smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1863

He comes not-I have watched the moon 60


down,
But yet he comes not. Once it was not so.
He thinks not how these bitter tears do flow,
The while he holds his riot in the town;
And yet he will come and chide, and shall


weep,
And he will wake my infant from its sleep,
To blend its feeble wailing with my tears.
Oh. how love a mothers watch to keep
Over those sleeping eyes, that smile, which


cheers
My heart though sunk in sorrow, fixed and


deep.


had husband once who loved me-now
He ever wears frOwn upon his brow
And feeds his passion on wantOns lip,
As bees from laurel flowers poison sip.
But yet cannot hate. o! there were hours
When could hang forever on his eye,
And time. who stole with silent witness by,
Strewed. as he hurried on, his path with tiow-


erS.


l loved him then-he loved me too. Ny heart
Still finds its fOndneSs kindle, if he smile;
The memory of our loves will ne'er DEPART
And though he often sting me with DART
Venomed and barbed, and waste upon the vile
Caresses which his babe and mine should


share
Though he should spurn mel will calmly bear
His madness; and should sickness come and lay
Its paralyzng band upon him, then
l would with kindness all my wrongs repay,
Until the penitent should weep and say
How faithful and how injured had been


j. G. PERCIyAL.
Year: 1863

our understanding merely, but in our
hearts and lives! We preach charity and
live for selfshness. We pray for love and
nourish hatred. We hope to be forgiven,
while our hearts are hard with stony vim
dictiveness. Are we utterly self-de-
ceived? Is our religion all a vain
show?"


opened the book and read the page to
which my hand instinctively turned. It was
the parable of the prodigal son. All the
simplicity, beauty, and pathos OF that di-
vine story opened up to me with power
and freshness and vividness I had never
felt before. My own soul was stirred to
its depths; the spirit of all-forgiving love
seemed to descend upon me there; I for
got all argument in the absorbing interest
of that sweetly-convincing, overpowering
narrative.


At the close, the old man was sobbing.
Other sObs, too, were heard in the adioin-
ing room. | opened the door and made a
sign. simultaneously mother and son
came forward and threw themselves at the
old mans side.


"Here he is father. Here is Martin,
our child, our sOn!" articulated Mrs.
Lockwood, disengaging the fathers hand
from his cane, and pressing it upon the
bowed head of the returned prodigal.
The old man wept aloud. It was some
time before any spoke. Then Mr.. Lock-
wood faltered forth:


"Martin-my only son-my child, for
give you. o, may God bless you and
make you his" And he embraced him,
while his tears showered down like rain
upon the young man 3 penitent head.


And that evening the three walked home
together; the young man with his father
leaning on his right arm, and his mother
on his left; he devoted son, all his wild,
youthful strength subdued to manly up
rightness, and tender filial affection, they,
a patient, aged pair, moving calmly and
unshrinkingly toward that final goal, those
dark gates of death, through which all
must pass.
Year: 1863

was capable of performing this prodigy
of strength, when it is remembered that
he was at that time, although only 33 or
"a years of age, of the weight of at least
250 pounds. At his death he weighed
nearly 800 pounds. "


Nelson notwithstanding his stature, was
neither obese, nor was wanting in the
agility or grace ofan g elsgaate.'s It is
true that like Henry the Eight he broke
down three on four horses in a days ride ;
but after a gallop at Aeuleo, or to the fig
groyssof the Catraee, We frequently found
him aneeiegant and tasteful gentleman in
The salons where more than once, carried
away BY the spOntaneousness Of his dis
position, he was seen. to kneel before some
lovely Chilean, to whom the dashing sal
Ior swore love as inconstant as the bill
lows of his own element


That which made Nelson most popular
among us was that spirit of fun and good
humor so Characteristic of the Chilians,
and Of which the Americans of the North,
so different from the circumspect English,
are so willing to become pleasant abettOrs.
Many are the amusing jokes remembered
Of Nelson. Upon one occasion he re
moved the hat Of the servant in a pistol
gallery at VALPARAISO, by well directed
ball, paying him on thespotrfor the dam
age and the fright with a handfulo of coin,
for he was as accurate a shot as he was
finished gentleman During a shortres-
idence at Aculeo, he took part in the
rustic sports Of our country, it being his
favorite amusement to chase the herds
at the annual cattle hunt.


