smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

When the British and tories attacked
New London, Connecticut, in IL, and
set a price on the head of Gov. Grswold,
the latter fed to the town of l.,
where his cousin, Mrs. Marvin, hid him,
for some DAYS, in a secluded farm house.
But al length the subtle foe discovered
his retreat, and one sunny afternoon IN
May, he was routed from his hiding place
by the tidings that band of horsemen
were approaching to capture him.


His only chance of escape was 10 reach
the mouth ola little creek, which empted
itself into the Conn. river just above the
entrance Of the latter into Long Island
Sound There he had boat stationed
with two faithful attendants hidden be
meath the high banks of the creek. The
! distance from the farm house 10 the boat
was two miles by the usually travelled
road. But little sheep path across the
farmers orchard would bring him TO the
road only mile from the boat and save
quarters length Of his fearful run for
| life.


Just where the narrow path from the
orchard opened into the road. He!ty
Marvin sat with her dog Towser, tend
ing the bleaching of the household linen.
The long web of forty yards or more,
which was diligently spun and woven
during the long winter months, was
whilened in May. and thus made ready
for use. This business Of bleaching was
well eoonomised, being usually done by
the younger daughters of the family,
who were not old enough to spin. oil
strong enough for the heavier work oI
the kitchen and dairy.


The roll Of linen was taken by the
farmer or his stout help" to n grassy
| plat, beside a spring or meadow brook
There it was thoroughly wetted and
spread upon the green turf to take tho
heat of the sun by day and the dew by
night. The little maiden who tended it
would sit near it during the day, will
her knitting or her book, and as fast n.
the sun dried It's folds, she would sprinkl,
the water over it with her 'gourd shell
dipper. and make il wet again.


Thus sat Hetty Marvin, the young
daughter OF Coy. Griswold's cousin
when her hunted friend sprang past he
into the road, to escape his pursuers
IIetty was lmid child of some twely,
years /: yet thoughtful and wise beyonC
many of her elders. Sns was frightened
by the headlong haste with which lh,
Governor rushed across the meadow
But she quickly comprehended the seen,
and instantly quieted her faithful Tow
ser, who, though friend Of the famil,
guest, thought it becoming to bark loud
ly at his hurried steps.


Her wise foreihought arrested tn
Governors notice, and suggested


scheme to elude his pursuers. Heity,
he said earnestly. Il am flying for m,
life and unless / can reach my boa
before am overtaken, am a lost man
You see the road forks here. Now


want to run down this way to the river
But you must tell the rascals who ar
chasing me, that have gone up the roa,
Year: 1862

receipt, the proceeds thereof in gold and
silver, orin the said Treasury Notes,
shall be appropriated by the persons to
whom the said cotton is delivered, in
discharge of said advance or, if upon
sale of said cotton by said person, the
net proceeds thereof in gold and silver
or in said Treasury Notes, shall not be
sufficient to discharge said advance
then this obligation is to be in force tC
the full amount of said advance, or such
portion of it, as may not otherwise have
been discharged. Should the said ad
vance be fully paid, then this obligation
is to be void Witness, our hands anC
seals, this day of


1856
Year: 1862

his happiness. though this is sasid with


no disposition to underyalue even the


lnxurles of life. So far from the finest


houses IN city having the greatest air


OF comfort about them, l think rather the


reverse IS the case. No dwellings have


a snugger look than many of the plain,


Iwo-story houses in all our cities: no chill


dren merrier than those who play around


their doors; no mnnlier fathers than those


that struggle bravely for their support


One would suppose that Stafford Honse,


with its wealth of pictures and furniture,
and Its beautiful views over Hyde Park,


must contain much to add to the pleasure
OF Its possessors: but probably the sum
OF happiness enjoyed by this noble family
has been very little increased by these
things. believe that palaces are more
envied by outsiders" than enjoyed by
their owners. In proportion to the NUM-


