smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

A Volume Condensed.


We clip the following paragraph from a
local article in the Dubuque Herald. F..
B. WILKIE, ESQ, the accomplished editor OF
that department OF the Herald has written
some of the finest passages to be found in
newspaperdom. We do not remember to
have seen better description of the fussery
consequent upon "new arrival"-we are
sure no equal number of words ever told
more forcibly Or tenderly the sadness Of
the other side of the picture:


The population of Dubuque within the
last week has increased beyond all possible
belief Nor is it from outside emf grafton
either, that our population is thus being
added to; for almost every third man you
meet on the street has quiet gleam in his
eye and look of sheepish, fatherly import
ance, which tell of rare little treasures at
home e-of new voices in the family music
of new blcssomings on the household tree.
And the enlarged list Of grandmothers!-
Bless their old spectacles! how busy and
fussy, and proud, and happy they all are
nowadays! Who but them could handle
the blanket with its tiny, lobster-colored
contents?-who but them know the secrets
OF catnip, peppermint, paregoric and sooth-
ing syrup? And all the old ladies-they
too are happy; there is new subject of talk
over their bohea; "reminiscences to be bro't
up and discussed and at least three DAYS
fun to be had generally.


Then there is the 'happy father"-of
course he's got to keep out of the way of
grandmother, nurse, cook, chambermaid
and the old women generally; of course he
knows nothing abont such matters, and the
more he don't put his nose into such af-
fairs the better for him. So he hangs
around the store, is very grateful, humble
and complaisant to the old crones that are
caring for his Penates and Lares, and con-
tents himself with quiet little undemon-
strstive bit of joy somewhere within.


And yet all goes OH not unsorrowing
Here and there we hear Of cases where the
silver cord is broken-where the pale one
totters for little while on the brink of the
Beyond, then falls over, disappearing for.
ever in the Shadows-where the wife, meet
ing for the first time her geat Duty, goes
worsted from the conflict and is thenceforth
hidden, but not forgotten, in the noiscless
chambers of the dead The slain hero of
q hundred battles is not so worthy our tears
as she; nor waves the solemn yew above a
rounded grave deserving loftier monument
than that which holds the poor form Of her
that died in the sacred cause of maternity.


Well, so goes, or rather so comes the
world.
Year: 1860




FAIRBANKS ScALEs.-Weighed in the
balance Of o just criticism, all are obliged to
admit that the scales of Fairbanks & Co.
are, without exception, the best ever invent
ed. We know whereof We affirm, because
we have tested their value, and are fully
satisfied Of their superior merits. The in
PRODUCTION of these scales has wrought a
revolution in the transaction of various
business, and their accuracy is such that
uniformity in weights has been established
all over the country, thus making them
national, legalizsd standard. Nor are they
confined to the United States; they have
found their way to almost every part Of the
civilized world, and are adapted to the STAN
dards Of all countries, SO that it may be
said, all nations, if not weighed in these
balances" at least weigh by them.
Year: 1860

A VALUABLE RECRUIr.-The HOrnells-
vile On. w. journal, one of the ablest OF
the interior Republican papers came out
last week as follows:


We place at the head of our columns this
day, the names of Douglas and johnson, in
the place Of Lincoln and Hamlin, and the
paper will hereafter be devoted to the prin-
ciplcs Of the Democratic party, and advo-
cate conservative National doctrines. The
crisis has arrived when we consider it to be
the duty Of every lover Of his country to
lend his aid to check the progress of Sec
tional fanaticism, and strive to place at the
head of our Government men who will re-
gard alike the rights and intesests of every
portion of the Union.
Year: 1860

a '0flCksH


Pomeroy of the La Crosse Union ana
Democrat, in starting a new volume, thus
explaterates. ''Brick' will keep talking
just what he pleases; there is no stopping
the acag Of his tongue on the point of his
pen:


"As to the future course Of the paper we
shall say but little. 1t will always be Dem
Ocratic, and its editor is able to be about as
independent as the next man. What we
like we shall approve of-what we don't
like we shall condemn-a if the people
don't like the tone, or style of the paper,
they can remedy the matter by taking such
one as they do like, or, like fools, going
without any. If Douglas is elected Presi.
dent, and we expect he will be, this will be
Douglas paper, except he should do as old
Buck, when it won't be a Douglas paper.
If he is not elected it will be a Dougla
paper still, fighting on for the principle of
non intervention.


