smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

was to hurl to the ground the Colossus
whose arm smote and governed the
whole continent Of Europe with scep-
tire Of iron. One day letter was bro't
to him, containing the usual Signs and
passwords of the society, and required
him to repair on the following night to
a secluded spot in a forest, where he
would meet seme of his associates. He
went, but he found nobody. The orders
were repeated four times, the officer
sought the appointed place, With no bet
ter success than at first. On the fifth
night of his appearance at the rendez-
vous, after waiting some time, he was
on the point of returning, when loud
cries suddenly arrested his attention.


Drawing his sword, he fastened to
the spot whence they seemed to proceed,
and was fired upon by three men, who,
on seeing that he remained unwounded,
instantly took to fight-but at his feet
lay bleeding corse, in which, by the
feeble light of the moon, he in vain
sought for tokens Of returning anima-
ton. He was yet bending over the
dead man. when a detachment of chas-
seurs, summoned apparently by the
noise of the pistols that had been dis
charged by himself, came up suddenly
and arrested him as the assassin. He
was loaded with chains, tried the next
day, and condemned to die for his sup
posed crime. His execution was ordered
to take place at midnight. Surrounded
by the ministers of justice, he was led,
at slow pace, by the light of torches,
and the funeral tolling of bells. to vast
square, in the centre Of which was a
scafold, environed by horsemen; beyond
these were numerous group Of specta-
tors, who muttered impatiently, and at
intervals sent forth cry of adherence.
The victim mounted the scaffold; and
his sentence was read, and the last act
Of the tragedy was on the point Of full
fllment, when an officer let fall word
Of hope. An edict had just been pro-
mul gated by the government offering
pardon and life to any condemned Grim
inal who should disclose the members
and secret tokens Of a particular asso-
citation, the existence of which the
Frenchman to whom these words were
addressed had lately become aware Of,
and of which he had become member.
He was questioned, but he denied all
knowledge; they urged him to confess,
with promises of additional reward-his
only reply was demand for immediate
death-and his initiation was completed
All that passed was terrible trial OF
fidelity; those who surrounded him were
members of the society, and every Incl
dent that has been described, from the
summons to the last moment Of expect
ed death, was only a step in the progress
of the fearful experiment by which they
sought to determine the trustworthiness
Of the neophyte.
Year: 1864

A good story is told Of Washington
countryman, who on his way to Gin
cinnati became somewhat elevated by
sundry drinks, but, as good luck would
have it, found boat at the wharf, and
was quickly on his way.


Soon after leaving the wharf, a man
came round after the fare. Horratl
handed out five dollar bill, and re-
ceiYed four dollars and ninety y-fye cents
in change. He rammed it into his
poeket-book with great earnestness, sup
posing the clerk had made mistake.
That done he leaned back into his chair
Year: 1864

.


The Cairo correspondent of the ST
Louis Republican tells this story:


cat one point on the Tennessee river
is place that has become terror to
steamboat men and in passing it they
always find some place to secure them
selves until the boat passes. At this
point an old man sixty years of age has
made his headquarters for a long
time and the peculiar crack of his gun,
is familiar to river men, and sends
thrill of terror wherever it is heard. He
has long heavy barrelled gun origi-
nally squirrel rife but has been bored
out three different times, until now the
largest thumb can be easily turned in
the muzzle, and the aim Of the old man
is one of deadly certainty. The muir
derous sentinel is always faithfully upon
his watch, and his retreat has SO far
bafled all attempts to catch him, from
the fact that he is surrounded with
dense snamp8 and deep ravines. Well
informed river men estimate that this
old man has murdered in this way not
less than sixty persons and yethe per-
forms his murderous work with as much
earnestness and Eigor as when he first
commenced. U
Year: 1864

