he had removed to the part of Salem
which, in 1668, was incorporated under tlie
name of Beverly

In 1671, with thirty-four others, he peti-
tioned the General Court that this name
might be changed for that of his native place,
Radleigh ; and supported the prayer of said
petition by a memorial of his own, commencing
as follows : —

" The humble petition of Eoger Con ant,

of Bass Biver, alias Beverly, wlio hatli bin

a planter in New England, for tie yeers and

upwards, being one of the first, if not the very

15



226 grandmother's scrap-book ;

first, that resolved and made good any settle-
ment, under God, in matter of plantation,
with my family, in this Colony of the Mas-
sachusetts Bay, and have bin instrumental
both for the founding and carriing on of the
same, and when in the infancy thereof it was
in great hassard of being deserted. I was a
means, through grace assisting me, to stop the
flight of those few that were heere with me,
and that by my utter deniall to goe away with
them, who would have gone either for Eng-
land, or mostly for Virginia, but thereupon
stayed to the hassard of our lives."

We rejoice that justice, though late, has
been done to the venerable man, who, as
founder and savior of the infant colony, may
proffer a double title to a place among the
fathers of our Commonwealth. The whole
work does credit to Mr. Thornton's zeal as an
antiquary, and candor as a historian.



227



AN AGED DISCIPLE.

We understand that the last Sabbath com-
pleted seventy years since our venerable fellow-
citizen, John Punchard, Esq., made a public
profession of religion in the Tabernacle Church,
of which he has ever since been a most exem-
plary and respected member. He has been
connected with that church during the min-
istry of six clergyman, viz. : Dr. Whitaker, Mr.
Spaulding, Drs. Worcester, senior, Cornelius,
Cleveland, and the present pastor. Rev. Dr.
S. M. Worcester, who has sustained the pas-
toral relation for a longer period than either
of his predecessors — nearly nineteen years.
Mr. Punchard, during his whole life, has been
remarkable for constancy and punctuality in
his attendance upon public worship, and has
undoubtedly listened to more sermons than
any person now living among us ; and al-
though he has nearly completed his ninetieth
year, he still sets an example in this respect

* Salem, Mass.



228 grandmother's scrap-book;

which it would be well for many, who nre
scores of years his juniors, to imitate. "We
•understand that there are two females living,
who have been members of the above church
for sixty-five years.

Forty-one years have just elapsed since the
first missionaries to the heathen in foreign
countries, viz., Samuel Xewell, Adoniram Jud-
son, Samuel Nott, Gordon Hall, and Luther
Rice were ordained in this country. The
ordination took place in the Tabernacle
Church, on the 6th of February, 1812. We
learn that Dr. Worcester took an appropriate
notice of the facts above stated, in liis sermon
on the last Sabbath, and that his remarks were
peculiarly affecting and impressive, — espe-
cially those in reference to two youthful disci-
ples, who were then admitted to the church,
standing wdiere our venerable friend stood
seventy years before, who was now present to
rejoice with them in having taken a stand
which he took in his youth, and which he had
never regretted.



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 229



PREPARATION FOR DEATH.

When you lie down at night, compose your
spirits as if you were not to awake till the
heavens be no more. And when you awake in
the morning, consider that new day as your
last, and live accordingly. Surely that night
Cometh of which you will never see the morn-
ing, or that morning of which you will never
see the night ; but which of your mornings or
nights will be such, you know not. Let the
mantle of wordly enjoyments hang loose about
you, that it may be easily dropped when Death
comes to carry you into another world. When
the corn is forsaking the ground, it is ready
for the sickle ; when the fruit is ripe, it falls
off the tree easily. So when a Christian's
heart is truly weaned from the world, he is
prepared for death, and it will be the more
easy for him. A heart disengaged from the
world is a heavenly one, and then we are ready
for heaven when our heart is there before us.



230 grandmother's scrap-book ;



COUNSEL TO A CLERK.

A YOUNG man in New York, who seems to
have questioned whether any savings of his
would be safe in a Savings Bank, requested the
editor of a daily paper to give his judgment
whether any pecuniary revulsion, like that of
1837, miglit be at hand to peril the Savings
Banks. * The sage editor, having little fear for
the Savings Banks, replied, —

" ' Merchant's clerk ' does well to keep a
bright lookout for the future ; but if he will
eschew stock speculations, fast horses, fast
women, costly cigars, mixed drinks, the the-
atre, and billiard-rooms ; will dress econom-
ically, spare a portion of his surplus earnings
for the gifts of a true charity, and deposit the
remainder in a Savings Bank ; avoid unprofit-
able companions, keep the Sabbath, go to bed
early, and devote his time, his thoughts, and
his energies to the interest of liis employers,
we will insure him against the effects of the
most severe commercial revolution."