Der Of each. probably far more of those
dreadful tragedies that cast ineHaceable
gloom over whole families, have occurred
IN these splendid houses than in palmer
ones. Our Fifth avenue, with all its
Is one of the gloOmiest looking
streets IN the world, as strangers gener-
ally remark. But as all preaching is vain
against many besetting sin, 50 will all
the talking in the world do little to con-
vince men that happiness does not lie in !
ezternals- One generation does not learn
much from its predecessors in this respect;
II seems TO have been intended that each
should acquire its own experience The
task of talking beforehand is therefore an
Improbable one; but it is satisfaction to
feel that when much that is Thought in
has been taken from us, there
still remains that which can afford us
happiness his condition. ae
Year: 1862

the abduction of the beautiful Prossrpine,
could have experienced greater turmoil
of passions than at that moment l
felt the soore-fsls it as if it had been
made across my very heart; and l grasped
the book-and l squeezed the hand that
presented it; and opened the page tremb'
lingly, and holding the volume close to
my eyes (for the type was small, and my
sight not quite so COED as it used to be-
l read--O Mary Rose! o Mary Rose
that should live to relate it t!-"A we.
man may not marry her grandfather"
Year: 1862

The fighting at the battle of luka was
terrific. A letter says:


The rebels charged and took the Elev-
enth Ohio Battery four different times,
and it was as often retaken by our boys.
Every horse in the battery was killed,
and there were only eight men left
unwounded and fit for duty. Every
officer was wounded, and one Lieutenant
killed. 1t was supported by the Fifth
Iowa, who fought like tigers--their first
battle, too--they met the rebels every
time they charged, and fought them at
close quarters. The desperation of the
enemy was astonishing Several Of them
endeayored to tear our colors from the
hands of the men by main strength, and
either perished in the attempt or were
taken prisoners.


In one spot next morning, l counted
seventeen rebels lying dead around one
of their Oolonels. Sixteen feet square
would cover the whole space where they
died with their commander, Between
two caissons of the Eleventh Ohio bat
terry lay sixteen dead horses, and the bat
terry lost ninety-three in the fight. In
one place lay a rebel and Union soldier
the Unionist shot through the breast, and
in falling he had plunged his bayonet
into the breast Of the man who shot him
and they fell together, the rebel elutohing
our boy by the throat. They lay in this
position on the field next morning, anC
il was with difficulty they were separat'
ed. Wounded and dead lay in all direc
tions during the whole Of the day sue
ceeding the battle, it being impossible 4
remove them sooner. Price left his dea'
and wounded on the field, paying n'
| attention whatever TO them.
Year: 1862

Semmes TO have cargoes Of coal at certain
ports as he may want it. He will prob-
ably remain near his last reported posi-
tion until he thinks il risky; then seek
some new locality where our cruisers are
not, and in the track of our merchant
vessels, and near the port where his coal
Is deposited. He can then sink, burn and
destroy millions Of property before his
change Of position is known, and in this
manner may visit all ports of the globe
without the slightest risk OF capture.
His powder, shot and shell will be sent
him in the same manner. Once in three
months he can run into any English port
recruit his men and coal publicly, and
find out the next best cruising ground
He may soon be heard Of at the Cape of
Good Hope, cutting of our East India
men, or he may turn up at Singapore or
Hong Kong He can 20 where he pleases,
and when he pleases, knowing full well
that when in an English port friends will
always be found.


The officers Of the Alabama evidently
consider themselves on a long cruise /:
they know the powers Of their vessel, and
are also posted as to the vessels now COM
prising the United States navy, and being
thorough seamen, understand how to
avoid the dangers Of capture, and how to
do our commerce the greatest amount of
damage IL is evidently not their inten-
tion TO fight, unless driven to it by being
caught in tight place Their object is
plunder and destruction only; and if
they are successful in future as they
have been, the record of the cruise of
the Alabama, so far as the value of
property destroyed is concerned, will be
one of the most terrible in history.
Who knows but he may determine to
dash into one of our Northern ports and
destroy all the shipping therein ? He
could do 30 and be off again before a vessel
could be sent after him. Semmes is q
man of that character that he would moi
shrink at any exploit of this description
On the contrary, it would delight him
and when we next hear Of the Alabama
it 'may be on a raid such as above
limited.
If the Alabama could be cornered in an
English port she should be taken anC
destroyed. II would be no more vic.
lation Of neutrality to do so than it was
to permit her building and fitting out il
Liverpool Our naval commanders shoult
be instructed to take her ii possible, nc
matter were found, and if in an Englisi
port so much the better