The Philadelphia Bulletin says atten-
zion has been strongly attracted for some
time past to the shameful inadequacy of
the wages received by the women for
Government work, and efforts have been
made to remedy or at least alleviate the
evil An impression undoubtedly exists
that this has been to some extent effect
ed but we have some reasons to doubt
whether much has been accomplished
It states case which has come to its
knowledge, and the absolute accuracy
Of which it can guarantee; :; this will at
least afford some grounds toward enabl-
ing readers to arrive at a just conclusion.
A sub-contractor for the Government in
Philadelphia is now getting work done
in Wilmington, Del, and at the follow
inf prices: Haversacks. ten cents. BY
long and hard day work. four Of these
can be made, but this rate cannot be
kept up on pantaloons at si1tee'e cents.
A case was mentioned where a woman,
by working from early morning until one
o'clock at night, succeeded in making
eight of these garments week, but, by
working in this manner, seriously injur-
ed her eyesight. Heavy overcoats, for
ty cents. These garments are so heavy
| to handle that those who work upon
them soon break down with pains in the
back, unless they are more than common
ly strong Of frame To the above price
ten cents are added for making tooeaty
Jfve button holes-about FIVE hours steady
work., or two cents per hour. The old
price for these army overcoats was al
ways eighty cents each, so that now,
while the necessaries Of life are double
price, those who consume them are to
work at half price, Che effect of which is
they are required to do exactly four
times as much work as formerly to pro-
cure the same quantity Of food, fuel or
raiment. Another case has been men
toned where an army contractor gets So
each from Government for making shell


ter tents, for which work he pays forty
five cents, which it seems is just half the
price formerly given, viz: ninety cents.


All this is literally shameful; there
is no other word to express it, and no
community is justifable in seeing the
poor amongst it crushed in this frightful
way. It is the clear duty ofthe Govern
ment SO to control its contractors that
they shall be forced to do some Kind
of justice to those whom they employ.


IF this cannot be effected let the whole
contract system be swept away, and let
the Government employ it's sewers dir
ectly, as now done at the arsenals, SO
that no middle profit shall be squeezed
out of the poor work-women. The very
same who are thus grinding the poor to
death are squandcring their excessive
profits in every species Of foreign luxury,
swelling our imports. depriving us of our
gold to pay for them, aiding in depreciat-
ing our currency, and speculating in ali
the necessaries of life, to the direct en-
hancing of all values. Let us have re-
form without delay. The whole matter
is too Infamous to be tolerated.
Year: 1864

nlsfy We the undersigned. have eech purchaS-
ed FLORENCE SEWING MACHINE, nnd
have them now in use. We have thoroughly
tested them on work of all grades-heavY me
dium and highland opinion is that the
FLORENCE is durable. will not easily get out
of order, is strong and simple in constructions
and its use is easily learned by the most Inex?e-
rienced


1t win do greater range of work. with less
trouble md change and We consider ii altogeth-
cr better then any other Family Sewing Machine
we have eyer seen:
Year: 1864

GIVE HIM TRADE.-f education is the grea
buckler and shield of human liberty, well de
veloped industry is equally the buckler anC
shield of individual independence. As un
failing resource through life, give your son
equally with good education, a good homes
trade Better any trade than none, though
there is ample field for the adaptation Of every
inclination in this respect. Learned professions
and speculative employments may fail man
but AN honest handicraft trade, seldom or never
-7if its possessor chooses to exercise it, Let
him feel, too that honest labOr-crafts are hon
orable and noble. The men of trades-the real
creatures of whatever is most essential to The
necessities and welfare of mankind-cannot be
dispensed with; they above all others in what
ever repute theymay be held by their most fas-
tidious fellows, must work at the ore of human
progress or all is lost. But few brown handed
trade-workers think of this, or appreciate the
real position and power they compass.


Give your son a trade no matter what fortune
he may have or may seem likely to inherit
Give him.a trade and educauon--at any rate
a trade. With this he can always be independ-
ent-and better is independence with moderate
education, than all the learning of the colleges
and wretched temporal dependence. But in
this free land there can be, ordinarily, no diff
Guilty in procuring both the education and the
trade for every youth, thereby fitting each and





these obstacles whichintimidate so many trade
less, professionless young men. Such the
peculiarties OF fortune, that no mere outward
possession can be counted as absolutely secure
or protective to man. Hoarded thousands may
be swept away in day and their once possess
ors left with neither the means Of independence
nor Of livelihood.


HI was a wise Scandinavian King, who de-
creed that his sons must learn useful trades or
be cut off from their expected prncely Inherit
ance. They demurred, but obeyed the decree
The eldest, as the easiest trade to learn applied
himself to basket making. In time he reigned in
his fathers stead. In time also, revolution
came upon and overthrow him, and he fed dis
guised, wandering and companionless, save his
wife and children; his sole resource for liveli-
hood a recurrence to his humble, but honestand
useful trade.