When at the close Of 1857, Lieutenant
Nelson returned home, he bore with him
many afeetionate souvenirs which he
loyalty requited, sending frequent letters
and gifts to his friends. One of the lat
ter possesses a beautiful rife, which. he
Sent him from Kentucky.


## . .
Year: 1863




A SOMEWHAT singular discovery was
made in a house in St. Louis. The Ar.
gus gives the following account of the
story:


The inmates of one of our up town
mansion houses, a few days since were
surprised to find a large number Of bees
flying about in two of the upper rooms
As the little fellows continued to occupy
the places, a bee naturalist was sent fol
to investigate. On entering therooms he
exclaimed: You have honey somewhere
here" and proceeded to search for it
On removing the fire board, he discover
ed that one fue of the chimney was full
of honey comb, which was hanging down
into the fireplace, and the honey drop
ping from It; proceeding to the top Of
the house to sound the chimney, he found
it the same; one fue of the chimney was
full aud the bees were industriously at
work there also. These fues of the
chimney had never been used they were
plastered smoothe inside and were per
fectly dark stone having been placed on
the top of each hue.


The bees had descended the adjoining
fues and found small holes about teninch-
es from the top of the chimney, leading
into the closed fues, and through these
holes they had made their way in and out.
They have, as is supposed, occupied these
places for three years, having been kept
warm in the winter by the heat from the
adjoining fues. On removing the fire
board, the bees, seeing the great light
which had broken in upon them, descend
ed to the room and gathered on the win
dews, until they were covered to the
thickness of three inches. 1t is estima-
ted that there are in the two fues from
10000 to 10000 bees, and from 1900 to
5000 lbs. of honey.
Year: 1863

WE met jenkins this morning, in an
excited mood, and rubbing his hands ex-
citedly. He was vainly endeavoring to
extract smoke from a very short speci-


men Of the inevitable cheap cigar, which


was as innocent of fire asitwas Of Span


ish. Sir" said he, there are a great


many bogus babies in Chicago"


Bogus babies?"


As sure as I'm alive and the father
Of the genius genuine. There's nothing
bogus about the little Jenkinses, as You
would say if you could see them, but
that's more than can be said of many
heads Of families who sport Juveniles car
riageg- around the city on every sunshiny
day and on some days that are not sun
shiny. Yes, sir," " he continued, gleefully
" I've made an important discovery, a dis


covery which reveals the deception and
weakness of the human heart, and shows
how inconsistency false pride battles
with purses that won t jingle-an encoun-
ter in which the former invariably sue
cumbs after a brief season of uncertain
and undecisiye successes on. either side. "


Stopping to wind the loose wrapper Of
his cigar, we exclaimed In Heavens
name, what do you mean ?n


"Sooiety," heresumed, " "isrotten from
surface to core. We are taught to be-
Iieve according to the tenets of fashion
able life, that labor is degrading that to
be poor is to be despised. What wonder,
then, that in frantic struggles to conceal
both our poverty and the fact that we
labor, we should do many ridiculous
things, and resort to many disreputable
stratagems. Well, sir, coming down
Randolph-street, the other day, saw
well dressed woman drawing a baby car
riage along the sidewalk. A large shawl
covered the form of the little occupant
while a green vel, spread carefully over
the back of the carriage, concealed fea-
lures, no doubt, possessing all the infan-
tile Ioveliness Imaginable At-each rise
and fall in the very up and down stairs
sidewalk, the afectiOnate matron, young
though she was, would tenderly guide the
carriage over the rough places, as though
she wished to avoid waking the sleeping
cherub. I was so much pleased with
this display of tenderness that I kept
looking at it. In fact, I had seen that
identical carriage before. Latterly I
have wondered not a little at the rapid
Of baby carriages in the streets,
for you know, sir, that during the present |
Autumn, hundreds were to be met with !
on any afternoons walk. Well, just as I
was fairly wrapped up in admiration of !
the delicate and tender care of the mo
ther whom I had been observing, she |
arrived with the carriage at the three
step break in the sidewalk, near Metro
politan Hall. She turned the carriage
around and backed it slowly and careful
y down the first step, when to my hOr-
,or the pole slipped from her hands-the
carriage, with its blessed load, fell over
landing bottom upwards on
he stone pavement below. You may
Year: 1863