During the next year we intend to say
great many very mean things-and to
omit saying number Of very good ones,
and the people who sit up nights to finA
something in the La Crosse Union d Dena-
ocrat that ought not to have been there,
will just as like as not find the object of
their search Such is human frailty!


Soon as election is over, we shall present
some new features in u western paper,
which will make it one Of the most reada-
BILE papers in the State. We shall 60 in for
fun-for making money-for rewarding
friends for furnishing enemies-for helping
along the cause of education and agricul-
ture-for getting farm mortgagers out of
the trap they have been caught in-and for
extending the circulation of this paper.


We believe that white men are as good
as niggers-as general thing! That there
is more hypocrisy than religion in all ortho-
dox churches-that the honest, hardy Pho.
neer who goes intoa territory to cut out for
himself a home, is capable of governing
himself and needs no Congressional, wine
guzzling guardlan-that the interests of the
northwest are worth looking after, even be-
fore the interests Of the negro in the south
that James Buchanan did not succeed in
cramming his Lecompton 'swingil' down
the throats Of free people, and that if the
aforesaid James Buchanan, Esquire, sue
ceeds in getting Abe Lincoln elected Presi-
dent, we Democrats can stand it as long rs
anybody can!-which will be but four
years any how"
Year: 1860

AZ The latest Irish bull we read of is
the case Of an Irish gentleman who, in Or
der to raise the wind whereby to relieve
himself from pecuniary embarrassments,
got his life insured for large amount and
then drowned himself.
Year: 1860

The Democracy achieved just such victory
at st. Paul Minnesota, as they have lately
been achieving all the way from Main to ths
Mississippi They elect their entire city ticket
majority ofthe Common Council a majority
Of the School Board, and four Of the five Coun-
ty Commissioners And this has been done.
too, in the face of unscruplous attempts on the
part ofthe Black Republicans to carry the city
The day of election was changed to one month
earlier to disranchise Democratic voters; an
oppressive registry law was passed for the same
purpose, and its execution confined to jealous
Black Republican partisans; and in addition to
this, there was treachery in the Democratic
ranks. But the Democracy marched on to VIC
tory over all.


When did campaign open more auspiciously
than does that Of 1860 to the Democracy7
Year: 1860

Well, there lived an old woman some years
had large fortin and an only darter. She was
very good and very cross, as many riteous peo'
pie are, and had a loose tongue and tight pus
Of her own. All the men that looked to her
darter, she thot had an eye to money and she
warn't far out Of the way mother, for it seems
as II beauty and money was too much to 60 to-
gether in general way. Rich gals and hand
some gals are seldom good for nothin else but
their cash or their looks. Pears and peaches
are not often found on the same tree, tell you.
She lived all alone the most, with nobody but
her darter and her in the house, and some old
niger slaves in hut near by; and She seed no
company she could help. The only place they
went ia general way, was meetin end Jeru-
she never missed that, for it was the only
chance she had sometimes Of getting out alone.
z Barney had most beautiful voice, and al
ways went there, too, to sing alone with the
gals; and Barney, hearin of the fortin of Miss
Elles made up to her as fierce as possible, and
sang so sweet, and talked so sweet, and kissed
so sweet, that he soon stood number one with
the heiress. But he didn't often get chance
to walk home with her, and when he did. she
darsn't let him come in for fear Of the old wo-
man. But Barney warn't to be put off that way
long. When a gals in one pastur and lovers
in another, it's high fence that they can't get
over, that's a fact.


Tell you, what" says Barney, "you set up
alone in the keepin' room, Jerusha, dear, arter
and I'll slide down on the rope from the trap
door on the roof. Tell her you are exercised in
your mind, and want to mediate alone, as the
words you have heard this day have reached
your heart"


Jerusha was frightened to death almost; but
what won't a woman do when lover is in the
way? SO that very night she told the old wo
man she was exercised in the mind, anu would
wrestIe with the spirit. ...... ...


