davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
McGREGOR, IOWA. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST q, 1861.
Letter From pixies Peak.

Letter From P1ke'S FeAK.
We are permitted by JOS. Wilson, Of this
city, to make the following extracts from a
late letter received from Charley W. Ladd !:
MOUNTAIN Cry, c. T., July %, 1861.
FRIEND Josspn - Times arc
a,etu dull, much more so than when you
left. Lucky for you that you went when
YOU did Stock is very low. Provisions
,lit,o. Flour can be bought for seven dol
lars, and other provisions in proportion.-
Many are leaving for the States daily, and
some - fools coiningin.
am still at work on Russelrs Gulch ;
doing about midiiing. We had very
severe rain about two weeks ago which dc.
fies description. Ttinjurcd us very much
filed up our pits and our bed rock ditch,
which was about five hundred feet long,
and swept away our sluices. Have just
got the repairs finished, and with the help
| of Providence we shall CT to work in the
morning.
Spring Gulch is nearly gon. up, although
there has been pile Of money taken out
this season.
Business is stagnatsd. Very few mills
,re running, az most Of the lodes have fiz
zled out; tn, Kynt couty with the rest
Tn. Lone Star lode which created such Al
excitement is also among them.
n. II o~I off
5 IN etime ago across the range prospecting
heard from the former the other day.
They did not And anything. and Clark had
| bough, claim on Buffalo Flats, on the
Blue River. Says times are first rate and
money plenty.
Many are going from these diggings to
the southern mines. and in fact good many
ar. coming from there over here. To tell
the truth Of the matter, it reminds M ol
people at fire, they don't know where il,
the ID to 90.
Now Jn, in plain words really don't
think there will be enough left here this
! winter to form corporal's guard. They
IRE all going back this fall sure, if they have
to 60 on foot and alone.
Enoch Bond has sold that mill to Dodge
for eight hundred dollars, that is good
note on Cleghorn is it not! George says
Jo B,ugh left two weeks ago for McGrcgor.
Norris, on the M.mmoth, has spent four
teen hundred dollars on his claim which j.
one hundred and fifty four feet. The last
cord he got crushed, yielded forty dollars.
The Fourth passed off very quietly
They talked very strongly Of hosting a
secession flag in Mountain City, but the
boys were on the alert for them, and they
conclud ID that "diScretion was the better
part Of valor," and abandoned the idsa, and
it was we'll they did.
Yours &C.,
CUAS. W. LADD.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

c~Lord Macaulay had singular tas,o
for walking through the deserted streets of
the great metropolis in the hours when tho
citizens were fast asleep and all was hush
ed. Those were hours, he used to remark.
for reflection and thought the utter
loneliness which is peculiar at midnight to
great cities, steals over the mcdi,ating way.
.arer, solitary, apparently, and alone in tho
world. DR.. Johnson possessed similar
tastes and Chas Dickens :s singu,arlY
found Of old city streets and alleys when
the are emptied Of the busy throng that fill
them in the day time.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

4 RECIPE FOR CoSrENrENTMENT.-Try to
compute for artificial wants-the number
of things which you fancy come under tho
the list of "lnust. .haves," merely because
YOU would not be quite as well Of and as
happy in their absence. Try it for one
week, whenever your fingers are tempted
to daily with your purse strings: Nrccr'.
in your memorandum book what in view ~
this you senSiby resolve not to buy, and
see what nice little sum will be left you
for real necessarics. It is seldom by these
last that one is han.pcred and snno,yed.--
Make the experiment, and see it it ia not
so. A just economy is not niggard!'ness;
ons ne ID not be miscr in Avoiding the sx
travagance cf spendthrift.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
Horribly llot-ii tt ue.


