smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

Cold, chilly nights in Virginia
frost already appearing in the low
grounds This is a meteorological
fact, full Of meaning for the two ar
mics. Our own soldiers, it is report
ed, are Suffering somewhat-tbougb,
doubtless, by this time the arrange
ments have been perfected for supply
ing them with blankets and other
Winter gear. But what must be the
condition of JEFF Davis rebel host,
sleeping blanketless in the night-fog
of Eastern Virginia, with the quick
silver down to the small figures p
Those hot-blooded, thin skinned fell
ows from Carolina, Georgia or the
Gulf States will have chance to get
some fire taken out of them by the
sharp blasts from the Allegahanies and
the cold night sea winds They have
relied on cotton to bully the world !;
it will prove powerless to protect
their own shivering limbs withal ~
There was great deal of exultation
in the Southern newspapers, Of this
Spring as to the lavoic which the


Southern climate would play with the
Northern troops. But the tables are
now turned We have waited till the
frosts set in before attempting to
march into The heart Of Dixie while,
meantime, the Southerners from the
warm Gulf borders are quaking at the
first taste of our upper latitudes. On
the whole, the effects of these early
frosts cannot be but to precipitate
matters with the rebel forces. From
physical covering to moral cowardice
there is but narrow interval. Great
is Farenheit-terrible to the South
rons is old Boreas IN. Z Times.
Year: 1861

A man living at Natyglo, Brist oil,
England, who keeps pigeons, came to
the resolution to decrease his stock
by shooting some of the young birds,
taking care he did not kill any of the
old ones. This was rather difficult
ty but after he had shifted from one
side to the other, for some time, with
loaded gun in his hands, four of the
Young birds stood well for shot and
he fred. Down fell three pigeons
quite dead, and the fourth being wing
winged, futtered about. But the
shot prodHced other results more re-
markable. Seven panes of glass were
broken in house at distance, and a
basin of broth and spoon were thrown
down, the basin being broken and the
broth split. The crash so startled q
man who was at dinner, and who had
not been able to move for rheumatism,
for months without his crutches, that
he ran to the front door without them
this time, and commenced joumping
about in front of the house, declaring
that he was shot in the forehead, al
though there was no mark te be seen.


The man who had discharged the
gun becoming, alarmed, hastened to
the cripple as soon as possible, and
fndin'; that he was not hurt, told the
women of the house that he would
pay all the damages done to the win
dow. She, howe Jer, was not willing
to receive farthing, saying that it
was the best thing that had happened
to her for long time, and she would
willingly pay all damages herself, as
they had been trying great many
remedies before, all to no purpose !;
but now the man was quite cured and
she could not do it. The sportsman,
however, insisted on paying. The
cured man went to work on the NOR
row, and has not touched bis crutches
since. The sportsman belongs to the
I'd Breckonshire Rifles, which may now
safely assert that it possesses one of
the best shots in the world-a man
who killed three birds, wounded g
fourth, broke seven panes of glass,
and cured q rheumatic cripple, all at
one shot.
Year: 1861

Well I remember wintry night
years ago. A large sleigh, fast hor-
ses, and jovial party Of four, starred
out from H just at dark, solely
for running the gates on the long turn
pike before us. Then it was consider
ed a fine thing, and one to be boasted
of among some young men, to be able,
either through stratagem or the care
lesness of the keeper, to pass the gate
without paying the usual toll. Even
in the present day the idea is not obso-
lete.


A smooth, shining track, clear,
frosty moonlit air, robes and bells in
PROFESSIONALISM cared we for princi-
pile !? Not whit and away we went
as merry and reckless company as
ever teamed just for the fun of it.
The mile-stones croweed thickly on
each other as we shot along shouting,
making merry over the chagrin and
disappointment Of the keepers who
came out, little too late" While
their hand was on it, the bird had
flown and only vacancy was there. si


Keep bright look out, now,
boys" said our driver, as we neared
the next gate We knew its keeper
well, an old man, earnest, honest, and
sanity. But the warm blood was up,
and had an angel been there we must
go through


There he is, coming down the hill !;
now for it !" shouted another, and
lashing the horses into furious run,
we beg IN the race All t. is was
sport. ..How the blood leaped and
thrilled through the veins string of
perverted human nature had been
struck in exact ha mony with its build.
Satan was chuckling over the influence
OF the fascinating spell, pouring in
fresh draughts of the hot delirium ev-
cry moment. Every nerve strained,
and each heart beat double, as we bore
down on the gate like "a sweeping
hawk, and just as the old man touched
tie heavy swinging bar, slid safely
through. ee


1t was done, we'll done, we thought /;
and checking the now maddened hor-
ses, we looked back, there stood the
old man a might an angel have stop
ped in his flight, and with one hand
gpointed upward, we heard him shout
distinctly, above the uneasy bells !:
:" Young men, there's ONE gate you
cannot run ~ ~s.


