smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

Sour LAKE.-It is in Jefferson county, Texas
and there is no doubt about the waters being
sour. cannot say whether the addition of ice
and sugar would make nice lemonade or not, but
it is very probable. No doubt if you were to put
soda in it, it would foam and make nice soda.
water.


But the most curious feature about sour lake
is that there are seven different kinds Of water
boiling up, within half mile of each other, in
and around it. One spring near the main body
of the lake. produces oil. This rises to the sur.
face, and the owner skins it of, getting barrel
q day. of kind of oil highly esteemed for me-
chanical and healing purposes.


From another they get soap. I thought my
informant was laughing at me when he told me
this, but it was attested by two gentlemen who
had seen it, and could doubt no longer. But
after all, it is not so strange for there is plenty
of alkali in the earth, and that uniting with the
oil is compelled to make soap. The oil and soap
springs are close together.


The other varieties are different colored water
boiling up in the same lake. The sour water is
transparent, but in the midst it, there is place
of black water; and the other three varieties
are shades between the white and black.-Ier-
as letter.
Year: 1859

1t Is seldom we hear of such remarkable
manifestation of fila devotion or herolsm on tne
part of child as is evinced in the affecting IN
cident we are about to relate. The age OF the
child is two years, and it is described as oelne
yery intelligent, and as possessing high ano
broad forehead, such as would indicate MIND
of no ordinary mould. But to proceed with the
narrative:


On the afternoon of the 4th inst, MIR. Nash,
keeper of Grand Point Light at lslesboro, started
with skiff for the purpose OF mooring boat q
few rods from the shore. While in the act OF
casting over the kedge anchor tie skitf capsized
aud threw him out


Because of his larneness he was unable 70
swim and upon raising to the surface, seized
hold of the gunwale of the skiff, and at once
hallooed to his little boy, Elisha, who was LOOK


ing out of the open window, (the house oeing
but short distance from the shore) to give his
mother the ALARM Mrs. Nash, who had been
confined to the house by illness for fortnight,
heard her husbands voice, and at once started
for the rescue. Before leaving the house she
charged Elisha to remain on the doorstep TILL
her return. Seeing no hope OF saving her nus
band herself, she ran to the house OF neighbor
for assistance. Elisha behodng bis fathers per.
ious situation could remain quiet no longer, and
80 ran down to the shore, and at once began to
wade into the water to attempt to help him.
His father bade him keep out Of the water and
sit on the shore until his mother came. Seating
himself upon the shore he patiently waited Tor
his mothers approach. . -.
Mr.. Nash, by struggling hard to maintain ms
position, had wel-nigh exhausted himself, and
while clnging to the side of the skiff it again
turned over, and he thereby lost his hold Bid
ding his child farewell, he sank beneath the
waves, with the belief that he should never rise
alive. But to his Joy as he sank he caught hold
of the rope with which the boat was moored, ano
by this means drew himself up and got on board
Upon looking for his child he found he had dis
appeared. The little fellow, thinking to render
his father the essential aid, betook himself to the
water as he saw him sink, and waded out as far
as he could, and then reached forth his hands
towards his father. The strong tide bore the
little fellow beyond his depth, and in the quiet
of death he relinquished his hold on life I! When
the neighbors arrived they found Mr.. Nash II
the boat quite exhausted, and the body of his de-
voted child floating near the beach.


Our informant, who saw the corpse OF the boy
soon after it was recovered, says that its tiny
hands were still outstretched, and the eyes wide
open, as if still auxiously ookingin the direction
of his father. As the fond and heart-stricker
parents bent over the cherub-lIke form OF the
darling one as it was arranged tor burial, many
ewes, ike theirs suffused with tears because o
the pathetic tale connected with his DEATH
Belfast (Ne.) Age.
Year: 1859

