smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1865

The following from the Richmond Examiner,
shows new plague in commercial transac-
tions at the South


q This is another innovation that the times
have brought upon us; another symptom OF
the breaking down of the barriers that, until
this war, kept the negro in his proper sphere.
Now, ladies and gentlemen at auctions are
forced to bid in competition with swarthy
negroes, who mouopolize the most eligible
positions and claim the nod of the auctioneer
Not an auction is held but the negro element
is largely developed and some dusky Mrs.
Toodles' is always around enjoying her first
pick and putting her label on the goods of her
choice. Auctioneers would consult their in
terests and the convenience and comfort of the
citizens that attend upon their sales, if they
would adopt a stringent rule excluding negroes
from their auctions. It is rarely that they
attend to buy it is only the innate curiosity
Of the negro that prompts him TO attend and
bid, and put himself or herself in the way OF
white citizens who really desire to make bona
fde bids aud purchases. Again, this promis-
cuous selling to slaves without the permission OF
their owner, is violation of a city ordinance,
and every auctioneer so violating the law is
liable to the penalty provided We hope the
police will see that the law in this respect is
enforced.
Year: 1865

o the weary, solemn silence
OF house without the children,
o the strange oppre ssive stiffness


Where the children come no more
All the longing Of the sleepless
For the soft arms OF the children,
All the longing for the faces


Peeping through the open door
Faces gone for evermore
Strange 1t is to wake at midnight
And net hear the ehildr en- breathing,
Nothing but the old clock ticking,


Ticking, ticking by the door.
Strange to see the little dresses
Hanging up there all the morning;
And the gaiters-ahi their patter,


We will hear it never more


on our rth-iorsaken floor
What is home without the children
'Tis the earth without its verdure,
And the sky without the sunshine;


Life is wit hered to the core
so we'll leave this dreary desert,
And We'll follow the Coed Shepherd
To the greener past ures Yernal,


Where the lambs have gone before
With the Shepherd evermOre
o the weary, solemn silence
OF a house without the children,
o the strange oppressive stiffness


Where the children come no more!
Ali the longing OF the sleepless
For the soft arms of the children,
Ahl the longing for the faces


Peeping through the open door
Faces gone for evermore!
Year: 1865

may seize the human fran while witnessing this
Mere Infant in so dangerous task, yet 1T is safely
accompli shed nightly, and the Proprietor OF the
Canterbury. in behalf Of the boy, assures the pup


pieces from falling off the wire, and this wonder
full boy possesses remarkable strength OF nerve
formed this dan gerous undertaking so frequently y
that, by his cool. calm, and collected manner in
ant and trembling feelings from the audience for
the safety of the little fellow, and for an act in
their neck, yet, as Nino Eddie himself remarks.
he never thinks of falling. The papers are all
loud in hi praise He will remaiR for Six Nj ghts
Only, receiving for his several performances over
Year: 1865

Gblet to those who have Ignored all considerations
of constitutional duty in their eagerness to slave
ry abolished in whatever Wayor byWhateyer means
but clear ond consistent when viewed IN connection
with the political condition under which every
President Of the United States exercises power
has now reached its elimination,


We have lately heard
of abolition in Maryland, Tennessee, and Missouri
but in each of those casesi il was accomplished by
State action Now, however, the time has come
for the nation to deal In its collective and sovereign
capacity with the monster evil And yet even IN
this the highest and most important exercise OF
the national sovereignty Congress must proceed
| according TO the prescriptions ofthe law. In En-
gland, where we attribute omnipotence to Parlia-
ment, this subiection of President, Senate and
House of Representatives to written documents
seems strangely obstructive and peaantic; but tits
nevertheless the American way. II Congress were
to ordcr the abolition of slavery by mere majori-
ty of votes, and the President were to endorse its
action, the Supreme Court of the United States
which is the appointed gnardianof the constitution
would declare the act null and void. The federal
constitution must be amended before Congress can
deal with slavery in the way of abolition, and this
| is what has just been done.