The sons of the rich as well as the poor,
should be strengthened by this possession. If
never used beyond the learning harm is
done-while possibly it may be of incalculable
good. 1t is a weapon of assault or defence,
which once fairly seized, can never be taken
from mans grasp. Think Of it, parents-ex-
anime your boys bumps or rather study the
''bent Of their minds" and the most lasting
vice you can do them, is to apply them to the
learning of honest trades.
Year: 1864

| WHAT MAkIA-A-POTU MEANs.--A pretty well
| dressed young man stepped into the Central Sta
tion one Monday afternoon to enter a complaint.
He appeared to be perfectly sane, but it was not
long before We came to the conclusion that we
stood in the presence of man who was labor =
ing under an attack of mania-a-potu. e


"Sir, said he, "I am very much annoyed by
the Reading Railroad Company; they have
caused to be laid double-track from the cellar
of my house to the roof; one track goes up on
one side of my bed and down on the other side.
They run the cars all night just as get into a
dose, a locomotive whzzes by, blowing the
steam whistle and ringing the bell Last night,
sir, one of the locomotives flew off the track,
leaped across my bed to the other track and the
engineer then grinned at me like the devil. The
passengers all looked like devils, some with no
horns at all Each devil carried canary bird
which seemed to sing like a steam whistle


Here the informant paused.


''Well, si: your complaint is just we have
already taken measures to have the railroad
track removed from your house. so that you can
sleep without being disturbed" was our reply.


tSir, | wish you would remove that worm
from my shoulder; only little while ago !
pulled one out of my forehead and threw it on
the pavement; just as was about to put my
foot on it, nearly hundred ran up my leg, and
/ suppose this is one of them" ,-oI l


We removed the imaginary worm when he ex-
claimed, aat slo


"Why, there are more of them"


''Nait moment, p said we.


A brush was obtained and properly used
The man, evidently gentleman, returned his
thanks for our kindness, and suddenly left the
Office. He was stranger. What became of him
we knew not, but we thought the whole scene
first class temperance lecture.
Year: 1864

FEvER.-What is fever? Simply process Of
publication. Feyers are not intrinsinaly dan
gerous. Nearly all the danger results from the
erroneous manner in which they are ordinarily
medicated. The terrible typbus or typhoid fe-
yer, of which so many people are said to be con-
tinually dying, is not in itself dangerous No
person can have fever unless there are OBJ
structions in his system, that ought to be re-
moved; and the fever is the attempt to remove
them. So far, therefore, tis dangerous not to
have fever, provided the causes exist. There
may be circumstances or complications which
will render the remedial struggle unsucccssful;
but the disease is a remedial effort nevertheless
No one should allow himself to be stimulated in
a fever.


A fever is a process Of publication; it should
be rather aided, assisted andregulated. A fever
is not substance but an action-a disturbance
1t is notan enemy, but rather a friendly defend
era something to be directed rather than des-'
troyed. We sometimes hear that person has
had an "attack' Of fever The expression is
absurd.
Year: 1864

The HUMAN MwD-The elasticity of the hu-
man mind is one of its most extraordinary quail
tiles. The man who at any one time, is capable
Of resting quietly on his pillow with the manage
ment and fate of nation in his hands is at an
other distracted, harrassed, and distressed by
the probable event Of horse race. A woman
who has borne msfortunes with fortitude and
resignation, will be agitated; tortured, and tor
mented, by the recollection of single word,
look or action of her own, or of some 9TH
er individual, to which no human being, besides
themselves would alta h the smallest impor-
tance
Year: 1864

Once on time, not long ago, not so far from
Millersburg as it might be, good hearted man
and his long-tongued, style-talking wife, attend
ed a social party. Almost every three minutes
his wife would check her husband thus


Nov, William, don't talk so loud p q


"Come, William, don't lean back in the chair
that way"


"Now William, don't get noisy over there"


"Say, William, let the girls alone and sit by
me.Y


At last forbearance ceased to be virtue, and
the husband who was really pitied by all in the
ROOM arose and said:


81 beg pardon of the company but as my wife
insists on being boss all the time, it is right she
should have these"


And he deliberately took off his pants, handed
them to her, and sat down IN his boots and draw
ers. .r


The company was astonished; the woman
burst into tears. The happy couple soon went
home, but neither Of them wore pants.


