davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
THE MYsTREY OF EDITING.

TIE world at large do not understand tbs
mystery Of newspaper; and as IN a watch, tho
hands are but the passive instrument of the
spring, which is never seen; so is a newspapers
the most worthy cause Of ito prosperng ars
eGtcn leas. observed or known. Who suspects
tho benefit which paper derives from the enter
prise, vigilance and waichIll care OF its publish
crs? Who pauscs to think how much Of tho
pleasure of reading is derived from the skill
and care Of the printer? We feel tho blemishes
of printing if they exist, but seldom observe the
cxcellencies We eat Il hearty dinner, hut do
not think Of the farmer who raised the materials
thereof, or the cook who prepared them with in
finite pains and skill. But the cook Of vegea-
bles. meats, pastries and infinite bones, has n
paradoisicoI office in comparison with the editor!
Before him pass in review all the exchange pa
pers. He Is to know all their contents, to mark
for other eyes the matter that requires attention.
His scissors are TO be alert and clip with inces-
sant Industry all the little items that together
form 80 large an interest in the department.
lie passes IN review each week every section Of
the country through the newspaper lens-he
looks across :ho oceans and soeS strange lands
and fpllowing the ,un ho reaches all over tho
world for material.
1t will require bit one second time for the
readers to take in what two hours search pro!
duced. BY him are read the manuscripts that
swarms the Office like flies in July. 1t is his
discreet s:ernncss that reNists sentimental obu.
uares that gives your poets u lwang on which
TO sing their first lays.
The power behind the throne, in newspapers
as to higher places is sometimes as important
AS the throne itself. Correspondents, occasional
or rngular, stand in awe at that silent power
which has the last chance at an article, and who
sends forth in glory or humility. In Short ms
the health depends on good digestion. 50 tho
health Of I. paper depends upon the digestion
which goes by means Of the cditor.- Henry
Ward Beechcr.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

How TO MAKE MoNEy Lot the business Of
overybody else alone, and attend to yonr own ;
don'i bny what you don't want; use every hour
to advantage, and study to make yonr leisure
hours useful think twice before ven throw a.
way shilling, remember you will have another
to make for it find recreation in looking over
your business; buy low. sell fair, and take
care Of the profits; look over your hooks rcgu-
lnry and it yon find an error trace it out
should a stroke Of misfortune come upon you
in trade. retrencb, work harder, bat never fly
the track control difficulties with unhinching
perseverance and they will disappear at last ;
though you should fail in the struggle, you will
be honored but shrink from the task, aud you
will be deswiser.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
FIRST LOVE.

Joy TO the warrior, and JOY to the maid
They wandering alone where the primroses smile
She has listened at length to his VOWS, and has laid
Her head on his bosom awhile.
Hail to the warrior, and hail 20 the maid
The season Of doubt and distraction is DER
The orange-wrcsth blends with her hairs snowy braid
They are kneclins the altar before,
Woe to the warrior. and woe to the maid
Ere no caledher his, Wars stern clarion was heard
''Bear up, my beloved ~ the young hero said
Then forth his fierce charger he spurrOd
Peace to the warrior, and peace to the maid
lie fell the battle c-plan-she sought his grave
She laid herself down where her hero was laid,
And FER those true lovers the wild flowers wave.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

PowrR OF A TTonsE's SCETr. 4 correspond
en- Of the Iiomesicad says ;--"There is one
percep,on that horse possesses, that bur the
tie attention has been paid to, and that is lit
mower OF scent With some horses il is az
acute as with the dog, and for the benefit of
those who have to dive nights such as rhysi-
clans and others this knowledge is invaluable,
never knew it TO fail and have rldcn hun
dreds of miles dark nights; and, in consiaera-
ton of this power of scent this is my simple adj
vice: never check your horse at night, but
give him a free head and you may rest assured
thar he will never get off the road and will
carry you cxpeditiou.ly and safe In regard
to the power of scent in a horse, | once knew
one of a pair that was stolen, and recovered
mainly hv the track being made ont hy his
mate, and that after he had been absent six or
eight hours"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
Horrors of the Irish Famine.

