smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

An Offended Cat.


Last year gentleman in Meredith
owned cat which was a regular hunter.
and about which the owner tells some ra-
ther tough sterics. The cat frequently ac-
companied the family when they went
berrying, and amused himself by catching
rabbits. squirrels and birds, the latter of
which he frequently caught in trees. II
he became separated from the party, he
would climb tree and ascertain the di-
rection to lead himself to find them. One
day he caught rat and laid it the foot of
his master, who took out his knife and
skinned it. Pussy surveyed the operation
with intense interest, and seemed highly
pleased at it. The gentleman said, Go
get another" and the cat went off and re-
turned, at intervals during the day, with
three more, which were duly skinned un-
der feline superintendent. lie then told
the cat that he would skin all the rats that
he could catch, and hcnceforth pussy made
it his sole occupation to catch the rodents
and see their hides removed. The skin of
the rats were fastened on the barn at the
distance of few feet from the gronnd.
Thirty seven trophies were in time dis
played on the barn. One day this feline
Nimrod bro ught in rat and laid it at the
gentleman's feet. He was busy at the time
and could not crafty the animal with the
usual skinning operation. The cat laid it
at his feet three successive times, and was
finally repulsed in such manner that
Tommy went off with his back and tail
up in the peculiar stiff gait which enragcd
animals have. From that day not rat
would he catch, though other small game
continued to suffer as of old.


But now comes the wonderful part of
the tale. On the night of the day in which
he became so mortally offended, Tommy
went out to the barn and tore down the
hides Of the thirty-seven victims, to show
his resentment of the insult Such case
is rarely heard of, and we so record it for
our readers, young and old. Though he
would keep all his old habits, such as
skating. (for he would slide in the best
manner he was able, on the ice, whenever
the boys VENT he was never again known
to catch rat to the day of his death,
which happened some few months after,
by being caught in II fox trap.
Year: 1869

A German doctor maintains that the
human skin, when healthy, does not alb
sorb, and that baths can have no effec
upon it. lie offers to go into a bath con-
tanning the most poisonous substances
provided they be not corrosive, to test the
truth Of his theory. to pay a fine if he b,
wrong, and 60 to Paris and submit him
self to the disposal of the Academy o
Medicine at any time for the purpose.
Year: 1869

We do not physically make ourselves in
this world if we did, we should be far
different from what we are. You should
be contented with the form that God has
given you, and not seek, by abusing and
starving yourself, to make delicate figure
Of what was never, by your own confess
sion,. intended as such. Diet yourself, and
take healthy exercise, and these you will
find good remedies for reducing surplus
flesh.
Year: 1869

A cynical journalist says the reason SO
many marriages occur Immediately after a
war is, that bachelors become SO accus-
toned to strife that they learn to like it,
and after the return Of peace they enlist
in matrimony rs the next best thing to
war,
Year: 1869

SINGULAR FAITH The following statement
appears in the Pail Mall (England) Gazette:


All the extraordinary proceedings of the
many tanatical Sects whose rapid increase has
excited so much anxiety in Russia are fairly
thrown into the shade by a terrible act of self
immolation which is reported from the Gov
crnment at SaratoW. A few months ago the
prophets OF a new religion made their appear
ance in that part of the Empire, preaching
sclt-destruction by fire as the only sure road to
salvation; and SO readily was their terrible doc
trinc received by the ignorant and SuperStitiOus
peaSantry, that in one large village no less than
LOO persons assembled in some wooden build
ings, and having barricaded the doors and win
dows, set the houses on fire and periShed in the
flames. The authorities are doing all they can
to stay the progress of this new madness, but
their task is obviously difficult one The pun
shmcnts which the law can lnhict must have
little terror for enthusiasts who deliberately
choose a death SO horrible, as the true road to
heaven.
Year: 1869

THE BOOT on THE OTHER LEG-When
son of Fred. Douglass, who happened to be
coored citizen of African descent, was refused
admission into the Typographical Union at
Washington, great cry was raised all over
the States by the Radical press. 1t was an
outrage; it was abominable; oh, nothing could
equal the meanness of such prescription A
short time ago strike among the walters at
the Niagara Falls Hotel took place because a
cook of different color was employed. The
Radical papers are all mum on the subject not
one saying word What is the reason? Be-
cause the walters are negroes, and the cook
employed was white.-Erchdnge.


