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

shining pieces of silver in my hand. And for
two reasons — I could pay my subscription ;
but chiefly, because I saw, or thought I saw,
in that little incident, the Providence which
â– would supply me with the means for study.
Nor was I mistaken. But would God accept
of me, and put me in the ministry ? Two
points had been gained. I could learn ; and
I thought I saw upon what I might safely
rely for means with which to pay for my
education. But was I called of God, as was
Aaron, to the ministry ? This question was
soon after solved on this wise. An agent of



17



the Education Society visited the place. He
presented, in glowing colors, the amazing des-
titution of our own country and the world,
and the necessity of a greater number of edu-
cated ministers of all grades of intellect. He
said he wanted men and money, but young
men more than money. A collection was
taken up. I had not even two cents then.
As the box passed me, I thought, as Peter
said, to the lame man, " Silver and gold have
I none, but such as I have I will give." I
gave myself.

I went from the meeting, and told my
excellent mother what I had done. The tear
that stood in her eye told me of her deep
interest in the act of her boy ; while, with a
quivering lip, she informed me how she, too,
though ignorant of the struggles of my mind,
had responded to the following question of the
agent : " Is there not some mother present,
who, though she may have no money to give,
has what is better, a son of the covenant, con-
cerning whom she has hope, whom she will



18



give up to the work of the ministry for Christ's
sake, and for the sake of a dying world ? "
Her response was, " Yes, here is my son ;
take him for any post, however obscure, if so
be that he may tell the story of a Saviour's
dying love to perishing sinners." Here, under
a mother's eye, and encouraged by her tears
and prayers, tlie third, and last question (to
my mind) was solved. While seated by her
in the house of God, my mother had given
me, and I had given myself, to Christ, at the
same moment, and for the same purpose, i. e.,
to preach the gospel in some poor place, where
others of stronger minds, and with better
education than I could hope to obtain, would
neither be willing, or feel it to be their
duty, to labor. This done, I could no longer
hesitate.

And it was surprising how soon the way
was opened for me to commence my studies.
True, it was with many disadvantages, and in
a way I would never advise a poor student to
take. I had to work from four to six hours



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 19

a day for my board. For a while I rung the
bell at the academy for my tuition, boarding
at home, a mile and a half from the school. I
then took my box of cold food to my room
near the academy, and studied always till after
nine, and often till twelve o'clock at night,
before returning home. This was rather a
cold job, especially in the winters. I had to
cut wood for three fires, and take care of the
barn in the morning. To do this, I often rose
at four o'clock, and cut my wood by lantern
light. After nearly four years' labor and
study after this manner, and with no assist-
ance, except the payment of my board for a
single term, and tuition for four or five terms
at the academy, I found myself prepared to
enter college one year in advance.

*****

On leaving the seminary, and after four
months spent as city missionary in Boston, I
entered the service of the Massachusetts Home

Missionary Society. At that time B , where

I went to labor, was a most forbidding field.



20 grandmother's scrap-book ;

The society was small, and without a meeting-
house which they could control. Opposition
was rife and implacable. The pulpit Bible
was stolen from the meeting-house, and hid
for months in a stone wall ; my horse was
taken from my barn and rode in the night;
the barn doors thrown open, and cattle let
into my garden, and among my apple trees.
Though my ministry there was short and full
of trials, it was not without important results ;
for the church was purified of its lifeless and
heretical members, and doubled in numbers
from the fruits of a precious revival ; and, at
great pecuniary sacrifice on my part, a neat
and sufficiently large meeting-house was built.
And it has been the occasion of no small de-
gree of pleasure that I have learned that all
the members of the Sabbath school which I
gathered there, except one, have since been
brought into the church. That Sabbath school
numbered thirty-nine scholars.

In another feeble church, where this brother
has labored, twenty-four were added the first



21

year, fruits of a previous revival, and another
house of worship was built ; and in the present
field of his labors, there is a very encouraging
advancement of the kingdom of Christ. En-
during hardness, as a good soldier, fits the
ministers of Christ for eminent usefulness.



Christian Treasury of Personal Duty. —
" Know thyself." Reverence thyself. " Deny
thyself." Govern thyself. *' Abhor and flee
from the appearance of evil." Guard the
senses. Avoid all occasions of impurity in
heart. Eat and drink " to the glory of God."
Eat to live, rather than live to eat. Be careful
of health. Avoid repletion.

