smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

SPLITTING A KNoTTY STICK One day
there was great humping in my cellar,
and if you had gone down there you
would have seen that one ofthc windows
had been opened, and that sticks of
wood, some square, some round, some
three. cornered, big and little, knotty and
clear, all sawn the right length for the
stove, were pouring in through that
window; and every stick as il came down
seemed to say, +" Stand Clear, or you'll
get hurt" So stood clear, and let the
workers have it all their own way.


suppose the one who sent it thought
that splitting it would be good exercise
for the minister, and he thought so too.
So went at it. But pretty soon a big
stick turned up, full Of hard knots ON
every side ! fancied that one Of these
knots looked like an eye, and that it kept
watching me rs picked up one stick ar
ter another, and left it untouched. In
fact, it almost seemed to say, "Split little
sticks, il you have mind, but dare you
to touch me-


1t was - great annoyance to sec it there
every day but the question was how to
get rid Of it. 1t was too good to be
thrown away, and it was too big to go
into the stove My only course was to
try to split it. SO one day when felt
strong in my bones, ! laid it on the block
with the eye up. Then putting all my
strength into my arms, sent my AK fair
across the eye, and through it went


To my surprise, the old stick split
more easily than many others before it,
And then ! could not help thinking how
true this is all through life. How often
do men and boys fancy that some duty is
very hard, and work all around it, and
fear to touch it, hanging back until they
can do so no longer, and then make
good effort, and find that it is real easy,
and that they have had all their trouble
some fears for nothing


Boys, remember that knotty stick.
When you have any work to do, don't
stop to think how hard IL is, but take
hold at once bravely hit it fairly in the
eye, and, ten to one, you will be through
before you know it.
Year: 1869

Ey- New wheat is already selling in
some portions Of Middle Georgia at one
dollar and seventy five cents per bushel
The prospect is that twill be lower when
harvesting throughout the State is com
pleted and there is good reason to hope
that it will be considerably lower when
the large crops Of the Northwestern
States are harvested
Year: 1869

On our second page we print COM
munication from one Of our we'll
known wholesale dealers on the sub
ject of licensing drummers who sell
goods by sample. 1t is evident to
every thinking maa that, under the
present arrangement, our dealers are
at a disadvantage. They arc taxed
heavily to sustain the municipality,
while the drummer pays no taxes
whatever. Indeed, he is not even com
PEELED to take out moderate license,
although his transactions may amount
to thousands Of dollars This is a
manifest injustice. While We would
advocate no prohibitory laws, aud
throw as few distractions in the way
Of commerce as possible, We cannot
resist the conclusion that simple
Justice demands that drummers, who
remain in or visit our city for the
purpose of selling large amounts of
goods on samples, which they have
with them, ought at least to pay a
reasonable amount for the privilege,
Otherwise we actually give dealers
from other cities preference over
the very men upon whom we depend
to build up our city and add to its
wealth.
Year: 1869

THE Washington specials to the
Cincinnati Commercial state that
there is a rumor in quiet circulation
that Secretary Cox will leave the
Cabinent in December or January
next. in order to accept one Of the
United States Circuit Judgeships,
provided for By the last Congress.
Year: 1869

At length they all collected around tail


cottonwood that grew over the narrowest


part OF the stream, and twenty or thirty Of


them scampered up its trunk. On reaclinc


q high point. the foremost, a strong fellow


ran ont upon limb. and taking several


turns OF bis tail around it, slipped of and
hung head downward. Tho next on the


limb also stout one. climbed down the
body OF tho first. and whipping his tail
tightly around the neck aud forearm of the


latter. and hung his head down. The third


repeated his man@vre upon the second,


and the fourth upon the third. and so on,


until tho last one upon tho string rested his
forepaws upon tho ground.


The living chain now commenced swing.
ing backward and forward like the pendu.
lum of clock. The motion was slight at
hrst, but gradually increased, the lowermost
striking his hands violently on the earth
as he passed the tangent Of the oscillatins
curve. Several others upon the limb aided
the movement. This continued until the
monkey at the end of the chain was thrown
among tho branches of tree on the oppo-
ste oank. Here. after two or three vibra-
t1ons' he clutchcd limb and held fast
1h.s movement was executed adroitly, lust
at the eliminating point Of the oscillation.
ID order to save the interdmeiate links from
the violence Of a too sudden Jerk The chain
was now fast at both ends, forming a COM
Piete suspension bridge. over which the
whole troop, to the number of four or Eve
hundred passed. with the rapidity Of
thought.