If the case was reversed. and the walters
had been white and the cook black, the Radi-
cal papers would have been bowling for months
Year: 1869




Boston Post says


a lovely girl, the most vigorous dancer at
the biggest hotel at the Branch, washes out all
traces Of last nights ball in a morning swim
out beyond the surf, when the envious waves
do not flash their foam in her little mouth, but
the long rollers kindly rock and caress her. A
notable swimmer is she Encased in a free
and not cumbersome suit of light blue, her long
lair free to wind and waves, she trips to the
surf, takes a bold header through the first
breaker, and strikes out. Another roaring
wave comes at her, but the little dripping head
ducks and plunges through it, reappearing on
the other side, and shaking the salt drops back
with gee. Again and again, and the last one
is passed, and she strikes out over the rolling
deep water, beyond the safety buoy, with i.
stroke that would shame the AdOnis who last
night Whrled her in the dance, but had not yet
come down to breakfast Returning, she rides
on the breakers like queen, fresh, invIgorated
and careless Of the terrors Of the deep, Cf
which she is the charming mistress. After the
bath the ladies retire to their rooms and the
other sex to the bar. 1t is said that both have
The same object, and that the little glass " is
the regular corrective of sea water, without
distinction of sex. There is also a queer odor
of cigarettes. which is unaccountable but by
supposIug 4 male presence.
Year: 1869

CHINESE SEWING MACHINISTs.-Ihe San
Francisco HTd1d says:


The shirt merchants of Chicago are iuhiant
over the expected advent Of cargo of Chi
ncse sewing machine workers. White women
in that city have recently raised the price of
SHIRT sewing from eighteen TO twenty cents per
garment. The cnterpriSng Chicagoans can't
stand this and they are grateful in the belief
that they can procure the work alluded to per
formcd-although in an inferior manncr-by
the frugal Chnaman, at from Ten TO twelve
cents per garment.


For the purpose of saving n few cents on
each shirt, thereby increasing their already
enormous profits, the men engaged in the above
movement would starve the poorly paid sewing
white women by discharging them and employ
ing Cinnamon. Every Chinaman employed in
the country takes the bread out OF the mouth
of some white person.
Year: 1869

ST. LOUIS, Februnfy q.


The lower House of the Legislature
yesterday tabled the proposition to re-
quest the Supreme Court to pass upon
the validity OF the act ofthe last session
relieving the Pacific Railroad from the
lien OF the State thereon.


A bill was passed giving the City
Council OF st. Louis power TO provide
for the sanitary management and con-
troll of bawdy houses within and for
five miles outside the city, but refusing
to allow any assessment and collection
of tax from them for revenue purposes.
In the City Council yesterday res0lu-
tions were adopted requesting the Leg
islature to appoint committee to In
vestigate the charges of fraud and cor
ruption which some of the members oi
the Legislature made against that body.
Year: 1869




ONE fine dayH fine Newfoundland dog
and mnstih had'a sharp discussion over
bone, OK some other trifiIng matter, and
warfed away as augrfly as twoboys. They
were lighting on q bridge, and being blind
with rage, as is often the case, the first
thing they knew, over they went into the
water. The hanks were 20 high that they
were forced TO swim some distance before
they caInet 70 alanding place. IL wasvery
easy for the Newfoundi diander--he was as
much at home in the waternsa seal. But
not so with poor Bruce. lie. struggled
and tried his best to swim, hut made little
headway. Old Bravo (the Newfound-
lander) had reached the land and then
turned TO look at his old enemy. He saw
plainly that his strength was fast failing
and that he was likely to be drowned So
what should that noble fellow do but
plunge in, and seize him gently by the
collar, and keeping his nose above water
| tow him safely into port.


1t was funny to see those two dogs look
at each other as soon as they shook their
wet coats Their glanoes said as plainly
as words "Well never quarrel any
morer And, sure enough, they kept
| their resolution. l think some boys might
learn a good lesson from this old New.
| foundland dog.--Pres6yteridn
Year: 1869