The war has destroyed the unholy ties which
bound the North to slavery, and given it a direct
interest in the extinction Of that parent inquity
A noble band of patriotic men who, with indomi-
table courage had kept alive the sentiment of free
dom and justice in the darkest days, were able to
give direction to the feelings Of their countrymen
at the beginning of the war, and obtained increas
ing influence over public opinion as events justIi-
ed their denuncations of slavery as the source OF
their country woes Their battle asbeen fought
and they have their reward in seeing the United
States for the first time, land of freedom. Nor
is it only at the North that they have triumphed
More than million of slaves have already been
set free, and the South has been brought to con
dition in which it must either emancipate Its
slaves in the hope Of establishing independence
by their aid, or return to Union, of which free
dom is now the Universal and irrevocable law. 1t
is great thing to have lived to see this day
Year: 1865

To YouNG MEN.-Remember that hasty rush
into manhood lessons the vital power of being, and
letracts from the strength and energy which at
tend gradual but natural development. Those
creatures-bucs ants, yerniin-that are born in
the morning and become mature at noon, are aged
in the evening and die before the morrow The
Young men who would fain do their part in build
ing ap society, and giving solid and enduring
strength to their country, must distrust their own
abilities. must cultivate modesty and difidence,
must learn betimes to put the rein upon them
selves in every respect of their nature must be
willing patiently to postpone the period OF respon
sibility must husband their powers, in the early
period Of life, to give strength to maturity and to
preseryevigor and old age.
Year: 1865




At present there is soldier at the Chestnut Hill
Military Hospital who has not slept for single
moment for fourteen years and six months This
may seem incredulous, but nevertheless it is true,
and can be verified by numbers of persons The
individual is an intelligent man. naturally, and has
the benefit Of moderate education His name is
c. D. Saunders, Orderly Sergeant of Company g.,
18th Virginia Volunteers. He entered the service
of the United States on December %, 1868. He is
in the forty-ffth year of his age. His health has
been generally excellent during his life In lS49 he
was attacked with cholera, and since that period
with lung fever on two occasions. In the summer
of 1850 sleep forsook him. and since that time he
has never felt the least drowsy He has always led
temperate life. His wife and children reside in
Putnam county West Virginia. Since he entered
the Union army he has been on seven raids and in
four charges, during which time he informs that
he never felt tired or sleepy He was in the four
charges made beyond Harper's Ferry, Virginia, on
the 18th, 29th and both of last August, and yet he
did not feel the least sleepy Why it is that he can
not or does not sleep, is as much mystery to him
as it is to many scientific gentlemen, who, having
had their attention called to him. have been astoun
ded in their attempts to investigate the cause.


Upon one occasion, at his request, number of
curously inclined gentlemen watched him for forty
two days and nights consecutvely, in order, if pos
sible, to arrive at the cause.of the wonderful phe
nomenon. These gentlemen took turns with each
other in the progress of watching, so that if he
should chance to sleep it would be observed Some
of the watchers became drowsy, and it was much
as he coulddo to awaken them.


This singular man was sent to Philadelphia by
order of the field surgeon. He was admitted into
the Hospital at Chestnut Hill on the 18th of fNovem
ber last, suffering from chronic diarrhna and rheu
matism He has nearly recovered from his phys
cal disability his appetite good but yet he does
not sleep He retires TO bed, the same as other
soldiers, but he cannot sleep. He simply receives
physical rest This brief narrative Of most Won
derful phenomenon may seem fabulous, but the
reader is assured that it is the truth.Phila Press


AMERIcANIsMs.-Th word creek meaning small
river, dipper meaning lade, pail and pitcher are
all Americanisms In England they say "a bucket
of water not "a pail Of water y they make use Of
"a Jug Of water.n or "a decanter of water. ~
Throughout Europe except among the lowest
classes, water is brought on the table in decan-
tiers. They are regarded as not so liable to admit
dust as Jugs or pitchers, and as possessing the ad
vantage of enabling person to see whether the wa
ter in them is clean. Though not altogether apro-
DOS, let us here state that an Engshman never says
sssVhat time is it but always employs the query
J 'sWhat o clock is it2'
Year: 1865

