smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

Mr.. Harrison, in one of his papers
called "Walks and talks on the farm,
which have been running for more than
a wear in the American Agriculturalists
has the following capital hit at the waste
Of time by farmers:


at is we'll known fact that dogs wag
their tails, and philosopher once COM
puted the amount of power in the aggre-
gate, lost to the world by this useless hab-
it. and found that it was sufficient to turn
half the grist mills in Europe. If he
should figure up all the power we lose on
the farm in year for the want of little
thought, he would probably tell US that
it would be sufficient to dig in week or
two, all the gold in California, and make
us all rich. But joking apart, If other
manufacturers lost as much time and
power as some farmers do they would
soon be ruined We lose time in every
s:-ay. We take load to the city and
como back empty, and then 60 empty to
the city to bring a load. We lose time
IN scraping dirt on to road, to raise 1t
few inches above the water, while half the
labor in ditching would take the water
three feet below the road. We lose a
great deal of time by being in a hurry.
We have no time to oil the harness: to
keep carriages clean, the nuts tight; to
drive hoop on barrel or a pail when
it gets loose; TO put up tools and imple-
ments; TO plant fruit trees, or take care
of them. We never have time to attend
to the many little things on the farm, and
we loose more BY neglecting them, than
we possfpfe can earn by steady work.
have known a farmer to go into the
woods, all alone, to chop, and leave stout
hired man at home to attend to the stock
Year: 1869

WE clip the following "good one
from the April number of the Land We
Love-:


During the war the staff of General
Wise were riding through rather for
lorn part of North Carolina, and a young
Virginian of the staff concluded to have
little fun at the expense Of long leg
ged specimen OF the genus homo, who
wore a very shabby gray uniform and
bestrode a worm fence at the road side.
Refining in his horse he accosted him
with, "How are you, North Carolina?'
allow are you Virginia ?" was the ready
response. The staff continued "The
blockade on turpentine makes you rather
hard up, don't it. No sale for tar now,
Is there p


aWeii-yes,~ was the slow reponse.
"We sell all our tar to JEFF Davis now.


"The thunder you dol What on earth
does the President want with your tar?''


North Carolina answered "He puts
it on the heels Of Virginians to make
them stick on the battle-f field p


The staff rode on
Year: 1869

In England man can not be married
after IL O'Clock in the day unless he pro
cures special license at cost of $3.50
The law making this requirement was
passed in 1854, and its object was tc
break up the then almost universal pre-
vailing system of elandestine marriages
The penalty imposed upon clergyman
officiating at such marriage in violation
of the act is transportation for fourteen
vearS
Year: 1869

A YOUNG man of Wisconsin, recently
married, treated his wife to a novel kind
of Wedding tour by dragging her dis
tance of several hundred miles on a
handsled When last heard from he was
on his way to Minnesota, where he in
tends to settle.
Year: 1869

A LADY was recommending to a gem
tleman a medicine for the gout II know
many who praise it to the Skies she
said mo doubt, : said he, "for it has
sent many to the skies to praise it"
Year: 1869

Inquest by Coroner keenau-NeRliaence Of the


City Railroad Companies.


Coroner Keenan, yesterday morning began an in
quest on the body Of Jason Carson the boy fourteen
years OF age, who was killed a few days ago by being
struck by a locomotive OF the Harlem Railroad while
he was standing on the rear platform Of one Of the
cars OF the Belt City Railroad at Fifty y-ninth street
aud Fourth avenue.


The first witness called was Henry f. Hahoway,


the engineer OF the locomotive who testified as fol-
lows;--


/ was the engineer OF the locomotive which passed
Fiityninth street about haifpast Ave O'Clock the
28th, utimo; the tram on It's way to the city.
and when we neared Sixtieth street / saw the
horse cars coming through Fiftynnth street, going
west; Immediately reversed the engine and whisted
down brakes; the driver OF the horse could
have the train coming ten blocks OF; there IL
no sagman at the crossing; the buildings between
Lexington and Fourth avenues prevented me from
seeing the horse car In Fifty ninth street.
Thomas EIIwood the conductor OF the train testt-
ned TO hearing the whistle to put on the brakes and


that the cars were stopped about Fiy eighth street
and that Oh getting out he found the body OF Carson
lying on the ground near the track. AS far as he
knew there were no regulations about the track
crossing there being no warning post, no nagman
nor ls there any agreement between the steam ra
road aud the horse railroad as to which should have
the right OF way.


