smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

Aaron Burr was suspected of treas


enable intent; and he became an object


OF scorn, contempt and detestation. The


maledictions of his countrymen followed


him even till he became old, and bent,
and shrivelled; and tho grave scarcely
sufficed to keep him from the curse of
the people. A change has come over us.
Men belch forth torrents of blasphemy
and treason; and they have their defend
ers! Others hurl their thunderbolts-
puny, lndeed-against the temples of the
Union; and they find admirers Con-
tingencies are pitted against the perpe.
tuity OF our institutions, till many sit
down coldly to calculate their value. God
forgive them, and rectify their perverted
consclencles before they plunge us into
irremidable ruin When fratricida blood
shall run down the cutters of our streets
and crimson our hill-sdcs-when riot and
ravage and woe shall be upon our women


and when trembling horror shall abide
in every home-then, at all events, will
their eyes learn to see and their hearts to
feel the desolations they have brought
upon the faircst heritage that Heaven ev-
er bestowed upon nation; and they
will be glad 10 sink from the miserable
chaos they have created into worse than
felon's grave.


The Union Can n sane man dare to
estimate its value? If there be single
lnfelcity in it, is it strange? What earth
ly blessing do we possess that is absolute
ly perfect! Shall we cut our throat be-
cause tooth aches-shall we divorce our
wife because she has mole on her arm
shall we kick our child out of doors
because he lisps-shall we kill our broth
er because his convictions of duty are diff
ferent from ours? No, no! The present
spirit Of intolerance is but n resurrection
of the meek-cheeked, but devil eyed per
sonation of bigotry that centuries AGO
shed martyr blood because nobler intel
lects would not bow down TO its own
oplnion-god. Let it be exercised. Let
every true man awake from his supine-
ness, and como to the Constitution and
Union. Let not skeleton faction in any
section of the land poison the well-spring
OF public sentiment. Else, we perish.
Year: 1860


Robe the beautiful for the tomb
We may no longer stay her;
She has pass'd away'in budding bloom,
In vestal white array her.
One single auburn tress we crave
Before her face ye cover;
Why should the cold and grasping grave
Take all from those who love her?
Bear the beautiful to the tomb
While'yet the sun is shining,
Ere the shadows and evening gloom
Denote the days declining.
Bear her softly and slowly on
Disturb no placid feature;
Deep the sleep she's fallen upon,
The last Of mortal creature.
Lay the beautiful in the tomb,
Beneath the weeping willow,
Let the maiden have sleeping room,
And softly spread her pillow.
Angels hasten from realms of bliss,
Their watch above her keeping;
Dear to the heart Of the Father is
The place whore child is sleeping.
Leave the beautiful in the tomb,
There may be others fairer;
laughter heads may wave plume
With glory to the wearer;
But so beautiful and so good
Think they who dearly held her
Earth in its loveliest sisterhood
May never have excell'd her.
Year: 1860

Why DoN'T You LEARN A TRADE p
This question was propounded in our
hearing few days since, to young man
who had been for several months unsuc.
cessfully seeking employment as clerk
or salesman in some of our leading houses
Complaining of his i'll luck, one of his
friends who knew he had mechanical
talent, but doubted whether he could
make himself useful either as n clerk OF
salesman, put the interrogatory to him
which we have placed over the head OF
this article. The reply was, that me-
chanical trade was not so respectable as n
mercantile occupation.


Under this delusive idea our stores are
crowded with young men who have no ca
pacity for business, and who because Of
the fancied responsibility of doing nothing
waste away their minority upon salaries
which cannot possibly liquida.e their ex-
penditures. Too late, they discover their
error, aud before they reach their thirtieth
year many of them look with envy upon
thrifty mechanics, who in the days Of
their boyhood they were accustomed 10
deride.
Year: 1860

DR.. johnson SAYS. 'he who drinks beer


thinks beer" and recent writer declares


that those who occupy themselves with


endless cares for small savings get to think


candle ends" as their reward. There new


er was happier expression. 1t is nearly


equal to DR.. johnson, and would be quite


50, we're it not for the probability that the


first epigram suggested the other, the beer


hinted the tallOw. The same essay points


nut in 4 most amusin manner the folly Of


preaching Poor Richard to the world in the
present age:


Economy is good thing; but among
the classes who, whether they are ecOnOm-
ical or not, are sure to never 90 to bed hun
cry. tn re is nothing in the triurnphs of c.
economy or iii the accumulation Of money
to compensate for the deterioration of mind
anil feeling which is almost sure to accom-
pany the pursuit of 50 trumpery az end as
s:rcwing tOurpenec week out of the but
ter bill. As intellectual education is more
widely spread. this is more k enly felt, and
persons become more willing "to lose life
for the 81 of the GAUSS of living" 1t
seems better to lay out money on learning
and OH mental cultivation than to tie it up
in stocking. And the state of society at
present helps this feeling. The Id saying
that fortune is more easily saved than
got is no longer true. Its truth belonged
to a time when each class was shut up in
its own narrow limits, when locomotiOn
was diffcul.. and the chances Of success in
remote adventure extremely small. Now
a fortune is more easily got than saved -
The world is open to the enterprisins; and
ifthey please, they may pick up gold abroad.
instead of painfully boarding up copper at
home. The habits and natures of families
are naturally Accommodated to this altered
state of things. \ prudent father does
better by spending his income on his chill
drcn. so as to give them fair start, than
to neglect their present advancement in or
der to prepare for their future needs His
object is not to teach them how to save
money. but to get it an spend it rightly;
and it is impossible to teach this unless a
certain liberality and generous largcness in
dealing with money. prOpOrti0nately to the
fLHily income, is openly encouraged. There
is. inlced. sort Of idiotic wastefulness by
which silly people manage to dribble away
vast sums yearly without anything to show
in return. that parent ought of course to
prohibit by every means in his power. But
the general principle remains. that for
tune should be earned. and not inherited
or saved. and that it should be spent with
of ea.iness and magnanimity -
There is one test which will act as per-
ect safeguard against too wide q depart
lre from the rules Of prudent economy -
So long as debt is abhorred, everything is
safe. i
Year: 1860

BEAUTIFUL EXTRAcT-IOu cannot 90


into the meadow and pluck up single
daisy By the roots without breaking up a
society Of nice relations. and detecting a
principle more extensive and refined than
mere gravitativn. The handful Of earth
that follows the fbrcs Of the little flower is
rep etc with social elements a little friend
ly circle has been formed around that ger
minating daisy. The sunbeam and the dew
drop met there, and the soft summer breeze
came whispering through the grass to join
the silent concert. The earth took them
to the daisy gem. and all went to work to
show that Hower to the sun. Each min
sled in the honey of its ina I,u;e, aal they
uursed the we canny thing" with an ali
ment that made it grow. And when it
lifted its eyes toward the sky they vove a
soft carpet of grass for its feet. And the
sun saw it through the green leaves and
smiled as he passed on; and by the star
lihgt and the moonlight they worked on.
And the daisy lifted up its head, and one
morning while the sun was looking. it put
on its silver trimmed diadcm and showed its
yellow petals to he stars.
Year: 1860

Ono of the most excellent qualities OF
mind is integrity. Let US aim to cultivate
this trait of character, and We add much
to our worth in whichever department OF life
varied scene we may chance TO minglc.-
4 man cannot long prosper, or what is OF
more importance. secure the respect or
love Of his fellows without integrity. 1t
is the base of credit &c security to which
the world will look in its dealings with in-
dividuals, and open the account according
". 4 thousand devices are needed BY the
artful man TO cloak his designs or hide his
failures. Of which the honest upright man
knows nothing. 1t is on the principle that
a number Of falsehoOd are n ,cesSary to prop
a single untruth. that it may not fall
The man of integrity stands right up in the
prou.l consciousness Of his own moral worth;
he heels not the darts Of malice-thc breath
of SANDER cannot harm him, his word has
the efheieney of bond. IN exchange says
in regard to this subject;


"ReprOaches have no power to sflict the
man of unblemished integrity or the aban-
dOncd prcfigate. It is the middle COM
pound character which is alone miserable.
often the man who has not irmness enough
to avoid dishonorable action, has feeling
enough to le ashamed oft"
Year: 1860




Night approaches. the last ray of the
sun has faded from our sight-it is night,
dark, dreary night The earth is cnvelOp-
cd in mantle of black; the birds have
gone to their rest. and man also seeks re-
pose. The moon and stars (nature's can
dles.) steal forth-what a glorious sight to
behold! We do not lament when night
approaches, for we know that the san will
rise again; nc know it will be light in the
morning.