The Alabama is no doubt, from all th,
reports we have, one of the fastest screw
steamers ever built in England-in al
probability superior TO the Himalaya =
We have nothing in our service that cai


compare with her. The Iroquis stean


loop -of-war is considered the best w


have, and yet her speed, under the mos


favorable circumstances, never exceed


thirteen knots, and under canvass alon


much less. The Alabama, under sail an


off the wind, can go thirteen, under stear


alone fifteen, and with both pOssibl


sixten or seventeen knots per hour. Thes
estimates of speed are based, of eours,
upon the water being comparative
smooth. If these reports Of her are tru


and there is no reason TO doubt them


she is destined to ogive use any amount {
trouble before being captured or des
} troyed.
Year: 1862

1t would be curious speculation TO trace
the habits and customs which have, from the
earliest g"s, and in all communities, helped
to fasten upon US these sordid feelings which
make marriage something like gambling
transac ton in all barbarous nations, the faith.
er of a girl conceived he had right to some
compensation from the husband for her SER
vices, and as remuneration fer the trouble
and expense OF bringing her up. In the early
history of al! nations in their uncivalized state,
the custom preValeS the woman is sold for
price. Among the Hebrews and the Arabs
the price paid to the fatGer was so sometimes
very considerable. An ordinary price was
Eve or six camels, and if the bride was very
beautiful or highly connected frank and sta.
tiOn had their Influence even in the earliest
ages, the City sheep or a mare and foal were
added. At the siege of Troy an accomplished
lady was valued at four oxen. And when
Danaus found he could not get bis daugh ters
married lie advertised tLat he was ready to
receive suitors for them without expecting
any preSents-that is, that he was ready to
get rid of them at any price, or at no price.
Among the savage tribes of our own days the
custom prevails. The red mann of America
still bargains fer his wife, and the price varies
from four horses down to a bottle of brandy
The Russians do not mince the matter as more
civalized nations do, but when u marriage is
proposed the lover, accompanied by friend
goes to the home of the bride, and says to tho
mother" show us your merchandise. We have
got money" Tie ancient Assyrans deserve
some credit for the custom they introduce
every year they put all their beauties up to
auction, aud the prices that were given for
these were applied by way of a portion of
those who were not beautiful. Thus all, of
both sorts, got married the one Tor their
beauty the other for the money which beauty
not their own had gained for them. They
made sensua!ity give a dowry to avarice but
still marriage was lottery.
Year: 1862

Rfa- A horse doctor in a Western town was
once elected constable. He was q thrifty.
well-to-do farrier and blacksmith, and doctor
ed and shod all the horses for twenty miles
around. After being constable for a year or
two he took to hard drinking and became
poor. Finally, he determined to reform, but
found it hard work to quit his drinking habits
One day man brought a horse to him to be
doctored The horse seems to be sound"
said the man. but you see he won't drink"
" If that's all that alls him" said the farrier,
lyon have only to elect him constable-he'll
drink then fast enough, By thunder I've
tried it, you see, and know
Year: 1862

DEBT TO NETsPAPERs-Newpaper subscrip
tions are infalIibs tests Of mems honesty. If
he is dishonest he will cheat the printer some
way-say that he has paid when he has not
declare he has the receipt somewhere-or
sent money and was lost by mai--or will take
the paper and not pay for it on the plea that
he did not Subscribe for it or will move off,
leaving it to come to the office he left. Thou.
sands Of professed christians are dishonest,
and the printers book viii tell fearfaIly in the
Judgment
Year: 1862