231



SINGULAR RECOVERY OF A YOUNG
LADY GIVEN UP TO DIE.

A MOST singular case of the recovery of a
young lady in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, from
a long, and apparently fatal illness, is published
in the New Bedford Standard, as narrated by
the young lady herself. Miss Louisa James,
an intelligent and accomplished young lady of
twenty-one years, the daughter of widow Mary
Mitchell, residing on Rotch Street, Fairhaven,
has been ill for the greater part of a year past,
and for the last four months she has been con-
fined to her bed. The physicians pronounced
her disease one of the heart and lungs, and
though the best of medical aid was procured for
her, she continued to fail rapidly, and at last
it was announced that human skill could do
nothing more for her. For the last two
months she lost all control of her lower limbs,
and it was with the greatest difficulty that she
could be moved. She bore lier intense suffer-



232 grandmother's scrap-book ;

iugs witli Christian fortitude. She was re-
duced so low that her stomach refused the
slightest nourishment. On Wednesday, tlie
8th instant, a female friend visited her, and in
the course of a conversation remarked that
the Rev. Joseph K. Bellows of New York, of
the Second Advent persuasion, to which the
invalid belonged, was in town for the purpose
of holding a series of meetings. Miss James
earnestly desired to see him, and in the evening
he called at her residence. She felt that
should the reverend gentleman pray for her she
should recover, and after a short conversation
she made such a request.

The clergyman and the mother of the in-
valid knelt down, and a fervent and earnest
prayer was offered up in her behalf. The
mother informs us that before the minister
prayed, the body of her daughter was as cold
and frigid as marble, and at the close of the
exhortation she perspired freely. Miss James
describes her sensations during the prayer as
similar to those of a person receiving a gal-



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 233

vanic shock. That night she passed comfort-
ably, and in the morning she arose and dressed
herself without assistance, and on the following-
Sabbath she attended church. She is now
enjoying the best of health, and relishes the
heartiest food.



A Smart Old Man. — Mr. Nathan Clark,
of North Rochester, Massachusetts, aged eighty-
eight years and nine months, lately walked
from that place to the Head-of-the-Rtver, a dis-
tance of eight miles, to visit his friends, with-
out seeming to be much fatigued with his
journey. On his eighty-eighth birthday he
felled a cord of wood for a present to a needy
widow, and in the evening walked three miles
to a party given in honor of his pastor. Rev.
"VV. W. Meech. He has never seen a sick day.
His food is principally bread, milk, and baked
apples ; his drink, cold water, which he says
" God made, and pronounced good." He is
still hale and erect, in the enjoyment of good
health, and bids fair to reacli over a hundred
years. " Go and do likewise."



234 grandmother's scrap-book;



A MAN KILLED BY A LION AT ASTLEY'S
LONDON AMPHITHEATRE.

At Astley's Amphitheatre, London, on the
7th instant, an undergroom named Smith was
literally throttled to death by one of the lions
which play so prominent a part in the holiday
entertainments at that favorite place of amuse-
ment. The lions, three in number, are con-
fined in a cage at the back of the stage. Wlien
the night watchman left the theatre in the
morning, a few minutes before seven, he re-
ported " all right." Shortly afterwards Smith,
the deceased, entered the place and found the
lions prowling about. They had torn off a
heavy iron bar, which crossed the front of their
cage, and then burst open the door. Smith
was alone ; and not being familiar with the
animals, he attempted to escape into an ad-
joining stable-yard. His situation was a
frightful one, and most men would have acted
precisely as he did under similar circum-



235



stances ; but the probability is, that if he had
stood his ground boldly, his life would have
been saved. Unfortunately, one of the lions —
known by the name of Havelock — caught
sight of his retreating figure, and instantly
sprang upon him. It seized him by the
haunches, pulled him to the ground, and then
fixed its teeth in his throat. Death must have
been almost instantaneous, but as Smith was
found a good deal cut up and bruised at the
back of the head, it is supposed that the lion,
after burying its fangs in his throat, dragged
him about, and dashed his head against the
ground. There were no cries for help, but a
sort of shuffling noise was heard by a man in
the stable-yard. He suspected what had oc-
curred, and did not venture to open the door
through which Smith had endeavored to es-
cape, but he gave the alarm, and in a few
minutes was joined by several grooms and
others connected with the theatre. They were
all, however, too much afraid to enter the
place, and nothing was done to ascertain the



236 grandmother's scrap-book;

fate of Smith until the arrival of Crockett, the
Lion Conqueror, to whom the animals belong.
As soon as he reached the spot, he passed
through the door alone, none of the others
daring to follow. The body of Smith was
lying face upwards a few feet from the door,
and Havelock was crouching over it as a hun-
gry dog crouches over a piece of meat. Crock-
ett immediately threw the animal off, and
dragged the body into the yard. It was still
warm, but life had been extinct for some time.
A surgeon was sent for, but of course he could
render no assistance. Crockett lost no time in
securing the lions. They allowed him to cap-
ture them easily enough. Even Havelock did
not offer any resistance, and the other two,
which had taken no part in the terrible scene
with Smith, seemed rather afraid than other-
wise. In a few minutes all three were back in
their cage again, and at night they went
through their usual performances before a
crowded audience.



