smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1868

The Natchitoches Spectator says:


Great fears are entertained By many OF
an overflow and the reappearance of the
cotton worm, or some other dreadful mis-
hap; which expectations we regard as idle
in the extreme. drouth was predicted
few months since-now it is an overflow.
II it would not be considered impertinence,
we would suggest to planters the propriety
of banishing all such disCouraging and
visionary ideas, and declare war, even to
the " last ditch II necessary, against the
abundant crop of weeds and grass now
growing in their fields in consequence of
the recent rains.


The Natchitoches Times says:


There are many planters, among whom
we take the liberty of naming Messrs. A.
Lecompte and Marcelin Tauzin, who contend
that the army worm probably appears every
year; that if the season is dry in June, July,
and August the ants destroy it in every
stage and keep it under during the whole
year; and that there is no greater cause for
apprehension now than in any other year,
inasmuch as future rains or sunshine alone
will determine whether the crop is to be de.
stroyed or not. We know the ant to be the
inveterate and energetic enemy of this pest
in every stage of transition, ana the theory
here advanced may be correct.


The same paper says:


We find in our Rapides and st. Landry
exchanges the announcement of the APP
pearanCe of cotton caterpillars in consider.
able numbers. Truth Compels us to say
that these pests have also appeared in this
parish in sufficient numbers to discourage
planters and make them halt between two
opinions ns-whether to pillow up the cotton
and plant other crops, or risk the chances
on venture with cotton.


In another paragraph the Times says:


Should any of our readers feel alarmed
about the reports in circulation of the ap-
pearance Of caterpillars, and wish to plant
other crops on their cotton lands, we can
inform them where good Sorgho sugar cane
seed and castor oil beans can be had, and
will forward money for parties desiring it,
at their risk.
Year: 1868

The past few mornings and evenings have
been rather cool and chilly for this season
of the year, rendering clothing Of heavy
texture quite comfortable and blazing fires
accentable and cheerful.
Year: 1868

CAS- to Grants generalship he would Offer 500 III he
couLi raise that anoun 70 any man that would name
single Federal victory achieved by him. lie was not only
General but hypoerte and great ar, as proved by
six men, four more Than Is necessary convict man o
perjury before the law (Appsuse) Here was brand,
be said never put upon any candidate for The Preeny
tiuce the foundation OF the Goyernmentthe ban OF an
Infamous liar The Radicals might call this Dingsgate,
but Il was Ood TRUTH (applause and never was there
worse General that more dissraod military annals
(Applause
Year: 1868

TINHIS is to give notice that my wife Jane Barker
has this day left my bed and board without just


cause or provocation and shall pay debts OF her
contracting alter this date.
septl1d1w* WILLIAM BARKER.
Year: 1868

10 A gentleman of New Orleans
during the late epidemic, disgusted
at the dullness of the season, and
fearful Of the safety of his family,
closed his house, leaving his furni-
ture in the building, and removed
across the lake. He had not en-


joyed the luxury of baked reddish
and sea bathing many days before
his name was brought to the
registry of deaths and recorded as
oneof the defunot. Two sharpers,
one acting as principal, and one as
security, shortly after opened q
succession. The Register of
Deaths was called upon to prove
the disease of the unfortunate ad-
mirer of maritime enjoyments, and
little difficulty was experienced in
showing that he died intestate.
One of the two was appointed ad-
ministrator, the other going on his
bond. The furniture was sold at
auction, and the proceeds pocket
ed. The gentleman on his return
to the city, was surprised to learn
that he had been dead for some
weeks, and his estate settled.
Year: 1868

A RECIPE WORTH ONE THOUSAND
DoLLARs.-Take one pound ofsoda
and half a pound Of unslaeked
lime, put them into a gallon of
water, and let them boil twenty
minutes; let it stand till cool; then
drain off and putt it in q stone Jug
orjar. Soak your dirty clothes
over night, or until theyare wet
through, then wiring them out
and rub on plenty Of soap, and in
one boiler of clothes well covered
with water, add one teaspoonful of


the washing fluid. Boil half an
hour briskly, then wash them
thoroughly through the suds, and
rinse well through two waters,
and your clothes will look better
than the old way ofwashing twice
before boiling. @ 40
Year: 1868

lHe OprlHSuelu IuasS.J ne
publican tells the following:


"The late storm SO filled one


of our new and smallerstreets with


snow that it became almost an


impossiblity to pass through it,


but as only two houses were on
that street and only two persons
had occasion to pass through it
daily, the task of breaking a path


became a formidable one, and the
expense of having it, broken would
by NO means be trifEng.. One Of


its two inhabitants, however, had
an eye for business. In the Re
publican he inserted an advertise
ment offering his house for sale at
amere song. The plan worked
like charm. From Immediately
after breakfast until late at night,
and on the next day also. a stream
of hungry spectators of all sexes
and nations, Oh foot and in sleighs'
and carriages, poured down the
blockaded street to secure the
great bargain. OF course they
were all just too late, as they were
told, but long before the last had
departed the last snow drift had
vanished, aud the street was
smooth and hard as a plank floor |
and all for dollar" y l'.~
Year: 1868

An Enoch Arden case has been


decided in one of the courts al


Rochester, N. Y. The litigants


were two young men who in their


friendship at the outbreak of the


rebellion, agreed that if the one


who was married and who had en-


listed should fall, the one who re-


mained at home should marry the


widow. The soldier went to the


war. After a while report came


that he was killed in battle, and
his wife mourned for her husband.


He did not return, even after the
war, and at length the widow be-
came the wife Of the husbands
friend, and their joy was crowned
by the birth of a handsome child.
A short time ago the long absent
soldier reappeared, explained the
reason of his long absence, and
claimed his wife. The second
husband was 10th to surrender his
wife, who was the mother of his
child also; and declined to give her
up. The question as to which |
had the best right to the woman i
was submitted to legal tribunal,
and, on the last day of 1867, the |
court decided that the first mar
rage was binding, and the wife
must pass to the former husband. |
Year: 1868

A man in Milwaukee the other
day was cutting up hogs with a
huge cleayer, when'another work
man slipped on the greasy floor
and fell directly under the cleayer
as it was descending. Fortunate
ly for him the ak glanced, but it
took with it the greater part of his
scalp. The wound nevertheless
was SO severe as to prove fatal the
next day.
Year: 1868

In a lecture at Chicago the
other day, DIR. Hays, the explorer,
said ne saw an iceberg in the Arc


tic Sea which, if landed in New
York and sold at the market price,
would pay the national debt
twice over. What a pity it can't
be brought here, as many begin to-
think there is no other way of pay
ing the debt. ~ .i =.
Year: 1868

Some Of the papers are compli--
menting General Spinner because
several billions of money havcpass-
ed through his hands without
the loss Of a dollar. We think
highly Of General Spinner, but it
seems to US that a compliment to-
an officer for not stealing is hard
ly less than On insult.
Year: 1868

Massachusetts, is not the only
State which is wincing under the
effects of the Radical policy upon
the business of the country
From Maine we have a wall OF


the distress, and the Belfast Jour-
nal says "that four or five ship
yards that few years ago turned
out their half dozen ships yearly
are now idle-not solitary keel
lies along their idle ways. The
shipwrights lounge in the streets,
the merchants want employment,
blight has fallen upon industry
and the whole coast is desolate. =
Year: 1868

what they were intended to have. Isstead
of driving men into the revolutionary party,
they are driving them cut of it. 90
far as the mere success OF
Grant and Colfax is concerned, we could
not ask their opponents to render them
more effective service. Every threat they
make will swell the majority of the Union
candidates. That majority, from present
appearances, promises to be so great and
overwhelming as to put an effectual damper
upon any attempt to create disturbance or
resist the laws, whatever may be present
intentions.
Year: 1868