But soon the shade is Withdrawn from
the Garth; night clothed in her dark nan
tie, fees awayat the approach Of day. Lis
ten! the sweet song of the lark is heard
rising to meet the sun; soon the sun bursts
forth. full of glory, and cverything,is full
of life. -7.


But is there rot night approachiRg.
dark. dismal night hut should I say dark?
1t is not dirk to all. but it is dark, very
dark to those that have nct-the Eght-for
there Is but one light bright enough to PEN
citrate the darkness Of the night Of death.
Then can all say it will be light in the
morning? All! when will morning come?
Never. nsrer, to those that have not the
bright lamp. the only lamp that will guide
them through the dark valley of death
But to those that have it, it viii show the
path to everlasting day.


Hartford. O.
Year: 1860

True PoLITEHESs He who has 4 heart
glowing with kindness and good will to-
wards his fellow men. and who is guided
in the exercise Of those feelings by good
common sense is the truly polite man. PO-
litenrss does not consist in wearing white
silk glove, and grsa fully lifting your hat
when you meet an acquaintance; it does
not consist in artificial smiles and fatter-
ing speeches but in silence AMI honest de-
sires to promote the happiness of those a.
round you; in the readiness to sacriioe
your own ease and comfort, to add to the
comfort and enjoyment Of others
Year: 1860

How TO 10 Up SHIRT BOsoNs.-We Of
ten hear ladies express desire to know how
the gloss is produced on new linen bOsOms.
Sc. and in order to crafty thcm subjOin
the following recipe; Taken two ounces Of
gum arabic powder, put it in pitcher. and
pour On pint or 50 Of boiling water. &C.
cording to the strength you desire: let it
stand all night, and in the morning pour it
carefully fiUm the dregs into clean bottle
and cork it for use 4 tablespoonful Of
this gum water. stirred into pint Of starch
will give lawns. either white or eolOred, 3
look Of newness to which nothing else can
restore then after they have been washed.
Year: 1860

BACHELoRs IloMEsTEADs.-In another
column will be found the law, passed bv the
last Legislature, providing for the reserva-
ton of homesteads for Bachelors and other
unmarried persons 1t should have been in
our statutes long ago. but it is in time to be
of benefit to many persons in the State. 1t
will no doubt be an encouragement to many
to secure a home here, who previously have
not thought of doing so. This law has met
a hearty approval in various parts Of the
State, and will doubtless come into as much
favor as the Homestead law for married
persons A homestead of the value of
$1,000 it is true is not of great value
($2, 800 would have been nearer the mark)
but even this much is recognition of the
just claims of the honorable fraternity of
bachelors and spinisters by our law makers


This law owes its paternity to Senator
Anderson. He made gallant fight for it
in two sessions of the Legislature, and his
efforts were finally crowned with success
Bachelors and maidens will hold him in
grateful remembrance therefor.
Year: 1860

A DAY OF REsT-Mr Wilson announces
in another column, that hereafter his gro
Gerry store will not be open for business on
Sundays. Mr. W., as well as many other
traders through the country have become
weary of the system that requires a business
man to open his store every day of the week,
and gives him no relaxation whatever. As
lar as our information goes merchants and
traders were anxious for the passage Of a
Sunday law, so there might be a suspension
of business one day of tho week, and re-
lief from abor, but they were disappointed.


Mr.. Wilson now intends adopting a Sun
day law for himself. He is setting a good
example.
Year: 1860

SlNGuLAR.-1he bullet that struck and
killed DR.. Willes, at Michigan Bluff, on
Sunday evening, pursued an erratic course
upon its fatal Grand 1t struck the deceas-
ed in the centre of the breast, passed through
the membranes of and cnt the main artery of
the heart, and then took its course under
the right shoulder blade, and coming for
ward just under the skin lodged in his right
breast in front of the shoulder blade
Year: 1860

