MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
THE ANGEL IN THE BLOCK. 
“It is related of Michael Angelo that, while 
walking: with some friends through an obscure 
street in the city of Florence, he discovered a 
block of fine marble lying neglected in a yard 
and half in dirt and rubbish. Regardless of bis 
holiday attire he at once fell to work upon It, 
clearing away its flitb and striving to lift it from 
theslima and mire in which it lay. His com¬ 
panions asked him in astonishment what he 
was doing and what lie wanted of that worth¬ 
less piece of rock. ‘Oh, there's an angel in this 
stone,’ was the answor, 1 and l must get it out.’ 
He had it removed to lifs studio and with pa¬ 
tient toil with mallet and chisel, he brought 
the angel out. What to others was but a rude, 
unsightly stone, to his eye was a buried glory 
of art, and he discovered at a glance what might 
be made nl it. A mason would have put it in a 
stone walk; a cartman would have used it in 
filling in o-to grade the streets, but he trans¬ 
formed it into a creation of genius and gave it 
a value for ages to come." 
A beautiful story this. And now as to another 
application of its moral. 
Every human being may lie likened toablock 
of marble just as it comes from the quarry. 
Parents, teachers and surrounding circumstan¬ 
ces arc the artists, who chisel, hew, polish, dis¬ 
cipline and developo the character of theohild. 
And every child is born with the attributes of 
both angel and d ivil. If the angol be not de¬ 
veloped, we inquire why not? If tho devil 
perverted passions and propensities—be devel¬ 
oped instead or the angel-—moral and spiritual 
sentiments-then somebody is to blame. Do 
children take after their parents? is there any¬ 
thing in hereditary descent? Cun a child create 
ills own will, spirit, disposition, tendencies and 
character? Children are blocks of marble right 
from the quarry, and t in* marble in t he quarry 
is coarse or fine. From a line quarry we get fine 
marble, from a poor quarry poor stone. Pure 
and healthy parents will have fine children, 
with angelic tendencies predominating. Low, 
coarse, impure, drunken, diseased persons 
should not expect much angel in their children. 
Objectors may point to seeming objections. 
We state the law. “ God is not mocked." His 
laws are neither revised nor repealed. Obey 
and live. Disobey, you prematurely die. 
Parents, look at those little human blocks 
before you. They aro subject to your molding 
Chisel. Your words, your actions, aye, your 
very thoughts, are intuitively working on those 
little statues. You bring frowns or smiles on 
their plastic faces at your will; you encourage 
or you depress; you elevate or you degrade; 
you distort or you beautify; you inako angels 
or you make devils. 
Do not shrug your shoulders and deny per¬ 
sonal responsibility. You cannot put tho blame 
all on Adam, F.ve and the serpent. That child 
came into existence through human agency. 
Its parents wore tho agents. There wore pro- 
natal influences at work which gave shape, 
tone and direction to Its body and brain. Later, 
the food, the drink, the quality of the air it 
breathed; the language, the prayers, the music 
it heard ; the beautiful ortho horrible objects 
it saw all had their effect in forming its char- 
actor, Was it born in the Five Points of New 
York, or in the alums of some other city? 
Were its parents low vagrants, vagabonds, or 
criminals, or wore they selfish, though well-to- 
do citizens? Were tneyrich. purse-proud,self- 
indulgent, distant, haughty and domineering? 
We pity their children. Children are expected 
to resemble and take after their parents. Oh, 
t hat our parents had boon what God intended 
them to have been ! Oh, that we may become 
what He intended us to have been—flnely-ehia- 
eied, polished and graceful sculptures in marble 
and beautiful works of human art! Hut how 
much more grand, beautiful, graceful and in¬ 
comparably angelic are intelligent, kindly, lov¬ 
ing, just, righteous, noble and godly men and 
women! 
Reader, let your studies, your efforts, your 
life, be devoted to developing the angel in the 
—human—block. 
-- 
JUDGING BY APPEARANCES. 