You often read about "a line of battle"
and, dare say, think that the two armies
stand in two lines but it is not so. The
army is divided into divisions, and there
are often great gaps between the divisions
They are posted in positions, or in COM
mandiDg places-that is, on hills, or in
woods, or on the banks Of streams, in places
where they will be best able to resist or at
tack the enemy. The divisions are usually
so placed that they can support one another.
When l was a school-boy, we had game
called "gould." (The proper word was goal }
Two boys chose sides, and each party had
its 'gould," or goal. One boy would give
'dare." Then boy of the opposite side
me out to catch him, to make him pris-
oner; then second boy of the enemy came
to help the first one on that side; then there
was chase, and quite likely capture.
Oh, those were grand old times l dare
say you know all about it. Well in some
such way, the divisions Of an army are
placed, to help each other. You can under
stand a line of battle pretty we'll, by i'm
agining regiment here on hill, another
down in a valley, third ia piece of
woods, with artillery and cavalry placed in
the best positions. If you want TO make it
more real, when you are out in the fields or
pastures, with the hills all around, just i'm
agine that the enemy is over on youder
hill, with ten thousand men and twenty
pieces ofartillery. You are General, and
have an equal number. The enemy will
come down that road, spread out in the
field, or creep up through the woods, and at
tack you. You can't exactly tell how many
men he will send on the right, or how many
on the center, or how many on the left, so
you must arrange your forces to support
each other Then, to shift it, you are to at
tack him. You don't know how his troops
are arranged, for he keeps them concealed
as well as he can. You don't want many of
your men killed, but do want to win VIC
tory. Now, there is q chance for you to try
your skill in planning line of battle.
You must place your artillery where it will
do the most damage, and receive the least
from the enemy. You must move your in
fantry so that they will not be cut off by
the enemy before they get near enough to
cut them up in return. You see that it is
no small thing to be General. There are
great responsibilities.
Year: 1862

TAX ON NEwsPAPERs-Ths New York
Times and Messenger, in speaking OF the tax
proposed by Congress on newspapers, says;


We deliberately place on record our un-
compromising hostility to a financial russ
which, while pretending to augment the
funds in the National exchequer, is
simply designed to rob the many for the
benefit Of the few; to place an insupera6le
obstacle in the path Of progress; TO cast the
universal mind of this country back half a
century in the march of popular informa-
tor; to relieve public servants OF much of
that useful fear of the press which controls,
for good, their official performances, and
weaken to a serious extent the potentiality
of that noble agis of nations liberties, an
independent press
Year: 1862

The Chicago Tribune says master me-
chanic of that city has presented Mrs Gen.
e1al Lane with a splendid carriage valued at
$1,000. We take the following extract from
the presentation address:


81 may say that the hearts Of this people
are with General Lane, and anxiously throb
for his victorious and successful career
through the vicissitudes and chances of war
and may further add, Madam, if it should
be your destiny, on fourth o. March after
the next Presidential election, to drive with
him in the carriage now given you to the
White House in Washington, there are many
bere-and some of them his old fellow citi-
zens from his and their former State-who
would not unwillingly scquiesce in such a
turn of fortune" (Applsuse.)


1t is not stated whether the mester me
chanic making the present manufactures
amy wagons, or not. In due time, General
Lane will be likely to know about that
Year: 1862

How TO RAISE THE TAx.-There is a law
on the statue books of Massachusetts impo-
sing a fine of not less than one dollar, nor
more than five, for every profane oath ut
tered. The Boston Journal thinks due en-
forcement of this law would raise to tax
quota of Massachusetts, and leave balance
to spare.


Just let the Union army whip out the
Rebels at every point, and We judge the
Journals estimate would entirely fail. But
if the army were to stick in the mud for q
month to come, it might prove correct.
Year: 1862

How true this is: There is a charm about
patch work quilts, says Jennie June, for
which every woman has a weakness They
are full of secret memories, and incidents,
and stories, and associations, which are re-
corded in every square aud block as clearly
as iftrsced by tie pen of the recording angel.
Such contains squares of every body's dress.
"There is the blue which you wore to school,
and which was made very low in the neck,
and always looked so pretty; and the pink,
which was present from Aunt Abby and
the calico, which was worn for the first time
to 60 to a certain quilting and the dotted
muslin, which was such a favorite with
Heighop
Year: 1862

The object of the war is simple and well
understood, to.wt: to suppress the rebellion
snd so preserve the integrity of the nation
Beyond this nobody ought to ask the Gov
err lment 10 go; and toward this it is the duty
of the Government to Dress forward, paus.
ing at nothing. State rights can not be
allowed TO stand in the way, and accord
ingly States have been invaded against the
protests of their local governments; nor can
personal rights be permitted to interpose in
the way of the nations actions for self
preservation, and accordingly the people
have quietly submitted to see the writ of
hdbedS corpus indefinitely suspended. In
like manner must the institution of slavery
yield to the exiRencies of war.