AT HoME.- Messrs. Beach and Mak;ns. of
the Assembly, are again among their con
stituents, and will receive that need of con
graduation due to Legislators who have con
scentiously performed the duties of their
station. An equal welcome will be extended
to Dir. Harville, who will return in few
days. These gentlemen are not carpet bag
Legislators" who have no occasion to return
to their constituents when their days of ser
vice are over but their homes and interests
are all here, and here they will continue
to abide. 1t is such men that Placer county
should always send to the Legislature.
Year: 1860

message is iudicous patriotic and conciliatnrv
document. In time Of great public excitement
and peril, like the present. the assertion Of doubt
iul authority by the federal executive wonld tend
to increase the dangerous irritation. Mr. Buchan-
an has, in this respect sisely kept on the safe
side.


From the Neao ForE; TimcS.l


The country has now the benefit of Mr. Buchan-
ans advice on the political crisis The Message is
out, and discusses the subject at length. The doc
ument will scarcely reward the anxiety which has
awaited its appearance There are many things in
ltwhIch are true, and some which are new; but its
true things are not new nor its new things true
1t Is probably the most elaborate effort MIR. Bu-
chanan has ever made to appear bold without
taking any risks, and firm without the necessity of
proving his frmness. 1t is possible that it may
tranqullze the country, but if so, the disturbance
OF the public peace is much less serious than has
generally been supposed
Year: 1860

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Among the propositions
privately discussed in reference to the present po-
litica troubles, is looking to the appointment
of delegation by the conservative members of
Congress for the saveholding States to proceed to
the South Carolina Convention with the view of
having conference, and making an appeal to that
State to pause in her present movement.


The suggestion is made in intelligent circles that
when the Special Committee on Mr. Boteler's reso-
luton shall have been announced the influential
and conservative men of each State communicate
with the member of the Committee therefrom,
thus contributing to the extent of their power to
some practicable mode for quieting the present
political excitement


Several schemes have already been discussed
one of them is to make an effort to concate at
least large majority of the savehodng and non
slaveholding States, whatever course the extreme
States NAV ,ursue
Year: 1860

Let us devoutly thank God that, for the ensuing
four years at least, the people of the United States
relieved from the annual visitation of a long
Presidential lecture wherein reason is insulted
humanity outraged, history travestied ana common
sense defed, in the interests of human slavery, and
for the interest of its upholders. Whatever evils
the future may have in store for us, this one, at
least, is for season intermitted, if not forever
putaway.


From the NelU York World
Despite the logical inconsistency between some of
its most important positions President Buchanan's
Year: 1860

neighborhood. The majority did not choose to
grow melons, therefore nobody should have
them. Even to have a select party at mar
riage, was considered ant-democratic, and when
called, the conservators of democratic equality
would even disturb the party and spoil the feast.
Sometimes they would steal the turkeys or
chickens out of the oven while the welded cere-
mony was going on, and kill the cat and dog
and put them in their places"


Now this is not liberty, but licentiousness
and deserves the gravest rebuke. 1t is, as Mr..
Barker says, democracy run mad and we agree
with him that persons who act in the manner
above stated, are disgrace to democracy. He
adds in conclusion:


81 claim the right to have my own tastes and
to consult them to have my own associates
and friends, and to prefer their society to that
of all the world to have my own parties, to
keep the door of my own house, and to protect
my own family; and when cannot have those
rights, have no desire to live. And consid-
er it my duty to oppose, to discountenance all
such rude interference with my rights wherever
] meet with it."


Mr.. Barker is himself thorough and uncom-
promising democrat, and is well known as an
English reformer; and we are sorry that his
Western experience should be so unfavorable.
1t should be remembered, however, that West
ern society is not yet settled, nor fully cultiva-
ted, and we have no doubt that all these dis
cordant and disagreeable elements will soon
fuse themselves into refined civilization.
Year: 1860

Joseph Baker who has lived some years in
Ohio, writes letter to the Investigator, in
which he complains of the tyranny of democra-
cy in the W est; and if a tenth part of what he
alleges be true, it is high time that our friends
out yonder should improve their manners and
practices. 1t by no means follows, because we
have the happiness to live in Republic, that
we should, therefore, be rude and unmannerly,
or that we should pique ourselves upon such
negative qualities in order to show our freedom,
and right to do as we please. And it is partic-
ularly offensive when this alleged fright" is ex-
ercised in such a manner that it interferes with
personal liberty and family arrangements. No
people can have any such right, and we have
never before heard it claimed by any but by
European and Asiatic despots. And yet ac-
cordng to Mr., Barker, it is rife in the West.