In the other years, when Maine was a district 
of Massachusetts, Ezekiel Whitman was among 
thechoson to represent the district in the Mass¬ 
achusetts Legislature. He was an eccentric 
man, and One of tho best lawyers of hia time. 
In those days Whitman owned a farm, and did 
much work upon his land ; and it so happened 
that, when the time came for him to set out for 
Boston his best clothes were a suit of home- 
spun. His wife objected to his going In that 
garb, but he did not care. " I will get a nice, 
fashionable suit made us soon as I reach Bos¬ 
ton," he said. 
Reaching his destination,Whitman found rest 
at Doolittle's City Tavern. Let it be understood 
that he was a graduate of Harvard, and that at 
this tavern lie was at home. 
As he entered the parlor of the house ho 
found that several ladies and two or three gen¬ 
tlemen were there assembled, and lie heard a 
remark from one of them, “Ah, hero comes 
a countryman of the real homespun genus. 
Here's fun.” Whitman stared at the company, 
and then sat down. 
“Say, my friend, you are from the country,” 
remarked one of tho gentlemen. 
“ Ya-as," answered Ezekiel, with a ludicrous 
twist of the face. 
The ladies tittered. 
“And what do you think of our city?” 
“It’s a pooty thick settled place, anyhow. 
It’s got the sweepin' sight o' housin in it.” 
“And a good many people, too.” 
“ Ya-as, I should reckon so.” 
“ Many people where you come from ?” 
“ Wal, some.” 
“ Plenty of ladies, I suppose?” 
“ Ya-as, a fair sprinkliu.” 
" A ml I don't doubt that you are quite a beau 
among them.” 
“Ya-as, i beaus ’em home—tew meetin’ an’ 
singing aehewi." 
“ Perhaps the gentleman from the country 
will take a glass of wine?” 
“Thank-ee. Don't keerifldo.” 
The wine was brought. 
“You must drink a toast." 
“Oh, giteout! I cats toast—never heard o’ 
sich a thing as driukiu' it. But I kin give ye a 
sentiment.” 
The ladies clapped t heir hands; but what was 
their surprise when the stranger, rising, spoke 
calmly and clearly, in tones ornate and dignified, 
as follows: 
“Ladies and gentlemen, permit me to wish 
you health and happiness, with every blessing 
earth can afford ; and may you grow better and 
wiser with advancing years, healing ever in 
mind that outward appearances are often de¬ 
ceitful. You mistook me, from ,ny dress, for a 
country booby, while I, from the same super¬ 
ficial cause, t hought you were ladies and gentle¬ 
men. The mistake has been mutual.” 
He had just spoken when Caleb Strong, the 
Governor of the State, entered and inquired for 
Mr. Whitman. 
“Ah—here! am,Governor. Glad to see you.” 
Then turning to the dumbfounded compauy— 
“ I wish you a very good evening." 
And ho left them feeling about as small and 
cheap as it is possible for full-grown people to 
feel. 
-- 
A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE. 
The Norwegian papers are full of a marriage 
celebrated between an English gentleman and 
a gypsy girl hearing the name cf Esmeralda. 
Tho gent leman is Mr. Hubert Smith, described 
as a landowner in Shropshire, and who, some 
time ago, made himself known in literature by 
a clever hook entitled “Tent Life with English 
Gypsies In Norway,” dedicated to King Charles 
XV, uf Sweden ami Norway. Mr. Smith has 
spent several summers In Norway with follow¬ 
ing gypsies, wandering on foot through valleys 
and over mountains, currying tents and provis¬ 
ions with him on the backs of donkeys, and 
leading a most original vagabond life. Esme¬ 
ralda was born on ids estate In Shropshire. 
She is, the Norwegian papers state, very hand¬ 
some, a perfect typo of the peculiar beauty of 
her race, of the sweetest temper, uod-gichly 
gifted from the hands of nature. The last 
months she has passed in a Norwegian family, 
taking lessoua In languages and has astonished 
all by the wonderful progress made in so short 
a time, not less than by her gentle manners. 