A Nevada paper describes curious scene
in a theatre in Virginia City, in February,
where the performance of two actresses were
SO well liked that the audience ratified down
upon the stage shower of gold and silver
pieces. TIE actresses picked up one hundred
aud forty-seven dollars from the boards. Ev-
en- male performers were not slighted. They
picked up halves and quarters to the amount
of from three TO five dollars each, to say moth
ing of jack knives, pocket-combs, and tooth,
picks. The young ladies were so often forced
to return 10 gather the silver showers, that
they appeared several times on the point OF
giving it up. -


One OF them, having finished gathering a
bouDtilul harvest OF halves, was making has
ty retreat from the stage, when there sudden
ly fell from her such a glittering and over
whellning shower of silver that in despair she
sat down and covered her face with her hands.
The pocket of another gave out and torrent
of silver rolled about the floor in every d.
rection. All this was OF course fun for the
audience, although the young ladies found ii
quite as profitable as iunny.
Year: 1865

Says Rev. Henry w. Beecher:-


"There are thousands who understand and
obey the Injunction of the Apostle, when he
says, Quit you like men, be strong tell
you they are heroes; and angels know 1t, ii
you do not And angels know what to write
down. When you laid the foundation OF that
big house, they forgot to record that in heaven.
And when the walls went up, and the beauti
full apartments were finished, and the whole
magnificent structure was completed, Of the
architecture OF which you were SO proud, as
sure as you live, they forgot to put that down.
And when you unrolled your rich carpet, and
hung your fine picture, they forgot to make
note of that. But when man went down
out Of his splendid mansion to a fourth class
house, in an obscure street, shedding, 1t may
he, some tears, as a tribute of nature, and
gathered his little flock on the first evening
around the fire, and made the room bright
with love and faith and prayer, You may be
certain that they put that down. They re-
memher that. And when that man went on
from day to day, and week to week, there was
not one noble heartbeat, there was not one
generous purpose of fidelity, there was not
one thing that made him man in his trouble,
that God did not see, and that angels did not
behold, and that by and by will not be sung in
glory in heaven"
Year: 1865

SELF EDUcArIoN.--We have two educations,
one which we receive from Others, the other and
the most valuable we give ourselves. 1t is the
last which gives our grade in society, and event.
ually our actual value in this life, and perhaps
the true eclor of our fate hereafter, All the pro-
iessors and teachers in the world cannot make
us wise without our own cooperation; and, if
such we are determined to be, the want Of them
will not prevent it.
Year: 1865

City POINT, Va, Jan l6. 1861


EDITOR FREEMAN: You will see by the above
place of dating my letter, that have changed my
location once more. The scenes in a soldiers life
are continually shifting, sometimes for better aud
sometimes for worse, and We soldiers get to be
as little where We go, as horse cares where his
driver may see fit to drive him. And we have
Just as little voice in the matter as horse has
Ore day a soldier may be in bis tent comfortable,
con,ented, and happy, and the next day on
march with but few Of the worlds comforts and
but little cause of ccntentment except what he
fuds within himself. soldiers time an ! SER
vices are not his own, they belong to the Govern
ment which he has sworn to defend, and it is his
duty to be ever ready and obey with alccrly
whatever tho Government calls upon him to DO.
Sometimes streak Of good luck will turn up to
soldier whether he deserves it or not, and some
times they won't turn up though he may deserve
it ever so well. 1t would be easy to mention a
great mluy good boys in the ranks who have been
doing duty At the front since the war began, but
TO whom no so!t detail has ever been given, or
any particular 6vor3 shown. 10 have followed
the regiment through thick and thin from the
record, but your humble servant comes long
ways from possessing il. Just now, in the shifting
panorama he fads himself doing guard duty at
the hospital, where be may be seen watching over
the property here with paternsl socitude, two
hours out oi every six, day and night.