It was as ice. The clear rigging
voice, that heavenly attitude, and
those not to b misunderstood words,
had their effect. The arrow had flown
at venture, but it had hit its victim.
The remainder Of the ride was noisy
and apparently merry. The mirth
seemed hollow and forced, and soon it
was ended. t


That warning voice, Young men,
there's one gate you crnnot run" /" new
er left the ears of three of that gay
company till it brought them to re-
pentance and new life. The fourth,
scorning it, travelled life's road with
the same uneoncern, trusting to run
the dark valley, But the road was
shorter and the gate nearer him than
he dreamed. When tie black portals
loomed up, alas the gate was shut
There are gates all along on life's
road. They are set by o sovereign
hand, and conscience is their keeper.
Do you ever run them? the gate Of
prayer? the gate ofduty Bad bus
iness /! He that entereth not by the
door into the sheepfold, but climbeth
up some other way, the same as a thief
and robber." le aa D
Year: 1861

"I DoN'T SEE IT. Lord Nelson
was undoubtedly the author of this
popular slang At the celebrated ma
val battle of Copenhagen, Nelson
who was determined to continue the
battle, but whose attention had been
called to signal of the commanding
officer to cease hostilities, placed his
hand over his good eye and pretend
Ing to look with his blind one said " |
don't see it," and at once ordered q
brisk renewal of the engagement.
Year: 1861

THE BATTLE OF LAKE Bancroft
is writing for the New York Ledger an ao-
count of"Oliver Hazard Perry and the bst-
tie Of Lake Erie" The number for this
week recounts the events of the contest pre-
vious to Perryss leaving the Lawrence,
when "the shrieks of the wounded and the
crash of timbers shattered by cannon balls
were still heard; but its own ire grew fain-
ter and fainter; one gun after another was
dismounted Death had the mastery; tho
carnage was unparalleled in naval warfare;
more than four 6fths Of the effective off !.
GERS and men on board were killed or dis.
abled by wounds; tho deck, in spite of tho
layer of sand, was slippery with blood,
which ran down the sides Of the ship: the
wounded and the dead lay thickly strewp
everywhere around. 70 fire tho last gun,
Perry himself assisted, At last every gun
in the ships battery on the eaemy's side Wis
dismounted, every brace and bow line was
shot away; the vessel became unmanagea.
BILE, in spite Of the yea! Of the commander
and the exertions of the Sailing Master
And still Perry did not despair, but had
an eye which could look through tho
cloud"
Year: 1861

A HEROIC WIFE.-The heroic eonduct,
on the burnt steamer Pacific, of Mrs. j.
W. Mcdonald, who was travelling with her
husband who was lying very low at the
time with consumption, was subject Of
general admiration. The announcement
of the conAagration was too much for his
delicate nerves, and the poor man swoon-
ed and died under the excitement Tho
wife refused to leave the corpse of her
husband to the merciless, fiery element
but stood bravely by his death bed until
the flames licked the panels of the state-
room in which the corpse lay In vain she
offered almost fabulous sums to any one
who would convey the body to the shore;
and in her sheer desperation, she caul hit up
the lifeless form and bore it to the guards
Of the boat 1t fell from her grasp, how
ever, and was destroyed, it is presumed,
with the boat Mrs, Mcdonald remained
in Uniontown, after the disaster, in the
hope Of gathering up the ashes Of her de-.
ceased husband.
Year: 1861

THE ENTRANCE TO A WoMAN's LIEE.--
There is touching beauty in the radiant
look Of a girl just crossing the limits Of
youth and commencing her journey
through tho cheekered space Of woman.
hood. 1t is all dew sparks and morning
glory to her ardent spirit, as she presses
forward in blissful anticipations Bat tho
withering heat Of the conflict of life creeps
on; the dew drops exhale; the garlands Of
hope, shattered aud dead, strew the path;
and too often ere noontide, tho brow and
sweet smiles arc exchanged for the weary
look Of one looking for the evening rest,
the twilight, the night.
Year: 1861