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 237



COMMERCIAL VALUE OF HONESTY.

An old trader among the Northern Indians,
who had some years ago established himself on
the Wisseva, tells a good story, with a moral
worth recollecting, about his first trials of
trading with his red customers. The Indians,
who evidently wanted goods, and had both
money (which they called shane aK) and furs,
flooded about his store, and examined his
goods, but for some time bought nothing.
Finally, their chief, with a large body of his
followers, visited him, and accosted him with,
'' How do, Thomas ; show me goods ; I take
four yard calico, three coon-skins for yard ; pay
you by'm-by : to-morrow ; " received his goods
and left. Next day he returned with his whole
band, his blanket stuffed with coon-skins.
" American man, I pay you now ; " with this
he began counting him out the skins, until he
had handed him over twelve. Then, after a
moment's pause, he offered the trader one



238 grandmother's scrap-book ;

more, remarking as he did it, " that's it." " I
handed it back," said the trader, telling him
he owed me but twelve, and I would not cheat
Irim. We continued to pass it back and forth,
each one asserting that it belonged to the
other. At last he appeared to be satisfied,
gave me a scrutinizing look, placed the skins
in the fold of his blanket, stepped to the door,
gave me a scrutinizing look, and yelled with a
loud voice, " Come, come and trade with the pale
face ; he no cheat Indian ; his heart big." He
then turned to me and said : " You take that
skin ; I tell Indian no trade with you — drive
you off like dog — but now you Indian friend,
and we yours." Before sunrise I was waist
deep in furs, and loaded down with cash. So
I lost nothing by my honesty.



Step in no path, speak no word, commit no
act, when conscience appears to whisper
" Beware."



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 239



WHAT IS GOD?

What is God? God is a spirit. What is
God? God is love. He encampetli about them
that love him. He did so in a peculiar manner
about George Washington, and used him as an
instrument in the salvation of this nation ; and
now shall we lose it in this present struggle ?
God forbid ! When he informed his pious
mother that his nation required his services,
her answer was, " Go, George ; " and when she
gave him the parting kiss, she goes to her re-
tired room, and prays to God to encamp about
him. Her prayer was heard and answered, and
our nation was saved.

On his way to receive his commission, who
would not like to have looked into that work-
shop, and see what was going on in that warm
heart filled with love for his nation, his fellow-
man, and his God? And that deep-rooted
principle, that no fiery darts of Satan could
remove, and that constant, silent prayer lifting



240 grandmother's scrap-book;.

up to God to encamp about him, and for the
descent of the Holy Spirit to guide him through
all truth, and show him the way. Therefore,
what could we expect but God's blessing?
And as he goes forward in our nation's strug-
gles, we find him in his winter quarters,
needing supplies. After sending to Congress
several times, without any definite answer, he
supplied his army out of his own money. His
soldiers became attached to him, and would
not leave him until the close of the war. God
encamped about him. One Indian, after firing
twenty times with a good rifle, said he was not
to be killed with a bullet.

His goodness was not confined to his army.
Many a poor family received bread, and did not
know the donor. He directed bakers to leave
them bread and bring their bill to him. And
while at Mount Yernon, God encamped about
him there. A gentleman on a visit there
noticed that he always left the room at a cer-
tain hour. Wishing to know why, he opened
the door into the entry, and heard him in



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 241

another room at prayer. So lived and died
this good man. Much more might be said,
but enough has been, to show that he was a
man after God's own heart.



The Tract Society and the Army. — A
donor in Wisconsin writes, " When you see
the immense good the American Tract Society
has been prepared for and raised up to do in
this day of our country's need, I look with
veneration on the choice spirits that laid its
foundations, and have sustained this great
work of Christian benevolence with all its in-
creasing power to do good."

A soldier of the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry,
near Culpepper, Va., referring to an unex-
pected gift of a messenger while he was wishing
for something good to read, says, " My heart
leaped for joy. It was to my soul as angels'
food to the children of Israel. My soul was
greatly blessed while reading it." He sends
fifty cents for Messengers for soldiers.
16



242 grandmother's scrap-book ;



THE WAR

It is often asked why our present war is not
brought to a close. You ask the returned sol-
dier, and he will tell you that if the officers
would go forward, the war would soon be
brought to a close. They have got to make
their pile out of the government ; when that
is done, they think they will go forward. But
it is not so with all. Some are worth their
weight in gold, and their names will be handed
down through all posterity as an honor to our
nation.