IL was one OF the most comical sights |
ever beheld, TO witness quizzical expression
1I OF the countanances along the living chain
How were the animals forming the bridge
10 get themselves over!


Here, then was problem. aud VIC waited
With some curiosity for it to be solved. \ mon
Key was seen attaching bis tail to the lowest
on the bridge, another girded him in SIM
liar manner. and SO on, until dozen more
we're added TO the string. The last were all
powerful fellows and running up to high
limb, they lifted the bridge into position
almost horizontal.


Then q scream from the last monkey OF
Lhe new formation warned the tail end that
all was ready; aud the next moment the
whole chain was swung over, and landed
safely on the opposite bank The lowest
links now dropped of like melting candle,
while the higher ones leaped to the branches
and came down the trunk. The whole troop
then scampercd off into the chapperal and
disappeared.
Year: 1869

ize for US far more money than q
larger yield at lower prices With
millions of dollars to pay away in
buying our daily bread.


There is, we repeat, but one
safe plan: Plenty Of provisions
first and nert q moderate crop Of
cotton. If our planters will stick
to this policy, they will grow rich ;
if they do not, they will assuredly
rue the day when the desire to
become suddenly wealthy caused
them TO forsake the plain paths
of prudence and common sense.
Year: 1869

"Come, bring the oll-Hask, there's s
a pet" said Samuel Parsons to his
wife, as he finished screwing on a
new lock to his front door. Sam,
of course, needn't have said,
"there's pet" unless he liked !;
but he used to think it was a
great shame that women were
called all sorts of pretty names be-
fore they were married, but none
afterwards. Il say" says Sam,
"many of the poor creatures are
cheated with them there pretty
names; poor folk they think
they'll always get them but they
become mighty scarce after the
fnger.i is in the ring. We don't
mean to tell all the names Sam
called his wife before they were
married; but now he called her
''pet;;" and as soon as she heard
the loving word; she threw down
her duster on the chair, and sped
off to the kitchen for the flask.
The flask had a feather in it, as
such TASKS generally have and
Sam, taking the said feather be-
tween his fore6nger and thumb,
oiled the key of. the street-door
right we'll; and then locked and
unlocked it a dozen times. At
first it went stiff, and required
some strength of wrist to turn it;
but, as it worked to and fro, and
the oil began to make it's way into
the wards, it worked more and
more easily until at last, Tommy,
Sans little son, who was standing
by, was able to turn it almost with
touch and then Sam pronounced
that it would do.


The operation. finished, Sam
thought he'd just give his knife a
touch of the end Of the feather;
less than. drop out of the flask
would do just mere toucb-tbat
was all that it wanted; and pres
emily, to young .Tommy's great
delight, his father made the
blade 90 up and down, click,
click. Tommy evidently approved
of the result, for he began to click,
click, with his tongue and! the
roof of his mouth, in imitation
and how long he. might have de-
layed his father we can't tell, if it
were not that Mrs. Parsons caught
him up in her arms, and made off
with him ;she calling him a ''saucy
rogue" and kissing him all the
way; and he on his part click,
clicking, as though his mouth were
a cutters shop, and you were open
ing and shutting every knife in it.


Some folk might think that
Sam Parsons had done enough in
the oiling way for one day; but
| there was one more thing to do,
and then he would be quite ready
to take his potatoes to market.
One or two Of the wheels Of his
wagon had been a trife creaky;
and, So he took the grease; pot, and
gave them a touch of contents.
You could have rolled all be put
upon them into the size ofa couple
Of marbles, but itwas quite enough;
the wheels gave over. ereakingi if
the old proverb Be- true, "silence
Year: 1869

The Amercus (Ga.) Courier relates the
particulars of a case IN that county In
which the bride was betrothed to three
brothers, and married to two of them,
which is rather remarkable:


On the 9Th of August, 1866, young man
came to Americus, ,and procured license to
marry an estimable young lady residing
several miles from this city, went home,
and was married in the afternoon of that
day. He was attacked by congestive
chill, which terminated III his death the
following Saturday, the stricken bride fol-
lowing his remains to their last resting
place, clothed in the same suit IN which
her heart had been made glad by becom.
ing his bride.