THE DISTANCE OF THE SUN INoREAsINa.-A
German publication has given the calculations
to prove that the distance between the earth
and the sun is annually increasing, and attributes
to this tact the increasing humidity of our sum-
mers, and the loss of fertility in the soil OF the
formerly most favored regions of the earth. The
vegetable and Animal remains found even in the
recent strata within the Arctic circle, show a
degree of heat formerly prevailed there which
eaualled that Of tie equatorial regions at the
present time, and although many ingenious the
cries have been started to account for this desc
lation of once sunny region, none seems 80 ra-
tional as the very obvious one of gradual with
drawsl of the great source of light and heat. T.
gyptians, Chinese, and other nations, have tra-
ditions that at very early period OF their his
tory the apparent diameter OF the sun was double
what it now is, and according to the tables Of
the German savsnt, in the course ofsix thousand
years more the disc of that luminsry will have
diminished SO that we shall receive bnt one
eighth part of the solar influence which we al
present enjoy, the whole earth being covered
with eternal ice. 1t is now admitted by the
most orthodox school of science that the earth
and other planets were thrown off from the sun
so that our globe has confessedly travelled one
hundred millions of miles from its birth place
and no absurdity exists in the supposition that il
has not yet ceased receding, though at con-
stantly diminishing rate, which may or may not
reach the point before it arrives at such dis
tance as to be uninhsbitsble, when following the
analogy of all other known perturbations and
eccentricities among the different bodies of the
universe, it will undoubtedly retrsoe its steps
to point much nearer than any it has occupied
during the historic period, and 80 move back
and forth like mighty pendulum, forever
measuring off perhaps thousands of ages at each
beat. Or pelchance having run its course it will
fall back into the sun-as man, who springs from
the dust, returns to dust again--to be again e.
volved in the form of nebulous matter, and again
condensed into habitable globe.-NswburyporI
Herald.
Year: 1859

sIts only little grave" they said,
"Only just child that's dead;"
And 80 they carelessly turned away
From the mound the spade had made that daY.
All they did not know how deep shade
That Eittle grave in our home had made.
know the coffin was narrow and small
One yard would have served for ample pail;
And one man in his arms could have borne away
The rosebud and its freight of clay.
But I know that darling hopes were hid
Beneath that tiny coffin lid.


knew that mother had stood that day
With folded hands by that form of clay;
knew that burning tears were hid,
'"Neath the dropping lash and aching lid,''
And knew her lip, and cheek and brow,
Were almost as white as her baby's now.
knew that some things were hid away,
The crimson frock and wrappings gay;
The little sock and half-worn shoe.
The cap with its plumes and tassels blue (;
And an empty crib with its covers spread,
AS white as the face of the sinless dead.
'7is little grave, but oh beware
For worldwide hopes are buried there,
And ye, perhaps, in coming years,
May see, like her, through binding tears,
How much of light, how much ofIoy,
Is buried up with an only boy
Year: 1859

The Lawyers Patron Saint.


BY JOHN C. SAKE.
LAWYER of Brittany, once on time
When business was tagging at home,
Was sent as legste to ltalys cime'
To confer with the Father at Rome.
And what was the message the minister brougnt'
To the pope he preferred a complaint
That each other profession patron had got,
While the lawyers had never saint
every true said his Misunderstanding TO find
An attorney 80 civil and pleasant
"But my very last saint is already assigned,
And can't make q new one at present
To choose from the bar it were 6ttest think;
Perhaps you've man in your eye
And his Holiness here gave mischievous wink
To cardinal sitting near by.
But the lawyer replied in a lawyer like way,
81 know what is modest, hope,
I didn't come hither, allow me to say,
To proffer advice to the Pope
"yery vel,, said his holiness, "then we will do
The best that may fairly be done;
1t don't seem exactly the thing, it is true,
That the law should be salntleSs aione.
To treat your profession as well as can,
And leave you no cause of complaint,
propose, as the only feasible plan,


To give you secondhand saint
To the neighboring church you will presently &c.
And this is the plan advise:
First saw a few ayes-a hundred or So
Then carefully bandage your eyes,
Then-saying more aves-go gropng arouno'
And touching one object alone,
The saint you are seeking will quickly be found'
For the first that you touch is your own.
The LAWYER did as his Holiness said,


Without an omission or flaw;
Then taking the bandages off from his head,
What do you think he saw
There was St. Michael Figured in paint
Subduing the Father of Evil;
And the lawyer exclaiming, "Be thou our SAINT
Was touching the form of the devil!
Year: 1859

lightful; others hold back. and think that
knocking their teeth out is going far enough
However,Ithe general cry is "go ahead" and
l think these last must knock under, in spite of
their teeth.