The marriage was a civil one, being performed 
by the just ice of the peace, but the rector of the 
parish attended tho ceremony, and, as ho had 
the opportunity of knowing the bride during 
her stay in the neighborhood, made a much 
applauded speech in her honor. The Norwegian 
gypsies’ friend, Mr. Elicrl Sundt, who lias de¬ 
voted the best part of bis life to Hie pulling 
down of the barrier erected by prejudice and 
traditional superstition between the gypsies 
and the rest of the community, and who has 
converted not a few of the nomadizing tribe to 
a settled and industrious life, hud been invited 
to tho marriage, which had his full approval, 
but was prevented at the last moment, from 
attending. Several notabilities from Christiana 
are mentioned among the guests, and the mar¬ 
riage was the occasion for numerous expressions 
of sympathy, especially from the ladles who 
made the acquaintance of t lie bride. After the 
solemnity, the newly married couple left to 
spend their honeymoon in the venerable beech 
forest near Laurvig, tho only one of the kind in 
Norway, uffording ample accommodation for 
tent life with gypsies. 
■-♦ ♦ » 
“ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL.” 
Years ago, and yet not so many, for it has 
been since tho war, some disagreement arose 
between a couple of married folks in one of the 
old States, and after much paiu aud suffering 
and public exposure of family affairs in the 
courts, a decree of divorce was obtained, and 
they who had stood at the altar of Hymen to be 
joined in union, wore parted at the altar of 
justice, to which they had appealed. Their 
own way each of them turned and long years 
have come and gone since tbon. The husband 
and father traveled with his burden to the 
gulden shores of California, and there, no doubt 
tried hard to forgive and forget. The wife and 
mother with their babe, struggled with the 
skeleton of hor deadened life and la time came 
to Texas. By some fatality her husbaud came 
to Texas also. 
Last Friday they were both ab oard the train 
bound from Galveston to this city. The little 
daughter, while looking curiously over the 
car at the strange faces, suddenly caught that 
of her long-gone father. Before her mother 
could stay Iter, site rushed to him crying “ Papa, 
pupa! The greeting of father and child was 
touchingand beautiful. All the old emotions, 
all tho smothered lave of wife and child came 
back in an instant. “Mama Is here,” said the 
little girl, “come arid go to her." And she led 
her father to the astonished mother, and a 
poetic predestination was accomplished. They 
met and talked as of yore, and soon all was well 
with them again. Chastened, as by fire, they 
seemed to know each other better. The sequel 
is soon told. After reaching H mston the ser¬ 
vices of the Rev. Mr. flackett were called for, a 
license obtained, and the marriage vows reas¬ 
sumed with a far better under.itandlng of their 
nature and sanctity. And thus it I* that “all’s 
well that ends well.”- -ffoMSttttt Ttatfflft Tele¬ 
graph. 
-♦ ♦♦ 
ROMANCE OP THE ORANGE GROVES. 
The New Orleans Times tells a very interest¬ 
ing but pathetic story of the life of an orange 
planter named Landman. Thirty years ago he 
came Into possession, as a squatter, of the Isl¬ 
and of Chenierc, on the Gulf Coast, lie was at 
that time very young and full of enterprise. 
By hard labor, year after year, he succeeded In 
raising one of the largest and finest orchards In 
Louisiana, although ho worked alone for years. 
After a time ho married and took his wife to 
the island, and for years they enjoyed one of 
the happiest of homes. Children were born to 
t hem and their work was remunerative, so that 
they laid up a handsome sum. Then sickness 
came, and one by one all the family died, until 
the father was left alone again. Brooding upon 
his troubles, ho fancied that the spirits of the 
dead were about him, and soon became an 
ardent believer in Spiritualism. At this point 
some greedy laud speculators discovered that, 
he bad no valid title to bis land, and set about 
in the courts to dispossess the old man of his 
island home. He would not retain counsel 
but reltod upon tho spirits to help him manage 
his case. Of course there could be but one 
issue to the case. There was practically no de¬ 
fense at all. His spirit friends did not help 
him. He lost ids home, where he bad lived for 
thirty years, and where his wife and children 
were burled. When the Judge animiitiocd Ids 
finding and decree, the poor old man arose in 
court and as.hls sole reply said : “ Please your 
Honor, there is no redress for me in earthly 
courts; I therefore appeal my cause to the 
higher courts of the third Heaven." This is an 
appeal which cannot aud will not be set aside, 
ids compensation will come. 