A week ago last Saturday, 2l men were de
tailed from the front out OF the Sixth Corps, for
gulrd here, and about twice as many more Of
musicians for light fatigue duty. Seven men for
guard we're detailed from each division, and of
the seven details from our division, one Of them
wa, kindly given to me. Without five minutes
notice We packed up end went TO Corps head
quarters, where we tound those from the other
divisions awaiting us, and at night under the
charge OF Lieut.. Percy b. Smith, of the 9th
! Wisconsin, we took the train for City Point. We
were soon on the ground and without so much
as finger scratch for an excuse, we find our
selves at the hospital, and enjoying the full rank.
title and privileges Of " hospital hummer" Our
duty here will be light, or at least it will be reg
uar We shall have good comfortable quarters,
good beds to sleep on, and be accessible to Il
great many other good things that are rarely
known at the front. There will be no marching,
fighting OF picketing to 90, and so long as the
countrys good shall excuse US from these we
shall not have the remotest disposition to com
plain. Usually for such work convalescents from
the hospital are detailed as soon as they are able
to perform the duties required, but this system
Of detailing seems to have been generally attend
ed with yexitious difficulties, and not at all sltis


factory, so they have resorted to the method o
detailing able bodied men from the front Com
Year: 1865

We arc ALMOST inclined to think that every
person, and especially young persons, shoald
be encouraged and expected to dress themselves
with some degree Of fresh care during the
after part Of each day II may cost little
,t certainly should not be allowed to cost
u,uoh) but i. will be apt to increase persons
set.respec,, and that comfortable feeling OF
bel1e allied and equal to the better part OF
the social world which il so desirable for all.
and especially for the young. Not long since,
ady whose ideas we're thought by many to
be above her circumstances, would insist on
all Der children dressing Tor the afternoon
neatly, though plainly, but never remaining
IN their morning attire. To wash, to arrange
the hair, and to be always dressed for the
afternoon, not for company, but for home life,
beclme 3 habit cf all the young people OF
that house from childhood, not without some
remarks from loss painstaking neighbors AT
last ono Of the children, bright but rather
sef-willed girl, remarked, " think We oil
f,el 10 much more inclined to be orderly and
good when We are dressed for the afternoon"
This remark. made casually to the mother.
was. she said, an abundant reward for all the
extra trouble aud care Of the arrangement.


It is not expensive but rather economical


han otherwise, to pay this sort Of attention
to dress. A little extra washing, which 1t
may cost is nothing to what is saved by the
habitual careuuess not to soil ones clothes
The sIoVen is the most extravagant, generally
speaking. Of any one 10 dress So also tho
time that il may take is nothing compared to
the habit Of order, OF system, and Of having
a time for everything. 1t promotes self.respecs
and pleasant, social feelings. The mar,
woman or child who feels habitually worse
dressed than near neghbors will be apt to
shrink from society, and behave awkardly and
strangely 10 It. This will make others shriok
from them, aud produce sort Of warfare aud
antagoDism most undesirable, and sure to
check the flow Of those benevolent and social
feelings which are the source Of tho purest
and best earthly joys, aud much of all our
usefulness. For oil this person must have
no thought or care or pride Of wherewithal
they arc clothed while in company.


There are souc would.be philosophers who
cannot zee the reasonabeness OF all this. Let
th.m watch the ef3ct which the Sunday at.
tire has, especially upon the working portion
of society, when parents and children all have
time and do dress for the Sabbath school, the
church, or the quiet walk or the family fire.
side. Does not all this produce greater mu.
tual respect among the members of the same
family, among ueghbors and friends, greater
seli.respect in nearly ALL and quiet content.
ment and enjoyment Of existence, most Of all
things conducive to order and Improvement
Let those families who neglect all such habits
be observed, and they will almost uniformly
be found disordery and wastetul of far more
than all the cost of attending to such matters.
Philadelphia Ledger.
Year: 1865

A Harry WoMAN.-What spectacle more
pleasing does the world afford than happy wo-
man contented in her sphere, ready at all times
to benefit her little world by her exertions, and
Transforming the brars and thorus Of liie into
roses Of Paradise BY the magic of her tonchl
There are those who are thus happy because they
cannot help it-no misfortunes dampen their


swec, smiies, and they diffuse cheerful glow


around them as they pursue the even tenor Of


their way They have the secret OF content


ment, whose value is above the philosophers
, stone; Tor without seeking the baser exchange
Of gold, which may buy some sort OF pleasure.
they convert everything they touch INTO JOY.