| There remains no doubt that another famine
as terrible rs that of lS46, has fallen upon the
Irish people. Not third of the pota.oe crop
will be secured, or if secured, remain uutouch.
ed by the rot, The people will not even have
sufficient good potatoes for seed another year.
A death has actually occurred from starvation
in county Clara. There is such pnchng dis.
tress in Sligo that the moral and industrious
people Of that district will have no alternative
but famine or the work.houSe. In limerick,
not only the potatoes but the wheat and hay are
lost. Prices in the northern counties for sound
potatoes are four times to average of late years,
and more than six times the rates Of tweuty
years ago. An alarming dmnuion Of the cul.
tvated acres and live stock of the whole island
is shown by the latest official returns: the de-
crease Of cultivated acres since 1860 is 81 ,373,
of which moro than two.thirds are in cereal
and green crops The decreased value Of dom.
este animals from lSG0-nll species having
fallen ofl excepting sheep-is estimated at over
G4,l60 600 setcrling. This startling abandon
ment OF busbaudry Is explained by two success
sve bad harvestS, and the cootinued rapid cmi-
grafton of the impoverished pcasantry The
authorities Of Skihbcrccn have applied for a
loan Of &c, 600 from the British & -vermcn', in
order to set their poor people at work in con-
strncting the West Cork railway. A public
meeting IN Galway, where the winter has set in
with unusual scycrjty,a memorial was drawn up
70 the Lord lieutenant, asking that additional
sources Of employment he opened in draining
land, cons ructing "rs and improving harbors
on the coast, etc. Without some such aid,
thousands Of people of Connauaht will freeze or
starvc to death. Archbishop Mclla'e has writ.
ten another and more urgent letter to Lord Pal
mers,on. telling him that the cold and formal
answer that "thc government has the subject
under consideration will give neither raiment
nor nutriment to mrllitudes on the brink Of
fmishing, from want of fue! as well as from
hunger.
1t is properly the duty Of the British nation
to provide against the disasters Of this iufcton +;
but the natural generosity Of the Ameriaan
people, stimulated at this time by the heroi>m
and devotion OF cur Irish fellow citizens in the
war for the Uuion, wii not be restrained by the
plea that we are not our brothers Keepers
Already, in New Englond the charitable are
moving. Capt. Adams, Of Kingston, Mass a
veteran ship-mastcr retired from active service,
prs, oses auolhcr eyr yreli;ion Of mercy like that
of 1911. lie is willing to contribute one hum
dtel barrels Of flour toward cargo Of lroyl--
ions to We sen; to the starving poor Of Ireland
The generous clptain will likewise gratutous)y
command the vesael on her passage to and from
that unhappy country, provided no speeches are
TO he made on either side Of the Atlantic.-
This is benevolent offer
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

NEVER GIVE Up-What if you fail in bust
rcss? You still have life and health. Don't
sit down and cry about mshaps, for that will
never get you ont of debt, nor buy your children
clothes Go to work at something Cot sparng.
ly, dress moderately. drink nothing exciting,
above all, keep a merry heart and you'll be up
in the World
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