On the following August C18G0 the Sc.
cond brother of the same family came tc
Americus for the same purpose which had
brought the deceased Que year previous. -
| On his way home, rejoicing in happy anti
cipation of making the worthy widow OF
| his lost brother his own bride, he wa!
caught in heavy rain, and arrived a


home with his clothing thoroughly satura-
ted, from which he was taken with con


gestive chill the same evening and dice


the evening previous to the marriage


which was to have taken place the follow


ing Sabbath. Again, Instead of listening


to the merry ringing OF the maria g
bells, the death knell WAS heard and "a fu


neral procession took the place of the mar


riage feast. Some time during last month
the third brother of the deceased procured
license and was happily married to th'
twice -bereaved lady.
Year: 1869

SUNDAY, Sept Ia, 1859.


The past week was most remarkable perhaps for
she very sudden change which was given the aspect
of AFFAIRS by an untoward bank statement Looking
at the general situation from another standpoint
than that occupied by the gold and stock gamblers
the prospect at the opening was one most 1atterng
10 the merchants and the business community, whose
legitimate interests are directly dependent upon
healthy working OF the money market. The banks
had gained in their reserve and in position TO
meet the fall demand for money from the
South and West TO move the cotton and
wheat The prospect at the close is far
different one and 1t remains TO be seen how
rar mischief Will be done. AS might be expected
under such circumstances the bank statement Is the
general theme OF discussion The changes are so
remarkable and so nexplicable that the reeling OF
distrust for the future OF our local money market
was in nowse allayed by it, but, on the contrary,
greatly increased. The showing last week was so
favorable tnat il was hoped the transition TO the
activity so usual in the fall would be by an easy oe
cline but In the sudden loss Of nearly seven millions
of their reserve OF specie and legal tenders the
banks threaten to plunge the money market
at once into spasms The chief feature in
the statement is a loss of over four millions in legal
tenders This Is aggravated by decrease OF over
two and half millions in specie. Yet the deposits
have fallen OF only million and quarter. The
inconsistency of these features finds parallel In
an increase of loans to the extent Of over six NIL
lions. The stores anoat during the week of COM
binations to lock up greenbacks seem TO have some
foundation the array of facts thus presented for
on no other hypothesis the ncongruities of the
statement be reconcfed. The totals of the last two
Year: 1869

An intelligent correspondent OF the Boston
Transcript, writing from Dresden, Saxony,
has the following:


"There seems to be as much absenteeism in
America as in Ireland" said an old German
the other day, in estimating the number of
our countrymen who were living in the most
agreeable cities of Central Europe. "Are
they all here for the education of their chill
dren, or for mere amusement9" he asked,
won6eringly. 1t was hard question to an
swer The next budget of newspapers which
"the good folks at home' sent us brought to
mind this interrogatory as we read the various
articles on "the currency" and the possi-
BILE return to specie payments. On further
examination of facts, felt prepared to say
that the high prices at home growing out of
an inflated credit system; the advance in gold
sustained by the few at the expense of the
many; and, that "vaulting ambition" which
creates rivalry in the householder to eclipse
his neighbor, might, each and all, be taken as
reasons why so many come abroad to remain
for years, if not forever. The extravaganza
at home sends people abroad-and not this
only, but the ertreme Gdudnce in prices be-
yond the value of the thing received. This
state of things, if it continues, will people
Europe with Americans, and their room will
be filled by emigrants who, seeking their for
tunes in small ways, will gradually usurp the
places of the good old stock. consider this
sufficient motive for any reasonable Govern
ment to strike at once at the root of the diff
Guilty, and to restore our country as quickly
as possible to such a financial basis as shall
produce more uniform scale of living, and
shall not permit the gold speculator or stock
broker to hold control which bears so hard
upon the circumstances and condition of the
people.