How the affair was settled we cannot tell, but'
the last time we saw William he had the pants
on. We are inclined to think she will not again
boss in company in hurry.
Year: 1864

A SAD AND EXTENSIVE BEREAvEMEET.-Died
in Salt lake City, August l7th Bishop Ephraim
Kimball Blair, in the 5lst year of his age. He
was man whose mind was richly stored with
the good things of the Kingdom of God, and was
ever ready and energetic in carrying out the
measures of his superiOrs in the Priesthood. He
was brilliant in thought and quick to perceive
the revelation and whisperngs of the Holy
Spirit, He leaves nine wives and forty-three
small children 20 mourn his untimely end. Yer
ily in the midst of wives we sometimes kick
the bucket. ..,t.
Year: 1864

VERY curious mode of trying the title to
land is practiced in Hindoostan. Two holes are
dug in the disputed spot, in each of which the
lawyers on either side put one of their legs, and
there remain until one of them is tired, or com
plains of being stung by insects-in which case
his client is defeated.
Year: 1864

MEN OF THE REvo1UToN.-Gen Green, in his
dispatches, after the battle of Eutaw, says -
Hundreds of men were naked as they were born
Judge Johnson, in his "Lfe of Green" saws :
Posterity will scarcely believe that the loins of
many men who carried death into the enemy S
ranks at Eutaw, were CALLED by their cartouch
boxes, while a fold of rag tuft of moss pro-
tected the shoulder from the same injury from
the musket General Green says, in his letter to
the Secretary of War We have three hundred
men without arms, and more than one thousand
so naked that they can be put duty only in
the most desperate cases. Our difficulties are
so enormous, and our wants so pressing that
have not a moments relief from the most pain
full anXieties have more embarrassmentst than
tits proper to disclose to the world
Year: 1864

Cosr OF ABoLITIoN.-Mor than half a mil
lion negroes who, three years ago, were fed by
planters on hog and hominy, are now fed by the
u S. on hard tack and salt horse To bring
about this change, it has cost the United States
about five thousand dollars and the life of one
white man per niger No one can pretend that
the sable wretches were. not in all respects bet
ter as they were. Northern and Southern men.
to the number Of a million-the first choice and
very flower Of the race-have fallen in battle or
have died more horribly in hospital, and the
nation is nearly broken down with financial en-
barrassments, and all this has been done to
make some hundreds of thousands of niggers
even more wretched than they we're
Year: 1864

Six thousand of such 'active preachers as
Tying Bellows and Beecher, are enough to raise
hell and rebellion in the best government on the
face of the earth. We've got few of that stripe
in this neck of woods, who follow as close to
the heels of the bell wethers ofthe fOckasthei
feeble abilities will allow. If they don't get
badly sitged in the next world, then there is no
virtue in hell-fre, and future punishment is
sheer hJmbug.-Aurora TSmes
Year: 1864


Hark, how the wind roars down in the wood,
The great pine wood in the hollow by the mill
One year ago tonight, and its dismal solitude
Was darkened by deed that was more dismal


still.
How came he to find the miller's child
With his great house on the sunny, sloping


hill;
Who owned the fertile fields and the lofty wood
And she an humble maid, whose father kept


the mills
High where his hedge was growing trim and tail
And flowers swung beside his grayeled garden


walk,
There the millers pretty child would answer to


his call


Take aowers from his hand, and wait his fat


tring talk.
So the sweet spring for her grew very bright
The young May rose wore the purple of the


sky;
While the lily sweetly clasped her bridal robe of


white,


And the blue uplifted bell smiled with NOR


ming in its eye.


And gay golden rods their last sunny garlands


wore,
Only now and then returned her sweet and


wonted smiles,
And stller came her step at twilight to the door.
Then there came morning in the gray,
The great gray pail, for the burial of the year,
When the wild, stubborn winds will have all


things their own way,
And every song Of summer is hushed in trem-


bling fear
No light step was heard treadng the stair,
The small, dark stair, in the cottage by the


mill;
The little room above her held vacant cot and


chair,


And all about the house was very strange and


still.
Hark, how the wind roars down in the wood,
The great pine wood in the hollow by the mill
There lay the miller's child in the dismal soli-