In IIEGr"-A Scotch farmer, who was RI
ding horseback on moonlight night with his
man Watt, stepped at tavern to bait his horse,
and as be had been drinking good deal of
hot stuff it took but few more glasses TO make
him drunk. In this condition he mounted and
started fer home The moon was shining SO
bright that he forgot the time Of day, and said
to his man:
"Wat,y. we're name the woss for that last
glass o. whiskey this frosty morning"
Faith, )" said Wauy blowing his fingers and
locking as blue as biIberry your honor may
he name the worse for it, but m name the bet
ter. wish was"
On they rode the farmer gripping hard at tho
horses name and rolling about like sack Of
meal for the cold air was Legnning TO make
the spirits tel on him,--At last they came TO
Bit olbrook that crossed the road, and the far
ncr'S horse being pretty well used to having
his own way, stopped short, and put down his
10 drink. This had the effect to make the ri
der lose his balance, nd away he went over
his head into the middle of the brook. The
farmer had !inst sense enough to hear the splash.
aud know that something was wrong, but he
was so drunk that he did not suspect that it was
himself,
"Watty, ny man, somebody's fallen into the
stream hasn't there
'Fairb, you may say that" replied Wauy.
V;ka to roll eff with laughing, "ior its Just your
self, master"
"iioot, fe, Waty! cried the farmer, with
a hiccup at every word, it surely Gamma be me,
Wat'y, for I'm herc!'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Az EDITORIAL Squash When O. 5. Fowl.
ESQ the s;ory runs-Grst commenced 'tfc
examination of bumps, some of the students III
the New York University were disposed to
quiz him. A peculiar shaped squash vas
toaud in the College yard, and a plaster cast
taken or one end Of it, quite closely resembling
the cast Of human skull. This was taken tD
I'owlcr's rooms, and be was given to under.
stand that the original was closely connected
with literary nstt,i,ion. The pbrcnologiSt
took the cast in his hand and examined it with
some care, when a bright thought struck him
"You need not think young mon, 10 catch me?
said he to the studeuts, do you think L don't
know the head Of Horace Greeley"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

A yender hoop skirts as recently exlolling
his wares in presence of a customers husband
"No lady should be without ons # these skirts,
said the >torcr, We'll, of course not, dryIy
responded the husband who was somrrhin. If
Wsg-shc should be within it,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

a man in Michigan, not long since com
mitted suicide 10y drowning As the body
could not be found, the coroner hald an inquest
on his hat and jacket, found on the bauk Of
the lake, Verdct-"found empty"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

AFFECTING oRATuR.-A gentleman observed
upon an indifferent pleadcr at the bar, that he
was the most affecting orator he ever heard fcI
lac never attempted to speak Lu. lie "sr,cl
general svIapSthy
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

There are melancholy men to whom life is
only dismal swamp, upon whose margin they
walk, making signals to death TO come and foI-
ry them over the lake.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

A subscriber to moral reform paper called
At the pos-offics the o.her day, and inquired il
the Friend Of Virtue" had come. "No," re-
piled the pott-master; "there has been no such
person hear for long time.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

An lrishman at work on stone wall caught
a small spotted auma, which he took to be a
neighbor's kitten; but dropping her al,post in-
staniiy, he capped both hands to his nose aud
exclaimed, "llowly mother! what has she been
aitng7'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
DR.. SWEETS
CHARLES DANA,
JOE B ER AND RETAIL

BRICK STORE, OPPOSITE TlIEBANK,
English, German and American WooIens
Silks, Shawls, Rich Dress Goods. Gloves
Hosiery, House Keeping and Do
mestic Goods. &C., Sc.
oarpetings Paper angings, CrOckcry Glass Ware ia.
pic CatleIy, Dryand Wet Groceries, Flour Nails &c.
ELM STREET, WOODSTOCK VT.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

a "gent" was asked what kind of "gal" he
preferred for wife. O,e, he said that wasn't
prodi. gal, but fru eal trne-gai aud suited
TO his cot ia gal toste,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

"WelI, Patrick, how do you feel to day."
asked the doctor. = Och, doctor dear, | enjoy
very poor ho.lth entirely This rumatios is
very istessin indade; ; when ! 20 to sleep
lay awake al night, ard my t"cs il swelled a,
large as so3sc hens re.s. wh'n. stand rp
fall lown immc,i.tyy.'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

INFfrGSCE OF NEWSPAPERS. s.-Small is the
sus that is required to potronize newspaper,
and amply rewarded is its patron care not
how humble and unpretcnding the Gazette
which he takes. 1t is next TO impossible to
fiji sheet with printed matter without putting
into it somcthing that is worth the subscription
price. Every parent whose Fon is away from
home, at school, should supply him with Il news
paper | vel remember what marked differ
ence there was between thoso Of my schoofeI.
lows who had access to newspapers and those
who bad not O her things heirg oGra the
first were always superior to the latter in de.
bate, composition and general Intelligence
- DQDiH ITsjMey
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

