smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

How any fellow can deliberately walk
into your family and ask for one Of your
daughters passes me. That it is done
every day, does not lessen my astonish-
ment At the impudence of the thing.
There you have been sixteen, or seven
teen, or eighteen years of her life,
combing her hair and washing her face
for-"him." It is lucky the thought
never strikes you while you are doing
it, that this is to be the end Of it oil. :,


What if you "were" married your
self? that is no reason she should be
bcwitched away into q separate estab-
lishment just as you begin to lean upon
her and be proud of her; or at least it
stands to reason that after you have
worried her through the measles, the
chicken pox, the scarlet fever, and the
whooping cough, and had her properly
vaccinated and baptised, this young
man might give you short breathing
spell before she goes.


."He" seem to be of different opin-
ion; che" not only insists upon taking
her, but upon taking her Immediately,
if not sooner. He talks we'll about it
very we'll; you have no objection to
him, not the least in the world, except
"that." $500. ... '-..


When the world is full of girls, why
couldn't he have fixed his eyes upon
the daughter of somebody else? There
are some parents who are glad to get
rid of their daughters. Blue eyes are
plenty as blueberries; why need it
be this particular pair? Isn't she hap
ny enough as she is? Cant she have
meat and bread and clothes enough, to
say nothing of lovo? What is the use
ofleaving q certainty for an uncertain
ty, when that certainty is mother and
you Gun never have but ono! 81


You put all these questions to her,
and she has the sauciness to ask, if that
is the way you reasoned when her faith
er came for you. You disdain to an.
swer, of course. 1t is mean lodging
of the question. But she gets round
you tor oil that, and so does he too,
though you try your best not to like
him; and with a"-well, if I must I
must" you just order her wedding
clothes. muttoring to yourself the while,
-"dear, dear, what sort of fist will
that child make at the head of a house
How will she ever know what to do in
this, that or the other emergency; she
who is calling on mother fifty times
a day to settle every triAing question ?"


What folly for her to set up house
herself. How many mothers have had
these foreboding thoughts over daugh-
ter's wedding clothes; and yet the daugh-
ter has met life, and its unexpected re-
verses, with a heroism and encourage
as undaunted as if every girlish tear
had not been kissed away by lips that,
alas! may be dust when this baptism
of womanhood comes upon her. "rF
Year: 1861

OLD MAssAcuUsETTs.-She establish
cd the first school in the United States,
the first academy, and the first college.
She set up the first press, printed the first
book and the first newspaper. She plant
ed the first apple tree, and caught the
first whale. She coined the first money,
and hoisted the first national flag. she
made the first canal and the first railroad:
She invented tho first mouse-trap ana
washing machie, and sent the first ship TO
discover islands and continents in the
South Sea. She produced the tlrst phi
losopher, and made the first PIN. She
fred the first gun in tho Revolution, gave
John Bull his first beating, and put her
hand first to tho Declaration Of Indepen-
dence.
Year: 1861

We have often heard of, and ex-
perienced, humbug arrangements in
the postal department, but really the
existing state of affairs, is about as
farcical an affair as could be brought
upon theatrical stage. The public
is not only deprived, but in plain
terms is robbed of what they are
justly entitled to, and for which they
pay round sum in the aggregate.
1t would appear that the moro new
arrangements are effected for the pub
lie good, the facilities afforded prove
considerably less.


Let us have proper arrangements
and efficient postmasters between
Vicksburg and this place, and if this
end cannot be accomplished, let us
drop the matter entirely. We want
good mail facilities, or none. The
idea of the Vicksburg mail being re-
turned to Vicksburg from Monroe, is
simply ridiculous and absurd; if a
postmaster knows no better than to
return a mail to the place from which
it was sent, instead of forwarding
the same to its destination, we think
it time to pry into the meaning OF
such a course of procedure.