This question is often asked, and the gen
eral reply is, that ii is whatever pleases the
eye. / do not wish to meddle with meta
physics; but contend there is beauty which
exists in the soul, and is perceived only
through its actions. The symmetry of form
and features, which is termed beauty, is .
gift, the same as talent; and it is not to be
despised. There is a spirit of beauty pervad.
ing the works of nature. Gods finger has
touched them, and left an impression which
we term beauty and it speaks of him from
every pearly drop of dew, from the tiniest
blade of grass, from every leafy bower, from
the bow of promise, and from the worlds that
sparkle sonsS an the helf of OTlon, ana Ia
the milky way. No palace Of eastern mon
arch, nor any work of art, can compare with
the beauties of this earth,-the diamond, the
rose, or the dew drop sparkling in the morn
ing sun light.


The mind, ever watching for something
new and strange, does not perceive the beau
ties around US. They have become common
place; but they are not less real. The hour
of sunset has more to please the eye, though
it does not appeal more to our perceptions OF
beauty, than any others. The sky of bur
nished gold seems to cast spell over the
other beauties ofNature and as it fades into
the calmer, softer twilight, we seem TO inhale
part of its magic. The voice of our better
nature speaks to US, drawing US from earth,
and we are eommuning with those who have
gone before, The watchful sentinels. one by
one, emerge from the darkness; and each
retains his place on his ETHEREAL throne, until
the light of morning causes them to fade and
sink silently away IN space. They are watch
ers that never tire emblems Of immortality.


There is a beauty Of soul, existing In char
ity, gentieness, patience, justice, integrity and
humility and in every noble thought or &C
ton. When we see a frmness of purpose
that will not be baffled, under circumstances
which seem to make success impossible, and
that purpose is governed by pure and lofty
motive, there is associated with such a motive
an idea of the beautiful. There was beauty
in the spirit in which the widoS gave
her two mites; in the humility and faith
of Moses; in the integrity of the puritan ia
theirs and patriotism Of the American people
in the Revolution. They were conscious OF
being right, and that was motive and secu-
rity enough. Truth is beautiful. Ii may be
crushed or concealed, but it cannot be de-
stroyed, ncr its beauty marred. Beauty is
in the ''charity that thinketh no evil - in the
spirit which forgives, and can feel as cheer
tul when opposed as when it IS praised
Beauty, whether Of soul or form, is all OF
Heaven its germs are implanted ia every
thing that God has made. His own charac.
ter is glowing with it. aud the soul is its TEN.
pie. THERESA.
Year: 1861

The streets are smothered in the snow,
The chill eyed staes are cleaving keen
The frozen air, and, sailing slow,


The white moon stares across the scene.
She waits beside the fading fire,


The gasping taper fickers low,
And dropping down, and raising higher,
Her shadow waVers to and fro
No foot disturbs the sleeping floor,


No motion save the wintry breath
That stealing through the crannied door,
Creeps eoldly as q thought of death.
It chills her with its airy stream,


o cold, o careless midnight blast!
1t wakes her as her feyered dream


Hath skinned the sweetness of the past
She stirs not yet. The night has drawn
Its silent stream of stars away,
And now the infant streaks of dawn


Begin to prophecy the day.
She stirs not yet Within her eye


TIE half crushed tear-drop fingers still;
She stirs not, and the smothered sigh
Breaks wavelike on the rock OF Will
o heart that will unneeding prove,


o heart that must unheeded break
How strong the hope, how deep the love,
That burns for faithless folly's sake!
Year: 1861

The New York Sunday Atlas thus pic
lures the peculiarities Of fSoutherners:


A general impression prevails that the
people Of the South are far more extravagant
in their dress than we of the North; and
the Daily News asserts that single South
ern family consumes more in value in many
instances than whole New England village


This is oil nonsense. Ihe South spends all
it earns, but it is notfor dress by any means.