During the past week letters have been re-
ceived from New York from persons who
have returned to that city after prolonged alb
sences. One of them writes thus II am
thinking of returning in year. find every
thing so high that my income cannot sustain
it, and fear that must end my days abroad"
Another writes: ~ am sorry to say it, but it
is my present intention to seek a foreign
home. To be sure / wish my children to
maintain their nationality, which they will
be in danger of losing by long residence
abroad But / am unwilingly the creature of
circumstances, and if my four boys enter the
Russian army or become engineers for the
Gar, it is simply because cannot afford to
live at home and educate them" 1t seems to
me that such state of things as this is wor-
thy of consideration, especially when it ap-
plies to people from the northern sections of
our United States, and to those persons I
have referred. We meet, however, an i'm
mense number from the Southern States,
who are refugees from the disasters of the
such pacific measures as shall permit their
return, with comfortable feelings, to the
cline which they love.
Year: 1869

Dr. Henry I. Bowditch, in his paper on
Consumption in America" in the March
Atlantic, offers the following useful sugges-
tions to nurses:


We may safely feel that there is no degree
Of contagiousnes in consumption like that
which holds good of some other diseases
like measles, smallpox, &c. But while
granting this, we have no doubt that there is
a certain number of cases in which consump-
tion seems to have been communicated from
one individual to another. Hence our duty
is as follows:


First-Never allow any one to sleep in the
same bed with consumptive.


Second-If possible, let the attendant or
friend sleep in an adjacent room, within easy
call, rather than in the same room.


Third-Never let one sister ii. e. one with
the same hereditary tendencies) sleep with
another who is tubeIculous.


Fourth-If possible, always have a paid
nurse to attend to the mere drudgery of the
sick-room.


F1fth-As this will be often impossible, let
the attendant be sure to go out not less than
twice daily, and fill her lungs with pure air,
or at least with air different from that of the
sick-rOom.


On the subject of clothing, no specific rules
can be laid down that will meet all cases but
the following is what we deem simply pru-
dent: Always strive to dress in such man
ner as to feel perfectly omtortable-neither
too cold in winter nor too hot in summer.
OF course this necessitates very different
dresses in these two periods of the year. A
question often arises, Ought flannel to be
used all the year round? That question is
categorically and very decidedly answered in
the affirmative by some. But even this ar
ticle should be left to the decision of each in
dividual. Some are made almost frantic by it
in summer, while others seem to need it.
Year: 1869

Romance at a Foreign Watering Place


five Ladies' Fight q Duel.


The last number of the Paris Moniteur
contains the following romantic story:


Two ladies of the world, who pass the
winter season at the watering places On
the shores of the Mediterranean, were
scaling, at 6 O'Clock on the morning of the
18th of May, the gorges of the Alps uns
dulating toward the sea at few miles
distance from Vintimiglia. Upon reach
ing the summit of the hill, on which are
to be seen the ruins of the Roman castle,
they stopped two peasant women, and
induced them, by means of a sum of
money, to serve.them as, witnesses in a
very important operation, which they
said they were about to execute. The
two ladies next measured the ground.
One of them placed herself with her back
against the ruins Of the Castle of Appius,
and the other placed herself before her,
at distance of twenty steps. Each Of
them then drew pistol from under the
clOaks which they wore. At the sight Of
bhSoO wa fOho Wiz HS1oohS WOLAOh ObbOA OA
piercing cries, and advanced with ups
lifted arms to prevent the AmszOns from
firing at one another. But two shots
were discharged at the same moment.
The poor peasant women fell down,
while the ladies burst into loud laughter
upon seeing their witnesses on the ground
pitiously begging them not to kill them.
The ladies then reloaded the pistols and
took position in front of each other, at q
distance of fifteen steps. They were
about to fire again, when a third witness
made his appearance. 1t was priest.
He emerged from behind the wall of the
ancient castle. Startled by the report OF
the pistols, he had hastened to the spot
from the neighboring parsonage. he
urged the two rivals to make up their
quarrel, and succeeded in reconciling
them. They then accompanied him to
the neighboring village church, where
they confessed and received absolution.
A love affair was at the bottom of the
"a
Year: 1869

Delicate Point Relative 30 the Ac-


ton Of Treasury Ofiscers Explained.