A few years ago, a large drug firm in
this city advertised for a boy. Next day
the store was thronged with applicants,
among them q queer looking little fellow
accompanied by woman, who proved TO
be his aunt, in lieu of aithless parents, by
whom he had been abandoned, Looking
at this little waif, the merchant in the
store promptly said "Can't take him !;


places all full; besides he is too small. "T
know he is small" said the woman, but


he is willing and faithful" There was a
twinkle in the boys eyes which made the
merchant think again. A partner in the
firm volunteered to remark that he "did
not see what they wanted Of such boy


he wasn't bigger than pint of cider"
But after consultation the boy was set TO
work. A few days later call was made
on the boys in the store for some one to
stay all night. The prompt response OF
the little fellow eontrasted well with the
reluctance of others. In the middle OF
the night the merchant looked In to
see If all was right in the store, and
presently discovered his youthful pro
tege busy scissoring labels what
are you doingSH said he; II did not tell
Won To work nightsS ~ know you did


not tell me SO. but 4 thought might as
well be doing something" In the morn
ing the cashier got orders 10 double thai
boys wages, for he is aOiling.p Only a
few weeks elapsed before a show of Wild
beasts passed through the streets, and very
naturally all hands In the store rushed 20
witness the spectacle. A thief saw his
opportunity, and entered in rear door TO
seize something, but In twinkling found
himself firmly clutched by the diRlinutiYe
clerk aforesaid, and, aiter struggle, MAS
captured. Not only was a robbery pre-
vented, but valuable articles taken from
Year: 1869

To BURY friend in winter is kind of
trial that connects strange inward emo.
tions Of feelings which it is difficult to mas
ter We have cleared away the snow, and
heWn a passage down through the solid
pavement of the frost, and then in that
inhospitable place we come to bury our
departed; be it child, or wife, or mother,
or much loved friend, our heart shUdders
in oonvulsiYe chill at the forlorn last
offices we are come to perform. While
our feeling is protesting, the solemnity,
so.called, goes on, and before we have
gotten our own consent the "tribute OF
respect" is ended The frozen chips Of
earth, loosened again by blows, are piled
on the loved ones rest, and we turn to
go. "Will it storm to-night2 The wind,
alas is bowling even now in the trees,
and the sleeting has already begun. O
God, it shall not bel We were going to
be fools, we see, but now the spell is
broken. Our departed isnot in that grave
and we scorn to say our farewell over it.
Let the SHOWS fall heavy, if they will, and
the winds rage pitiless and wild above
ours It shall be to thank thee, Father, Lord
Of the warmer cline, that our dead one
lives with thee" Practically, almost
nothing will more surely compel faith il
immortality, even if one chances to b.
unbelieving, than to bury friend in win
ter And, as a matter of fact, it is not ii
the fresh, unburstlng life of the spring, o.
in any other softer season of the year
that we think Of immortality with half tn
tension that we do at winter funerals. W,
ask it instinotively, as we do a FIRE TO
the cold.--.Dr. Bushnell.
Year: 1869

for ] carry within my heart an aching
fever, which no prosperity can allay or re-
move. The objects which have cheered
me can cheer me no more. l stand alone
in this wilderness world a mourner and a
pilgrim. My visions are of my wife and
child my day-dreams are of them but
must suffer, as you see, until meet them
in that better country where the sun de-
scends not, and darkness is unknown
where the wicked cease from troubling,
and where the weary are at rest can
forget my child, for her existence seems
to me like misty trance, in the fond as.
surance that the sparkling dewdrop has
exhaled in heaven but for the cherished
rose that sustained it, cease not to grieVe
Alas for the wife of my bosomp


With the last words the snake eaters
voice failed, his body was convulsed, until
flood of tears relieved him. He would
hear no sympathetic words from his
friend, but parted with him thus
You alone have my secret. In few
months more my body must be consigned
be consigned to the earth on the sacred
spot where my wife and child were mur
dered. You shall be one of the executors
of my will, and l beseech you faithfully tC
carry out my instructions"


The snake-eater was right; few
months after this interview he died; anC
now, in the very centre of populou
town, on the banks of the Mississippi may
be seen a tombstone recording the event
which occurred on that spot, and the hopO
of the departed husband that he shoulC
meet his wife and child in heaven.
Year: 1869

WE CHANGED to see the other day very
charming little addendum to country
school-room, which is worthy of note.
The room was new, the walls pleasantly
toned, the low, skirting wainscot of native
woods, left of its natural color and simply
oiled; but, best of all, before both of the
south windows which fanked the position
of the mistress were two wide trays, of
rustic finish, in which were grouped a
geranium or two, few starting ionquils
and hyaCinths, a variety of weaknesses,
and iVys which clambered up on either
side the windows and skirted them with a
fairy-like hanging of green.