Horribly uot-h Tue.
Brick Pom.roy has "b.en an done tn
hot term in his pet Dem,crnt Pom'S merit
aS faithful dcineator OF matters AMI
things in prose, has passed int, provcrh
but he can't write p ,etry. W I'll, the sun
Shone out one day last week, in La Crosse,
and if we are to believe the papers, old
Charon came near robbing the new spap r
clubs of the eccentric editor Of the LII
Crosse Democrat; there's no rubbing that
out. But here is his version Of the day -
Hot. Rather guess it is! Never saw tn:
b..at Of it IN this world never expect to in
the next. The thermometer is n" Use
that gave out 'ril J, and it has grown hot,
ter every day since. The type is so hot
the compo>ilorS have to pick it up with
NO In handled nipperS! LunpS Of ic
disappear when lain On the cases. like g.
ph rs in hole, or aS our officers dill at
Bulls Run The press "Sissts" like Il hot
goose! Rollers gave ont yesterday and We
have to ink the tpye with shoe brush =
Hot! Its four hundred big, old he hots,
welded together! ne Of our pre>smen,
six fe t two inches in his stockings, worked
an hour this morning. and when We Went
in the room at the end Of that timy', he ha'i
M lted down till ais mother would swear
h. wasn't large enough to wran! Fact! :
Tomorrow we shall photograph instead OF
printing our papers The devil is now busy
boiling corn in the refrigerator. The g lass
in the sky-light melted and ran down in a
puddle before sun rise! The type was wei
dcd fast to the b.d Of the press AMI thre i
hut one man in the Office who don't l"ll lik {.
pointer! Four Fat m.n playing euchre in
Il saloon down town this morning actually
melted, bones, hair, and all, and the last
seen of the cards they were using, they
were floating around on a pool Of fat. The
men cannot b. recognized, but when cold
weather comes the fat will CONCEAL, and II
will be divided into four equal cakes and
sent home! Dogs melt and trickle down
through cracks in the side walk, while dray
horses have wilted and been hung out on
the cart siafts to dry, hours ago. In fact,
the only cool place now is ty big fire y
We can account for this in no other way,
than by believing that the worl came to
an end some days since while we Were
asleep, and that we have walked up in thr
had place spoken Of so often. The only
thing wanting to confirm the idea, Is that
zoe can't smell ana briasxt",ae get
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
CURE FOR TIE TooruAcuE.-An ,

CURE FOR THE TooruAcnE.-An ex.
change & ives tht following:
My dear friend" said H., II can cure
your toothachc in ten minutes" How
how p inquired; "do it in pity" "In.
stantly,' said he "Havc you any alum?''
YES bring it, and SON. common salt"
They were produced. My friend pulver
lied them, mixed them in equal quantities,
then wet a small piece of cotton, causing
the powder to adhere, and placed it in my
hollow tooth. There" SAID he, 'if that
does not cure you will forfeit my head -
You may t. Il this to every one, anl publish
it everywhere. The remedy i inia!lible'' -
1t waS as h. predicted. On the ;ntroduc.
ton of the mixed alum and salt, experi,
auH"d = sensation Of toldDrSs, a.i with u
tn" al IN arf >alC--s c,.c,a the .rr1u NJ
Ul the t0ntIauhc,
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
Wortb yo(ua { imrs.
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.
JcGREIOR. AUGUST q. :: 1881

RyTURNEp.-On Thursday 9Th, Mr.. jams
Henry Easton and lady Of Decorah pass
Il throuh our city on ir return from =
narriage tour through New York, Pcnnsyl.
v,pia and Ohio. Mr.. Easton is Of the
Banking firm Of Easton 4 Sons Of Decor
ah. We had the pleasure Of taking hi
hand and Of joining his many friends here
in congratulations. The agreeable convivi
'lities which newly married men are SO hap
Nv to extend to their acquaintances wer'
nf course remembered.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

MELoDRANlc HIr.-Burke's was q com.
plete failure when he flung the dagger on
the floor Of the House Of Commons and
produced nothing hut smothered laugh,
and joke from Sheridan. 1.-THE gentle.
man has brought US the knife but where is
the fork p
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

SMoorn HANDS FOR DIsHwArER.-Ke
in saucer corr. meal wet it with vinegar,
and when work is done and triHe Of soap
has done its Office, rub your hands faithful.
ly with teasponful Of this mixture, rnsing
of, and rub your hands till dry, the soft.
ness of your hands will repay you.--
Should Bluebcard suggest the idea Of waste
meal, suggest in return this argument, that
you can tie his cravat in half the time.
and I'll warrant you he'll settle back easily
into his easy chair, putting compos' dly his
Ave dollar mecrschaum.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

~A Chesire auctioneer, whilst engag.
ed in his vocation the other day, thus ex-
alted the merits of a carpet: "Gentlemen
and ladies, some folks sell carpets for Brus-
sells, which are not Brussels, but | can most
positively assure you that this elegant arti-
Gle was made by Mr.. Brussels himself"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