A DEVOTED WOMAN. 
An eastern journal calls our attention to a 
touching romance in connection with the gal¬ 
lant Colonel Ellsworth’s death, which became 
public for the first time on the day of the dedi¬ 
cation of Ids monument at Troys New York. 
The beautiful little incident Illustru'.es woman’s 
devotion. When Ellsworth died for his coun¬ 
try, lie was affianced to a beautiful young lady 
and she vowed ever after to lead a life of celib¬ 
acy. Years have passed over the young head, 
and she has not boon mercifully called to rejoin 
that other self whom she loved better than 
life, without whom life Is death. All, who can 
tell how. In the lone, starry vigils of the night, 
she has prayed from the depths of her pure and 
maiden heart so rejoin her loved hero on tho 
golden strand beyond the river, where joy and 
peace reign eternal! One who know the de¬ 
voted heroine attended the dedication of Hie 
monument, and Inquired first and eagerly for 
the noble and beautiful bride of Ellsworth’s 
hovering spirit. She was not there. Surely she 
must be dead ; nothing else could keep her 
from such a tribute to her spirit love. He 
ascertained it was not death that detained her. 
It was not convenient for her to leave her hus- 
band and children. She had “ weakened ” on 
her vow several years ago, and had married a 
gentleman who possesses the combined attrac¬ 
tions of being a successful insurance agent and 
a distinguished dealer In lightning rods. 
Though some may regard this as a step from 
the sublime to the ridiculous, yet it Is vouched 
for as being true In all the essentials. 
-- 
SHORT COURTSHIP-HAPPY RESULT. 
Four years ago a broad-shouldered, bionzed 
ranchman of California, who was in Detroit en 
route to visit his parents in Massachusetts, 
entered the dining-room of a hotel, fell in love 
with the pretty girl who waited on him at the 
table, and as he was about leaving requested 
an interview with her. At a later hour she met. 
him in the parlor and received an offer of the 
ranchman’s hand and bean and abundant 
worldly goods. She said she would consider 
his proposition and give him an answer at the 
breakfast table. 
During the night she thought the matter over 
seriously, and when in the morning she took 
her eccentric lover's order, and he asked in a 
low tone “Are you going to California?” she 
replied “Yes," and then went for beefsteak 
and potatoes. A few days ago there were seen 
riding about the streets of Detroit a happy- 
looking wife and mother, with a curly-headed 
boy in her arms, aud the ranchman by her side. 
-♦♦♦- 
Mocking Birds can imitate human actions 
as well as human voices, it seems. A Macon 
(Ga.) paper says that two pets of this stripe got 
jealous of each other, and undertook to fight it 
out in desperate fashion. One uf them, getting 
enough of it, sang out “Quit, quit," and fol¬ 
lowed this up by crylag “ Polioe, police.” And 
oddly enough there was a policeman within 
hearing, who came up and Btopped the light. 
NOV. 7 ■ 
$abktlt Reading. 
DESPAIR. 
BY MRS. ANNA CLARK ADAMS. 
A SHADOW lay athwart tny path. 
Dark clouds were o’er my bead. 
And flowers that, orst my vision cheered 
Wero withered—were dead. 
The enp I thought with nectar filled 
And sought its sweets to sip, 
O’erflowed with wormword and with gall 
Just as it reached my ilp. 
The fruit for which tny bosom yearned 
With strength beyond command, 
With toilsome reach I clasped, to find 
But ashes in my hand. 