DISAPPOINTMENT AND Success. When poor
Edmund kean was acting in barns TO county
pumpkins barely finding bread for his wife and
child, he was lnst as great genius as when he
was crowdng Drury Lane, When Brougham
presided in the House of Lords be was not hit
better or greater than when he had hung about
in the Parliment House at Edinburgh, brief
less and suspected junior harristcr When all
London crowded to see the hppcpotan,us he
was Just the animal that he was couple Of
years later, when no one took The tr,uhe OF
looking at hira. And when George Stephenson
died, amidst the applause and gratitude cf all
the intelligent men in Britain, he was the same
man, maintaining the same principle, as when
men of science and Of law regarded as mis-
cbievous lunatic the individual who declared
that scme day the railroad would be the kings
highway, ana mail.coaches would be drawn by
steam.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
How Wordsworth Looked, Commonly.

In new English novel, called "A Family
History" there is description Of Wordsworth
and mis- daughter, which i, worth copying:
"EIe came in, tail, saunt man, wearing a
huge pair of blue specac'cs, with side goggles
TO them. lie looked rough and weather beaten
more thought, in Onward appearance, like u
shrewd old hale farmer than Il great poet.
Take off those nasty things, papa, said Dora
going up to him and trying to take off his spec
tacle.; who can see what you're like in them 2
Iio laughed, an! complied. Altogether, even
when the goggles were removed, his appearance
Disappointed me, I saw nothing in his looks
that distinguished him from other men as
great genius. | c,pld not have picked him ont
as the poet as once picked ont Alfred Ten
nyson at ball from among some hundred other
persons long before any print Of him had ever
been published. Word1worth's features wcr?
heavy, large, and course; ; his light grey eyes
had no fire in them his nose vas straight
broad and massy; his mouth wide, and rather
sensual thought it bctokcned irritibilty -
Only the calm, high forehead indicated the lofty
mind that ha ontlanced thousands.
| saw that Dora was extremely like him, ooly
the lines that were barsh in him were in her
SGT Gucd to beauty, ahd tnat she had soft, en-
prrssvc, and beautiful eyes. When had
had good look at him, Mrs Words Sor'h said, ,
'There, my dear, now you have seen him as he
really H. You shall see what figure he makes
Of himself; you word hardly take him for
poet in his waking costume. More likely for
a highwayman,' suggested one of. the friends,
who had returned with him. Yes echoed an
other, phat stick is enough to trghten any
body 'Oh, n.y. said he, 4 forgot that.
must show Miss Neville my walking STAFF He
went out, aud returned with a thick, knottcl
stick, which he showed me, telling me it was
invaluable in climbing the monntans. think
he said he had travelled twice in Scoland.-
His daughter smiled, and said, Yes. papa and
rs we went along the people on the borders
laughed at the strange man" He explained
to me, who sat at his right hand, Yes, Miss
Neville, they did laugh at me; we Travelled in
an open carrlage my eyes were bad, and so
Dora, by merry glance, teIegraphed across
the table, that his eyes allied uohipg-so |
wore veil as DO now to shade them. Dora
drove, and the people used to come out Of their
cottages and stand looking after US, calling out
to one another, 10 tina, To- tha, there's mon
WI a veil nm a lass driyi0gH
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

James r lpath has formally renounccd and
repudiatcd his Abolition earning tue slaves
views and announces his rctireIaeu asa poiti-
cal cljtcr until such time Us he shall have at
tained clearer AMI more human aud Christian
views of the duties Of the freeman to the =
sIavcd." He expresses regret fer the mischicy,
Gus articles he has ritton'
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Why do our soldiers need no barber ! Be
cause they are regularly Mared by the Gov
crnment contractors,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

The New Bedford Mrcury makes the follows
ing connundrum "Why are the Home Guards
like the lamch,ed Col. Baker Because the
last hing he did was to die for his county. and
that is the very last thing they intend to do"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