The prudent housewife who, on account
Of hard times," has decided not to re-pa-
per the sitting-room, as desirable, will find
tho old paper very much improved in ar-
pearance, by simply rubbing it well with a
flannel cloth, dipped in Indian mcal.-Ru-
rat Nese Yorker.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

- An old maid who has her eye lit
tie side ways ON matrimony, says "tlse CURSE
of this war is that it will make so many
widows, who viii! be fierce to get narrcds
and know how to do it, that modest old
maids will stand no chance at ALL"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

SoUNp RrAsoS1SG.-In recent case t"r
assault the defendant pleaded guilty. II
think must be guilty, said he" because
the plaintiff and were the only ones there
were in the m; and the first thing knew
was that was standing up, and he wss
doubled over the table. You'd better call
it guilty"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

- Lawyers are very critical. Once 4
young lawyer, upon being Informed of All
attachment between young lady and gen.
tlc,nan, inquired whether the young gentle
man was the ''lovcr or lovce?" So an at
torney in Dublin wrote a challenge to a
gentleman to meet him Sin the Four Acres,
be the same more or less"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

~ Words are little things, but they
strike hard. We WELD chem so easily that
~, are apt to forget their hidden power
Fifty spnken. they fall like the sunshine,
IN dew, ani drizz'ing rain, " when un-
ij,ty, lk tn frost, the hail, and the desc
late tempest.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

HUMoRs or THE WAR - Private No. S3 -
They're comm, darn em-be YOU scared!
Private No. 81 mathematically inel'n
d)-"No, there's only one man killed to
every six hundred shots fired III battle, and
ther= amt over Ave hundrod rvbsls IN that
crowd
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Old Guzzlc FuS,ian having drank mi'e
mugs Of cider at nelghbor's house one
evening observed upon rising to leave.
Il believe, neighbor I'll take u teetlt
more Of your cider. | love good cider as
we'll as any body, but AS for swilling il
down as some people do. never could"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Rich men put the knife Of Incidence ami
luxury to their children's S energies, aud they
grow up fatted, lazy calves, fit for nothing
The father is a drudge all his life, to make
beasts Of his children.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Two acquaintanccs meeting on Il wet day
the one greeted the other with. ''B autifu,
rain, this, sir, fetching things out of ths
ground" Second friend, "liope not, sir,
hope not. Got two wives there SIR"
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

ssEl. liaeed TU.Day.n
know the SUI shines and the lilac. are blo~ins,
Aud summer sends kisss. by hsautiiu! May
Oh ell the the spring l. bsstoviug,
Aud hink my poor " lille enlisted to-dsyi
II seems but dav since at twilight low hummi-g.
1 rocked him sleep with hi clles< upon mnc.
White Koboy the fourysar old, watched for the col
or father, adown the street's indstinct limo.
It i. man, a year >iHcr my Harry departed,
To come lack no more in the twiight or dawn;
Aai Kobby grew weary OF watching and started
Alone on tue journey his father had gone
It may be . year--and this afternoon, sitting
At Robby's old wint ow. heard the band play.
Aud suddenly cra ed dreaming over my knitting
Ie recoilect willie l. twonty to-day
And that. standing bssid. him, this soft May-day
The sun making gold of hi. wr.a.hin, cigar smoke,
law in hi sweet eye and lip. a faint Warming,
AID choked dswn the tears when he eagerly spoke
'Dear IT other. you know those traitor. growing
They trampled the folds OF our flag in the du-t
lie stopped, but his eyes said, 'Oh, say 1t must "
smiled on tn. boy, though my heart it .semsd
My eye Oiled with tears. so turned them away;
And answ.rcded him Willie, sis welt you arc wax.
ing
60, act as your father would bill you to-day"
1T in the window and the d.. living,
And dream.lN list to tae r2lt Of the drum,
And smother the pain in my heart that's lying,
Aud bid all the fears in my bosom b. dumb
shall sit IN the window when sarnmer il lying
Over the field, aud the money bec' hum
Lui the at he pnr,h trnn her einulous ighng
Aud watch Tor the face Of my dsrli.4g to come.
And II he should tnl his young life was given
For Freedom AXE and ,or .sie. " Il Pray
Once more wi my Harry and Rosb, ia heaven
10 meet the dear boy that enlisted to-day.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

w A firm faith is the best theology, 4
good lifs the best philosophy, clear con-
science the best law, honesty the best poll.
cy, and temperance the best physic.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

t1s~LADY.-"Dear me, Count. you don't
look well, to- day"
CoUNr. oh! have done ware foolish
ting, ware foolish ting-[ have Washed my
neck r.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