Isaac woolly testified that he was working near
the track at the time the accident occurred; t
ABOUT quarter-past five o'clock; the first thing
that attracted his attention was the whistle
zee what the cause Of II was he saw
the horse car Just about 10 cross the Harlem track
at Fifty ninth street; the horses az the time were
between the rails OF the Harlem track and the car
was Just nearing them, gong up the little ascent
which Is caused by the raised ground about the
track al the time the locomotive was about 200 feet
distant; he saw the locomotive strike the rear plat
FORM which was twisted about by the COLLISION the
portion that was struck tapping over on the oppo
site sides after the collision the train reached ABOUT
where he was standing before IL stopped.
Owing 10 the absence OF certain very important
min tbQ wv bara nHta na1 a
O'Clock. In adJ0urning the case Coroner Keenan,
said that he did not suppose the witnesses VINO would
appear tomorrow could In anywlse change the
material aspect OF the II stands OF present.
In his opinion the Belt Railroad were responsible for
Year: 1869

General Grant has appointed three or
four blacks to important federal ot1 ces
at the South, among them being that OF
a black to be postmaster ofCharleston.
We know of no punishment that can
be meted out of the ex-rebels and es-
pecially those of Charleston which is
so eminently fitting as the appoint
ment of the black men to federal OIL
ces in the South. We should delight
to see the gallant white men and WO-
men fCharleston, those who shotted
the guns to fire on the United States
Forts and those who stood by to cheer
on the work, call upon black post
master for their daily mail. The law
of compensation is being executed ad-
mirablY by this arrangement and the
ex-rebels are receiving their pay for
their years OfSerVice IN behaIfOfsl slavery
and treason more effectuaIIy than they
could by being shot or hung. General
Grant is proving himself a good pay
master and is deserving the thanks of
the Union soldiers for the prompt man
ner in which he pays the great debt
which they owe to the eX.rebelS. lie


deserves, too, the gratitude of the four
millions of blacks who so long and so


patiently stood uncovered before the


chivalry of the South for the OppOrtuni-
ty he is giving them to prove their


right to the privileges Of manhood be
fore their former masters. In addition


to the anxiety to pay this great debt,


Grant is demonstrating his determine
ton, where it is possible, to select


known loyal men as federal officers in
the South. He knows that he can trust
the blacks. They are true, their loyal
ty cannot be questioned and needs no
proof. They can all take the lron-elad
oath without any hesitation or reserva-
ton. No bill is needed to remove
political disabilities from them and


while JEFF DAVIS and JOHN G. BRECK-


ENRIDGE must hang their heads before
the flag of their country, the black
men can take charge of the public OIL
ces without NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Reg
/
Year: 1869

This is spring. The grass is green
what there is of it-but its kind OF
invisible green just now the snow
isn't. The days are longer than they
was when they was shorter, and they
will be a good deal longer yet If they
keen on stretching at both ends. The
nights amt so long as they used to be.
Ma said it was cold yesterday and
thought so too. 1t was scold, scold,
scold1 all day it was washing day.
Carrie and me is going to have May
dav party next June. Won't that De
ioIlyl Wen have such fun, and shall
invite all the rest of the boys. Spring
is one of the four seasOns-the fore
most one. / like spring; it is such
nice time to go skating. The buds have
commenced to sprout on the potatoes
down cellar. Last Christmas ma said
when spring came she would give me
| a lamb. / haven't got the lamb vet,
| but ma gave me Iamming because
cried for it. That was more'n ma had
promised, and it made me mourn, too


Our old cat has got 2 young kittens


and such a tail Sometimes she lieks
! 'em when they try to help her lick


milk. She is the biggest. Cats are


full of spqTRg, The end,


80 SARAH ANN,
Year: 1869

Cleveland is proud of a citizen wo-
man who has had seven husbands with
in eight wears. One was killed in the
army and another in street fight, The
other five survive, she having been
divorced from four of them. Her
daughter has been twice married and
divorced, and is now ready to snap up
a third man before her seventeenth
birthday comes round.
Year: 1869