Brother Sappy lectured on water.porridge last
evening, and delighted most enthusiastic au-
dience He gave flaming description of car
rots, and the mention of carrots brought tears
into every eye. He means next week to take
up the question on the moral qualities of baked
beans. We are all as thriving as corn stalks
there is not a face in the town that is not pea
green.


Yours, most emaciatingly,


SINoN ScAppnpou
Year: 1859

To MAKE BUTTER IN FIVE MINUTES WITHOUT
CHURN-A correspondent highly recommends
the following receipt. After strainiDg the milk,
set it away for about IL hours tor the cream to


rise (Milk dishes ought to have strong handles
to lift them by) After standing as above, set


the milk, without disturbing 1t, on the stove; let
| it stand there until you observe the coating OF


cream on the surface assume wrinkled appear.
ance, but be careful it does not boil, as should
this be the case the cream will mix with the
milk and cannot be again collected. Now setir
away till quite cool, and then skim off the cream.
mixed with as little milk as possible. When
sufficient cream is collected, proceed to mix it
into butter as follows: Take wooden bowl, or
any suitable vessel, and having first scalded and
then ripsed it with cold water, place the cream
In 1t. Now let the operator hold his hand in
water as hot as it can be borne for few Sc.
conds, then plunge ii into cold water for about
a minute and at once commence to sgitate the
cream by q gentle circular motion. lD five min.
utes or less, the butter will have come, when, of
course. it must be washed and salted according
to taste, and our correspondent guarantees that
no better butter can be made by the best churn
ever invented.


To those who keep only one cow, this method
of making butter will be found really valuable;
while quite as large quantity of butter is OBJ
tsined as by the common mode, the skim milk
is much sweeter and palatable. In the summer
season it will usually be found necessary to bring
the cream out OF the cellar, (say aquarter OF an
hour before cburning) to take the excessive chill
of; in winter, place the vessel containing the
cream over another containing water to warm
it; then continue to agitare the cream until the
chill has departed. a


Before washing the butter, separate all the
milk you possibly can, as the latter will be found
excellent for tea cakes. Butter made in this
manner will be much frmer and less oily iD hot
weather than when made in the ordinary way.
Scientific american. @
Year: 1859

may be restored, and that thus onty the Union
can be preserved. lae s5 70


These mon know we'll enough, all the time,
that the Trade can never be introduced into our
Union but they hope that this foolish argument
may stop the opposition of some weak
union men and secure them to their cause.


They also boldly assert that the prohibition
of the traffic is unconstitutiondl This assertion
supposes that the peoIle are such ssses as not to
know where to find the first clause of the ninth
section of the first article of the Constitution.


But the queerest argument used by this fac
ton is that which is based upon religion =
They say the only way to christianize Africans
is to enstaos them. ar,t'
We almost despair ofintroducing in the Eastern
mind Of the negro proper conceptions OF our ho-
ly religion; but, admitting this to be possible,
the people of Virginia will never consent to the
doctrine that It is christianity to butcher ten men
that one may be the recipient of religious IN
I


fro BE CONCLUDED.
Year: 1859

ToUaH SToRIEs-There is place in Maine
so rocky, that when the down casters plant corn
they look for crevices in the rocks, and shoot
the grains in with musket, they can't raise
ducks no how, for the stones are so thick the
ducks can't get their bills between them to PICK
up the grasshoppers, and the only way that the
sheep can get at the sprigs of grass is by grind
ing their noses on grindstone.


But that amt q circumstance to place on
the Eastern shore; there the land is so poor,
that it takes two kildeas to say 'kidea y and on
clear day you can see the grasshoppers climb
up mullen stalk, and look with tears in their
ewes over q fifty acre field; and the humble bees
have to 90 down on their knees to get at the
grass all the mosquitoes died of starvation, and
the turkey buzzards had to emigrate.