"Do, DEAR" says the mother, land you won't
think OF the vanities ofdress, and idle company
no more. You see how have given them all
up since I made profession, and never SO much
as talks of 'em now, or even thinks of 'em."


r q y 4


! Strange, Squire, amt it? But it's much
easier to cheat ourselves than to cheat the devil.
That old hag was too stingy to buy dress, but
persuaded herself it was bein' too good to wear
it. .a.sH


Well, the house was fiat roo fed house, and
had q trap-dD in the ceilin' over the keepin'
room, and there was a crane on the roof, with
q rope TO pull up things to spread all out, and
Barney thought the old woman was asleep he
crawls out Of the house, opens the trap-door
and lets himsel down by the rope, and he and
Jerusha sat down on the hearth in the chin.
ney corner courtin,' or, as they call it in
them diggins, 'sniffin ashes.' When daylight
began to show, he went up the rope hand over
hand, hauled it up after him, and closed to the
trap door, and made himself scarce. Well, all
this went on as slick as could be Tor awhile but
the old woman seed that her darter looked
pale, as if she hadn't sleep enough, and there
was no gettin' her up in the mornn', and when
Year: 1860

N NJ, Poipdexler, at Union Office September
16th 1854. says


"Some weeks since being seriously affected
with pain and uneasiness at the stomach, loss
OF appetite, and at times strong symptoms OF
dyspepsia, was induced to try your Holland
bltters, and feel it but an act ofjustice To the
article, as well as for the good Of those who
may be effected with like arrangement Of the
stomach to state that the use OF one single bot
tie OF this medacne proved Of incalculable ben
ht having freed the stomach from all sense of
depression, and removed every symptom Of dys-
pepsia, would also remark, that two other
members Of my family, who were afflicted in o
similar manner with myself were entiely reliey-
ed by the use Of a single bottle each.
Year: 1860

PHILADELPHIA MUNICIPAL ELEcTIoN-In 1858
the Peoples Party elected their candidate for
Mayor by LOO majority and at the recent
election they succeeded by less than 1ooo!-
being gam Of near 1000 in two years! This
is cheering news from the Keystone, and clear.
ly indicates that she will give her vote for the
Democratic nominee for President next fall.
Year: 1860

she did, she was yaunin' and gapin' and SO dull
she hadn't word to say. She got very unea


sy about it at last, and used to get up in the
night sometimes, and call her darter, and make
her darter, and make her go off to bed, and
once or twice came plaguy near catchin' Of
Year: 1860

Every farmer who has praetesd fall top
dressing, knows it is invaluable, This does
not arise 80 much irqm the fertjli5iDg matter
in dressing, as from the fact that it protects
the surinee of the ea:th from sudden changes
Of the smosphere-preyents its freezing 50
early in The fall, or losing its moisture aud
heat Of a tea direct contact of the wind. In
shors, the real bei,eeit Of fall top-drsssing, ia
in mulehing the soil State manure is too
valuable to be used for this purpose. Far
better to keep this to apply in the spring, and
then cover it with earth Immediately. At
least ninety per cent. Of manure, used as fall
top-dressiug, is wasted by passing into the at
mosphere. Nearly the same results can be
obtained by fall top dressing with leaves, straw
or any other substance that viii cover the sur
face. Let farmer try the experiment, by
thus mulchng small piece Of grass land with
straw, leaves or other like substance in the fall,
and apply the manure in the spring and oa
another piece, apply the manure in the fall.
aud give US the result.
Year: 1860

The following practical illustration of the
value of the thorough tillage Of e small farm.


in opposition to the common practice of culti-
waiting specifically larger tract of land, is
taken from the Homestead, and it is worthy Of
attentive consideration. 1t is an admirable
instance Of jucieious calculation and manage
nent


"I'he writer purchased farm Of sixty acres.
ten years ago. lie Immediately sold thirty
acres Of the less valuable portion, and with q
part OF the receipts from this. sale, he under
drained and subsoilcd twelve acres of that
which he retained. The soil isa gravelly loan
and dry but he drained it, he says, to make
it wet, and succeeded. The whole Of the mA-
nure from the bart-yard went to enrich these
twelve acres, and now the land is really good.
The second year after he came into possession,
bis crops from these twelve acres were more
than double the produce taken by his prede-
ccssor from an average of at least thirty acres
annually devoted by him TO cultivation, while
the quality OF his products was 25 per cent.
better than they had ever been. Oh one acre
and third he took four tons and threequGr-
tcrs of clover hay. Though the land was pre-
viously In good heart, having a chance OF OBJ
tanning six cords Of manure from black
smith shop, he top-dreSsed the clover with that,
and barrel Of plaster besides. He keeps in
better condition as many cattle as his prede-
cessor, and intends to break up three acres IN
the spring, undertaking and sa6soiling at
the same time" The writer adds, with EN-
phasis :" believe in little farm, we'll titled
Too much territory is the greatest evil farmers
ha 20 to cone with The trutIr is seen every
day. Let US mend the matter"
Year: 1860

