smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

tions of commerce are, to considerable extern,
he'd temporarily in check BY the prospect oil legis
lation which win have the effect OF permanently
reducing the gold premium, and lessening its ha-
blity 70 those rapid and violent fluctuations which
render the value OF tie currency the most uncer-
tain Of earthly things, and make OF trade
speculation. The manner in which the finances
can be restored to a sounder basis we have on
several occasions pointed out.


The feeling in monetary circles Is unsettled for
The lime being, more particularly by the prosp' CT
of stirring news very soon from both the armies
of Sherman and Grant. This operates in favor Of
dul.ness in speculative channels. and imposes a
check upon the ascendancy Of gold. and sympa-
thetically upon prices for everything to be bought
with moLcy. Military success has beon to some
extent discounted already; and although gold
would decline considerably below the present
quotation for IL in the event of Sherman's bold
| movement, resulting in the capture OF "a


yanpab. Mobile or Charleston. or even
The confirmation Of that OF Macon ana
Augusta, tire tendency of speculation would be 10
sivancc it, regardless Of It's real value as COM


pared with the currency, should Sherman's
achievements be less important than II is gene
rally supposed they will be. The wretched poll
cy which has flooded the land with more than
nine hundred millions of paper money has left
gold-the standard OF yalues--little better than
shuttlecock in the hands Of unscrupulous specu-
la,ors, whose caprice sends it up or down.
from hour to hour, without regard to
anything more than the speculative supply
and demand, which are controlled by neither fact
nor argument. Where there is nothing special
to put down the premium, the efforts Of specula-
tors are for the most part directed to put il up.


and individuals strive 70 enrich themselves by de-


preciating the public credit, which bad legislation


has exposed TO so much danger, and which Con-


gross is row called upon to remedy to the best Of


its ability; and if it only does its duty the people
| will have good reason for new and sincere thanks
| giving.


| The highest cash prices Of the leading railroad
and miscellaneous shares, at the first session Of the
Board of Brokers to-day compare with the quota
xl.xa rzs
Year: 1864




IMPORTANT REoUIsfTEs IN A WrPE.-A
knowledge of domestic duties is beyond all
price to woman; every one of the sex
ought to know how to sew, and knit, and
mend. and cook, and superintend house :
hold. In every situation In life, high or
low, this sort of knowledge is of great ad-
vantage. There is no necessity that the
gaining of such inform alton should interfere
with intellectual requirement or even ele-
CANT accomplishment. A we'll regulated
mind can find time to attend to all. When
girl is nine or ten years old. she should be
accustomed to take some regular share in
the..household duties, and to feel responsible
for the manner in which her part is per-
forned-such as her own mending, wash
ing the cups and putting them in place,
cleaning silver, or busting aud arranging
the parlor. This should be done OCCASION
ally, and not neglected whenever she finds
it convenient; she should consider it her
apartment. When older than twelve, girls
should begin to take turns in superintend-
ing the household; making puddings, pies.
cakes. &c. To learn effectually, they should
actually do these things themselves, aud not
stand by and see others do them. Many a
husband has been ruined for want of these
domestic qualities in wife-and many
husband has been saved from ruin by his
wife being able to manage we'll the house
hold concerns.
Year: 1864

The Cincinnati Gasstts IN T0csnt article
makes the following important admissiOn:s


The Emancipation Proclamation put q
weapon in the hands Of the enemy, North
and South, while it did not er1Anoipass q
single slave. The measures taken shus far
for its execution have been ths continuation
OF serfdom' BY m lstary force. to await tbs
time when by loose system Of restoration
the slsveholding class shall recover control
OF the State
Year: 1864