But there is county in Virginia which can
beat that,-there the land is so sterile that when
the wind is at the northwest, they have to tie
the children to keep them from being blown a
way there it takes six frogs to see man, and
when the dogs bark they have to lean against
the fence; the horses are so thin that it takes
twelve of them to make a shadow, and when
they kill beef they have to hold him up to
knock him down
Year: 1859

A law student, being examined for admission
to the bar, was wished to define an "original
bill;" to which he replied he did not wish to be
positive, but he thought William Shakespeare
was, on the whole, the most original Bill on
record. He was admitted Immediately.
Year: 1859

A renowned clergyman of New York lately
preached rather long sermon from the text
Thou art weighed in the balance and found wan
ting" After the congregation had listened about
an hour, some began to get weary and west out
others soon followed, greatly to the annoyance OF
the minister. Another person started, whereup.
on the psrson stopped in his sermon, and said.
"Tbat's right, gentlemen; as fast as you are
weighed pass outl" He continued his sermon at
some length after that, but no one disturbed him
hv leayinp
Year: 1859

farmers more wasteful than in the management
or rather want of management, in their manure.
Should one have bis granary robbed every week
or so of fifteen or twenty dollars worth OF gram,
he would make great fuss about it, and prob
ably offer liberal reward for the detection OF
the thief; yet this same man will allow his ma
nure to lie spread over his cattle yard, exposed
to the bleaching rains offspring which frequently
carry more than the above amount or the ele'
ments of crops contained in his manure forever
beyond his reacll-and he allows this waste to
occur year after year, as if it was no sort OF
consequence to him. If this practice was true
ONLY of the owners OF prairie soil, the case would
be different but it is to be seen in parts OF the
country where manure is most needed, yea,
where its preservation and economy in its use
are of the utmost Importance to the success OF
the farmer. Farmers have been told OF this
thing so often through our agricultural press,
that one would think it no longer to be retera-
ted. Why is this Has the subject become to
them such hackneyed one that they no longer
give attention to it, or do they mostly. belong
to the class who take no paper devoted to the
interests of their calllingR The voice OF the ag'
ricultura press has, for half century oeen
raised against this waste of MANURE as well as
against the skimming process OF cultivation 50
universally practiced in many parts of our coun
try. Their empty barns and granarles should
appeal to them in way not to be misnnder-
stood Their fields, so barren looking, all over


run with sorrel, should reprove them for such
dereliotion of duty they owe to their child
rem and to their country, as well as to them
selves But farmers waste also in the appca'
ton Of manure--puttiog it on ground that needs
draining, when half the value of the manure ex-
pended in draining would produce almost inn
nitely better results. Again, they will lavish II
on the fields already rich, while they have 9th
ers suffering for the want of it. But it seems
impossible almost to change the course of many,
however prejudicial to their interests that course
wan bo
Year: 1859

Both the Slave Trade faction and the Blacl
Republicans play into each others hands, ane
both are working with all their might for one
object, viz: disund0n. N


1t is very strongly suspected that Black Re
publican leaders are secretly engaged IN nttlne
out the great number OF vessels now IN nortnerl
ports known to be destined to land Africans on
the Florida coast. 1t is not to be supposed tha
those who will be on the shore to await tile
landing of the human cargo will be ignorant a;
to who procured It,. - ;,


These "ventures in Ebony serve double
purpose they put money into the pockets OF the
Black Republicans, and at the same time they
serve to excite the northern sentiment yet more
violently against the south and her institutions
There will be elimination and re elimination
which the slave trade men hope will band to-
gether the whole South against the whole North
and bring about disunion. They then expect te
float into power upon fragment of the wreck
of our present happy country.


All sorts of arguments are urged to advance
this project for the destruction OF our Govern :
ment. The first and most efectual is that the
non-slave-hoders ought to have source whence
they may procure slave labor which they can-
not obtain at present prices. by this argument
thew hone to make disunionists of the non-slave
holders of the South, the small slave holders,
and those of the larger shareholders who 10
tbo;r oreed for wealth wish to own more slaves
than they now have. 60,


Tbey also assert that the political status Of
those now owning slaves will be more secure,
az thew declare that the non-slave.holders in
the mass cannot be true to our Institutions and
tLornforo that all ll-wbo are interested in the
preservation of slavery should support the views
of these new preachers ofpolitical economy.


They also attempt to influence the Union men
of the South by telling them that if cheap slaves
could be introduced, the unsettled Territories
can be secured to the South, and that thus by
the reopening Of the Trade the balance ofpower
Year: 1859

consideration on Saturday wore


First That the Government was bound to
make out therscase.