A Sailor's Gratitude. — We have received
three dollars from a sailor, who experienced
so much benefit from reading the tract entitled
" Tom and Harry," that he felt called upon to
do something towards extending the circula-
tion of tracts.



22 grandmother's scrap-book ;



DYING ADVICE TO CHILDREN.

Solemn and impressive was the scene, as I
stood by the bedside of a dying father. Friends
and neighbors were assembled, awaiting with
trembling anxiety the last expiring breath
which was every moment expected. Already
had he remained several hours in a sleep or
stupor, from which it was supposed he would
never again awake to consciousness. All were
silent ; not even a whisper was uttered ; no
sound was heard in that sick room but the
short and labored breathing of the dying man,
when, to the astonishment of every beholder,
he suddenly aroused, almost as from the sleep
of death, and inquired for his children. He
said, " Let them come in, in the order of their
ages."

With weeping eyes, and solemn, slow, and
silent footsteps, his five children approached
his bedside, and there stood, with trembling
limbs and fast falling tears, while in the most



23

earnest and affectionate manner he took each
successively by the hand, and addressed them
in the following words, commencing with the
youngest, a boy of six, and proceeding reg-
ularly to the eldest, a youth of fifteen. His
sentences were short, but distinctly uttered,
and with an ardor, pathos, and solemnity,
never to be forgotten. Taking his hand, he
said, " My dear Willie, your father is soon to
die. You are too young to realize it now, but
I wish you to remember what I say to you.
Try to be a good boy. Give your heart to the
Saviour. Be obedient to your mother, and
kind to your brother and sisters. Never play
with wicked boys. Keep all God's commands ;
especially remember the Sabbath day, to keep
it holy. Farewell."

" And now, my dear little Arabella," said
he, taking her hand, " I am going to leave
you, and then you will see my face no more.
I want you to love and serve the blessed Sa-
viour. Pray to God to give you a new heart,
for although you are young, you have a sinful



24 grandmother's scrap-book;

heart, that needs to be renewed by the Holy
Spirit. Endeavor to follow the example of
those pious children, of whom you read in
your Sabbath-school books. Lay up your
treasure in heaven, and prepare to meet me
there. Farewell." To Frances he said, as he
took her hand, " My dear daughter, you
weep because you see me dying, but I expect
to go to heaven, and I wish you to meet me
there. Remember that you, too, must die,
and you know not how soon. It becomes
you, then, to make your peace with God now,
that you may be prepared for sickness and
death whenever it comes. Make the Saviour
your friend, and he will take care of you while
you live, and support and comfort you in the
hour of death. You see how he sustains me in
this dying hour, and I trust will take me safe
to heaven. Farewell."

" My dear Isabella," said he, clasping her
hand, " you are soon to be without any father
on earth ; put your trust in your Father in
heaven. He is able to take care of you, and



25

do for you all that you need. Be kind and
obedient to your mother. Be much in her
society, for she will be very desolate when I
am gone. Assist her all in your power in
teaching and taking care of the younger chil-
dren: You must be economical, and remem-
ber that all your wants cannot be supplied.
Set not too high a value on the things of this
world. Be sure to seek an interest in the
Saviour, and 'lay up a treasure in heaven.'
Farewell."

" Henry, my dear son, I have many things
to say to you, but my strength is almost gone.
Kemember the instructions I have given you
heretofore, and endeavor to profit by them.
Be very kind and obedient to your mother.
As you are the oldest, it will be natural for
her to expect some assistance from you. Dis-
appoint not her hopes. She will have you all
to care for and support ; try to lighten her
cares what you can. Ever cherish a kind
regard for her feelings. Consult her in re-
gard to every important measure. As your



26 grandmother's scrap-book;

time and attention have been devoted to study,
I think you had better make an effort to go
through college. In regard to that, however,
consult Mr. 0. ; he will advise you. Spend
your evenings at home. Improve well your
time. Whether you study or work, be diligent.
Above all things, make your peace with God
now ; and then, if your life is spared, you may
do good in the world. Farewell."