The FIRE -SIDE.-The frs-side is sem


mary Of Infinite importance. It is import


ant because it is universal, and because the


education it bestows, being woven in with


the woof of childhood, gives form and color


to the whole texture of life. There are


few who can receive the honors of college.
but all are graduates of hearth. The learn
ing of the university may fade from the
recollection, its classic lore may moulder in


the halls of m emory; but the simple lessons
OF home, euamellad upon the heart OF
childhood, defy the rust Of years, and out
live the more mature but less vivid pictures
of after days. So deep, so lasting, indeed I,
are the impressions of early life. that you
often see a man in the imbeclity of age
holding fresh in his recollection the events
of childhood, while all the wide space be-
tween that and the present hour is blasted
and forgotten waste. You have perchance
seen an old and half obliterated portrait,
and in the attempt to have it cleaned and
you may have seen it fade away,
while a brighter and q much more perfect
picture, painted beneath, is revealed to
view. This portrait, first drawn upon the
the csuvass, is no inapt illustration of youth;
aud thought may be concealed by som 8,
after design, still the original traits will
shine through the outward picture, giving it
tone while fresh, aud surviving it in decay.
Such is the fre-side-the great Institution
by Providence for the education
Il man
Year: 1864

The AMNESTY PRocLAMATIoN.-By re-
cent adyices from New Orleans, it ap-
pears that mass meeting of all the 10y
al people in the state of Louisiana was
called for the 8th of January. The OBJ
ject is to take into consideration the
formation of a free State government
1t is said that nearly enough are en-
rolled to enable the State to return to
the Union under the Presidents procla-
nation.


A letter from Natchez says that per-
sons recently from the interior South
are of the opinion that the Presidents
offer of free pardon will have an excel
lent effect as soon as it becomes known.
Prominent Mississippians say the plan
for reconstruction will be gladly ac-
cepted by the people of that State as
soon as sufficient portion of the terri
tory is in our hands to allow tenth part
of the voting population an opportunity
to express themselves.
Year: 1864

SHORT AND SwEET.-The Lewiston
(Me.) Journal is accountable for the
following happy Incident 1fs %


"a gentleman of that city on Christi
mas day came from Augusta to Lewiston
in a single sleigh, in company with
an officer of the 10Th Maine from that
city. On the way, the gentleman, in
sportive mood, said he would stop and
introduce him to farmers buxom daugh-
ter of his acquaintance, saying that she
would make fine match The gentleman
accordingly stopped, introduced the Of
ficer, and then went out into the kitch
EN- with the old folks, leaving the officer
and the young lady i'm the parlor-it
being the first time they had ever met. I
In short time both of the gentlemen
left the house and drove to LEWISTON
The next day the officer concluded he
would go to one of the towns between
Augusta and Lewiston to recruit. He
went, but took Clergyman with him,
drove to the house visited the day be-
fore, was married to his new found love,
and went on his way rejoicing
Year: 1864

paper of the rebel presses, and scattered
broadcast over the insurgent region by
the rebel leaders, to revive the falling
courage OF their followers, and to show
them that they have jealous friends at
the North who are doing their best to
put down" the Federal Government.
Year: 1864




them in much lower strata Of humanity
than delight to frequent to see my friends.
My neighbors, any occupation you can sue.
cecd in interesting your minds in, will prove
to You pleasant occupation. But, as rule,
to make a pleasure of profitable study, prof.
table reading, profitable thinking, profitable
talking, in short, profitable employment Of
whatsoever nature, you have at the outset to
exercise the strength Of your will. Many
young men, and young women, much worse
than waste sufficient time, in the pursuit Of
very frivolous and transient pleasure, to Sc
cure for themselves excellent educations.- -
Do not be surprised, my young friend, over
there, with your feet cooked up on the stove,
when | express it as my opnisn that you
can become as much interested in the dry
study Of Latin, as you now are in "going
home with the girls in the morning;" unless,
indeed, the girls be unusually pretty and
fascinating, and you remarkably sentimental.
or course, variety is needed; but one pur-
pose is sufficient--that purpose, improve.
ment.