Further, it is a rule in the post-of-
flee department, to let none assist III
the distribution of a mail, at amy
post-otfice. except sworn deputy
How is then, that we hear of non
observance of this all important rule!
We are informed that a certain post
office between this point and Nicks,
burg, which we do not recollect at
this moment, empties the mail bags
when received and permits every,


body to help themselves. Why not
empty it in the street, or road. this
would be still more accommodating
: We hope that this Will be the las


time that we shall have to find iaul
with our postal affairs. Come, gen
tlemen, attend strictly TO your duty


and if you cannot prevent the incom


ing of hungry news-seekers into you


Office, don't open the mail bags, bu


call in assistance and guard and pro


tect the property Of the public; for
to distribute mails as at present, is a
bad as not to do it at all Bear ,hi
in mind.
Year: 1861

Feeling on tie Battle Field.-A
French officer, who was wounded in
the Crimean war, gives the following
experience Of a soldiers feelings on
the battlefield. He says:


Before the battle begins, it is usual
to feel no little tremor, and many
cheeks which are known to be in
communication with stout hearts
blanch visibly. AS the conflict be-
comes imminent, courage returns,
and with the first flow of blood an en-
thusiasm is raised which constantly
increases, and very seldom flags
until the last shot is fired. The eff
feet of seeing a comrade shot down is
generally to excite an unappeasable
vengence against the foe, though, IN
the end, one gets used to it.


When wounded less than mortally,
it is not usual for the soldier to be
Immediately aware of the fact unless
some bones are broken. a sabre
may be run through the heshy part
of the body, and even a bullet lodged
in dangerous proximity to the vltals'
and he for sometime be total y uncon-
scious of even scratch. When life
is taken by a single blow, the effect
is varied with the nature oftlle wound,
as well as the temperament of the
man. Sometimes the poor fellow will
leap high in the air, giving piercing
scream, and again he viii! sink quiet
| " down. Oftener however, he sim
ply falls dead without a struggle. II
most cases, the features of the killed
remain unchanged for a long time at:
ter death-eycs open and brilliant
and perchance Il smile Illuminating
the face. To see such a one, it i:
difficult to realize the presence of tn,
grim monster death.
Year: 1861

KIND WORDs--UsE TnEM.---Because
they fall pleasantly on the ears of all to
whom they are addressed, and it is,
therefore, one Of the ways Of promoting
human happiness.


Because they leave an impression in
your favor, and thus prepared the way
for your greater influence over others for
good.


Because kind words powerfully con
tribute to soothe and quiet your own
spirit when ruflied by the unkindness Of
others.


because they show the difference be-
tween you and the rude, malicious, or re-
vengcful, and are suited to show tnem
their wrong.


Because they are suited to stir up the
kind affections Of your own heart
Year: 1861

ES The population Of the Town Of
Godsrich is shown by the census just
taken by the Government enumerators
to be 3210. The census Of January,
1852 gives the number at that time as
1929. Showing an increase Of 1881 or
14l4 per cent. in nine years. Not so
bad for frontier town with its western
trade only just looming up in tho future!
Year: 1861

~ In Denmark, though the Danes
are well informed in general, foolish
notion prevails that epilepsy is durable by
drinking the blood of an executed male
factor. Capital punishment in Denmark
is by decapitation by sword and block,
and when an execution takes place,
crowds Of epileptics stand cup in hand
around the scoffold, ready to quaff the
red blood as it flows from the still quiv.
ering body Of the malefactor.
Year: 1861

EE We learn that company Of On
terprising mon in Flushing are about
forming . company for the purpose Of
boring for salt. The experiment would
no doubt prove success, and we are in
hopes the company will commence opera
tions this spring.-FAnt Dem.
Year: 1861

How BRAVE Men MET DEATH AT BETHEL.
One of Col. Duryea's men was struck in the
left breast by round shot from one of the
guns The ball passed completely through his
body like bolt of lightning, leaving hole
through which an arm could be easily thrust.
For an instant the poor fellow stood as if par
alyscd, and then dropped dead, and was borne
back from the position by his companions


At one place soldier Wa, seen setting ex-
posed in the midst of the fire, and holding in
his lap the head of comrade who had been
shot by rifle ball through the lung. The face
of the wounded man was ghastly an pale, and
the blood welled out from the wound and the
death sweat stood upon his forehead as he was
breathing his last and giving parting injunctions
to the brother soldiers who attempted to soothe
him. A moment after he too was struck, and
a rush forward by the rear rank concealed both
from sight.