When you have nothing to say, say moth
ing A weak defence Strengthens your OPP
ponent; silence, therefore, is less injurious
than bad reply.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

W-It is great blunder 10 the pursuit
Of happiness not to know when We have
got it; that is. not to be content with rca.
sonable and possible measure Of it.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Secret kindnesses done to mankind
are as beautiful as secret injuries are detcs-
tible. To be invisibly good is us godlikc
as to be invisibly evil is diabolcal.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Men generally make way for him who Is
determined to push boldly past them.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

,-y- An empty bottle must be certainly
a v~ry dangerous thing. if We may judge
from the fact that many man has been
found dead with one of them at his side.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

4 woman can have no excuse for trims
ing her lover is wiser than he is for If thera
is any nonsense in him, he is sure to talk it
to her,
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

For life in general there is but one dc.
gree; youth is a blunder; manhood sttug-
gle; old age regret
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
Poetry.
The Trumpet blast.

~ J. O. wHIrrIaa.
The following lines, written eighteen year, ago
ound like prophecy fulfilled At the present crisis.
OF for God and duty stand.
Heart To heart ard hsno to hand,
Round the old graves Of the land
Who shrink. or faitcrs now.
Whose to rhe woke would how,
Brand the craven on hi. brow
Freedom. coil has only rlaes
For n free aud fearless rae:
None for traitor false and base.
psri.h party Yeri n clan
STRIKE together white YOU can.
Like the arm Of one strong man
With ons heart and with one mouth
Let the north unto the south,
speak the word b.ustine both:
What though I.sachsr re strong.
You may load his back wn b wrong
Over MUCH and over LoNo.
Patience with her cup o'errun,
With her weary thread outspun,
Murmers that her work II done.
Boldly, or with treacherous art,
Strike our blnOj- wrougnt chain apart
Break ths Unions mighty heart
Work the ruin, II YOU will!
Plucy upon your head nm i'll
" Which shall grow aud deepen .tllli
With your hondm ms right arni bare,
With hi. hear OF black despair,
stand alone, II stand ye darsi
onward with your fell design
Dig the gulf aud draw tie lint--
Fire beneath your feet the minsl
Deeply when the wide abyss
Yawus between your land and this,
Shall you feel your hell lple.sness.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Trust not 10 appearances man in D
clean shirt may do verv dirtv action.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

prodigals arc born Of naissrs, and butter.
fles are born Of grubs.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Let great actions encourage greater; and
let honor be your merit, not your design.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
+ UND

4 10 7 ~ week .ince on Main Street, MrGrror-
~ Ma. .Onic pin, ppO ed TO lie man":a' uIcd -
snii The owner have the property "H IT,. u'uhi
,.rns by applying to the oince oi the North Iowa
Times
| Iulv 2oth 1871 ~
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

When did Adam meet with his first loss
in business? In the tall trade.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

>3y- Memory temper> prosperity, miti-
ga;"s adyersity, controls youth, and de-
lights OH 49,.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

Why is Virginia sure t 0 come right? -
Because shs ksaps Wtcsaisg for tke Ussso-'.
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21
FIGS! FIGS! FIGS!
Onn0 Drums Fresh Figs, for sale by
eOOlDO HOFFMAN,, BExTON co.
"WAIT FOR THE WAGON!"
MGR EG OR LIVERY STABLE,

On Main street, opposite Union Block.
PEARSALL Il CHUhCH, Propr1etors.
"AvtNG On hsnd everything IN o-IEseER
IL the line u Carriages, knggios, 3E&5S1G
SlsShs, Cuttsrs, &e Ac., together with number OF
ors class Horses, ws respectfully solicit tho patronage
ofths public, promising to our best ondcavors to
give satisfaction.
Prices to SUIT the times
PEARSALL 4 CHURCH..
uclrexOr. O:t. 2ttt. 1889. lyl
The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1861-08-21