THE SpADING FoRK.-Wo are glad to
find that our effort to introduce this I'M
plcment as substitute in so many cases
for the clumsy spade, has been so gen
orally successful. We see them now in
general use A correspondent of the
journal of Agriculture says of it;


"I know of no tool that has been in
troduccd within few years that is so
useful as the spadiug fork. On an av-
erage, believe a man will do one-third
more work with it than with the common
spade and do it easier and better also
l speak of digging over the garden pre-
paratory to planting, or working among
currant bushes and the like; and then
for digging potatoes, I have found it one
of the best tools | have ever used 1t
may be used also in the cultivation of any
garIen crop when one has no horse, or
has not room to use him. There are al
ways little patches that must be worked
by hand, and no tool is so useful for this
purpose as the spading fork"


We have had some difficulty in getting
them good-many break off with heavy
work at the neck. There is kind found
in some of the hardware stores of Ph ila-
delphia, made by the g Williamsport Fork
Company" which are as near perfect as
ANYTHING can well be.
Year: 1869

1t should not be inferred from tho fact
that our common or native" cows are
made up of mixture of foreign stocks,
that they are necessarily of inferior quail
ty. So far is this from being the case
that many might be selected from them
that would do credit to any highly i'm
proved breed The prevailing character
istic among them, as a whole, is tht ex-
treme want of uniformity to which allusion
has been made and this is not in form or
color merely, but in milking qualities, in
early maturity, and in fattcning tenden-
cies


There is well established principle
among the breeders of stock, that like pro-
duces like, and this is the basis of all sys-
TENS of improvement. Among the well
established races and breeds, there is little
difficulty in finding animals of remarkable
uniformity, but among a stock made up of
an infinite mixture, descended from such
widely distinct sources as we have seen,
this cannot so easily be done. Let us see
how this affects the farmers interest.
There is q native cow She came perhaps
from drove. Nobody knows where from.
But she is a remarkable mixer. She may
surpass all the cows about her and the
owner is anxious to have another Of the
same sort He raises her daughter at
great expense to the age of three or four
years, only to find her mparatively
worthless. His money has been thrown
away and he has lost good deal of time
to no purpose. That is really the weak
point of our native or common COWS
They are often of most excellent quality
as individual animals, but they do not pro-
duce their kind. Their is no certainty, and
hence we advise the use of pure breed
males which come from good milking
stock. They have the hereditary power
of transmitting their Inherent qua tiles
more strongly developed, and hence there
is more certainty in breeding from them.


A cross of our common cows with q
good Ayrshire or Jersey, or if the COW is
very large size, with the Shorthorn bull,
will, in large majority of cases, give sat.
isfactory results, and even if the calves
are to be sold to the butcher they will usu.
ally bring more to pay for the extra trou'
BILE. Lee us aim to improve our stoc H.
Massachusetts, PloughmGn.
Year: 1869

There's something Pm dying TO say,


Though hardly know how to begin;
But to loose an occasion like this,


Would be foolish as well as sin;
So, now then for better or worse,


must surely proceed on my way;
But, dear me, how dreadful il is


To have something you're dying to say
You choose nice spot in the wood,


And handkerchief spread on the ground,
The fair one invite with blush,


TO partake of the seat you have found
And then if she smiling consent,


You awkwardly stand in the way,
"Cough that's as fur as you can get


In the something you're dying to say.
Or perhaps then with courage renewed,


You tremblingly sit yourself down,
She inquiringly looks in your face


You carefully look all around
And now with an effort so great,


As you think of the chance that you've got,
Say under your breath, "dearest girl,


l-I-Dont you think the weather is hot?"
Year: 1869

1t is one of the singular condolences
connected with the dccease of Mr.. Henry
j. Raymond that he should have passed
the very last afternoon of bis life in ma
king arrangements for the reinterment Of
his son who died few months since and
still more remarkable that on the morning
of his death, he should have said to Mr..
Medil that he would prefer death by
apoplexy to any other, 1t is tradition
of the eloquent James Otis, Of Revolu-
tionary fame, that be had often expressed
desire that when his time should come
to die he might be struck by lightning;
and that one day he stood in the front
doorway of his house, with the door open,
as a small cloud passed over. One single
thunder-bolt only fell from it, and that
struck him and killed him instantly.
Year: 1869