One of the men now lying in the hospital
had Minnie ball pass through his wrist, leav-
ing the right hand hanging loose by one or
two tendons and pieces of skin. A comrade
by him. with commendable presence of mind,
took knife from his pocket and completed the
amputaton. Mr.. Weavill, an artist of Har-
per's Weekly, who was in the midst Of the
fight, a moment after found the member laying
in the dust, apparently unnoticed by the brave
soldier who, with unainching courage, still
pressed on in the attack.


Orderly Sergeant Goodfelow, of Col. AL
lens Regiment was mortaly wounded in the
breast.-lIe handed his musket to a comrade,
and several nocked around him. "Oh," said
he, 81 guess I've got to Co." and he placed his
hands upon the wound "Oh don't mind me-
boys" he continued, Ego on with the fight ;
don't stop for me don't stop for!" and press
ing away those who attempted to support him,
he sank down upon the ground. Just at that
instant his Colonel passed. and looking up to
him he gasped: "Good-by Colonel" and died.
Col Allen turned ghastly pale as he observed
it, He bit his lips too much moved to speak,
and rushed on to avenge his death. Every one
in the regiment loved the sergeant and his death
is keenly felt.
Year: 1861

trast, exposes the shameful dcformity of their
own lives.


We of the South sought only to separate our
destines from thcirs-content to leave them to
pursue their own degraded tastes and vicious
appetites as they might choose. But they will
not leave us this privilege. They force us to
subdue hem or be subducd They give us no
alternative. They have suggested 10 us the inva-
sion of their territory and the robbery of their
banks and jewelry stores. We may profit by the
suggestion, so ia, as the invasion goes-for that
will enable us to restore them to their normal
condition of vassalage, and teach them that cap
in-hand is the proper attitude of a servant be-
fore his master. As to the robbery of the
banks and iewelry storcs-which the gallant
Col Webb so much insists on---that we shall
leave to their suffering poor.-Richmond Wig.
Year: 1861

HAVE You ENEMIEsP- straight on and
never mind them. If they get in your way
walk around them regardless Of their spite
A man who has no enemies, is seldom good for
anything-he is made of that kind of material
which is easily worked that every one has hand
in it. A sterling character is one who thinks
himself and speaks what he thinks he is al
ways sure to have enemies. They are necessary
to him as fresh airi they keep him alive and
active. A celebrated character who was sur
rounded by enemies used to remark, "They are
sparks which if you do not blow they go out
themselves" Let this be your feeling while
endeavoring to live down the scandal of those
who are bitter against you. If you stop to
dispute, you do as they desire, and open the
way for more abuse. Let the poor fellows talk
there will be reaction if you perform but your
duty and hundreds who were once alienated
from you will flock to you acknowledging their
error.
Year: 1861

CHARGING A JURY.-If the jury believe
from the evidence that the plaintiff aud
defendent were partners in the grocery, aud
the plaintiff bought out the defeudent, aud
give his note for the interest, aud the de-
iendent paid for the note by delivering to
the plaintiff COW, which be warranted
mot breachy," and the warranty was bro
ken by reason of the breachiness OF the COW,
and he drove the COW back and tendered
her TO the defendent, but the defendent, re
fused to receive her, and The plaintiff took
her home again aud put heavy yoke or
poke upon her to prevent her from jumping
the fence, and by reason Of the yoke or
poke broke her neck and died. and Il the
jury further believe that the defendants In
terest in the grocery was worth anything
the plaintiffs note was worthless, ana inc
cow good for nothing either for milk OF beef'
then The Jury must 6nd ont themselves how
they will decide the case for the court, u
il understands itself, and IL thinks It does


don't know how such case should be dc
cided.
Year: 1861




TERRIBLE EXPLOIT OF RIFLE CANNON
BALL-The Boston Courier publishes a
letter of correspondent on board the q. S.
steamer Massachusetts,, off Ship Island,
Oct 26,giving account of the affair between
that vessel and rebel steamer, in which
the following extraordinary exploit of a RI
fed cannon ball is chronicled 4:


During the action. thing we hit her
four times, and know she hit us once with
6s pound rifled shell, Chat is the way
we got the exact size of her raed gun.
The shell entered on our starboaad quarter,
inst above the iron part Of the hull /; il came
through the side angling aft. (as we
were q little abaft his beam when it struck
Us, and took the deck in the passage way,
between two state rooms, and completely
cut off eighteen of the deck plank, and then
struck beam, which canted it up little,
so that it took the steam heating pipes 40
der our diniug-table, cutting off Eve o
them, and tearing our dining table all t
pieces. then went through the siate'roou
bulk head and ceiling Of the ship on th'
opposite side, and struck one of the outsid'
plank abreast of it short of, from the sPaI
to the gundeck it then fell down on &c
the cabin deck and exploded, knocking four
state.rooms into one, breaking all the glass
aud croEery- ware, shattering the cabin very
badly, breaking up the furniture, and set
ting ere to the ship; bat we had three
streams of water upon ihe fire at very shor'
notice, aud putting it out before 1t did any


damage, keeping up our chase as thosgt
/, nothing had happened 1853
Year: 1861




The whole Of the above concluding por-
tion, commencing at the words, 1t has be-
come grave question for determination,
what shall be done with the slaves was
erased, and the subjoined passage substi-
tuted


1t is already grave question what shall
be done with the slaves who are abandoned
by their owners on the advance of our
troops into Southern territory, as at Beau.
fort District, in South Carolina. The num-
Der left within our control ct that point is
very considerable, and similar cases will
probably occur. What shall be done with
lhem2 Can we afford to send them for,
ward to their masters, to be by them armed
against Us, or used in introducing supplies
to maintain the rebellion2 Their labor may
be useful TO US withheld from the enemy,
it lessons his military resources, aud with
holding it has no tendency to induce the
horrors of insurrecLion even in the rebel
communities They constitute a military
resource, and, being such, that they should
not be turned over to the enemy is too plain
TO discuss. Why deprive him of supplies
by blockade, and voluntarily give him
men to produce supplies The disposition
TO be made Of the slaves of rebels after the
close of the war eau be safely left to the
wisdom and patriotism of Congress. The
representatives Of the people will, unques-
tiOnably, secure to the loyal shareholders
every right to which they are entitled under
the Constitution of the country.


SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.


To the President of the United States.


In connection with this strange affair,
the Tribune makes the following statement


The readers of our Daily yesterday NOR
ming may have been surprised to 6nd no al
lusion to the topic which excited most in
terest at the Federal opolis--namely
the reported disagreement between tht
President aud the Secretary of War will
regard to that portion of the Report of the
latter which treats of the use to be made
of the slaves of rebels. Other journals haC
information ou this subject we had ncne
simply because, while their Washington
dispatches respecting it were allowed Il
come through in due course, ours was sup
pressed by The Government censor 10 tn
Washington telegraph Office. Having re
ceived it by mail, we give it now as q par
of the history OF the times, simply remark
ing that we do not understand that it wa
suppressed for lack OF truth, but rather 70
excess Of it,
Year: 1861

their rebel masters, like any other property
ot the rebels, in whatever mode may be
most Efficient for the defence Of the Gov
ernment, the prosecution Of the war end
the suppression Of the rebellion. It is clear.
y q right Of the Government to arm slaves
when II may become necessary, as It is to
use gunpowder taken from the enemy -
whether it is expedient to do 80 is purely
military question. The right is unques-
tionabls by the laws of war The expedi-
ency must be determined by circumstances,
Keeping in view the great object of over.
coming the rebels, re-establishing the laws,
nnd restoring peace to the nation.


IL is vain and idle for the Government to
carry on this war, or hope to maintain its
existence against rebel force, without EN-.
ploying oil the rights and powers of war
AS has been said, the right TO deprive the
rebels Of their property 10 slaves and slave
labor, is as clear and absolute as the right
to take forage from the field, or cotton from
the warehouse, or powder and arms from
the magazine. To leave the enemy in the
possession Of such property as forage and
cotton aud military stores, and the means
Of constantly reproducing them, would be





to leave them in peaceful and secure pos
session Of slave property, more valuable and
efficient to them for war. than forage, cot.
ton, aud military stores Such policy wo'd
be national suicide. What to do with that
species of property, is a question that time
and circumstances will solve, and need not
be anticipated further than TO repeat tina,
they cannot be held by the Government as
slaves. 1t would be useless to keep them
as prisoners Of war and self preservation,
the highest duty Of Government, or OF
individuals, demands that they should be
disposed of or employed in the most effect
i've manner that v ill tend most speedily to
suppress the insurrection and restore the
authority of the Government II it shall
be fonud that the men who have been held
by the rebels as slaves are capable Of bear
ing arms aud performing efficient military
service, it is he right, aud may become the
duty of the Government to arm aud equip
them, aud employ their services against the
rebels, under proper military regulation,
discipline, and command.