Gould pretier lesson or Worthier
one-which should teach at once regard
for and love of floWers--be taught by any
pictures in the school botaniesP


The furnace-heat ofthe day left gentle
temperature for the night, and all that was
needed to guard against frost was screen.
ing bit of muslin upon a Saturday night,
or little replenishment Of the furnace.
fires Even this might be avoided by an
adoption of the warden cases. So, then
the thing is every way feasible. And what
unction might not an adrOit teacher give
to the first lessons in botany, with scores
OF eyes beaming upon the little leaflets
which turn so eagerly to the sunshine, OF
upon the bulb lifting its green spears day
after day, and unfolding, by degrees, some
wonderful pile of blossomsP


What now if we were to add to this, in
country school-rooms, some assemblage
under glazed case, of all the insects which
haunt the neighborhood-th beetles, th(
butterflies, the moths-all in their differen
stage of transformation, and all these tC
contribute decorative features, Will,
familiarizing the little ones with their ap
pearanceY


Then the minerals of the neighborhoot
might have their case, and the teache
challenge the pupils to bring in new type
of their own finding, with some little re
ward for the eager and quick-sighted one
who should furnish positively new speci
men.


Still another cabinet might have it
array of native woods, distinguished b,
form Of twig, or color of bark, or shape 0
leaves, all of which might then be laugh
by the best and surest kind of object
lessons


Nor would this style of teaching en-,
properly within doors the yard Nigh
have its appointment Of varied shrub
berries, with every species named and bill
leted, so that miniature arboretum shoul,
grow up around the schoolroom, and be
come source of healthy pride to bot
pupils and mistress.


Will some of those elderly gentlemel
who believe only in the old measure G
ugliness and the "Rule of Three" give u
their objections to the palliatives of teach
ing we suggest H--He4rh and Home.
Year: 1869

telegraphiC speed with theY brain, and
so with the eye. The first advice to be
given with reference to the comfortable
use of the eyes undoubtedly is to keep the
intestines and liver and stomach in a
healthy condition; in other words, do
everything to confirm the general health.
II this be impaired, do not read, and, espe-
cially do not write long, without giving
the eye rest, The great remedy for an
eye whose disease depends upon the nerve,
and not the muscle, is rest rest rest =
M0ntpdS6r { (Tt) Journal.
Year: 1869

PERSONS suffering from DYSPEPSIA, or any
other malady, must take care Of their eyep.
Auy disease impairs the strength, and the
nervous system is depressed and when
laboring under this form Of depression the
eve ii particularly liable to become weak.
The reason Of this is that Of the ten nerves
which 20 off from the BRAIN SIX are dis
tributed wholly, and tho other four par
tally, to the eye Through the great
sympathetic nerve, the disturbed stomach,
OF liver, OF integtines, communicate With
Year: 1869

The last Legislatures of New York
and West Virginia ratified the Fifteenth
Amendment. The people of neither
State authorized such ratification. The
people of both States have now repudi'
ated it, The people of West Virginia
not only insist that the negro should not
yet be admitted to the ballot, but they
demand that the right of suffrage shall
be restored 10 all our disfranchised
white citizens. The proposition of the
sO-called liberals in this city that the
negro should be enfrauchised at once
aud the white man disfranchised as
long as possible, found very little favor
with the voting masses of the State.
Out of common decency, then, these
'loyal" folks ought to cease their clam
ors for negro suffrage, but we doubt very
much if they will do it.
Year: 1869

The Boston Advertiser, referring to the
efforts of the Free Traders, remarks that
$50 far as the signs of the times bear on
this question, if there is anything to be
trusted in them, the new West and the
renovated South are to be hereafter the
strongholds of the protective system.
Both are stretching out their hands for
the means of building up the various
industries with which the older States
have been favored, and both are asking
for the facilities which every civilized
nation under the sun has afforded under
like circumstances"


If the protective system never finds
its strongholds save in the West and
South it will have none. Whatever the
signs" may indicate, the fact is that
Southern and Western interests are op-
posed to protection, and while this is
the case they will net seek to build up
our industry at the sacrifice OF another.
Year: 1869

At session of the Board of County
Canvsssers at New York yesterday, sew
eral protests were submitted against
the counting Of votes cast for Henry
Smith, the Republican candidate for
supervisor, on the ground that they
were void because, at the time of his
nomination, Smith was member of the
Metropolitan police. The protests were
sent to the Corporation Council for an
opinion thereon. 1t should be noted
that two supervisors are elected annu-
ally, the person receiving the second
best number of votes being chosen as
well % the highest man.
Year: 1869