He says that sin some parts of Ohio people
consider it inconsistent with democracy for per-
sons to have select parties at their houses. They
contend that every man has right to go to any
party, and that to send out invitations to par
ticuar individuals, instead of giving general
invitation to all who may choose to come, is to
play the aristocrat; and it is considered neces-
sary to break up or prevent all such select gath
erings. 'Onc man is as good as another say
these ultra democrats, and all inyidious dis
tinctions must be put down. They carry mat
ters further even than this. A man is not con-
sidered to have any right to give his children
a better education than the children of his
neighbors. lie must send his children to the
common schools, and to the common schools
alone. To have teacher in his own house, is
aristocratic. Nay, more: young men are not
considered to have any right to have special ac-
quaintances or friends. They must be equally
free and friendly with all, and especially init
mate with none. Young men must not even
have particular tastes or habits of their own.
They must conform to the habits and tastes of
their neighbors. 1t is pride, it is anti-demo-
cratic to refuse to drink, smoke or chew tobacco,
or refuse to curse and swear, or to go to church,
or to decline to do anything that the majority
do. A farmer is not considered to have right
either to dress, or talk, or act in any way ex-
cept as the majority do. The majority must
rule in social and private matters as much as in
public and political matters. No man has
right t.. protect his fruit, or even to grow any
fruit which others do not grow 1t was the
CUSTOM when we lived in certain part of Ohio,
for people to destroy every melon patch in the
Year: 1860

"Burleigh," the racy New York correspon-
dent of the Boston Journal, tells the following
story of the u1isarta6ay of "betting on a sure
thing -


"a little incident occurred in New York a
short time ago that l will put in this place.
We have a noted gentleman in New York
whom will call 7. He is member of one of
the New York clubs Opposite to him was
another person who one evening sported an ell
egant diamond ring. 1t dazzled T. He wanted
it, but the owner seemed to care little to part
with it. Yielding at last to the importantly of
T., the ring was sold for the sum of $780,
1t passed to T., amid the titterings and sup
pressed mirth of the crowd which caught the
quick ear of 7. He knew that both the ring
and the purchaser were sold. I. said nothing.
The next day he called upon jeweler, where
he learned that the ring was paste, and worth
about S2j. He called for some real diamonds,
and among them found a ring not unlike the
ring of paste. I. made a bargain with the
jewelcr for the use of the real diamond, He
pledged 81 200, the price of the diamond. He
gave 800 for its use for a time He had
the paste removed from the setting, and the
real diamond put in its stead Thus armed, he
appeared among his associates at night -four
ished his ring, and seemed to be in very high
gee, to the astonishment of his chums, who be-
lieved he had been sold.


But the advantage was with 7. He talked
about fool and his money" &c.,-said if any
gentleman present had 81 200 ring that he
wished to sell for 5000, he knew where there
was purchaser to be found. Bets were freely
proposed that the diamond was not real They
were accepted. One man bet $1,000; so did
another and two bet $500 each and all were
taken by T. Umpires were chosen, the money
and the ring put in their hands, the test applied
and all said the stone was a diamond Of the
first water, and was not worth less than 81 200.
T. quietly put the $4,000 in his pocket and
went his way He carried the diamond back,
recalled his 81 200, paid for the stone, and with
the paste ring on his finger, went back to the
club at night. The man who had sold the ring
was at the club waiting. for he wanted to re-
gain the ring. He had sold it for fun, he
knew all the time that it was real diamond
he never had any false jewels-he could tell a
real diamond any time by its peculiar light
he would not do so mean thing as to cheat
his old friend land he knew that T. would
let him have his ring back. But T. was stud
born; said that the seller was cheat and now
that he saw the value of the ring wouldn't un-
do what he had done. AT length T. agreed to
restore the ring on the payment of $500, which
was joyfully paid. But the matter came out,
and all came to the conclusion that when "dia-
mond is to cut diamond" some one more plia-
BILE, and less sharp than T., will be selected for
the operation"