FreeftS W,e3 GfOCe1'te0,
" REEN aud Dried Fruits, Candies, sweet Cider
NJ Liquors, Tobacoos, Soap, Candle-, ftsh, Butter,
Chesss Egxs, Extra Flour Potatoes, &c.
Fer sails st Wholesale or Retail by
MCGUIRE = co.
1cGrsyos, Iowa, Nsvsnbss 81, ls6Ou
New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-18

5UaAE. The market is dHlI, and sales are con-
fined to 800 hhds. at 4a@53c. q d.
hoLAssEs About 1900 bbfs sold Mt stif1 bisfsay
prices. Prime to Choice at soQ3Ic.; 200 half bbls.
at 5sc. q gallon.
FLOUR. The sales comprised $50 bbls. .incluts-
ing 200 Common at -, 300 Superfne Id several
lots at S. 50, 100 Good Extra at IS IS and SEQ ait
Sc so 2 Dbl. Market dull.
GRAIN. We noticed sales of about $3.50 sacks
Of Corn including 1900 Yellow at -, 1000 Mixed at
&C., 1900 at 64c., 800 White Mixed at 65e 1850
Mixed and Yellow Mixed at &c., 100 White Mixed
at &c., 900 at 7oe., 400 White at 72c and 200 at
73c. u busheL Of Oats about 800 sacks were sold
at 42Q543c. q bushel.
PROVISIONS. The transactions in Pork were
confined to retail lots at SIS so g Dbl. In Bacon
Shoulders retail at Sc, Ribbed sides at Io9c.,
Clear at 123c. 8l27c. 70 Ii. Oh Lara about LOU
tierces were disposed of at 1o4c. % b.terees ~
tail at 1o3@11c., and kegs at II 4Ga1l5 c. q Il.
WHISKY. .Rectifed is retailing ut 1sa. 02gc. u
gallon. 9
COFFEE. The sales comprised 302e bags Ro~
of which 1881 at 12c., 96T at 12sc 500 ct and
s2S at l3c. % ID.
| FREEGHTs. a ship was taken up for Antwsrp
| at 1&c. for Cotton and T0s. for Tobacco, and a
| British ship for Liverpool at I'd. for Cotton.
New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-02-18
The following is the comparative condition of
our banks for the third Saturday of February for
three years :

The Exchange transactions for the week have
been large, with remarkable uniformity and
steadiness for New York sight funds at from fGQi
dis. for checks at the banks. The same remark
will apply to grades of sixty day bills, which
have ruled steady at q and 2l@21 dis, while
come kinds have given away. To-day the demand
for sight was supposed to be increased, but it did
not turn out SO at the close Of business, as good
sight was sold at : dis, and some bank checks
we're obtained at dis. Some Al drawers held at
dr. but without realizing to any extent sniff
cIent amount to modify the general quotations of
outside bills, say from !, f@4 dis Sixty days
ranged, for commercial drafts, at from 81, 3t334
dis, closing very heavy. Foreign, under favora-
Bile adVices from New York, improved early in the
day, but fell off before the close. Clear Sterling
was taken with freedom at 103 for favorite sigma
lures, from that down to l0230l023. Very liberal
sales were made at these figures. We quote from
l023103 az extremes Bills, with documents, were
passed at l00Qel00a, with better feeling towards
them, irrespective Of the foreign advices. We
quote extremes from 99@lol. Francs went up a
little. Some sales were made at 5.57305 .55,
though there were refusas to sell under $50.
| In Stocks VIC have nothing new to say. The
Planters Bank of Tennessee to- day declared div
dend Of yet. out of the earnings for the last six
months payable on and after the LIST March. 1t is
| something of paradox for bank to be declaring
and paying dividends wha under suspension.
! The great Real Estate market is in general
state of quetness. Occasional sales are made to
close estates and secessions. We note to-day the
sale by Messrs. Palfrey & Co. of the residence and
grounds belonging to the estate of the late e.. B.
| Duncan. The buildings and improvements were
| erected by Peter Conrcy .Tr eirhteen Or twenty
years ago, situated on Apollo street 255 feet, and
the same front on Euterpe and Terpsichore streets
| aay half of square of ground. The mansion
erected in the modern STYLE with all improvements
| and outbuildngs, was sold to Col. Thomas Oswald
for S424 400, equivalent to cash. This property waf
sold about six years ago for $4,000. There is nc
want of confidence evinced in the future of real
estate in our city. Taking this sale as guide all
good-located property commands, when sold, just
as much at this time as for three years past