Therefore, dear friends, as we welcome the
return Of winter, with its hours for study ard
recreation-its rides, parties, concerts, lee
lures, and, better than all the rest, the quie,
circles around the f,esidc, such as we to
night enjoy-let US determine to improve the
time to the best of our advantages for pleas
ure and profit, being not unmindrul to Con
who hath so blessed us in temporal things
that we are enabled to make the years win
ter our hearts Summer. Let us rrmeirber
that no man liveth to himself" Let us
each work for self improvement, thereby en-
couraging others to good action. The hours
are golden: the onward march Of time il
rapidly bearing US to gray. headed old age
and the day when the mortal coil shall be
fully wound The mere sitting with folded
hands and longing hearts will accomplish lit
tie if anything to any good purpose. You
deprecate vice : then work tc remove it by
good You abom'nate sin then work to re-
place it with righteousness. To master any
science, the student must commence at frs,
principles. IL you would elevate and rcgen
crate mankind, you mast cleanse and purify
the foundation Of our social sFstcm 1t will
not do to endcavor to dissuade people from
such and such things in which they have
apparent pleasure, without you at the same
time offer something in the stead thereof
We fight rebels on this principle: cease The
war and accept,peace. We anti slavery mcr
adopt the same in our warfare against human
bondage: let foul slavery CO. and receive
Universal Freedom. So in our opposition &c
anything Of whatsoever character, we must,
in entertaining any. reasonable hope Of sue
cess, have ready tic alternative. Therefore
friends, encourage the good in your commu
nifty. Consider tina, in all enterprises pro
posed for its advancement, you have a per
sonal responsibility to perform.


But am getting too prosy for nrs
meeting, and have chatted as long as you
care, perhaps, to give me your attention.
will, therefore, bid you good night, trusting
that it may be your good pleasure that We
meet again next week. ..
Year: 1864

We make no comments upon this
speech; but we can not refrain from e1-
pressing our profound regret that such
a speech should have been said to have
been delivered by the Chief Magistrate
Of the Confederate States, for We can no t
make up our minds that he delivered t..
We hope speedily to be able to deny its
suthsnsisiy.
Year: 1864

When l was young man, there lived
in our neighborhood farmer who was
usually reported to be a very liberal man
and uncommonly upright in his dealings


When he had any of the produce of his
farm to dispose of, he made it an invaria-
BILE rule to give good mcasure-rather
more than could be required of him.
One of his friends observing him fire.
quently doing SO. questioned him as to
why he did it-told him he gave too
much, and said it would be to his disad-
vantage Now mark the answer of this
excellent man. "God Almighty has per-
mitted me but one journey through the
world; and when l am gone, can not
return to rectify mistakes" Think of
this. But one journey through the
world ..'4
Year: 1864

General Butler is said to be ascertain
ing, as rapidly as possible, how many of
bis negro troops were certainly murdered
after having been captured in recent en-
gagements with the enemy, and that man
for man of the rebel prisoners in his
hands will certainly be shot in retaliation.
This shooting will be at the hands of ne
gro troops.
Year: 1864

The foundation of domestic happiness
is faith in the virturc Of woman the
foundation of political happiness is con-
tidence in the integrity of man the foun-
dation of all happiness temporal and
eternal, reliance on the goodness of God.
Year: 1864

FROM FLoR1DA.-Gen. Ashbath, who CON-
mands the Federal forces at the Navy Yard,
learning last week that scouting party of the
Fifteenth Confederate cavalry were near Pensa-
cola, came out with large force with a view
Of capturing them. On nearing the contenl-
plated scene Of action, Gen.. Ashbath learned
that this party was only decoy, and that the
whole ofthe Fifteenth were movingto his rear,
and that instead of capturing anybody, he was
in a fair way Of being gobbled up himself
Gen. Ashbath took the back track in hurry.
and in crossing the ford atthe mouth of the
Big Bayou after dark neglected to make the
proper signal to the gunboats lying off that
point, and they mistaking Ashbath's for rebel
cavalry, opened with grape and canister, killing
27 and wounding a large number, also doing
considerable execution among tie horses.
Year: 1864

Up 10 10 q. N. to-day, the latest news from
the front received by the Government here,
was embraced in the gratifying dispatch of
q. N. Tae latest unofficial news from the front
received here up to 10 a. IN. to-day, is up to noon
yestesday-Ingall's despatch to Senator Mes.
nith-giving an account of Hancock's brilliant
exploit, and stating that Burnside and Warren
were then pressing the enemy.