The South have been put into the furnace
of affliction, and the North have been put in
with them for participating with them in their
sins. In order to be taken out, we must pay
the price. God told the people of Nineveh
what the price would be. They paid the price,
and were saved. And he has not altered his
law. Shall we not do likewise ? Jonah deliv-
jers his njessage : " Yet forty days, and you shall



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 243

all be destroyed." Hear that heathen monarch
to his people : " We will betake ourselves to
dust and ashes, and repent of our sins ; and
who knows but God will forgive us ? " " Confess
your sins unto God, and he is faithful to for-
give." Now, says Jonah, " I shall be mocked."
Hear God's answer : " Shall I destroy a people
that do not know their right hand from their
left, after they have repented in dust and
ashes ? " They paid the price, and were
saved. Shall we be less wise than they, and
lose our nation ? Reader, you have part of
this price to pay yourself : examine the third
chapter of Jonah, and see what it is.



" Pray without ceasing." You are a tel-
egraphic spirit. God is at one end of the
wire and you at the other. " Whatsoever you
ask in faith shall be given you."



244 grandmother's scrap-book;

A SEA-CAPTAIN'S OPINION OF NOVELS.

A colporteur entering the cabin of a large
bark, and finding the captain alone, said, " Sir,
should you like some religious books for this
voyage ? "

*' Yes, I should ; I was formerly a novel-
reader, until I found I was becoming crazy.
My reading now is religious. I have from time
to time read novels all night. Finding I was
becoming insane, I gathered up all my novels,
opened my cabin window, and gave them a
slide into the ocean."

Would not all novel readers do well to
gather up all their novels and give them a
slide into the fire ? Novel-reading betokens
a diseased mind, or that of a child. Is it not
strange that a person of a well-balanced mind
can spend their precious golden moments over
light, nonsensical, fictitious reading while in
view of the solemn realities of eternity and its
unchanging decisions ? Is it not because there



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 245

is no meditation ? The Bible command is,
" Meditate upon these things." " The ox
knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib,
but my people do not consider."

You will find on your table a package of let-
ters from your elder brother. " He has gone
to prepare a place for you." To enable you to
find him, he has directed you to search them
daily. It is a revelation from God. The man-
ner in which you receive them will determine
your eternal destiny. Have you broke the
first seal ? When properly studied, it becomes
the most interesting of all books. Perhaps you
may say you do not understand the doctrine.
" He that doetli my will shall know of the doc-
trine." You know your duty, — do it. You
may say that your sins are so numerous they
cannot be forgiven. " The ^ blood of Christ
cleanseth from all sins." " Confess your sins
unto God, and he is faithful to forgive "
" Seek and you shall find, knock and it sliall
be opened unto you." " According to your
faith be it done unto you." " Never has it



246 grandmother's scrap-book;

entered into the heart of man to conceive the
things that are prepared for them that love
God."

Christ has a crown for all that choose to ask.
Reader, is it worth asking for ? Trusting in
the Lord that you have, through his grace,
decided to accept of this crown, therefore we
would ask a double portion of his divine grace
to rest upon you all.



A Useful Hint to Young Men. — For your
own comfort, for your friend's solace, for the
sake of your eventual prosperity, cultivate a
strict and manly habit of economy. It is im-
possible to raise a good character without it.
And this one single article, economy, connected
with moderate talent, will recommend you to
all from whom you may wish confidence or
expect remuneration. Assistance, should you
need it, will not be withheld, if it is known
that your care of personal expense is correct.



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 247

PRAY FOR EDITORS.

Do ministers and Christians pray as they
ought for the editors of the religious and secu-
lar press ? We fear not. A moment's consid-
eration will show the vast importance of pray-
ing for these men.

They exert a mighty influence on society, on
churches, on rulers, on governments, and on all
the interests of mankind. Their power for good
or for evil is incalculable. Pray that this
power may always be wisely directed.

To fulfil their high calling faithfully, they
need special gifts and qualifications. What
wisdom, knowledge, prudence, faith, integrity,
courage, firmness, patience, watchfulness, love
of truth, God and man, freedom from covetous-
ness, passion, and ambition, they need, that
they may sift truth from error, separate the
precious from the vile, rebuke the wicked,
strengthen the righteous, and never contami-
nate their columns with any thing that is impure
or pernicious ! Pray for them, that they may
be endowed with every requisite gift.



248 grandmother's scrap-book;



BE IN EARNEST.

Where there is deadness in a man's own
soul, there is not likely to be much vitality in
his work ; and where there is little vitality, there
will also, in all human probability, be but little
success. When a man is not in earnest about
a thing, he is easily discouraged ; he will not
try again and again ; he will not determine (God
willing) that it sJiall be done. When a man is
in earnest about a thing, he brings every re-