Our gratitude is due to the; Giyer of.all
good for the bright promises of an abundant
harvest now visible throughout the State.
Permit me to express the hope that in all
your deliberations the spirit Of harmony end
mutual forbearance, SO necessary to the digni-
ty Of legislative body, may be carefully
preserved, and that our new State, through
your wisdom and prudence, may inscribe upon
the opening pages of its history, record an
suied BY the petty warfare of interests, and
every member of your body will bear in mind
.tlat he owes not merely duty to the partic-
ular locality that he represents, but that the
whole State of South Carolina now calls upon
him for the unselfish service Of his head and
heart Let US hope that the era of good feel
ing may soon return to the entire people Of
the State, and that they will soon regard them.
selves not simply as the Inhabitants OF an
isolated section, but as citizens of a great ma
tion, whose ships may float in safety upon
every sea, and whose flag is the respected sym.
boil Of power and liberty in every land. -
l trust, gentlemen, that the Omaiscient
Ruler Of the Universe may sustain and direct
you in the afduous duties that lie before you,
that all your acts may insure to the common
good of our whole people.


ROBERTK. SCOTT,


Governor of South Carolina.
Year: 1868

In view of the impoverished condition of
the treasury, and the necessity for the most
rigid economy, in order to maintain the credit
Of the State, / recommend that the salaries
of ell State officers shall be placed at such
a figure az will SECURE to them only reason
able compensation for the discharge Of their
several duties. In fixing these salaries, due
allowance may properly be made for the diff
ference between the gold rate at which they
were formerly paid and the present market
value of the currency; aud as the offices were
created for the benefit of the public, and not
for the emolument of particular individuals,
those who hold them may we'll be content
With fair compensation for the service that
thoy may render to the State.


1 further recommend that yoq provide by
Law. for the appointment BY the Governor OF
. private Secretary, at such salary as will
secure the necessary clerical skill and intelli,
gence for-the proper discharge ofsll the du-
ties of such Office.
Year: 1868

Yhe eaiaiiniiiisss; ofJsar' have added largely
to the. number Of those who must depend
upon the public for the support and assistance
that, that unfortunate condition demands. l
therefore recommend that you will extend
your fostering care to the asylums and aims
houses Of the State, and that they may be
founded and administered on o broad end
liberal basis wQFihy ST NhrIs'iap people
Year: 1868

What could be more pleasant than to
have place Of general resort, where
everybody could meet everybody, ex-
change friendly greetings, take an ice or
glass of soda, with your friends-prom-
enade with your sweetheart; and we
should make DO objection to having the
whole thing enliyened by choice music.
The chalybeate springs near town would
be an admirable spot-a pretty walk and
IS situated delightfully."-. At very trifling
cost some enterprising citizen could
make the idea pay. The great draw
back is that Objectionable persons toe
often are admitted to such places and
nnavoidably nlingle with our sons and
daughters The managers would Ger
tatuly have such police advantages as to
insure protection from obuoxious char
acters and make our resort a perfect
sanctuary in its freedom from harm aud
danger.
Year: 1868




LOVE AFFAIRs.-We tread on holy
ground, and must not betray pint,
which friends have cou6ded to us. We
said in our last g Town Talk that
marriages were soon to occur Gut they
now approach too near their consumma-
ton to hazard public announcement
Take care that many doting fathers and
mothers are not already deceived. Let
us not eneroach upon that light which
as Wordsworth tells us, was never upon
land or sea- which made even darkness
beautiful, aud infused into life dream
which was


"Music. perfume, vision, bliss,


Blent and sublimed till you have stood en-


raped


In the quick essence of an atmosphere.
That made you tremble to unclose your eyes
Lest you should look Oh God =


There is no being of intelligent soul
whose ears has not heard this weird
music Itmay shine in your future like
hope-or be in your past memory,
but you have known or will know some
dream of love-in which there were
days of new delights and rapturous
nights of undecaying joys" Let us not
arrogantly anticipate its resonant touch
of melody. There are but few of our
young lady readers but know whether
they are alluded te or not. To know
Year: 1868

SUMNER AMUsEMENTs.-Now that
the summer mor->hs. with their accompa


nying dull times and bodily mental iner


tia, are approaching, We are disposed to
consider what we can do to make the sea
son pass more pleasantly. Our young
men instead of lounging their evenings
in idleness, could at very trihing cost,
get up games of ball, cricket matches,
rcgattas, moonlight excursions, fishing
excursions, with eulivening music, any OF
all of which, would add to the health
and well being of our people. We have
in our town a number of young men and
ladies. of acknowledged musical ability.


