smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

A LITTLE RILL-A Welsh clergyman
asked a little girl for the text of his SER
mon. The child gave no answer, she on
ly wept. He ascertained that she had no
Bible in which to look for the text and
this led him to inquire whether her pa
rents and ncighbors had a Bible and this
led to that meeting in London, in 1904 of
a few devoted Christians, to devise means
to supply the poor in Wales with the BIZ
bic, the grand issue of which was the for
nation of the British and Foreign Bible
Society," society which has already dis
tribute more than 100000 copies of
the Bible, its issue now reaching nearly
100000 annually. And this in turn
led to the formation of the American Bi-
bic Society, and to the whole beautiful
cluster of sister institution throughout
the world; which are so many trees of
life, scattering the golden fruit of immor-
tality among all nations of the earth.
This mighty river, so deep, so broad so
far reaching in its many branches, we
may trace back to the little girl. Be
hold how great matter little fire
kindleth !"
Year: 1869

of nothing. The forest wall is not without
hope, it does not tell of perpetual death
Parents visit the churchyard where lie
their lost darlings. No voice comes from
the solitary mounds. All is dark without,
but within there is rational faith woven
with every emotion of the soul, a beliefin
a life beyond. Were it not for this, such
visits would seldom be made. The grave
yard would be place of torment-a hid
eous uncompromising gulf which had torn
away life's treasures, perpetual felony,
against which there is no redress. God
will not deceive us. This clinging to Chris
tian mysteries, these wistful glanccs in
voluntarily cast hcavenward, are phenom-
ena of natural impulse and instinct, that
we may not understand, but which are no
deception and are destined to meet with
no disappointment.


The weather here is at present
very charming. We have clear cloud
less days in long succession. The
nights are cool and beautiful. The
farmers grumble about the low price of
wheat. 1t is selling now for 20 cts. One
reason for it is the heavy charges for
transportation between here and Chicago.
Railroads in this section are accursed mo-
nopolies and not much else. They are
managed by a clique of sharp, selfish un-
scrupulous men who would cheerfully
ruin the country if they could make them
selves rich. These immense combinations
of railroad companies thereby preventing
competition and securing an entire mono-
poly of all the business to be done upon
them, are most disastrous to the prosperi-
ty of a young state. Our legislature
through bribery or greed, vote for and
sustain these monopolies, so that some
departments of legislation instead of be-
ing blessing are positive curse. l
must mention one anomaly in our politics
and | am DONE The Democrats OF this
state have organized temperance party
and nominated Methodist clergyman a
strong temperance man for Governor.
They advocate prohibition and extermina-
ton. Beautiful consistency of politics
The last candidate of the same party was
an anti temperance man and publicly
boasted of his great drinking capacity.
A minister of the gospel who will suffer
himself to be hoistcd into notice, by aparty
of political drunkards, all in the name Of
virtue where no virtue is, will safely pass
for a clerical ass, and is about as worthy
of being called a minister of Christ as a
state prison convict is an angel of light.
Farewell VI. D. l.. G.
Year: 1869

From present appearances it is probable
that Vermont will at no distant day Sup
ply sculptors with large proportion Of
the marble used for statuary purposes.
The supply of pure statuary in Italy is
short, especially for large blocks, and the
price is enormously hiph.
Year: 1869

THE name was enough to tempt one to
invest, so | bought "bicycle," and
anxiOusly smuggled it into the little coach
house, ready for an opportunity of trying
its PAGES.


Being such revolutionary method of
going over the ground one naturally felt
delicacy about appearing in public until
able to perform with grace and effect.
Here was difficulty; privacy was re-
quired, but not to be obtained. l had
learned skating upon ditch, riding in a
school, dancing in so many private lessons;
but velocipeding, how was it to be attainedS ?
A garden seventy feet by thirty, with
narrow gravel paths at right angles, was
certainly not adapted; and, besides, in
quisitive people could have looked over
the walls. One could not do it in room,
what was to be dones


had that horrible vehicle in bed with
me for nights There was complete re-
verse of circumstances it sat upon me,
nightmare fashion, instead of me riding
it; dreamed of it, and saw myself ig-
ANONYMOUSLY dragged off to the station
house for bowling my hoops upon the
pavement. l saw myself brought to ruin
by people thrusting walking sticks in my
spokes. l was laughed at shouted after !;
hunted by mob of boys, who would
catch me, paddle hard as would and
time after time sat up in bed in violent
state of perspiration, avOwing that l
would either burn or sell the thing which
threatened to be the bane of my exist
ence.