"Oh! if 1 ad the power-if we're rich l
would be so charitable!"-is phrase, if not
exactly expressed is very often implied.
in the conversation of we'll meaning peo-
pie; and undoubtedly, wealth is possess
ion foI the use of which we are accounta-
BILE in exact proportion to the extended
range Of action it affords. Still few indi-
viduals are so happily placed as not to have
ir some degre the power of bene6ting their
fellow creatures and a long list Of insignif-
icsnt items will make up large sum, it is
astonishing how large an amount of happi-
nesss arises from the small character and
trifling kindness of life. The sphere may
be limited; but to those who really take
pleasure in doing good turn" to fellow
creature, the opportunities are innumera-
BILE; aud despite the dark colors in which
some writers love to print human nature
we believe the proportion who do take
such pleasure to be large one.
Year: 1863

There is pretty Persian apologize on
the difference between mental and corpo-
real suffering. A king and his minister
were discussing the subject, and differed in
opinion. The minister said the first to be
most severe, and to convince his sovereign
of it, he took lamb, broke its leg, shut it
up with a tiger, which was bound by
chain. so that the beast could spring near
but not seize the lamb, and put food also
before him. The lamb with the broken
leg had eaten up all the food placed before
him; the other was found dead from fright.
Year: 1863

Little Charlie cams to the table very
hungry, and he had his fork in potato, and
the potato transferred to his plate before he
thou ght of the usual blessing. Looking up
at his father he says. "Pa. you talk to
Heaven while smashes my potato" His
hunger made him wish to improve every
moment,
Year: 1863

mistices and conventions to end the strife.
let us inquire upon what terms they would
make peace. Let us beware. when they
say peace, that they do not mean the over
throw of the government, submission to
tyranny. and the beginning of entless war.


Let all men who anxieusly desire peace.
earnestly support the government. And
let all those. who. while they elamor for
peace withhold their support from the gov
eminent be marked as hypocrites and trait
ors.-Lad. Jour.
Year: 1863

The ''Mississippian" thus speaks Of. the de-
fences of that city:


A letter from Savannah states that the de-
fences at that place haze been greatly i'm
proved and strengthened almost daily from
the beginning Of the war to the present time,
and they are now sn complete that it would
exercise the wits of IN engineer to find n
place to stick another spade or mount another
gun. A range Of batteries more than twenty
miles long commands every entrance to the
city by water, or to land by which ii can be
reached. These guns are so arranged that
should the enemy succeed in taking one bat.
terry. it would in most cases, place him where
the fire of two others could be turned upon
him, l,y which success on bis part would he
favorable to our arms. Besides thqse fortii-
cations, of which the Yankees are already ap-
prised, there are ample preparations for the
destruction of any fleet or land force that they
have sent against any of our seaport towns.-
These will only be known hy their execution,
should the ianks favor them with an uppcriu.
nifty. The health Of the troops is good, with
the exception of fsrcrs, which have changed
in their character from The fatal typhoid
form to the intermittent, which will, doubt.
less prevail until the iall frosts como in.
Year: 1863

rusticatins on their plantations, ur ut the
springs, half " hemisphere may be lost Or won.
In the meantime. the legislation of the coun-
try stands crystallizcl, just as it was lett in
May last; and the President and heads of de-
partments, no matter what exigency may
come upon us, are bound up by some law which
is already perhaps obsolete, 81 which, in its
operation, has proved I" require Immediate
amendment. Seven months at present are
equivalent to seven years Of peaceful times
Already events have swept on far beyond the
stage at which Congress saw them in May
In this matter Of the currency alone that
which was dollar in May is but half dol
lar now. If Congress would sitin permanent
session, and mind strictly its own business no
doubt much evil might lie prevented as it be-
gins to arise.
Year: 1863

This dashing cavalier is at present ut the
residence Of his parents in Amherst, where
he viii remain until he RECEIVERS from his
wounds. They are not serious however, and
he will soon be in the saddle aud on the war
path aguin. Suffers and Yankee trains will
have but short respite from the operations of
their tormcntor
Year: 1863