" And now, my dear children, I must leave
you. I shall never more return to you, but
you must prepare to come to me. Seek the
Lord noio ; defer it not another night, not
another hour. Some of you have had seri-
ous impressions. 0, cherish such impressions.
Think not that you are too young to seek
religion. Think of Miss D. ; she was younger
than some of you, only nine years old when
she gave her heart to the Saviour, and united
with the church ; and see how she has been
growing in grace ever since ! and wliat a
bright and shining Christian she is now !
How she loves her Saviour, and delights in
doing good !



27



" Ever read the Bible daily, and regard what
it teaches. Let there be no discord among
you. Dwell together in love, and as you en-
circle the family altar from day to day, be sol-
emn and devout. I leave you with no legacy
but my prayers, and the precious promises of
the Bible. You are to follow my body to the
cold and silent grave, and you cannot con-
ceive, nor I describe, the desolateness you
will feel when you return and find that you
have no father. But God has said he will be
a Father of the fatherless. He feeds the young
ravens when they cry, and he will feed and
take care of you, if you put your trust in him,
and choose him for your Father."
' These were the last words he uttered, ex-
cept, " Come, Lord Jesus, come quickly."



The Secret of Happiness. — We can be
truly happy but in proportion as we are the
instruments of promoting the happiness of
others.



28 grandmother's scrap-book;

THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

BY THE REV. LUTHER LEE.

'Mid all the various walks of life,
No joy is found so sweet,

As when away from scenes of strife,
In Sunday school we meet.

There truth divine our hearts expand,
Our bosoms feel delight ;

O, what a cheerful, happy band !
O, what a lovely sight !

We here peruse the sacred page,
And oft with wonder pause,

And then with earnestness engage.
To learn Jehovah's laws.

And when we chant the song of praise,
All think and feel the same

As we our infant voices raise,
And bless the Saviour's name.



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 29



THE ACTRESS CONVERTED.

A DRESSMAKER had exhausted her work, and
begun to be sorely pressed for fear she should
be in want. All this is of very recent date.
She looked about in vain for employment and
bread. So she went to her heavenly Father,
and told him all her case, and begged that he
would send her employment, in humble, fer-
vent prayer.

Soon after she had offered up her humble
supplications to God, an actress came in, with
a large amount of work to be done, for which
she was willing to pay a very liberal price. It
was altering, fitting, and making dresses for
the stage. She wanted the work done imme-
diately, and a full compensation would be paid
at once. She urged despatch.

The poor, pious sewing girl was in great
perplexity. She knew not what to do. She
needed employment, for she had prayed for it.
But was it right for her to earn money by



30 grandmother's scrap-book ;

working upon dresses to be worn in the de-
moralizing business of the stage ? That was
the question. So she frankly told this young
actress her difficulties and perplexities, and
proposed to her to remain in her room,
while she kneeled down and asked the direc-
tion of God in prayer. She kneeled accord-
ingly, and poured out her heart to her heav-
enly Father, and besought him to reveal to her
what she ought to do. She had not proceeded
long in her prayer before the actress came and
kneeled down beside her, and, throwing her
arms around her neck, exclaimed, " You need
not pray any longer about the dresses, — I
don't care any thing about the dresses, — but,
0, pray for me, for I am a poor, miserable,
wicked girl ! "

The dressmaker did pray for her — the actress
— with strong crying and tears. She poured
out her heart in prayer to God that he would
have mercy upon the actress, and bring her at
once, then and there, to embrace Jesus Christ,
as the Way, the Light, the Life. And she did



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 31

embrace him truly and heartily. She resolved
to renounce her profession at once, and there,
on the spot, to begin a new life. She was
under contract to play a-n engagement in Phil-
adelphia. She sat down at once, and wrote to
the manager as follows : " I can no longer
play for you, but I will pray for you."



Which has the Advantage ? — Dr. Hall, of
New York, in his Journal of Health, says,
" We believe a man feels as happy after a
plain dinner as after a luxurious one ; certain
are we that he sleeps sounder that night, and
feels the better for it all next day ; all the
advantage to the luxurious liver is the tran-
sient passage down the throat."

Change of time, like change of place, intro-
duces men to new associates, and gives many
persons an opportunity to become respected, by
outliving those who knew them when they
were not respectable.



32 grandmother's scrap-book ;



"NO GOD TO-DAY."