Gould some of them not be induced to
give concert say one night in every
week-issuing tickets Of admissions at a
nominal price-just enough to cover ex-
penses and leave them margin for con
/ tiugencies; or, if they prefer, charge
regular prices and let the funds be APP
propriated to charitable purposes. OuI
most learned men are agreed that one
great need Of the American people is
relaxation and amusement. life. as VI
spend ii is never ending turmoil and
trouble. We can not forget our bust
ness relations long enough for the little
recreation that is essential to the health
Of the body and the happiness Of the
heart. The Germans are exemplary to Us
in this pect-they have ten holidays
and ten popular games whore we have one
to divert the mind from daily work an
business. The sunshine that would nat
urally fnd its way into our hearts is shut
out by the shadows Of business care.
and responsibilities, and overwOrkcc
brains and oyerburdened heart are ALLOW


ed bat little rest and relaxation. Gu
citizens would cordially encourage


movement to bring about this change.
Year: 1868

there is one that loves you-yes, loves
you-though a thousand pass you by.
On this subject we may not now say
more. than that one of our best and
most worthy young men this week takes
his departure, to transplant from dis
tant home fair and beautiful flower
May the benizons of Him, Our Father,
rest upon him and her.
Year: 1868

Fessenden and Grimes opinions were
unqualifedly against conviction. Trum-
bull took decided grounds against the
first eight articles, but his position on
the eleventh is unknown as he did not
complete reading his opinion He said
the Indictment op, the first eight articles
would be squashed by any or all courts
in the country. His position is therefore
not certain, hut the chances are he will
sustain the President.


Henderson is against the same articles,
but expressed no opinion about the re-
manning three, The impeachers, how
Year: 1868

Spring had gone and come again. The leaves
of the past year, touched by the icy breath ofWin
ter, had whirled down in eddies and crumbled into
the dust whence they came, and the silent buds
had wakened into life, and new beauty was once
more upon the earth. Flowers had perished but
to bloom again. Symbols of a glorious resurrec.
ton, they had come forth from their long silent
slumber in the dust, arayed in all the loveliness
that had ever made them beautiful and glorious to
the eye.


And il there no resurrection for nations hopes
that have fallen in the dust? If they, too, find o
winter, must it be eternal2 Is there no God who
hears peoples prayers and who will bind up their
broken hopes, and deliver them from the thraldom
of the insoent oppressor in His own good time,
when he has visited them for their sins and purged
them as with fire? Infdelity may despair and look
upon the evil day. as one that may darken over us
forever, but the christians faith will never faltel
or wayer, nor doubt, however his own plans and
purposes may fail-the wisdom, the mercy and the
goodness of Him whose all-seeing eyes marks even
the fall of the sparrow, and who directs all issues
for the final good Of those who have made Him
their trust.


We are approaching an eventfnl time in the his
tory of the persoDages whose fortunes We have
thus far followed. On the old village in which the
opening scene of this too real story was laid, THE
NINTH DAY OF APRIL, of the last year of the war,
has dawned. We do not propose to lift the cur.
tain upon that great theatre Of action to which the
eyes of the civilized world were turned, with all the
Year: 1868




M, with orders not to return until they could
bring him trustworthy information in regard to the
number, movements, and route of the enemy.