THE HARpERs FERRY PRoPERTY.-It
is now over eight years since the armory
was rendered useless to the government,
and another year has passed since author


ity was given by Congress to sell the
property for the benefit of college in
West Virginia under the special protec-
ton of Senator Wiley. Another sum
mer is fast passing away, and this val
liable property is still useless. What de-


lays the sale of it is unexplained. Pub
lie opinion is coming to the conclusion
that the authorities have no confidence in
the validity of the title, if the property is to
be devoted to any other purpose than that
for which it was purchased by President
Washington-an armory The deed from
the heirs of old Robert Harper states that
the land and appurtenances are conveyed
to George Washington, for the use of the
United States, and no other. 1t is true
an armory is not specifically mentioned in
the decd and Attorney General Stanbery
has declared the title sufficient, but high
legal authority, on the other hand, is as
firm in the conviction that the title is not
clear. Certainly the delay indicates doubt
on the part of the government, and it is
quite probable that some Of the heirs will
interpose at proper time. One thing is
certain-there are provisions of Mr. Har-
per's will which have not been carried out,
such as the erection Of free church and
the walling of a cemetry. These are in
cumbrances which prevent the Wagers
from giving perfect title, and either they
or the government must perform these
stipulations, which appear to have been
made for the benefit Of the public, and in
regard to which we understand the people
of the neigborhood are inclined to take
some action to enforce their claim in
equity -Chdrlesto,on Free Press.
Year: 1869

den, where things come to be sure, if you
wait long enough for them; you have the
satisfaction Of knowing that there are 60
ing to be green peas and corn in the gar
den at some future time, but at present
there is nothing but the promise and the
bare bean-polcs


Then, in the city are all sorts of cheap
nesses and convenienccs, such as come
from the aggregate of human beings, when
they put their forces together: water, gas,
easy access to every trade necessary to
keep house in running order-every
thing, in short, that makes life easy.


In the country, no gas, no water where
you want it-a great deal of Juggling and
lifting and hard and heavy work to bring
it where it is needed.


On the whole, we arc not surprised at
the number of people who prefer city life.
And yet for ourselves, we say, with all its
awkwardncsses and all its disadvantages,
gice as the country


But what we like best of all is just what
we have: little bit of pure, wild wood
land, tackled so close on to the skirt of the
city that you can have the daily visit of
the butcher, and the grocer, and the city
water; while also we have wild-howers
and ferns, and the very deepest tangle of
the original Jungle of the forest. All kinds
of wild birds make it vocal with their diff
ferent sorts of music. Woodthrushcs wa
ken you i'll the morning with their clear,
cheerful notes. The oriolc filings down a
shower of music from the tops of the tall
trees, and robins make the air ring. They
cat up all your peas, to be sure, opening
the pods and picking them out as nicely
as you could wish to see the thing done ;
but they eat besides that great many 9TH
er things which would devour your garden,
if this restless little police did not look af-
ter them.


Our garden is torn out of the very heart
of the wild woods, and all around it there
is still wild wood, where the secret works Of
Nature and her unsophisticated ways and
movements may be seen.


An easy walk brings us into the city,
whence, Of course, we get our early peas,
and corn. and lettuce; for we do not pre-
tend that any private garden can compete
with those of professional vegetable grow
ers. Late in the season our own peas and
corn come limping in, as amateurs always
lag behind professional men.


About the time when our corn begins
to come is the time when we leave all tc
go to the seaside. Such are the beauties
of gardcnkeeping on ones own account


The perfection of life, however, to oui
thinking, is country life in close proximity
to the convencnccs of the city. What
rest--what rcfreshment-whatco coolness tc
the man to come out of the whirl and
hustle and jar of the city, to some snug
little bit Of country greenery, where he
may forget all about the great world and
fancy himself farmer


Our own city of Hartford is famous fol
the beauty Of its rural suburbs. Foi
miles ON every side of it are lovely spots
where country and city are SO amicabl,
united as to give all the charms and agoil
most of the inconyeniences of both
Every rAing is charming, except the cit,
, taxes, concerning which we might sa,
much, but prefer to take refuge in expires
sive silence. Hearth and Home.
Year: 1869