In Georgia, it costs man ten times as
much tor brandy-cocktails as it does for cloth
ing, while his expenditure for Bourbon
whisky is. greater in one year than his hat
and boot bills amount to in twenty years. =
Owing to warm climate, our friends at the
South need but veryhlittle clothing. The
most of thom keep warm by eursing and
swearing. Thick clothes arc nuisance down
South, and in all other climates where men
have nine months of the year devoted to
mosquitoes and the other three to yellow fe-
yer. The slave owner would buy lots Of
clothing if he needed IL But he does not.
The thermometer being in the vicinity Of
eighty the whole time, the slave owner is ever
more ready 70 invest il juleps than he is in
oyercoats. The South is death on drinks,
but is slow on clothing. Witha Slight heart
and a thin pair of breeches,' they care for
nothing that looks like warmth and woolen,
The light heart can be obtained with toddy-
stick, while the thin pair ofibreeches can be
found in two and a bali yards f nankeen,
at a cost Of sixty cents. The News should
overhaul its Southern statistics. When il
does this, it will discover that those who con,
sumo the most rum are not those who CON
sumo the most brOadcloth. v ,soiiiai n '
Year: 1861

mission. They were permitted to remain


on board up to the last moment, but when


the word was once given to 20 on shore tbe
last parting. had to take place, and several
ladies' left the vessel with the terrible nm.
certainty over them as to the safety fthe;r
friends, brothers and husbands. One Of
them said that if she only knew where thov
were going she would be satisfied.


Atseyen O'Clock the last man was on board
ne ?, last bundle slowed away, and at the word
OF the Captain the single cable was cast loose
and the noble vessel began to move into the
stream. Having gone into the middle of the
rver, immediately opposite Canal street she
there dropped her anchor for the night.
Year: 1861

A NEW DEyICE.-AmOng the many contemplate
devices of the enemy perhaps the most potent one
EMPLOYED to give " aid and eomfort" to the few
friends of submission supposed still to abide among
ns ;z the fabrication of rumors concerning the
he of State and Confederate troops in Virginia. If
II were possible for the despot at Washington to
create the impression that Virginia, like Maryland,
could not command the means Of defence, it would
be natural for him to suppose the public mind was
being put in process Of preparation for submission
At ali events no doubt he thinks we shall be slim
ulated to publish statement to the actual militia
forces in Virginia. He will be foled in every way.
President Davis is with let the tyrsnt tremoe.
-hickmoad Enquirer.
Year: 1861

i QUERY.-Complaint are made because
the Board of Trustees of the city has posted
up notices on the Gold Run bridge that the
city will not be responsible for any damage
that rsay result from crossing the bridge in
its present dangerous condition. The i'm
preston prevails in some minds that the
Board should go to work and re build or
repair the bridge, and that the city is not
exempt from the damages by the posting os
the notices.


2he city is limited by the act Of incorpo-
ration to a certain extent in making a debt.
We understand the limit has been reached.
Without money in the Treasury that can be
appropriated to the purpose, the Board has
no right to go on and create debt to build,
and if they should do so the scrip issued
for such purpose would be void. Suppose
mule team should break through the
bridge and be killed, and the city forced TO
settle with the over. How would the set
tlenent be made? There is no money to
pay. If the damage were paid in warrants
they woTs!d be Illegal, if the debt OF the
city has reached the limit of the law.
Year: 1861

This notorious follower of JEFF Dafis
nas been kicking up another bobbery in
San Francisco; not by stealing the brains
ct others this time, but by losing his SEN
ses, if he ever had any. The Reverend ad-
vecate of s'Hell broke loose" is enyious of
the crown of martyrdom, ami would seem
to like to be nailed to the cross. 1t is a
pity he hadn't Been born in the days of
Christ for then he might have been one of
the two nailed UP by the side of the Savior


DR.. Scott insists on insulting the moral
sense OF the community in which he resides.
He claims it as right. The people have
the same right to insult Efr1 with Kisses as
he has to insult their sense of propriety.-
Whatever may be said of the action of the
the people of San Francisco in hanging
him in efigy, and otherwise testifying their
sentiments at his outrages upon them-and
we do not sanction the spirit of mob vio-
lence-it is but paying him off in his own
coin. Had he q particle Of respect for the
oPiuiOuS VI uC WOulu DOt provoke
their resentment ty the uttrrance of senti-
ments that he ought to know are distaste-
fni. He has, by declaring his sympathy
With treason, invited insult and has no
reason to complain if his invitations are
accepted. The public should first condemn
him, and then the other parties who were
desirous of returning to him what they
deemed according to his deserts.