tude,


All wrapped in beauty. very cold, and stark,


and still.
Once was her long hair bound on her brow;
Ii hung loose now, and was matted 'mong the
All the DID, last years leaves, that are dry and


withered now,


And whisper Of that night what scarce an ear


believes.
There where the brook runs down in the wood,
That turns the wheel of the little noisy mill,
All her woe did she hide in its restless solitude;
There's no sign Of it now in its waters clear


and still.
See how the old man walks and stoops down;
Old is his life in the morning of his days;
One year ago to-day, and his snowy locks were


brown,
Nor sad was his eye with that wild, distracted
gaze.
See how the old wife mourns for her child,
The innocent child of her cradle but so late,
Who lifted up her eyes on sunny world and
And smiled all too sweet for a good and plea


SAINT fate.
See how the old wheel azily Creeps;
1t flies not now with the glowing of the day
For the gay, dashing stream, now comes trick
ling slow and weeps;
The old buzzing mill has but little now to say.
See how the proud man stands in his pride.
The heart that is false can have never any
peace;
Guilty fear, like phantom, is ever by his side, |
Treads by him when he walks-its torment /
viii not cease.
Hark, how the wind roars down in the wood,
The great pine wood in the hollow by the |
mill.
To that fair maiden's soul may her God be very |
good


Less beautiful than she had less to work them /
III.
Year: 1864

THE SICK BRIeAND.-Henry w.
Beecher says of slavery and .he Consti-
tuition


You must recollect that in Rll stages
it was the opinion of every man who
founded ID e Constitution, that slavery
was dying, and they did not feel as you
or / would have felt, but said, Ease it
up i n every way Slavery was like
some brigand brought into n Alpine
convent, where he was given a room
and a place to prepare in decency, and
the old brigand did not die, but called in
his confederates, and ruled the very hos
pital where he was being nursed for a
Christian burial
Year: 1864

When nobility stoops to the office Of
teaching, nothing less Of dignity, than the
heir of kingdom must be the scholar
How, then, shall we fully conceive the
exeellency of the soul, which has the
Spirit of God for its appointed teacher
and continual guide p Psnn.
Year: 1864

THE HORSE OF NEGGDAH-T h e
following exquisite story is related BY
Lamartine, the refined writer and east
ern traveller.


In the tribe of Nyggdah, there was q
horse whose fame had spread far and
near, and a Bedouin of another tribe,
by name Daher, desired extremely to
possess it. Having offered in vain for
it his camels and bis whole wealth, he
hit at length upon the following device,
by which be hoped to gain the object Of
his desire. He resolved to stain b 5
face with the juice of an herb, to clothe
himself in rags, 10 tie his legs and neck
together, so as to appear like lame beg
gar. Thus equipped, he went to wait
for Nabor, the owner of the horse, whom
he knew was to pass that way.


When he saw Nabor approaching on
his beautiful steed, he cried out in a
weak voice, Il am poor stranger; for
three days have been unable to move
from this spot to seek for food | am
dying. Help me, and Heaven will re-
ward you


The Bedouin kindly offered to take
him on bis horse and carry him home :;
but the rogue replied, j cannot rise !
have no strength left


Nabor, touched With pity, dismounted,
led his horse TO the spot and with great
difficulty set The seeming beggar on his
back. But sooner did Daher feel
himself in the saddle, than he set spurs
to the horse, and galloped off, calling out
as be did so, 1T is |, Daher have
got the horse, and am off with it,


Nabor called after him to stop and
listen. Certain of not being pursued, he
turned and halted short distance
from Nabor, " h was armed with a
spear.


You have taken my horse, said the
latter. Since Heaven has willed ii,
wish you JOY Of it but do conjure you
never to tell any one how you obtained
it,


And why not p said Daber.


Because said the noble Arab, 'ano
her man might be truly i'll, and men
ear to help him. You might be the
cause of many refusing to perform an act
If charity, for fear OF being duped as |
iave BEEN


Struck with shame these words,
Oaher was silent for moment, then
bringing from his horse, and embracing
is owner, returned il to him. Nabor
made him accompany him to his tent,
where they spent some days together,
nd became fast friends for life.
Year: 1864

Hark, how the wind roars down in the wood,
The great pine wood in the hollow by the


mill.
To that fair maiden's soul may her God be very
good
Less beautiful than she had less to work them
ill.,