Anna was the child of prayerless parents.
The family met in the morning, gathered
round the table, spread with bounties from a
loving Father's hand, with no acknowledg-
ment of the gracious Giver. And so they
passed the day, and lay down at night, with
no thanks for the day's mercies, no committal
of all to Him wlio never slumbers nor sleeps.

At length there came a pious uncle to
spend a few weeks with them. During his
stay he was invited to ask a blessing at meals,
and to conduct family worship.

The morning after his departure the family
were at the table, and about to commence their
meal without a blessing, when little Anna,
who sat next her fatlier, looked up and said,
" No God to-day, papa." The child's touching
rebuke went straight to the father's heart, and,
like an arrow from the Almighty, rankled
there until ho found peace in Jesus, and began



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 33

to acknowledge God at meals, at the family
altar, and in all his ways.



Be truthful with Children. — Some peo-
ple tell lies to children, with a view of enjoying
a laugh at their credulity. This is to make a
mock at sin, and they are fools who do it.
The tendency in a child to believe whatever it
is told, is of God, for good. It is lovely. It
seems a shadow of primeval innocence glancing
by. We should reverence a child's simplicity.
Touch it only with truth. Be not tlic first to
quench that lovely truthfulness by falsehoods.

Worth heeding. — " Do all the good you
can in the world, and make as little noise about
it as possible," was one of Dr. Nettleton's
excellent maxims.

The most valuable knowledge comes from
common experience, and lodges not in the
memory, but in the understanding.
8



34 grandmother's scrap-book ;



SHALL I BE ONE OF THEM?

How divinely full of glory and pleasure
shall that hour be, when all the millions of
mankind that have been redeemed by the
blood of the Lamb of God, shall meet together
and stand around him, with every tongue and
every heart full of joy and praise ! How as-
tonishing will be the glory and the joy of that
day, when all the saints shall join together in
one common song of gratitude and everlasting
thankfulness to their Redeemer ! With what
unknown delight and inexpressible satisfac-
tion shall all that are saved from the ruins of
sin and hell address the Lamb that was slain,
and rejoice in his presence !



The exemption of women in the United
States from out-door toil has some advantages,
but both sexes have probably less strength of
constitution in consequence.



35



"LIVE NEAR TO GOD."

A FAIR young matron lay on her death-bed.
It was in one of our Western cities, far away
from the home of her childhood, parents, broth-
er, and sisters. The world was fast receding,

— the faces of loved ones around her were be-
coming more and more shadowy, — when some
one bent down to her ear, and said, " And
what message have you for your distant sisters
and brother ? " " Tell them," said the dying
woman, " tell them to live near to God."

When this last message from the departed
sister reached the survivors, it seemed like a
voice from the tomb, — *' Live near to God! "

— " live near to God ! " When vexing cares
came, and the world occupied too large a place
in the heart, the dying sister's warning as-
serted its right to be heard, — "Live near to
God ! "

How full of meaning are these words.
Those who obey them need not fear to die.



36 grandmother's scrap-book ;

But comparatively little stress is laid in the
Bible upon the death of believers. If tliey lire
near to God^ they are luimbered with the
righteous.

Baalim was willing " to die the death of the
rigliteous," but he was not willing to live their
life of nearness to God.

Well may those who live near to God not
fear to die. Shall not the King of Terrors be
shorn of his power if God is near ? If on the
ill-fated Central America there was one man
who had lived near to God, — and there was
one whom the writer knew, — was lie not sup-
ported in that dreadful hour ? He sent no
dying message to his friends ; there was no
one to convey it. But he had lived near to
God, and, no doubt, God was with him in his
extremity. Amid those wild and terrible
waters he could discern his Father's chariot,
which was to convey him home.

If we live near to God, we never need com-
plain of loneliness. He sticketh closer than a
brother. How lonely does the pathway of



ORj THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 37

some of our race appear ! Some have neither
father, mother, wife, child, brother, or sister.
But if they live near to God, do not tell me of
their loneliness. They hear a voice the worldling
cannot hear — whispers of a love so broad and
deep that it will take all eternity to compre-
hend it. We need God near us. We need
him every day. We need the restraints of his
presence, the comfort of his love ; his sym-
pathy, his wisdom to direct us. Happy are
they who feel God near and dear to them ;
who have him for a constant guest in their
hearts.