1t is strictly and philosophically true in
nature and in reason that there is no such
thing as chance or accident it being evil
dent that these words do not signify any,
thing really existing, anything that is tru-
ly an agent or the cause Of an event, but
they signify, merely, mems ignorance Of
the real and immediate eause.
Year: 1869

To DESTROY CocKRoAoHEs.-Sprinkle
powdered borax on the tables and dresser
and floor of the kitchen. In two or three
evenings they all disappear. Green Ell
der leaves will have the same effect.
Year: 1869

A California theatre has adopted the
plan Of furnishing a room where babies
can ho checked during the performance.
In case any are left uncalled for, they are
sold at auction next day.
Year: 1869

Can the American people ask a better
exhibit Of an administration that has Ia
bored under many disadvantages rs the
successor of the corrupt and extravagant
reign of johnson Democracy? Verify,
the mission of the Republican party is but
Just commenced.
Year: 1869

Tho first through train over the
Pacific Road will start from Spring
field, Mass. There will be attached tc
new locomotive Six passenger, two
sleeping and one baggage car. They
will start from Springfield just as soou
as the road is open, and will have the
right of all the roads clear through
The travelling will mainly be done by
day, and the engine will lie over and
cool nights.
Year: 1869

Young Peter Bobstay was fisherman lad
And a right worthy son of a fisherman dad.
He loved, but the tale OF his love it is sad


I'll tell, ifyou'll listen to me.
He lived way down east in the land of the fog,
And, till he met Jane Marie. was jolly young dog
But he sank meath the glance of her eye, in bog
Of love and delusion, YOU see.
ofthe ancient old keeper of Cuttyhunk light;
Young Peter first saw her and gazed with delight,
AS she dug out the CLAIMS on the beach.
1t was love at first sight, but the bashful young


boy


Had ne'er told his love, and the maiden so coy,
OF course kept her secret, tho chock full of joy
When she thought Ofthe bliss within reach.
But Peter he made up his mind one fine day,
To tell his love, and TO never take nay;
So he took to his boat and sailed him away


To that "gem ofthe sea-" Cuttyhunk.
He sailed by Naushan, Nashawena and Pesque,
And through Quickse's Hole, not minding the risk,
Of wrecking his bark, till the south wind brisk,
Ran him slap on the white beach, "ker chunk"
His voyage it is over, his perils they cease;
His sail it is lowered, his mind is at ease;
All nature smiles round him, her smile it is peace,
He has TO the end of his race.
Jane Maria, his true love, I've said she was fair
Her breath it was sweet as the balmy June air,
And the clustering ringlets of her dark curling


hair,


They hung round a "sweet pretty" face.
Jane Maria had spied the sail of P B.,
As he boldly and gallantly sailed on the sea,
And she rushed down TO meet him, as under the


ice


Young Peter he anchored his craft;
He hastened unto her, and close in his arms
He clasped Jane Maria, and gazed on her charms,
And he vowed that he'd keep her secure from all


harm,


And see her well rugged fore and aft.
Then down on his knees, like knight Errant of


old,


Young Peter he dropped and his eyes up he rolled
And asked, "Dost thou love me ?" like a lover so


bold;


And sighed at the feet of the maid.
Like goslng just dying with feathers all mussed
With her eyes moist with tears, Jane Maria she


blushed,


And teDderly signing, she whispered, al dost :"


That was all the fair maiden said.
For her father had come Up behind her unknown,
With club in one hand, in the other a stone;
Ard he savagely battered and banged every bone,


Till Peter lay dead as d dog.
Jane Maria she tainted and dropped to the ground
And her life ebbed away, and her father he found,
That his dear Jane Maria to heaven was bound.


And would never again mix his grog.
When the keeper he found that his daughter was


dead,


His heart it fell down like big lump of lead,
And that Ve-y same hour he took to his bed


And Immediately gave up the ghost.
The lovers were buried in grave, side by side,
While the father, who ought to have long before


died,


Was planted alone, and his neighbors they tried,


Every one for the light keepers post.