Sermons & Devotionals by Timothy Shay Arthur

Visiting Neighbors by Timothy Shay Arthur "I see that the house next door has been taken," remarked Mr. Leland to his wife, as they sat alone one pleasant summer evening. "Yes. The family moved in today," returned Mrs. Leland. "Do you know their name?" "It is Halloran." "Halloran, Halloran," said Mr... Read More

The Invalid Wife Timothy Shay Arthur, 1851 "Always sick," from month to month, and year to year, friends become accustomed to her pale face and long bony fingers, her slow step and short quick breath; and weary of that faint smile, and inattention to dress, and reluctance to going out; and they say ... Read More

The Old Folks Timothy Shay Arthur, 1851 "I suppose I must go down and see the old folks, pretty soon, but it is a dull job," said a fashionably-dressed young man to me one evening. "The country is so dull, after living in the city, that I dread to go there; there is nothing to look at, and nowhere t... Read More

How Teach Children Obedience Unless taught in earliest infancy, obedience cannot be taught, or very imperfectly, and with tenfold difficulty. The following scene, from Grace Aguilar's book , affords an illustration of the lessons which there are frequent opportunities of inculcating in every young f... Read More

It's None of My Business by Timothy Shay Arthur "Wasn't that young Sanford?" asked Mrs. Larkin of her husband, as the two stood at a window of their home one Sunday afternoon, noticing the passers by. The individual she alluded to was a young man who had ridden gaily along on a spirited horse. "Yes,... Read More

Human Longings for Peace and Rest Timothy Shay Arthur There are few whose idea of happiness does not include peace as essential. Most men have been so tempest-tossed, and not comforted — that they long for a closing of all excitements at last in peace. Hence the images of the haven receiving the sha... Read More

A Cure for Low Spirits A Household Sketch Timothy Shay Arthur, 1851 From some cause, real or imaginary, I felt low spirited. There was a cloud upon my feelings, and I could not smile as usual, nor speak in a tone of cheerfulness. As a natural result, the light of my countenance being gone, all thing... Read More

A Wife's Sermon; Or, Hints to Husbands (author unknown) "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them." This shall be my text. "Bitter" is a word which conveys an unpleasant idea. Did you ever notice the sad contortions of a child's face when he takes a disagreeable medicine? It turned ... Read More

The Little Children Timothy Shay Arthur, 1856 It was Sabbath morning. Soft and silvery, like stray notes from the quivering chords of an archangel's harp, floated the clear, sweet voice of the church-bells through the hushed heart of the great metropolis, while old men and little children — youth in... Read More

Passing Away By Timothy Shay Arthur, 1853 In the very springtime of young womanhood, the destroyer had come; and though he laid his hand upon her gently at first, yet the touch was none the less fatal. But, while her frail body wasted, her spirit remained peaceful. As the sun of her natural life san... Read More

Sunshine at Home Timothy Shay Arthur, 1861 Sunshine for home plants is just as necessary as sunshine for garden plants; yet from how many homes is the sunshine banished! It is no wonder that so many children grow up morally blanched, or with strange, lopsided developments of character. Without heart... Read More

The Use of Flowers by Timothy Shay Arthur Just one moment longer, cousin Mary, I want to put this flower in your hair. Now doesn't it look sweet, sister Aggy?" "Oh, yes! very sweet. And here is the dearest little bud I ever saw. I took it from the sweet-briar bush in the lane. Put that, too, in cous... Read More

The Family of Michael Arout Timothy Shay Arthur, 1856 'September 15th, eight o'clock.' — This morning, while I was arranging my books, Mother Genevieve came in, and brought me the basket of fruit I buy from her every Sunday. For nearly twenty years that I have lived in this quarter, I have dealt in ... Read More

An Angel in Every House Timothy Shay Arthur, 1856 It is a trite saying, and an unique one, that there is "a skeleton in every house." That every form however erect, that every face however smiling — covers some secret malady of mind that no physician can cure. This may be true, and undoubtedly is; b... Read More

Great Principles and Small Duties Timothy Shay Arthur, 1856 It is observable that the trivial services of social life are best performed, and the lesser particles of domestic happiness are most skillfully organized — by the deepest and the loveliest heart. It is an error to suppose that plain minds ... Read More

Vulgar People by Timothy Shay Arthur "I suppose you will all be off to Saratoga, in a week or two," said Uncle Joseph Garland to his three nieces, as he sat chatting with them and their mother, one hot day, about the first of July. "We're not going to Saratoga this year," replied Emily, the eldest, ... Read More

Common People by Timothy Shay Arthur "Are you going to call upon Mrs. Clayton and her daughters, Mrs. Marygold?" asked a neighbor, alluding to a family that had just moved into Sycamore Row. "No, indeed, Mrs. Lemmington, that I am not. I don't visit everybody." "I thought the Claytons were a very re... Read More

Lucy's Secret Timothy Shay Arthur Mr. Walter Ferrars, who sat reading the morning paper, suddenly startled with an exclamation of grief and astonishment that completely roused his absent-minded wife. "My dear Walter, what has happened?" she asked, with real anxiety. "A man a bankrupt, whom I thought... Read More

Living like a Lady Timothy Shay Arthur Mr. Hamilton Burgess was a man of limited means — but having married a beautiful and amiable woman, he resolved to spare no expense in surrounding her with comforts, and in supporting her, as he said, "like a lady." "My dear Ammy," said Mrs. Burgess, to her ind... Read More

The Right of Way Timothy Shay Arthur, 1851 Mr. Edward Bolton had purchased a farm for himself, and taken possession thereof. Once, while examining the premises, before deciding to buy, he had observed a light wagon moving along on the extreme south edge of the tract of land included in the farm, but... Read More