Weeks passed, and the bicycle had not
even been looked at without shudder,
when one bright, frosty night about eleven,
when taking my customary look out be-
fore retiring, the thought occurred to me,
why not try in the daTk?"


Why indeed? Five minutes after was
stealing down to the coach house, and try
ing to smuggle the thing out, but the
doors would creak horribly, and the wheels
grated upon the gravel. knew that an
other sound would bring people, right and
left, to their windows, anticipating doctors
or fire-engines; so, hugging my enemy in
my arms, 1 bore it to the ratings, lifted it
over, tearing my coat in the act, and then
followed it into the road.


We are to have gas our way, but at
present il is under consideration and
upon this dark, cold night, as stood be-
side my vehicle, looking in all directions
cautiously as burglar, suddenly a light
was thrown full upon me, and from be-
hind it grrf voice inquired


What's your little game?"


Game indeed it was no sport, but a
piece of serious earnest; and it was only
with difficulty that induced police consta
BILE John Dorhead to believe that this was
not an Internal machine, and that he
might turn off his bull's-eye and leave me
to my own devices.


The ground was dry and hsrd,-O, how
hard land lifting the incubus once more
made the best of my way beyond the
Year: 1869

THE trouble with the young people Of
our day is, that that they skim over a
great many things, but do not know any
thing positively. They catch at the sound
of words, as did the lad, who, when asked
if he had studied German, answered, 81
have not, but my cousin plays the Ger
man flute" They study miperalogy, bot
any, and OrnithOlogy, but how little do
they really know about the rocks, the
flowers, and the birds For this reas IN
they find but little pleasure in them.
When stranger comes to the place where
we live, we feel very little interest in him,
but after we are introduced to him, and
become fully acquainted with him, and
find him very agreeable, we wish to be In
his society as often as possible. Professor
Agassiz once placed grasshopper upon
lis lecture table before class OF young
men, and told them that this insect would
be the subject of their conversation for
the hour The class smiled at this, won
dering what new thing could be told of
of this familiar little skipping fellow,
jumping about their feet every summer.
But they found the hour to be only too
short, and wished for another, as the Pro-
fessor opened before them all the curious
and interesting facts about the grasshop-
per which his careful observation had re-
vealed to him.


We may have an active business, EN-
ploying us daily, and still find time, if we
are in earnest about it, to become &C.
uuainted with at least one Of the branches
of natural science. One of the most ac-
tive physicians in the Connecticut Valley
collected a cabinet of insects and birds
that was valued at $4,000 when he died
Year: 1869

and college considered itself very fortu-
nate in securing it, while the work of col
lecting it was the JOY of his life Another,
In the same Valley, became the most
thorough scholar in the fossil tracks made
in the sandstone formations of the vicin-
i;y. The writer well recollects the great
pleasure exhibited by an eminent medical
professor, who is also very busy and
brilliant writer, when shown large elm
tree; he whipped out his tape measure in
moment to learn its exact size. 1t proved
to be a giant in circumference All the
facts about it were noted in his diary. He
was acquainted with nearly every large
tree In his native State, and every thing
of interest connected with them. 1t was
delightful to hear him recount the Incl
dents which he had gathered about them.


We have often met a charming old
gentleman, who wore plain and neat
Quaker dress, and, until his lamented
death, was interested in the charitable in
stituti0ns of the State in which he lived.
He made a large fortune by economy and
diligence. Wherever he went he carried
with him convenient little flower case,
ard whenever his quick eye fell upon
new blossom, or even al old one if at
tractive, he gathered it as great prize. He
knew each flower by its own name, had
learned all its habits, and seemed almost
to hold conversation with it.