"a LAW TO PUNISH POVERTY Some
one thus strikingly and appropriately
names the Conscription law. 1t is well
enough to call things by their proper
name, and clothe them in proper Ian
guage, thus:


Be II enacted by the Congress Of the
United States, That any able-bodied man
between the ages of twenty and forty FIVE,
who from any cause be too poor to pay
three hundred dollars on demand, shall
be seized and conveyed to the nearest
Sailitary post, and compelled to serve in
the ranks as private soldier, for the full
term Of three years-any provision in the
Federal or State Constitution to the con.
trary Notwithstanding.
Year: 1863

CoNrRABANDs.-It is stated by the
Washington Chronicle, rabid Abolition
paper and organ Of the President and
Cabinet, that there are now about five
thousand,contrabandS at Alexandria, Vir-
ginia- Most Of them DO not know what
to do. And to support these runaway or
stolen negroes, the labOring white men
of the country are taxed enormously.
Millions of dollars, forced from the hard
earnings Of the people. have been lavish
ed upon these idle, ignorant and indolent
negroes by the Administration.
Year: 1863

A Correspondent of Harper's Drawer fur
nishes the following, which is both new and
good:


A few years since, while travelling in one
of the mountainous and somewhat barren
counties of Northwestern Georgia, in the ear
ly spring time and upon the Sabbath cay, 1
reined up my horse at the front OF an humble
log church situated in beautiful grove The
congregation had assembled, the inside being
pretty well filled with the white settlers liv-
ing thereabout. Outside, upon stumps and
under shade trees, were to be seen groups of
Africs sons Of toll, cleanly dressed, and ap-
parently full of enjoyment as the broad grin
and occasional loud chuckle demonstrated.
entered and took seat


The warm Southern sun, looking down up
on the earth, with its balmiest and kindliest
greeting; the tall and reverend form of the
aged pastor of divine life; and the rapt, SOL
emn expression of upturned faces all lifted the
soul with the beauty and dignity of the Scrip
lures. Just at this solemn moment lizard
probably revived by the suns hot rays-ven-
tured into the holy sanctuary, upon the back
of a seat whereon sat an old and care-worn
disciple of the church, without coat or vest
The extreme heat of the day was ample apol-
ogy for the scantineSs of his apparel By his
side sat a lovely, red Tipped daughter appar-
emily eighteen years Of age-behind them a
mischievous looking urchin of about fourteen.
Seeing the lizard stretched at its lazy length
undecided whether to proceed or retire
from this thronged human habitation-the
parent of all mischief put into the lads head
to catch it by the tail As he did 50, he
quietly leaned forward toward the old man
who was inclined in a patient, hearing atti-
tude, and dropped it down the gap in his loose,
homemade pantaloons. Feeling the rough
ness Of the creatures claws, he jumped hur-
riedly and excitedly from his seat bringing
his hand around with great force. The lizard,
perceiving his advance cut of, turned for a
retreat and gained admission beneath the
coarse cotton shirt.


Here upon the bare flesh, his claws were
intolerable. In an agony of fright-with
huge drops of sweat standing upon his fore
head, and his eyes protruding from their sock
ets-the old man began to disrObe The
preacher ceased his feeling exhortation, the
eyes Of all the congregation were turned up
on so strange and unaccountable a scene.
Two of the deacons advanced towards him.
His daughter in great alarm, sprang from her
seat and jumping up and Gown, and wiring
ing her hands, screamed out,


"Oh, lordy I lordy daddy's got 6tr'


"No, darter r cried the old man beneath
the thick folds of his cotton shirt: ats no
ft-its snakeg'


The remainder Of this serio-ludicrous scene
is left to the readers imagination.
Year: 1863

order was given to fall back to the vicinity o
the Chancellor House, which we did in goot
order. Here the contest was maintained FOL
an hour or more, not so severely as before
but with great havoc to the enemy, and con.
siderable loss to ourselves.