Young folks should be nannerly but how
to be SO is a question. Many good boys and
girls feel that they cannot behave to suit them
selve in the presence of company. They are
awkward. clownish, rough. They feel timid,
bashful, and self-distrustlul, the moment they
are addressed by stranger, or appear in COM
pany. There is but one way TO get over this
feeling, and acquire easy and graceful man
ners, and that is, to do the best they can all
tie time, at home as well as abroad Good
manners are not learned so much as acquired
by habit They grow upon US by use We
must be courteous, agreeable, civil, kind, gen
tlemanly, and manly at home and then it will
become a kind of second nature everywhere.
A course, rough manner at home begets Il
habit OF roughness, which we cannot lay off
if we try, when We GO among strangers. The
most agreeable persons re haze ever known
In company were those who we're most agreea-
bic at home. Home is the school for all the
best things.
Year: 1860

Trolope, in his new work on Jamaica, says


Of the eInancipated negro:


81" He lies under the Mango tree, and eats the
luscious fruit in the sun; he sends his black


urchin up for bread fruit, and behold the
family table is spread He pierces cocoanut,
and 10! there is his beverage. He lies on the
grass surrounded by oranges, bananas and pine
apples"


Is it strange that he shouId be inactive and
lazy? Is it surprising that arguments about
the blessedness of labor, of providence, Of
thrift, should fall dead upon his ears ? How
many of US would work, if we were not obliged
to? How many Of our fashionable idIers are
there whose lives really amount TO nothing
more or better than the drowsy indulgence of
these tropical negroes? How much better is
it to loll about Newport and Saratoga in the
summer, and the saloons of New York in the
winter, doing nothing but vegetate, than it is
to roll around under the mango tree and eat
cocoanuts and bread fruit all the day long p
We think that Trollopes statements need
some modification, but granting them to be
true, there is large class of Americans who
with much justice criticize the dold far
,aiente life of the Jamaica negro Of how
many men even here in this bustlng land
might it truly be said that they exisi, bat do
not live ?-ProUfdence Journal
Year: 1860

We advise all young people to acquire in,
early life the habit OF using good language
both in speaking and writing al,sl sA-,ssvl7sz
as early as possible any use of slang
words and phrases. The longer they live the


more difficult the acquisition of good lam
guagc will be; and if the goldenase of youth
the proper season for the acquisition of Ian.
guayc be passed in its abase, the unfortunate
victim of neglected education is very probs-


bly, doomed to talk slang for life. Money is
not necessary to procure education. Every
man has it in his power. He has merely to
use the language which he reads instead of the
s!sng which he hears; to form his taste from
the b St speakers and poets of the country
to treasure up choice phrases in his memory
aud hubituate himself to their use, avoiding
at the same time that pedanic precision and
bombAst which show rather the weakness of
vain ambition that the polish of an educated
mind
Year: 1860




The prominent reasons for using mules in
teaming and farm labor in preference TO hor-
ses, are briefly exhibited in the following views:
They live to much greater age a mule has
scarcely attained his masured strength at
twelve years old, an age in which horses have
commenced a rapid deterioration IN value and
usefulness the average life of mule is about
thirty years, bat often al forty they are known
to perform the most laborious services a
team Of mules will accomplish almost the la
Dor of bOrses with consumption of about one
third less provender. Within the last few
years mules have been extensively introduced
iuto the teauiag operations of the manufactu-
ring district in which l reside, and are univer-
sally considered there more efficient and eco
noniical for that use tfRn horses Mules are
subject to but few Of the diseases which pre-
vail, and are so destructive among horses
Their hard skin and short hair render them
them less liable to be CALLED by the harness or
affected by cutaaeous diseases. They are said
never to be infested by verniu. The hoof OF
the mule is essentially a horny substance, and
of slow growth, and hence his shoes are seldom
cast or displaced in their position, but remain
until worn out, firmly on the foot. Tue vision
of the mule is much more quick and distinct
than that Of the horse, aud therefore they are
less liable to shy or become frightened. They
are sure footed to q proverb. The mule ex-
GELS the horse aud elna!ates the oxin his steady
and uniform Efforts in labor. 1t is objected to
mules that besides their disagreeable brayiDg.
they are obstinate and slow, tut these defects
believe may BE- overcome by gentleness and
practice.
Year: 1860