We, however, know further that the battle
continued until p. m, when artillery firing
was no longer heard at Belle Plain. AS the
country was suitable for the use Of artillery,
the fact that it ceased to be heard after that
hour satisfies US that the battle ended then;
and the further fact that nothing has reached
also satisfies Us that our army was pushing
forward ''on to Richmond, rather than hold.
ing its position Of the forenoon or giving back.


We may add that throughout all Of yester-
day no artillery firing was heard at Belle
Plain. This could not possibly have been the
case If the rebels had not retreated clear be.
yond the temporary reach OF Gen. Grants
guns, as Assistant Secretary Dana stated they
were getting ready to do as early as at a. m.
Of Thursday. Between theP and the North
Anna there is no ground Offering them chance
fer making an obstinate defence.


So the public may expect to hear OF the o.
currencs OF the aext fight ON that river or on
the South Anna a short distance nearer Rich.
mond. That is, if Lee has not been SO weakened
in the series Of engagements ending on Thurs.
day last at p. m, as to compel him to seek
the CO yer Of the Richmond Notifications, Or to
retreat rapidly in the direction Of Lynchburg
and S.aunton, from which point his army has
been provisned for the most part ever since
Grant crossed the Rspidan


We may add that we do not share the appre-
hension Of many around us that Lee can make
. more obstinate defence on the North or
South Anna than he made on the Po; the lines
70 be defended on beth these rivers being much
Ioager than that on the Po, and therefore
much wsaker-far more easily pierced or
TUNED,
Year: 1864




The steamer keyport arrived here to-day
about O'Clock, from Belle Plain, bringing up
the army mail.
The mail messenger reports that there was
no general engagement yesterday, although
there was some heavy skirmishing in the
morning.


During the afternoon our lines were ad-
vaDced some two and a half miles, and when
he left Gen. Grants headquarters at daylight
this morning our lines were again being pushed
forward. 4st +
From the fact that no cannonading was
heard at Belle Plain when the messenger left
this morning the belief was that the enemy
were In retreat.
Another party who came up on the Keyport
confirms the above, but expresses the belief
that Lee has only fallen back to a new position.
Year: 1864

THE NORTH AND SOUTH ANNAS


We have information that Lee fortified both
the North and South Anna rivers before Grant
crossed the Rapidan. Unless he (Lee) is as
badly cut up as the latest news from the front
represents, he will therefore doubtless seek to
give Grant heavy fights there. Nevertheless,
we believe that Grant can turn hls probable
positions On both those rivers.
Year: 1864

PETROLEUM As A MoToR.-The Secretary
of the Navy has ordered one war vessel to
be prepared for the purpose of testing the
experiment of substituting petroleum oil
for coal. A commission appointed by the
Secretary some months since, to examine
this subject thoroughly, have so far become
satisfied that oil can he used for fuel, at
less than half the expense of coal that they
have recommended the Secretary to have
the experiment made for sea navigation.
Should the result he favorable for the use
Of oil, it may reduce the consumption
OF coal to point that will make it cheaper
to the consumer than it has ever before
been known in the United States. In
Rhode Island oil has been substituted for
coal in one of the largest manufacturing
establishments, and at less than halt the
cost of coal Many of the large mills are
Intending to alter to make steam by oil
instead Of coal As this now appears, nc
one can ioresee TO what extent the consumP
tion Of coal will be reduced. CT how low the
price MAJ GO.
Year: 1864

reflect that sound mind and body the most neces-
ssry requisites to promote connubial happiness. In
deed, without these the joney through life becomes
weary pilgrimage the prospect hourly dartens to the
view; the mind becomes shadowed with despair and


sd with the melancholy rejection that the happiness
Of another becomes blighted with our own,
Year: 1864