What pleasure to recognize every diff
ferent bird by its form and note, to call
them all by their appropriate names, and
to know all their wonderful instincts
shown in making their nests, gathering
their food, and caring for their young!
Choose one of these branches-the rOcgs,
the flowers, the trees, the insects and fish
es, or the birds, and then from books,
from conversation with those who have
information, and, above all, from careful
observation, learn all about them and thus
an inexhaustible source of enjoyment will
be discovered ed.-American AgricuLturiSt.
Year: 1869

A MANS clothes may be made to last
double their time by careful repairing.
When coat, vest or trousers look wrinkled,
and out of proper shape elbows and
shoulders and knees, of black or blue
cloth, threadbare and whitish; buttons off,
loose or bursting their coverings button
holes stretched or broken; sleeve Innings
out at the cuff, or worn away from the
arm-size, and seams and edges frayed-a
bad case, with such complication of dis
orders but, nevertheless, such as is met
with in the best of families-you must
give it a good days work. Brush it
thoroughly, in the first place. Put on but
tons where needed, and strengthen those
that remain, in the next Pare delicately
the edge of worn buttOn-holes, pick out
all the stitches, ana make them as if new.
Put in new sleeve Innings, or mend with
new around the arm size. Make every
thing firm, and strong, and neat about the
pockets. Line all thin places; knees and
elbows with pieces wide enough to be at


tached to each seam and cross stitch the
other two ends to the main cloth by needle
and silk so fine that no print of the stitches
shall be seen on the outside. If elbows
and knees are stretched into a swelling
shape, after all sewing is done lay damp
cloth upon them, fold them up, and let
them remain thus an hour Then lay
them on table; smooth them with the
palm of the hand pull them gently, all
ways Continue this till the swelling is
reduced-elbows and knees straight and
fiat Then press the garments on the
wrong side, finishing those places first.


If black article of clothing gets rusty,
dilute little ink with warm water, and
sponge it we'll with this,-for seams and
edges use pen; button holes often need
this treatment. If the shoulders look
quite grey take the ink undiluted, and be
sure to rub it in well. Then press it, For
blue proceed in the same way, using blue
ink. Cashmerette and alpaca, when faded,
are much improved by this process Vest
ern Rural
Year: 1869

ALEXANDER HAMILTON once said to an
intimate friend:


Men give me some credit for genius.
All the genius have lies just in this !:
When have a subject, study it pro-
foundly. Day and night it is before me.
| explore it in all its bearings. My mind
becomes pervaded with it. Then the eff
fort which | make the people are pleased
to call the fruit of genius. 1t is the fruit
of labor and thought"


MIR. Webster once replied to gentle
man who pressed him to speak on sub
ject of great importance:


The subject interests me deeply, but l
have not time. There, sir" pointing to a
huge pile of letters On the table, lis pile
Of unanswered letters to which | must re-
ply before the close of this session (Which
was then three days Off. l have no time
to answer the subject so as to do it JUS
tice."


"But, Mr. Webster, few words from
you would do much to awaken public at
tention to it."


If there is so much weight in my
words as you represent, it is because do
not allow myself to speak on any subject
until my mind is imbued with IT,"
Year: 1869

THE following account of an occurrence
In Nantucket some twenty years since
pres. nts vivid contrast to certain bust.
ness transactions of the present day, and
so may be of interest: It was a severe
winter, and the harbor had been frozen
over for weeks. The coal in store had
long been exhausted, and there was much
suffering from lack of fuel. Even the
fences had been torn down and burnt to
exc out the scanty supply of wood: To
the great delight of the tOwnspeople the
ice broke up one fine morning, and a
schooner laden with coal was seen ap-
preaching. There was much excitement,
Year: 1869

OvEE and over sgain,


No matter which way turn.
| always find in the Book of Life


SOM lesson have 70 learn.
Imust take my turn ar the mill,


must grind out the golden grain:
must work AZ my task with a resolute will
Over and over again.
WecannOt measure the need


OF even the tiniest flower,
Nor check the flow of the golden sands
That run through single hour.
But the morning dews must fall,


And the sun and the summer rain
Must do their part. and perform 1t all
over and over again.
Over and over again


The brook through the meadow flows,
And over and over again


The pOlderOus mill-wheel goes.
Once doing will not suffice.