Ar THE recent election in New York,
some Republican scratched the name OF
HORACE GREELEY from his ballot, and
substituted that of JEFFERSON DAVIS
It was not much of a complimenbto
DAVIS, but it was a sad slap at GREE
Year: 1869

In Virginia, a policeman who shot q
soldier is to be tried by the soldiers
under special order from General
CISBY. Bat, if soldier was to shoot
a policeman, ought the case to be tried
by a iury of policemen
Year: 1869

THE English government is about re-
duoing The single rate on postage be-
tween that country and the United
States to three pence. This will vastly
increase the amount of correspondence
between Great Britain and the new
world.
Year: 1869

without any special complaint except grad.
ual declination of bodily strength and nervous
energy, will find in the TONIC A FOUNTAIN
OF VITALITY ANDEYIG0R AS RE
FRESHING AND EXT HILERATING AS
POOL IN THE DESERT TO THE SAND
SCORCHED AND PAINTING TRAVELLER.
Year: 1869

when the cowslips star the meadows with their


beauty,


When the sky bends down above US blue and
Wien all the woodland bOughs are full of


music,


And all the orchard branches snowy white,
When the violet gives its sweetness forth IL


signing,


And the lilac moves in joy each purple spray,
If you ask me why this brightness and this
shall answer, shall answer, 1T is May,


May, May, May
When the sun sinks down the West in golden


splendor


And w feel the gloom and chill Of night
five turn 20 loving eyes so true and tender,
To give us back the mornings warmth and


light


II We bid the happy moments swiftly flying
With praying and with signing to delay;
III you ask me why this swiftness and this teet'
shall answer, I shall answer. 1T is May,


May, May, May


May, of which all the Poets sing in praise,
never has been moro sweetly sung about than
In the foregoing strain which has emanated
from the pen OF a lady whose genius modestly
shoulders in the quiet home circle; whereas the
efusions of her sisters, poetesses, are loudly
emulated and their names grow famous, al
though the divine spirit of Poesy often times
fails toinspire their works. We deplore that so
many flowers are left Ito blush and bloom IN.
seen, because they have not the Haunting as
sertiveness of sunfiowers. But hidden as they
are, they diffuse subtle perfume that sinks
into the hearts of few chosen friends, TO de.
light and cheer; and, perhaps, do more blessed
work than if big" with fame they no longer
blooned around the home hearth


HAL THoRNE.
Year: 1869

In an interesting article which lately
appeared in the New York Tribune, re-
garding the Cinnamon and their peculiar
tiles, We find the following. 1t furnishes
food for reflection to those who contem-
plate the future of this county:


Take it in any aspect, does not this
Chinese question merit more attention
than it has received? A little could now
on the far Western horizon, does it not
bid fair to overshadow the whole future
OF the Republic: The 10000 or 1GO,-
900 Mongolians on our Western coast are
The thin end Of the wedge which has for lis
base the 500,000,000 of Eastern Asia
The Pacific is 5000 miles wide, but steam
is practically reducing it to the limits of
the ancient Mediterranean, and it rolls
between countries where the reward OLA
Dor is at its maximum on the one - hand,
and at its minimum on the other. Give
natural laws free play, and over the sea
from west to east, will sweep greater hor-
des than ever followed the sun across
the plains Of Asia. The day has gone
by when the sword determined whether
4 given soil should breed Celts or Sax
ons, Huns or Gaui5 Goths or Romans; :;
but the weapons of peace are no less Ell
ectiVe than those of war. The wild mus
tard can crowd wheat from the field {;
sheep may drive from the pasture the
stronger or; the locust may put the buff
alo to fiji ,hc Like these the Chinaman
can live where stronger than he would
starve. Give him 1air play, and this
quality enables him to drive out stronger
races. One hundred Mon9olians on the
Pacific coast means So many less Of our
own race now and hereafter to be. Five
or six millions would mean that all but
the crown Of the lody Polite should
be Mongolian; would mean British
India instead Of a New Z gland upon our
| Western shores"


Unless there is some restriction upon
the emigration, it is certainty that
within half century the proper designa-
ton of our Pacific States will be New
China, and that they will be Pagan in
! religion and Asiatic in civilization.