The vicinity of the Chancellor House was
now the theatre of the fight and my visits to
that spot became less frequent Gen. Hook
er maintained his headquarters there until 10
A. NJ, when it was set on fire by the enemy's
shells, and is now in ruins. Charlottesville
is no longer in existence, having persisted with
the flame, but Charlottesville is in history,
never to be efTaced.


Our new line was now so far established as
to render it safe to withdraw all our forces on
that front, which was accordingly done, and
at 1l:3O A NJ. the musketry firing ceased.


The engagement had lasted six hours, but
had been the most terrific OF the war Our
artillery had literally slaughtered the enemy,
and many of the companies had lost heavily
in men themselves, but the guns were all
saved


The enemy was now no longer in our rear,
but had been showed down directly in our
front, and is now directly between US and
our forces in Fredericksburg, and we were
again in an intrenched and formidably forti-
fed position. The enemy has gained some
ground, it is true, but at the sacrifice of the
flower of his force, FIVE of his seven divisions
having been cut to pieces in the effort, and
over 1000 of them have fallen into our
hands,


Our right wing under Generals Reynolds
ann Meade was not engaged, save the divis-
ion of General Humphrey, which went into
the woods on the enemy's left flank, and
fought valiantly under their brilliant leader,
until their ammunition was exhausted.


During the afternoon, the enemy has made
several attempts to force our lines, particular
ly at the apex of orr position, near the Chan
cellor House, but Captain Weed has massed
large quantity of artillery in such position as
10 repulSe, Win great loss, everything within
its range. The enemy tried several batteries
and regiments at that point at different times
during the afternoon, and they were literally
destroyed by the FIRE of our terrible guns.
Nothing can live within their range.


Our present position is impregnable if our
troops continue to fight as they have to-day.
General Lee, the prisoners say, has issued an
order that our liGes must be broken at all
hazards. Let them try it again, with W hat
they have left. They can, and perhaps will
destroy themselves by attacks upon this posi-
ton.


Our troops are perfectly cool and confident.
They have fought with great spirit and enthu-
siasm, and viii continue to do So


L. l. CRoUNSE.
Year: 1863

WEDNESDAY, Dec. rs +. NJ.


Stocks at the first board to-day took another
turn towards the bottom, and the bears were, as
usual in exultaton over the speedy approach OF
their promised millennium. Many are trying to
force the conviction upon themselves as well as
others that the downward progress has about
reached the point where a reaction must take
place; but when the fact is taken into considera
ton that large majority of the stock that enters
Into the daily sales is yet greatly above it's real
value, no argument can be adduced to satisfy
reasoning mind that inflated prices can stand for
any great length of time. In the absence of news
from the army by reports of temporary checks to
the progress of our arms the share market may
and will luctuate; but the dead weight of the GER
tainty that the rebellion s in its last throes will as
surely bring down stocks to their proper standard
as that revulsion succeeds an overburdened mar
ket. There was cons derable excitement in New
York Central and Erie Railroad shares, the former
selling at 1873 for cash and 1885, seller ten days, the
difference being caused by the fact that the books
close on Friday next and the election for directors
will take place on Tuesday. Harlem declined II,
Hudson River ~ and Reading /. Prices at the
half past three o'clock board were steady at the
decline of the afternoon, and in the street at five
o'clock the market was more firm at the following
Year: 1863

In social Intercourse he IS frank, unpre-
tending and courteous, removing embar-
rassment from even the hGmblest person
who approaches him. 1t is only when
at the head Of his command and in the
storm of battle that he arrays himself in
the stern and lofty aspect of the command
ing, heroic military ohieftain. His trans
cendent career in this rebellion is famil-
lar to all He has in the most emphatic
as we'll as triumphant manner, literally
fought his way to his present elevation.
Year: 1863

The New York Tribune says:


"A Washington manufacturer Of news
for one of our most scandalous city jour
nails reports the Editor Of this paper SIS
saying to the President of the United
States with regard to reorganization Of
his Cabinet, " It mast be done, aud being
answered at shGh't be done.n It is such
trash that exposes our people to disgrace
and ridicule abroad. We never spoke to
the President of our country a word incon-
sistent,with the dignity Of his high Office
and never were addressed by him in any
spirit but that of personal regard and
kindness. Nothing like either Of the
shove sentences was ever uttered between
usn