The Dr.has resigned the pastoral charge
OF Calvary church in consequence of the
demonstrations of opposition to him exhib-
tied on Sunday last, and has thereby saved
himself probably from further insult. If he
endeavors to conduct himself like reason
able being hereafter his life will be worth
more TO him if not to the world, than that
Of any Union advocate in ministerial cloth
among the sort of br. Scot. In the pande-
monum Of JEFF. Davis & Co. He has the
license to live in this loyal State which is
more than is granted the lover, of the
Union in the country where DR.. Scott for
merly prayed for dollars and got them.
Year: 1861

President Lincoln makes no secret of the
fact that when the rebellion is suppressed,
he intends to make new dispensation of
the immense list of officss in the gift of the
Government. He has frequently said that
he longs for the time when he can prove
his love for the saviors of the Republic, by
placing them in Offices of honor and profit.
Year: 1861

GoD OF THE VISE.-In the country Of West
phaia, in Germany, and all along the Rhine, an
image of the cruciied Saviour upon the cross
stands at the principal entrance of every vine
yard. He is denominated the "God of the
Vine," and is believed to have the grape in his
especial protection. In many Of the vineyards
there are little temples to the "lIoly Virgin"
around which the peasants gather at festival
times to implore the blessings Of the sacred
Mother upon the vintage.
Year: 1861

SOLDIERS PAY IScREAsED.-By late law of
Congress the pay of soldiers is increased from
eleven dollars a month TO fifteen. This in
crease of pay is only keeping pace with the
times. Fifteen dollars to-day is no more than
eleven when the old law was passed.


Ex-PREsIDENr VAN buren, says it is the duty
of all to rise above party till the rebellion is put
down.
Year: 1861

PATRIOTIC LANGUAGE.-The San Francisco
Mirror, of Monday, says;


The right of States to withdraw from the
Confederacy, and the policy of coercion un-
der any or existing circumstances. are ques-
tions past consideration nor. The assault
has been made, and the national honor de-
mands that the treason which prompted it be
crushed out. Since the South has refused
the olive she must take the sword.
Let the General government be apprised at
once that the States Of the Pacific may be re-
lied upon. 1t will relieve the Administra-
ton OF the misapprehension engendered by
the treason of Burch and Lane, and better
enable it to cope with rebellion where it ac.
tually exists. We would suggest that the
Legislature offer the Government the aid of
ten or twenty thousand Of the stontest arms
and hearts that ever welded a weapon either
to march to the East or man its defence here,
and as much money as the credit Of the State
is worth The men Will not be required,
except it be for the latter service; but the
offer will be received with joy by the Govern
ment, as an Indication of the loyalty Of our
people. and exercise a moral influence equal
in effect to the force of a hundred thousand
bayonets Let California not be the last to
speak"
Year: 1861

the LEGISLATURE A few important
measures were determined in the Legislature
on Saturday. The Senate Judiciary Com
mittee reported the bill of amendments to the
Constitution, one of the provisions of which
is for biennial sessions. The Assembly
adopted resolution fixing the 18th of May
as the day for the adjournment of the Legis-
lature sine die. The House also passed to
engrossment the bill calling special election
of Congressmen on the second Tuesday in
June, The Act for the purchase and preser-
yation of public newspapers was passed,
Year: 1861

CAUSE FOR lRRITATIoN.-Ihe Morning
Call, IS. F., says:


To those here who complain of unnecessary
agitation and irritation on the part of the
Union men, we have this to say. There are
in the Eastern States millions of peple and
in this State thousands who are devotedly at
tached TO the Constitution and the laws of the
country who adore its flag, who are proud
of its glorious history, who cherish with the
warmest regards its institutions and who are
anxious to have them perpetuated. These
millions see others industriously engaged,
without cause, in the unhallowed work of
overthrowing and destroying all that they
hold dear and sacred. and, of course, they
are provoked, and justly so, into utterance
of severe condemnation of the conduct of the
revoluiionists Union men cannot be expect
ted, in defense to the delicate sensibilities Of
those who sympathise with secessionists, to
refrain from denouncing conduct which has
plunged the country into civil war and threat
ems 10 ruin our beloved nation and overthrow
all its institutions.
Year: 1861

II was stated by leading dentist at Chi.
cago, in a recent address to his brethren, tha.
the amount of gold plate and leaf used in
the United States for the replacing and re.
pair of defective teeth, was s, ,250, 900. This
is fact that tests the existence Of high
state of civilization and good deal Of tooth.
ache in this blessed land.