And from my oiioti gay. trusting heart 
That scarce could hold a care, 
Hope frighten'd fled, and o’er the gloom 
Sat broodiug dark Despair. 
“ Alas!” I cried, " all joy Is o’er! 
No sun, no flowers f see; 
A thorny path, u darkened sky 
Are all that's left for me.” 
But as 1 spoke a gentle voice 
Seetnod breathing In mine ear : 
" Look up, sad soul, turn from thyself, 
Seek other hearts to cheer, 
“ And a pure Joy will yet be thine. 
Such as to angels given ; 
This ‘ vale of tears’ Is not thy home,— 
Rest thou thy hopes on Heaven,” 
-♦♦♦- 
RESPONSIBILITIES OF AMERICA. 
ATt.be meeting of the Evangelical Alliance, 
ltev. Richard Smyth of Ireland saidI see 
everywhere over the country tho evidences of 
the tendency to take from the Old World and 
bring to tho New. Well, now, I will make this 
confession, that I somewhat grudge you what 
you get. You are taking the young, you are 
taking the strong, you are taking the able- 
bodied, and what is worse, you are taking the 
able-souled, and you are making them your 
own. I dare say you mean us no harm, and you 
mean good to youreelves. Do you mean good 
to the cause of Christ? That is the question. 
Oh! tny dear friends, let every individual lay 
tills to heart, that as a citizen of :i country that, 
1 believe, Is yet destined to have ft population 
equal to that of China, a country t hat is calcu¬ 
lated to nourish :Jt)0,0OJ,000 of the human race, I 
ask you what is your responsibility with regard 
to America’s future ? Christianity will have its 
future base of operations in this country. There 
is no doubt, I believe, or ought to be no doubt 
in the mind of any observant man, as to that. 
What are you to do with respect to this? Lay 
these thoughts to heart, rise equal to those 
responsibilities that lie upon you as the pro¬ 
fessed servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. 
-» »♦ - — - 
RETROSPECTION. 
In ascendinga mountain, it is both necessary’ 
and delightful to pause occasionally, looking 
back upon tho path we have trodden, around 
upon the view opened up to us, and forward to 
the bights which still Invite our approach. 
Such halts do more good for us than the mere 
rest they afford. They give new aud larger 
views of the beauty and sublimity of nature, 
bestowing litt le by little the reward of our toil, 
and encouraging to renewed efforts. It is well 
too, for us to have occasional pauses in our 
restless, hurried lives—pauses In which we may 
look back upon i he post, aud, by the clearer 
and broader views they give us, gather fresh 
inspiration for the labor before us. 
-- 
TRUTH WILL LIVE. 
Philosophy has sometimes forgotten God ; 
a great people never did. The skepticism of 
the last century could not uproot Christianity, 
because it lives in the hearts of the millions. 
Do you think that Infidelity is spreading? 
Christianity never lived in the hearts of so 
many millions as at this moment. The forms 
under which it Is professed rnay decay, for they, 
like all that is the work of man’s hands, are 
subject to the changes of moral beings; but 
the spirit of truth is incorruptible; it may be 
developed, illustrated, and applied; it never 
can die; it never can decline. No truth can 
pass away. The flame is undying, though gene¬ 
rations disappear. Wherever moral truth has 
started into being humanity claims and guards 
the bequest. Each generation gathers together 
the imperishable children of the post, and in¬ 
creases them by uaw sons of light, alikeradiant 
with immortality. 
Most people need all the strength which a 
hlghtened pupllc opinion can give them to 
keep them true to their conscience and their 
God; and that opinion is partly formed by 
what we do and what we are. Strive earnestly, 
then, to order your life with a wise simplicity. 
Be frugal in the shows, and generous in the 
substances of life. Set the example so greatly 
needed, of wholesome moderation. Show that 
you care for character above all else. 
-- 
It is a high, solemn, almost awful thought for 
every individual, that bis earthly Influence, 
which has bad & commencement here, will 
never, through all ages, were lie the very mean¬ 
est of us all, have an end.—Carlyle. 