To declare a war of emancipation as such,
is DO part of the duty of the Government,
but 1t would be the worst of treason to
fail, out of regard to slavery, to employ any
means that setmed likely to be useful toward
putting down the rebellion. Considered as
properly, which slaves legally are, they are as
liable to coDfscatiou as any other property;
considered as persons, they should be made
available in the most feasible method for the
maintenance Of the Government. If there
IS any one protesting TO be a friend to the
Union, who would hesitate to defend il at
the risk of the extinction of slavery, he is
false to his professions, and traitor to his
country. This subject should be looked
fairly in the face. If there are those among
our public men whose feslty to the country
is subordinate to their love of slavery, let it
be known that true men may know who are
the conditional traitors, and guard against
their evil Vaccinations.
These are some of the chief points OF the
situation" 1t is evident that the country
has business of no mean proportions upon
its hands, and that all its energies are called
for to preserve and defend itself. Against
the armed rebellion there is but little to
fear, if there shall not be found an invincible
array of treacbery and imbecitity at home.
Our trust is 10 Cox, and we await the result
with but slight misgivings. Herald.
Year: 1862

The New York Tribune is not the only
paper that contains contradictory articles in
the same sheet. The Chicago Journal of the
10th inst. says:


We learn by leader number one, in Wed
nesday's New York Tribune that every
thing is going right and the end of the re
bellion is at hand, and from leader number
two that every thing is going wrong, and
the situation of affairs is as bad as It we'll
can be.


Whichever you choose, ladies' and gen.
tlemen; you pays your money and you takes
your choice"
Year: 1862

Massachusetts, provide that person guilty of
profanity shall be subject to fine of from
one to FIVE dollars. A correspondent of the
Boston journal suggests that rigid eXecu-
tion of this law would raise money enough
to enable Massachusetts to pay her portion of
the war tax
Year: 1862

Prince Albert has willed the whole of his
Queen, for the ultimate benefit of the
younger children. His care of the revenues
of the Duchy of Cornwall will resdlt in the
Prince Of Wales having nearly half million
in hand when he comes of age next Novem-
ber together with the annual income, in the
best possible order. 1t is also stated, on good
authority, that the late Prince bequeaths
Balmoral, which was his own property, to
Her Majesty.
Year: 1862

The Committee on Ways and Means are
reminded by the Boston Post that Swift pro-
posed to put tax on female beauty, and to
leave every lady to rate her own charms.
He said the tax would be cheerfully paid,
and be very productive.
Year: 1862

0y-Friends of education who wish to enlighten
the public on the subject of teaching the 'syoung
idea how to shoot" respectfully requested TO
send communications to the above, care of sBed-
ford Gazette"
Year: 1862

The MORGAN CAsE.--A new feature in the
Morgan affair in the purchase of vessels for the
navy has just been developed. It appears that
certain parties were authorized to sell to The
Government the New York and Savannah line
Of steamers, for which they are tu have two per
cent, brokerage on the gross amount of the
sales.


In the meantime, Mr.. Morgan uIchased
them Tor the Department, for which he was
paid by the same party two and hall per cent
The broker now comes forward and sues the
owner of the steamer for his two per cent.
The defe ndant claims that he is not bound TO
pay, and insists that he can establish the fact
that a" ring" was formed 10 prevent .he Gov
ernment from getting the New York steamers,
except al an exoIbiant price, established by
the ring. The testimony Of Secretary Welles,
Assistant Secretary Fox and othe<s, is now
being taken by commission to be used in New
York IN trial which will come off in lew
days.