Though doing be not in vain:
And a blessing, failing us once or twice,
May come, if We try again.
The path " at has once hcen trod
Is never 81 rough to the feet;
And the lesson we once have learned
Is never so hard to repeat.
Though sorrowful tears may fall,


And the heart 70 its depths he driven
With storm and tempest. we need them all
To render Us meet for Heaven.
Year: 1869

THERE are many cases on record of
men of professional experience losing their
nerve when most needed. One case was
that of an architect, thoroughly used to
walk about on all parts of houses in
course of construction, who once, when
walking along plank which joined two
walls at great height from the ground,
felt a sudden sense Of danger, upon which
his senses left him, and only returned
after some seconds, when he awOke, SO TO
speak, in the arms of one of the mason,
who had most fortunately seen his state
in time to carry him across the plank at
the risk of his own life.


A more curious case requires a little
previous explanation. Some years ago
the paintings on the inside of the dome
of st. PauPs, London, wanted repair. II
was contriyed, in order to save trouble
aud expense, that suspended scaftold
should be made, supported by ledge half
yard wide, and hanging by ropes through
holes in the dome. An experienced ships
carpenter undertook the job, and began
the job by stepping out of small door
at the foot of the dome on the
ledge in question, from which there
was clear fall of 200 feet to the pave
ment. He walked a few steps, and then
found that the inward curve of the dome
made him unable to stand upright, and
caused him to lean over dangerously, with
an altered and unsteady centre OF gravity.
Seized all at once with an overpowering
sense of fear, he managed, nevertheless,
to turn his face to the dome and to rest,
being once more able to stand upright, till
he had recovered his senses. Then, to his
horror, he found that he had forgotten on
which side of him the door was, or how
far off it was, aud in trying to get to it by
short sidelong steps, took the wrong di-
rection, and literally walked in search of
it round the whole base of the dome, fall
ing into the door at last utterly prostrated,
and feeling, as he said, "ten years older"
However, he made the scsffold afterward,
and used to tell the story of his fright,
while walking about on the ledge, in the
most uncOncernpd waV
Year: 1869

A taste for good reading has long been OBJ
served as one of the most efectual safeguards to
young men against vice and crime. In the first
place it serves 10 give employment in those
hours of leisure and freedom from work which
would be likely otherwise to be worse than
wasted. To the young man who has no taste for
reading the evening hours become loaded with
temptation. 1t is tiresome to sit moping by the
stove, and he naturally drifts to the tavern, the
saloon or the billiard and card table. There he
finds others like himself, with vacant hours to
vile away, and thus grow upon those habits and
associations which soon eventuate in dissipation
or lead to crime. We doubt if one instance in a
thousand can be found of young man. making
shpwreck of hopes and character who was ac-
customed to spend his evenings at home reading
good books and say to any parent that
well-stocked library and an abundant supply Of
newspapers and magazines, with the habit Of
reading on the part of your boy, is worth more
to keep him out of mischief, and to make man
of him, than any other single influence at your
command Again, the habit Of reading confcrs
positive strength and elevation of character.
The well-read man is usually the well-informed
man. Reading is the great stimulus of thinking.
The instances are of great writer and
thinker who was not himself great reader.
There is no stimulus of the mind so powerful as
communion with other minds The mass OF
young men, especially of the working, mechanic
and trading classes, need this mental excitement
to preserve a symmetry and equipoise of charac-
ter The farmer is in danger of having his
thoughts fall too much into the routine of his
daily life. A good book newspaper expands
them, sets them to work upon other topics, a1d
gives them a wider scope. The mechanic, after
mastering the details of his business and perfect
ing himself in it, ought to leave his trade with
his tools when he goes home at night, and in
good reading find wider cultivation of his
hola Tho rod ho IIor- I'D
to run constantly upon his business soon be-
comes narrow, one sided man. He, too, needs
to get out of his rut and give his thoughts a
wider range. To all of these the book, the maga-
zine and the newspaper is a necessty.-Law-
renee Weekly Republican.
Year: 1869

chose that way. 1t is much ntersected with
small white gates, which mark the boundaries of
the fields, and one of these puzzled me good
deal. The day was hot and my horse was fdp-
ety. so that knew better than to get off and risk
not getting on again but could not undo the
spring bolt any how. While was wheeling and
reaching, and changing from red TO white
" botheration " to q confound the thing !'
was startled by rather shrillsh voice from the
other side of the gate, and up came lady on
snowy bay at hard gallop, With 'tBy your
leave, sir, for a moment "-and the snowy bay
and feminine dashed over the fve-barred gate to-
getherylke a monstrous bird-just shaving my
head, ,.s should think, by about a quarter of an
bay; and, thirdly, huge mastif dog (who made
a snap at ME in the air) and in moment was
left alone in cloud of dust.