But in whatever manner they may be
used by the Government, it is plain that
once liberated by the rebellious acts of their
masters, they should never again be restor-
ed to bondage. BY the masters treason
aud rebellion he forfeits all light to the la-
bor and service Of his slaves and the slave
of The rebellious master, by his service to
the Government, becomes justly entitled to
freedom and protection.


The disposition to be made of the slaves
of rebels, after the close of the war, can be
safely left to the wisdom and patriotism of
Congress. The Representatives Of the peo-
pie will unquestiouably secure to the loyal
shareholders every right to which they are
entitled under the Constitution of the
country.
Year: 1861

Virginia secession rather exceeds all
previous performances. Without waiting
for The popular ratification, which was so
carefully provided in the call for Con-
ven ion, her Sec, ssioaists have accepted
the Confederate Constitution, and certain
Commissioners lave, by formal deed,
transferred the State to Alexander II.
Sephens in trust for the Confederate
States, and have made over to him there
by ell the public property, naval stores
and munitions Of war acquired from the
United States, and put all the military
forces and movements under he command
of the Confederales. This is TO be for.
ever binding unless the popular vote to
be taken on the fourth Thursday in May,
shall reject the ordinances OF secession.
TO provide for that the vote IS to he
taken by the voice, and those who vote
against the ordinance are 10 be declared
traitors and their property con6scsted.
Year: 1861

The early fruitfulness of nearly every variety
of tree cultivated 10 the garden or orchard in
California. has already passed to proverb.-
The peach in favorable localities, always pro-
ducing fruit the second year, and the apple
and pear not unfrequently on the third from
the graft, in considerable abundance. But
there is a mistake abroad among promologists
in thus allowing their trees to produce large
quantities Of fruit. while yet but two or three
years growth from the seed or graft. II is so
agreeable TO obtain fruit from trees of our own
setting, at as early day as possible, that little
attention is given to the effect of this extreme
precociousness; nor have we seen in any pub
lication in this State word of caution in
regard to this propensity of fruit trees to early
bearing, but its effects are visible for evil in
nearly every orchard and garden in the State


1t seems TO be the grand point with many,
to see how soon they can bring their trees to
fruitfulness, from the day they set them in the
orchard row, little thinking Of the injury of
really permanent character that they are in



those who strive by every means in their pow
er. to recommend this Or that process, such as
the destruction of the tap-root, and frequent
removal and shortening Of all the roots, pur-
posely to effect the very precocity so injurious
to the permanent longevity and fruitiulness of
all trees. And Of the numbers who have set
out orchards, and now possess the finest trees
as regards both their vigor and truitfulness
are those whose good sense taught them to
permit their trees TO produce but sparingly of
fruit for the first four years.


Experience has taught, not only in other
countries, but in California as well, that the
best apple and pear trees at four years old are
those in which but little else than leaves and
wood have been grown for whilst trifty
growth of limbs is produced from year to year,
the grower has it in his power to shape the
tree almost entirely to his wishes, which is not
the case when the energetes of the tree are
expanded'to an improper degree in the produc-
ton Of fruit. A tree with form best suited
to withstand the vicissitudes of our climate is
one in which the limbs are made to spread
broadly at the bottom, and gradually tapering
to the top. Such tree can never be grown
when allowed to exhaust itself in the produc-
ton of fruit during the first three years of its
growth


Instead then, Of endeavoring to induce fruit
fulness in young trees, the very opposite should
be practiced, and any mode that will be ser
vicable toward the production of wood, should
be adopted, if form, thrift and longevity are
worthy Of consideration. When you have
your tree well formed and of fair size, it is as
with animals, soon enough for their lruitbear-
ing.
Year: 1861

JuE man whom call deserving the name
is one whose thoughts and exertions are for
Others rather than for himself; whose high
purpose IS adopted on just principles, aud new
or abandoned while heaven or earth afford
means Of accomplishing it. lie is one who
will neither seek an indirect advantage by a
spacious road, nor take an evil path to secure
real good purpose.-Su Wahsr Scott.