Better than grandeur, better than gold,
Than rank and titles a thousand fold,
Is healthy body, mind at ease,
And simple pleasures that always please
A heart that can feel for a neighbours woe,
And share his Joys with genial glow,
With sympathies large enough to enfOld
All men as brothers, is better than gold.
Better than gold is a conscience clear,
Though toiling for bread in a humble sphere,
Doubly blest with content and health,
Untried by the lust and cares of wealth
Lowly living and lofty thought
Adorn and ennOble poor mans cot,
For mind and morals, or Natures plan,
Are the genuine test of gentleman.
Better than gold is the sweet repose
Of the sons of toll when their labors close
Better than gold is the poor mans sleep,
And the balm that drops on his slumbers deep.
Bring sleeping draughts to the downy bed
Where Luxury pillows his aching head;
His simpler Opiate Labor deems
A shorter road to the land of dreams.
Better than gold is a thinking mind
That in the realms of books can find
A treasure surprising Australian ore,
And live with the great and good of yore,
The sage's lore and the poets lay,
The glOries of empires past away;
The worlds great drama will thus enfold,
And yield pleasure better than gold.
Better than gold is peaceful home,
Where all the ireside charities come,
The shrine of love and the heaven of life,
HallOwed by mother, or sister, or wife.
However humble the home may be,
Or tried with sorrow by heavens decree,
The blessings that never were bought or sold,
And center there, are better than gold.
Year: 1864

Lincoln's two greatest generals are General
TAXATION and General Conseription. By those he
conquers, not the South, but the North.


Genteel society is a conglomerate of misseries
and mister-ies.


The grand essentials to happiness in this life
are, something to do something to hope for, and
something to love.


To know when to conceal our ability requires
no small amount fit.


The beginning of anger is foolshness and its
end repentance.


Congress is doing its best to keep the people
in good humor. By taxing whiskey dollar
gallon, they are determind that we shall no lon
ger have low spirits.


Six brothers from Vermont, named Hull, en-
listed together at the commencement of the war.
The last survivor of the six was killed in one Of
the recent battles


Prentice thinks if young lady hasa thousand
acres of valuable land, the young men are aptto
conclude that there are sufficient grounds for
attachment


Since our government has been disordered.
the political doctors apply leeches to its chest.
Year: 1864

CHIEF JUSTICE CHAsE.-The ceremony of
qualifying the new Chief Justice took place in
the Supreme Court to-day, Mr. Chase reading
the prescribed oath, and the clerk OF the court
reading the commission, after which the chief
Justice took bis seat on the bench, and imme-
diately commenced the business OF the day A
few attorneys were also qualified to plead be-
fore the court. The attendance OF spectators
was large, and the crowd, after witnessing
the simple ceremony Of reading the oath, quiet
ly dispersed.
Year: 1864

As we bow, peuitenee eand humiliation be-
fore God this day, let our prayers go up
to his throne for pardoning mercy for our
glievous sins; and in one great heart
throb of love and desire, for the triumph
of the cause of universal liberty and hu-
mauity in our laud, and throughout the
whole world. Thus our hearts and our
conduct viii correspond with our words
of contrition, as we say, "come. and let
us return unto the Lord for he hath
torn, and he viii heal us he hath smit-
ten, and he will bind us up"


swrtten jast after rssaise before Petersburg
Year: 1864

WANf OF FCouRAGE.-Sidney Smith, in his
work on Moral Philosophy, speaks in this
wise IF what men lose for want of little
brass, as it is termed:


u A great deal of ia ent is lost to the world
for the want of little courage. Every day
sends to their graves number of obscure
men, who have only remained in obscurity
because their timidity has prevented them
from making a first effort, and who, if they
could only have been induced to begin, would
in all probability. have gone great lengths
order to do anything in the world worth do
ing, we must not stand shivering on the bank,
and thinking of the cold and danger, but
jump in and scramble through as we'll as we
can. 1t will not do to be perpetually cal
culating risks and adjusting nice chalces
it did all very we'll before the food, when
man could consult his friends upon an inten.
ded publication for a hundred and fifty years,
and then live to see its success for six or
seven enturies afterwards but at present
a man waits and doubts, and consults his
brothers, and his uncle, and his particular
friends, till one dsy he finds that he has lost
much tims in contulting first cousins and
particular friends that he has no more time
to follow their advice. There is so little time
for oversqueamishness at present, that the
opportunity slips away. The very period of
life at which a man chooses to venture, if
ever. is so confined, that it is no Lad rule to
preach up the necessity, in such instances,
of little violence done to the feelings, and
of efforts made in defiance of strict and sober
calculation. !"