took the remainder of my ride in peace and
having accomplished my object, returned to
Barnley. My appetite was of that nicely that
FIVE minutes either way would have deteriorated
it materially but well knew that Mrs. Soft
heart punctual to the instant. AS trod
her well-known staircase l felt as confident Of
all things being well, as human being feel.
The odor of the stuffing seemed to salute my
nostrils, | had decided on wing and slice of
the breast. Alas the cloth not even laid
upon the dining table, bnt there little
folded note addressed to me instead:


Dear Friend: Adeu forever. By the time you read
this shall be far away 1t like fatality but while


have life will resist it, L. is in the house, L. and her
moher-and the abomnable-"


A low growl here arrested my attention The
mastilf dog was at the door who had snapped at
me in the afternoon without effect. He said as
plainly as he could speak that he was determined
to make up for his disappointment on the present
occasion. / was resolving to sell my life dearly,
when the rather shrillish voice again came up
the stairs and in at the window, and down the
chimney, as it seemed to me, at once, ' Tow,
Tow, Tow, Tow Good little dog! Come to
Lulu r. The creature obeyed. suppose there was
some other dinner awaiting him below, and
stole away in safety.


Never again did l visit that snug parlor.
Never again Peony Flush beheld by the
Barnley eye. 1 recognized him, think, how
ever, in the naval intelligence column of the
Times newspaper, as the Rev. P. Flush, appoin-
ted chaplain to the ship Virgo, bound for Hong
Kong where mastif pups fricasseed and
stewed and baked in pies before they attain ma
turity London World at Home.
Year: 1869

LAZY BoYs.-.An exchange says; lazy boy
makes @ lazy man as sure as crooked sapling


"i.e. crooked tree. Who ever saw boy
nrow No in idIeness that did not make shiftless
yapabond when he became man, unless he had
a fortune to keep up appearances? The great
mass of thieves, criminals and paupers have
come to what they by being brought up in
idIeness. Those who constitute the business
part of the community-tbo who make great
and useful men-were taught in their boyhood
to be Industrious. Boy, take that pipe out Of
your mouth and think of this.
Year: 1869

TIE Malestrom of our childhood's biographies
is a myth. late report on the Norwegian
fisheries says that it " is so little thought Of by
the inhabitants that they pass and repass it in
their sail vessels at all states of the tide except
at certain times in the winter season and far
from drawing in whales and other things that
come within its range, it appears to be the fa-
vorite resort of the FISH of the country, and the
fishermen reap rich piscatorial harvest rom
its bosom. The greatest rate of the tide in vim
ter does not exceed six miles an hour"
Year: 1869

THE NEW BANK STATEMENT LAW
The act authorizing the Comptroller of
the Currency TO require from the banks
not less than five statements per annum
it is now known received the signature
of President Johnson, but there is some
doubt whether this will supersede the
necessity of a statement on the first OF
April next. Those supposed to be the
best informed on the subject favor the
conclusion that it will. Positive infor-
nation should be made public as soon
as possible. This bill is an important
one, as henceforth quarter-day will be
no longer source OF grave periodical
disturbance and embarrassment of the
business interests of the country. 1t
will preclude all manipulations of the
money market in the interest of the
banks desirOus of making strong e1-
hibit. 1t will also prevent all 'cook-
poses, and will protect the hnan-
cial and commercial public from
the hardships Of sudden contrac-
ton, such as is now felt and
as has been the usual preliminary to
former quarter-day returns, made up to
days in the future which were known
and prepared for months in advance.
AS both the public and bank managers
have been dissatisfied with the work
inHs of the old law we presume all will
be glad to learn that it has been abro-
gated by the passage of a new law on
the subject which seems likely to ac-
complish fully the end desired, while
doing away with the Objectionable fea-
lures of the old law. The new act re-
qulres not less than five detailed re-
ports of the condition of the various
banks at the close of business on any
past day to be specified by the Comp
troller of the Currrncy. Whether, how
ever, the new order of things will be
any more acceptable to the banks than
the old will perhaps depend more on
doing their business than upon the
simple merit of the law itself.