What their condition Is makes no difference.
They may be rich or poor, high or low, admired
, or orsaken by the tickle world ; bu. the spark


ling fountain of happiness bubbles up in their


hearts and makes them radantly beautiful.
Though they live in log cabin, they make II
shine with lustre which kings and queens
nigh. coyet, and they make wealth a fountain
OF blessings to the children ofpoverty. Happy
women are the brightest type of humanity, and
we cannot say how much we owe to them for
the progress of the race. Would there we're
enough TO 20 round.
Year: 1865

From this it will appear, that New Castle County
has nearly as many free citizens both the other
counties combined, and that the population of Sussex
County is largely in excess of Kent But it is we'll
known that the several counties have each ten repre-
sentatives in the General Assembly Ii the number of
representatives from Kent County be taken rs basis
the number from the other counties ought to be ncreas
ed in due proportion This measure is of such ap-
parent justice, that every unprejudiced mind will at
once recognize it. The General Assembly can and
ought to take the necessary steps to adjust the pro
Year: 1865

FRozEN.-A man, whose name we could
not learn, started, last week, to go on foot
from Uniontown to the Eagle Creek mines,
become exhausted, laid down in the snow
and was so badly frozen that he had to have
leg and arm amputated. He was picked
up, almost dead, by some one who happened
to be passing along the road, and carried in
to Uniontown, where the amputation was
performed
Year: 1865

An Eastern correspondent writes l was in
the room when Mr.. Lincoln was told that Nc
Clellan had been nominated by the Chicago
Convention. He tied his legs up in a knot,
twisted his arms two or three times around the
back Of his chair, and said? He is nominated
is he? Mcclellan always reminds me of a young
man l knew in Athens, Illinois, who had a roos-
ter he was very proud Of One day he got a
chance to fight his rooster, and he thought he
would go in and win, sure. The rooster no
sooner saw the pit than he turned tail and ran
away. The young man was nightly yexed.-
He took his rooster home, and no sooner had he
reached there, than the rooster stood up as
brave as you please erected his comb, and
crowed like anything. The young man looks
down on him and says: eyes, you're hi of
a fellow on parade, but your not worth d-n
in action.
Year: 1865

COUNTY CONvENTIoN.-A call, by the
Democratic Central County Committee, for
precinct meetings and a county convention
will be found in another column of this pa
per. The basis of representation will be the
same as last year We understand it is
proposed to adjourn the same convention
until a suitable time to make nominations
for county officers.
Year: 1865

HIGH WATER-High waters may be ex-
pected throughout the upper country this
Spring Those who probably know say that
there is a greater depth ofsnow in the noun
tains now than there was in the winter Of
'6l-2. Owing to the lateness of the spring,
this snow is likely to all go off suddenly, in
which case a general overflow Of the valleys
and bottoms along the rivers may be ex
pected. Those living in such localities will
do well to prepare for the coming waters.
Year: 1865

TuE LABOR QuEsTroN-E,sY SETTLEMENT
If every man in the United States lwould
pay fair days wages for fair days labor,
all the difficulties growing out of the war
and the efforts for the reorganizat on of the
lately rebellious states would vanish in
month. Every discontented laboring man
in the South would go quietly TO his tasks,
popular disturbances would cease, and plel-
ty and abundance would reign once more
throughout the land. The question of the
wages of labor lies at the very foundation
of American society and American politiosi
and until 1t is everywhere adjusted on fair
and equitable basis-so much money for SO
much toil--we may in vain hope for per-
feet peace. We call the attention Of all
Northern mechanics and laboring men TO
the fact, that the effort of GLASS of peuple
TO compel other people to work for them
for little or nothing, is the cause of all tho
disturbances that we have to ar.-Chris'
idR Register.