Should Lincoln be the next President, there
will be sad and mournful procession of dilap-
idated offiee-holders from the various depart
ments. Protected, as Mr. Lincoln would be
from the avalanche of southern applications
which has rolled in so terribly upon every new
President since the organization Of the govern
meHt, and no doubt reserved by patriotic res
ignations on the part of those who declare
that this election will dissolve the Union. it
will be most significant spectacle to see men
who have grown gray in ofics-who are, in
deed, the checks, stops and obstacles OF that
great circumIocution system which has become
a vast evil here-turning their trembling steps
to the homes they so rarely see, and to the ay-
ocations they have so long abandoned We
shall then ascertain whether certain men are
indispensable in the management o. public af
fairs-whether the Union will collapse like
great balloon, when the gas of the fre-eaters
is withdrawn from Washington, and whether
new men and fresh men may not be able to
prove that this republic has demands upon no
particular individual and that even a change,
no matter how drastic and purging it may
sometimes be, may not save bilious and con-
stipated system


The venerables who carry gold-headed canes
along the avenue every day at O'Clock P. NJ.
at about $500 year apiece, and who have
grown gouty before dusty desks and in cosy
snuggeries, realizes the possibility of new reg
ime. Their dissolution of the Union is their
removal from office; their idea Of the destruc-
ton of the Democratic party is the receipt of
yellow envelope, enclosing a polite request
to leave, and their only idea of violation
of the Constitution is the apprehension that
the places which know them now may,
after the 4th of March, 1861, know them
no more forever.-[ Washington cor. Phil.
Press.
Year: 1860

When a man loves woman before be tries
to win her, he will have, if he loves her unsel-
fshly and generously, many "a doubt concerning
both her and himself In fact as l ouce read
somewhere, "When a man truly loves wo-
man, be would not marry her on any account
unless he was quite certain he was the best
person she could possibly marry But as
soon as she loves him, and he knows it, and is
certain of that, however many faults she may
possess-I never told you you were an angel,
did |, little lady ?-they have cast their lot to-
gether, chosen one another "For better, for
worse"-then the face of things is entirely
changed. He has his rights, close and strong
as no other human being can have with regard
to her-she has herself given them to him
and if he has any maniiness in him he never
will let them go, but hold her fast forever and
ever.
Year: 1860

The Paris correspondent of the Courier des
Etata;s UniS in his last letter to that journal
says:


1t is rumored that the death of Prince Je-
rome will furnish to his son by bis first mar
riage with Miss Elizabeth Patterson an occa-
sion to revive his claims as sole heir of the au-
gust deceased. This is really the time for him
to have his rights, if be has any, formally deei-
ded. 1t is truethat the decision which would en-
anate from an imperial family council would
not be very dubious, although certain members
have it is said, shown themselves favorable to
the cause of the American lady. Jerome was
a minor when he was married to her by Bishop
Carroll, and it was on this plea of minority
that Napolean broke the union. To prove
that the young marine officer had been enticed
into the match by premeditated scheme, tes
timouials were produced to show that Miss
Patterson had laid wager that she would cap
tivate and marry the brother OF the man the
fame of whose exploits had already filed the
two continents. She won the wager, but only
gained thereby premature widowhood and
the grief of losing, while still living, the man
whom she believed attached TO her for life
Year: 1860

A garden is beautiful book, written by the
finger of God every leaf is a letter. You
have only to learn them--and he is a poor
Ounce that cannot, if he will, do that-to learn
them, and join them and then go on reading,
and reading, and you will find yourself carried
away from the earth to the skies by the beau
tiful story you are going through. You do
not know what beautiful thoughts---for they
are nothing short-grow out of the ground,
and seem to talk to man aud then there
are some aowers-tney always seem to be like
oyer+dutifnl children-tend them evar so little,
and they come up and flourish, and show, as
may say, their bright and happy faces to you.
--Jerrold.