On the west of the village runs wide swamp
intersected by numerous streams, and passable on
|ly, here and there, by some deep and difficult
ford, or some long narrow causeway where couple
of guns and handful of brave riAemen, might stay
the march of a considerable force. It was at such
a causeway as this, about three miles from the
town and on one of the main roads connecting il
with the village of M, that this veteran Officer
had temporarily established his headquarters. Ar
earthwork had been thrown up for the protection
of the artiIeymen, who were to work the guns
with which it was intended to sweep the causeway
in case the enemy should advance by that route.


There was yet another and more eligible route
by which he might move, crossing the swamp by
a causeway opposite the village OF M, where
he was said to have encamped the previous night.
He might march up on the left bank of the swan,
py stream, along broad public road, where there
were no causeways where handful OF men might
DISPUTE his passage. There was but one place on
this road affording even possible hope of arrest
ing bis march. Skirting the village on the SOUTH
is an insignificant wooded stream boggy, but
crossed by two or more roads leading into the vii
lase This stream, after course of about three
miles, widens into a deep pond, which turns q
mill, and short distance below empties itself into
the swamp about a mile below the causeway above
referred to. The road which crosses the causeway
unites with that which leads from the mil-dam al
right angles, at the distance Of scarcely mile from
the village, now threatened by the enemy. twas
BY the road over the dam that those best aequaint
ed with the topography of the country expected
the enemy would advance if, indeed, he came al
ALL Scouts had been thrown out along both thest
roads, to watch for the enemy and report bis ad
Year: 1868

Just as the sun rose blushing red
Over the hill-tops, somebody said,
In broken accents of mourning woe,
Sobbing aloud, but sobbing low;


Grandmother is dead r
When the sOrrowful murmur broke,
Out from our beautiful dreams we woke,
Feeling a sense Of terrible loss;
She was gold refined from its dross,


So somebody spoke.
Just as she sometimes sat IN neI u14..r.,
Lifting her heart in silent prayer,
Looked she; only purple mist
Her dropping lips and thin lips kissed,


And rested there.
Only yesterday, how she planned
LabOrs of love for her aged hand
Whenever my useful days are DER,
Let me go to the heavenly shore"


Was her demand.
Dear old grandmother! How her prayer
Quickened the ear of Eternal care!
And, with only warning pain,
His angel gathered her soul again


To those regions fair
Blessed is it for her to sleep;
Can it be wrong for us to weep?
We who loved her so we'll, and knew
All the worth of her loving, too,


And her wisdom deep.
She was aged, and knew the way
Youthful feet were inclined to stray;
"The young are giddy and dthey mustleal
Of hard experience ere they turn"


She would gently say.
Happy grandmother. Would that we
Might share with you the mystery
Of that beyond, where a thought of sin
Never, oh never can enter in


Through eternity.
Year: 1868

Before trust my fate to thee,


Or place my hand in thine,
Before let thy future give


Color and form to mine,
Before peril all for thee, question thy soul


tonight for me.
I break all slighter bonds, nor feel


A shadow of regret
Is there one link within the past


That holds thy spirit yet?
Or is thy faith as clear and free as that


which can pledge to thee?
Does there within thy dimest dreams
A possible future shine,
Wherein thy life could henceforth breathe
Untouched, unshared by mine?
Ifso, at any pain or cost, o tell me before


all is lost.
Look deeper still If thou canst feel


Within thy inmost soul
That thou hast kept portion back,
While | have staked the whole,
Let no false pity spare the blow, but IN


true mercy tell me so.
Is there within thy heart need


That mine cannot fulfill?
One chord that any other hand


Could better wake or still?
Speak NOVELIST at some future day my


whole life wither and decay.
Lives there within thy nature hid


The demon-spirit change,
Shedding passing glory still


On all things new and strange?
1t may not be thy fault alone-but shield


my heart against thine own.
Couldst thou withdraw thy hand one dBy
| And answer to my claim,
That Fate, and that tto-day's mistake


Not thOu-had been to blame?
Some 'soothe their conscience thus; but
thou wilt surely warn and save me now
Nay, answer mott dare not hear,


The words would come too late;
Yet / would spare thee all remorse,


So, comfort thee, my Fate
Whatever on my heart may fall, remember


would risk it all