A SINGULAR Remedy. — A refractory patient
in an English lunatic asylum, who was in the
habit of tearing his clotlies into shreds, was
dressed in a new suit. He had been a tailor,
and either from an appreciation of their value,
or from being touched by this mark of at-
tention, spared them whole, and from that
time rapidly recovered, ascribing his cure to
the good effects of a new suit of clothes.



38 grandmother's scrap-book ;



THE FAITHFUL MOTHER.

A MOTHER whose children all bore the fruits
of early piety, on being asked what the secret
of her influence was, answered thus : " While
my children were infants on my lap, as I
washed them, I raised my heart to God that he
would wash them in that blood which cleanseth
from all sin. As I dressed them in the morn-
ing, I asked my heavenly Father to clothe
them with the robe of Christ's righteousness.
As I provided them food, I prayed that God
would feed their souls with the bread of
heaven, and give them to drink of the water
of life. When I have prepared them for the
house of God, I have pleaded that their bodies
might be fit temples for the Holy Ghost to live
in. When they left me for the week-day
school, I followed their infant footsteps with
prayer, that their path through life might be
like that of the just, which shineth more and
more unto the perfect day. And as I put



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 39

them to bed, the silent breathing of my soul
has been, that their heavenly Father would
take them to his embrace and fold them in his
paternal arms."



Most interesting Discovery. — The Rev.
Dr. McCrie, in his antiquarian explorations of
London, has discovered the Minutes of the
Westminster Assembly, in manuscript, ex-
tending over the whole period of its sittings.
Dr. Lee, Principal of Edinburgh University,
believed they had been destroyed by fire.
They are now found in the Episcopal Library
of Sion College, in the city, where Presbytery,
in its brief, palmy days, had its headquarters.

The French say, " He who has a good son-in-
law, has gained a son ; he who has a bad one,
has lost a daughter."

Those who have the fewest ungratified
wants often have the most ungratified wishes.



40 grandmother's scrap-book ;



HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF LIFE.

On this winged hour eternity depends.
Both the kind and degree of eternal retribu-
tion will be determined by present conduct.
'' Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap." How, then, shall a man make the most
of life ?

Know thyself. Self-knowledge is first in
order. The prodigal first " came to himself,"
and then to his father. The royal Psalmist
says, " I thought on my ways, and turned my
feet unto thy testimonies." If you would gain
correct knowledge of yourself, you must re-
ceive the scriptural account of human nature
as true o^ you.

Know God. He maintains your life. From
him all goodness flows. To know him, as
revealed in Christ Jesus, is eternal life begun
on earth. Acquaint thyself with him, and be
at peace ; thereby good shall come unto thee.
Honor the Son even as you honor the Father.



OR, THE WAY TO DO GOOD. 41

Receive the Holy Ghost. To the sacred Three
in One consecrate all you have, and are, and
Lope for.

Devote your life to doing good. Your obli-
gations to do good are perpetual, indissolu-
ble, and mighty. Nothing can remit them.
They result from your nature and your rela-
tions to God and man. In doing good, —

Discern the nature of things. Make a care-
ful selection. Squander nothing on unworthy
objects, or in unworthy pursuits. Learn to
judge of both men and things.

Watch for opportunities. Henry Martyn,
with all his zeal, says he lost, through inatten-
tion, the best opportunity for usefulness which
he had for many months in India. " 0, that
our heads were waters (exclaims Cotton Ma-
ther), because they have been so dry of all
thoughts to do good. 0, that our eyes were a
fountain of tears, because they have looked so
little for occasions to do good." " As we htve
therefore opportunity^ let us do good unto all



42 grandmother's scrap-book ;

Let your ability be the rvle of your efforts.
" Get all you can, save all you can, give all
you can," do all you can. " If there be first
a willing mind, it is accepted according to what
a man hath, and not according to what he hath
not." " Withhold not good from them to
whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy
hand to do it."

Never quit certainty for hope. Never aban-
don a sure way of doing good for some doubt-
ful scheme. Conform your plans to the rule
of God's providence and the dictates of a sober
mind. Beware of the habit of originating de-
vices which you do not intend to execute.

Persevere. When you have made a good be-