The woman who made pound of butter
from the cream ola joke, and cheese from
the milk of human kindness, has since washed
the close of the year and hung em up to dry
on a bee line,
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Married people should study each others
ncek points, as skaters look after the weak
part of the ice, in order to keep off them. La
dies who marry for love should remember that
the union of angels with woman has been for
hidden since the food. The wife is the sun
of the social system. Unless she attracts
there is nothing to keep heavy bodies, like hus-
bands from Ayrr eff into space.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Brave sentry on your lonely beat,
May these blue stockings warm your feet,
And when from war aud camps you part,
May some fair knittcr warm your-EAR."
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

A coiored firm in Newark, New jersey, hay.
ing suffered from pccuuiarv embarra<sments re-
Gently closed business, and the senior member
gave to the public the following, ,--"N Motifs de
dsobluton ofroparsnips hereto for resisting
wiX me aud Nose Jones, in de barber profess.
ion am herctofor resolved. Pussons who Csc
must pay in the sclibcr Dem what the rurm
osc must call on Jones, as the farm is insolved" >"
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Two Scotch gentlemen went 10 ireland to
make tour, and see the natives One of them
one drjzy day bet the other the price Of their
dinner and bottle Of wine thpt the first Pat
they met would be to much for them. A dim
unitve fellow, with an old lrieze coat and q
piece Of hat, was trying to plough with a po.
ny .ndcr the shelter of row Of trees.
'Pat, said our friend.
'Ye, yer honor he replied
If the devil were to come just now which
one OF US would he take!
Sure, he'd take me, yer honor
But why, Pnt!
Case he'd be sure ofycr honor at any
tilnc!
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26
From the Home journal.
THE CHRISTMAS--TREE.

LITTLE GERMAN STORY, E>DERED FROM MEM
DRY.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

A pair of stockings, sent to the ladies COM
mittce of Portland, for the use of the soldiers
was accompanied by the following rhyme;
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Tnur As GOSPEL An exchange says 'ncws .
paper subscriptions are invariable tests of men i
houesy;' and VIC have had experience enough
in the business to believe the assertion. II
there is any meanness in man, he will want to
get the paper below the regular subscription
price, and if mean1y so he won't take it all un-
les, he can be gratfcd, but will borrow his
ueighbor's, or will sneak to the public places and
read it for nothing he is dishonest, he will
cheat the printer some wny--say ho has paid
when he has not-declaro he has the repeir
somcNhcrc-or will take the paper and not pay
or it-or move off, and leave it coming to the
office where be LETT Thousands of professed
Christians are dishonest, and the Printers book
will tell fearful tales in the final Judgment
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

A good lor-aoihing f:IIow left his wife in q
great rage. telling her that he wouIl never
come back till he was rich enough to come in o
carriage. For once he kept his word being
trundlcl home drunk in 4 whcclbarrow.
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

lis it possible, Miss, that you don't know
the names Of some Of your best friends c.r'
nin!y do not even kgow what my own may
be in year from this time
Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1861-12-26

Coon TEspEN AND GOOD CooKiNd "A cor
respondent has u fancy that tie quality of Il
meal depends very much upon the state Of the
cooks temper. Hear him - 1t is astonishing
how much the cheer'gn,ss of wife contributes
to the happiness of home. We remember hear
ing husband say that he could guage the tenn
per of his wife by the qnaliy OF her cooking
good temper even Influenced the seasoning o.
her soups, and the l;ghness and delicacy Of her
pastry. When i'll temper peryadcs, the beppcr
is dashed in as Il cloud porchance the top Of
the pepper boz is included, as kind of dimin-
utiye thunder.bol'; the sal, is all in Jumps. and
the spices seem to betakc themselves all to one
spo, in the puddinga as if drcading the frown-
ing face above them I there be hu,band
who could abcse the smiles of really good
tempered wife, we should like to look at him
Among the elements Of domestic happiness,
the amabiity of the wife and mother is Of the
utmost Importance it is ono OF the best secul
rites for the Happiness of Home"