Second That malice was not to Be presumed
but proved.


Third. How far adultery is to be considered
provocation.


Fourth. Why such crime under the old
common law was notmurder, but manslaughter


Fifth. Why the explanation of the "pricile-
giuna clerical" the slight burning in the hand,
which was the punishment in such cases. was tam
tamount to an acquittal.


Sixth Whether the frenzy natural to a
husband under circumstances of such charac-
ter does not operate as mental unsoundness.


These six points were considered on Saturday
but the seventh point, which counsel had not
discussed on Saturday, is to be discussed to-day.


Seventh. Whether, viewing the case as one
of ungovernable passion, and as one of resent
meut produced by passion, there was a sufficient
time for the defendants passion to cool, and
for reason to get the better of the transport
of passion and whether his subsequent acts
were deliberate, before the mortal wound were
given to the deceased


After the conclusion of Mr. Grahams speech,
the defense offered in testimony several letters
purporting to be from Key and to be used as evi-
dence in establishing the friendship of the two
parties. Several witnesses were examined who
testified to the good feeling which had existed
between Sickles and Key and also between Key
and Mrs. Sickles 1t is said to be the intention
of the defense not to drive into the particulars
except they are forced to, when they willexpose
things not dreamed of in Washington or else
where.
Year: 1859

UNPARALLELED MEANNEss.-An individual IN
this city held an execution against another,
which was placed in the hands of the Sheriff for
the purpose of collecting the claim, but that Of
ficer finding no property, it was returned unsat-
isfed. A short time SINCE the creditor dscoy-
cred small monument at one OF the marble
yards in the city, which had been ordered by
the debtor to be placed over the grave OF child
he had recently buried. Forthwith this worthy
exemplar of Shy!ock waited upon the Sheriff and
instructed him to levy upon the stone. That
officer very properly demonstrated against an act
so barbarous and unchristian, but without avail.
He was threatened with prosecution unless ne
performed this unpleasant duty, and the stone
was accordingly seized upon and in due time
sold. There was no one mean enough to oid
upon it but the creditor, and it was knocked
down to him. A little monument OF little
child, with the names of the parents and their
offspring upon 1.-THE figure of a dog, the en-
blem of fidelity, in an attitude of repose, sur
mounting twas bought in by this thing in hu.
man form. As we looked upon the stone and
listened to this little history connected with it,
we could not help thinking that he who had
done so base thing against his fellow, deserved
no repose in this world or the next.-BgTat0
Courier.
Year: 1859

A negro duel is noticed in the Kanawha lie
publican, as among the incidents that occurred
in and about the Salines, on Christmas day
1t was rather bungling affair The prelimi
nary arrangements appear not to have been ac'
cording to the provisions laid down in the Code
of Honor. We do not understand the parties
felt any particular stain upon their honor which
they desired to wipe out by the fashionable ap.
peal to the duelZo. The affair seems to have
been kind of trial, or practice, preparatory to
a real duel But so it was, they stood off at
measured distance, and fired at each other with
muskets, loaded with blank cartridges. In the
excitement. one of the combatants, in drawing
the ramrod, left the button or head in the gun,
and the result was he killed his opponent by
shooting him through the breast. These are the
facts in the case as reported to us. We do not
know that there has been any legal investigation
into the affair.
Year: 1859

A PRETTY CoNoEIT-We yesterday saw, in
the parlor Of friend, a very beautiful conceit
1t is, of course, the fancy of lady, and consists
of the burr of pine tree placed in wine glass
half full of water, and from between the differ.
ent layers of the burr are shooting forth green
blades-bright, beautiful, refreshing. For a
little thing, we have seen nothing that so pleas
ed US by its beauty and novelty. And the SO.
cret is this: the burr was found dried and open
the different circles were sprinkled with grass
seed, and it was placed in a wine glass, with
water in as above. In few days the moisture
and nourishment gave the burr life and health
the different CIRCLES closed and buried within
themselves the grass seed, and q few days more
gave to the seed also life, sprout and growth;
and now pyramid of living green, beautifully
relieved by the sombre hue of the burr, is the
result-as pretty and novel parlor ornament
as we have for long while seen. We do not
know whether the idea was original with the Ia
dy, but we do know that its success is beautiful.
-ITOu Times