WASHINGTON, June 4.-Wben Secre-
tary Boutwell, was at Groten, toward the
close Of last week, he wrote Assistant Sec
retary Richardson letter with regard TO
the modification of bis plan for the pnr-
chase of bonds and sale Of gold. He
placed the letter with his own hand in the
Groten posiofice. The letter was received
by Richardson on Monday, and by him its
contents were kept secret until after the
close of business hours, and was not earlier
than than half past four o'clock when a
letter was written the Assistant Treasurer
at New York on the subject, aud the para
graph furnished the press. Both gentle
men are confident that, owing 10 the strict
ness with which the matter was guarded,
there could be no premature disclosure on
the part of any government officer.
Year: 1869

BRITISH emigration to America seems
to continue at an unusually lively
rate, if we may judge by the fact that
six thousand persons left Liverpool alone
during last week for this country. Let
US leave the Alabama question untouched


for awhile, and with little patience we
shall find Great Britain all on our side


of the water-and consequently on oar
side OF the question. - .ua.s ...
Year: 1869

THE latest sensation at the watering
places is a shooting gallery for ladies.
This is finishing the education of our
bellies finely. No girl is qualified for a
Irritation now unless she has winged or
is competent to bring down her man.
Progressive age
Year: 1869

To walk along the street with an
umbrella or cane under your arm,
the point sticking out for everybody
to run his face into i. -e. ~.


How stupid for three ladies to
walk abreast, and move SO slowly
that persons in hurry must either
90 between them or get into the gut
ter. 9egT t1,f=.


How stupid to puff and blow, and
we'll nigh faint on ascending a. stair
way, with forty pounds Of fashiona
BILE cloak on your back.


How stupid to go late to church
and annoy the minister and congre-
CATION by your fussy entrance. es
How stupid to wear a dress four
feet to long, and then look daggers
if any one steps on it.


How stupid to walk for exercise
when you need rest. @ #


How stupid not to know whatyou
want when you go into dry goods
store.


How stupid to eat when you are
not hungry. a~t 50 g


How stupid to think that peoples
opinion of you increases in proper
ton to the cost of your clothes.


How stupid to refuse to sing o.
play when urged; Or to bore people
to distraction by doing so when, no
asked. 5 = 3..e9t 5ssaG .s5sf-
Year: 1869

ave are glad that President
johnson has made a ''clean breast
of it, and put forth clearly and dis
tinctly his views and policy in re
gard to the national debt. We have
tried very hard to hold our original
faith in his personal honesty. and
to attribute his disastrous action to
errors Of Judgment and infirmities
of temper. The struggle has often
become difficult and we can MAIN
tain it no longer. We. give it up.
It is impossible to reconcile his
language in regard to our national
debt with integrity of purpose. or
any sincere regard. for the honor
and welfare of the nation. We only
regret that foreigners should be
able to cite a. Presidents Message
in seeming proof of our national
disgrace and dishonor.''-N Y.
Year: 1869


We have crossed the bridge Ger the middle of
My old woman and l. life,
Taking our share in the calm and the strife.
With the travellers passing by. trife,
And though on our pathway the shadows are
There's light in the western sky. y.~
Some losses and crosses. of course, we've had,
My old woman and /;


But, bless you'll we never found time to be sad,
And a very good reason why:
We were busy as bees, and we weren't SO m ad
AS to stop in our work to cry.
On our chan geable road as we journeyed along
My old woman and1, EEs
The kindly companions we met in the thron g
Made our lives like a,vision fly; 81
And therefore the few that ima agined us wrong
Scarcely cost us a single sigh.
The~weak and the weary we've striven to cheer
My old woman and /: 5 - There
For we each of us thought that our duty while
Was to do as we'd be done by,
In the hope to exhibit a balance clear


When the reckoning day is nigh.
lJonN BRoUGHAM, in Harper's Magazine.l
Year: 1869

The FRESHMAN AND THE NEoRo.-
Ex-Governor Briggs, of Massachusetts,,
used to relate the following which cor.
respondent AYERS has not been in print
TN the old stage coach days, an Irish.
man was travelling in New England. Ar.
irving late at the town where they were
to spend the night, Pat discovered to his
dismay that his only chance for sleep was
to share the couch of colored brother.
The natural repugnance of his race made
him 10th to accept the situation; but be.
ing very tired, he submitted with as good
a grace as possible. In the AIght some
mischievous boy blackened his face
Next morning fifteen miles were to be
travelled before breakfast. Our Celtic
friend wasawakened just in time to spring
into the carriage as it was moving off,
At the stopping place he found no con.
yenience for washing. Stepping up to
glass to arrange his hair, he started
back in horror, exclaiming, "Be jabbcrs,
you've woke the dirty nagar and left n q
fifteen miles behind !"