smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1860

The IMP OF TIE Gas METER.-Mr. Ross
has given notice of his intention to apply for
a bill authorisiDg the appointment of an In
spector of Gas. Without being able to state
at present that the form in which Mr.. Ross
wishes to meet the evil is the best, still, all
gas consumers become frequently aware that
the gas meters perform strange antics, and
that gas is not at all times the most odorous
of fluids The apparatus by which gas is
usually measured, and which is called me-
ter-some say cheater-is an instrument the
working of which the public are wholly un-
acquainted with. 1t may be all right, but
the interior of that inscrutable black iron
box performs strange tricks. Sometimes,
during summer quarter, the active imp in
side has been known to consume more gas
than during a winter quarter, the same num-
ber of burners being in operation. Some
times it has run up bill of frightful propor-
tions, and householders who would prefer %
use gas on account of its brilliancy and safe
ty, fy rather to the denominations of candles
and coal oil. in order to escape the in6iction
of the imp of the meter. These meters being
entirely in the hands of the respective COM
panies, no tangible guarantee exists to which
the public can appeal. If one buys pound
Of tea, bushel of wheat, or yard of cloth,
we can all see that weight and measure are
duly given. But who knows anything about
that satanic whrligig which is so secretly
concealed inside the black box, hid away,
mostly, down the cellar? He may be a very
faithful imp; very conscientious imp;
very paragon of upright devils, but his acts
frequently belle him. Now, the public should
have some means through an inspector or
otherwise of knowing that this little fellow
does not work too -fast-is not too much the
servant of his own master. Were the pub
lie sure that they would be called to pay for
only what they consumed, large accession
would take place to those who use gas
Those who burn it now are compelled to do
80 from some special circumstances. Butif
the gas companies would join in this de-
mand for the appointment of an inspector, or
for the procuring of some other means, by
which the existing objections could be met.
it would be satisfactory and beneficial. This
funny fellow, the imp in the gas meter, must
be trotted out for our better acquaintance.-
London Free Press.
Year: 1860

For the Port Tobacco Times.
In far off valley deep,


Where the rushing waters sweep,
And the snow white lilies peep


From their beds Of green,


Wandering at the close of day,


Like some timid woodland fay,


Ger the tufts of new mown hay,


maiden fair


Eyes she had of deepest blue


Vyng cen with Heavens hue,


Telling of the heart so true


That warmly beat below;


But upon her sweet young face


In which centcred every grace,


One might plainly see the trace
xofjo3y destroying woe
For a moment she stood on the soft moist sod
But scorning to kiss af11iction's rod,
She silently prayed to the mercful God
And plunged into the stream
And as her pure spirit fled to its rest,
And her body lay still on the streams cold breast,
The setting sun behind the hills in the west
Concealed his last lingering beam.
And when that sun with power and might
Again chased from the sky the dark shadows OF


night
And filled the world with his golden light
There was dole at Fly Hall
In many an eye there cleaned tear,
And many heart was sad and drcar,
For in ''the beautiful vallcy'' that maiden fair
Was honored and loved by ALL
From the sparkling waves her form they took,
From her silken hair the water pearls shook,
And they n1aryelled not at her lifelike look
For she s'trod where Christ hath trod.''
Above her head they have reared no tomb,
But around her grave the wild flowers bloom,
And her only requiem is the pheasant's boom,
Her glory the forgiveness Of God.
And now when the weary traveller Graves
The name of the stream in whose limpid waves
His heated brow he joyfully lavcs


Scorched by the summers sun,
The dusky workman with hat in hand
And eyes uplft to the spirit land,
With quivering lip will revetently stand
And answer, 'tis Jenny's Run


IVAN ULLIN.
"A small stream the road from Port Tobacco
o Washington, about two miles from the former
,lace.
Year: 1860

asY The addition Of cab" to sentence in
cxhortation, is considered by some an essential
aid, but sometimes it has a very ludicrous effect,
as in the case Of the man who said, though in
the early part Of life he had been opposed to
God. for twenty years he had been li,in. on
the Lords siIe-ah'
Year: 1860

A SOLDIERS ESTIMATE OF GLORY. Sir
Charles Napier, so distinguished for his military
service in India, on receiving dispatches from
the English government making him governor
of Scinde with additional pay and ordering a
triumphal column to be cast from the guns he
had captured, wrote: Il wish the government
would let me go back to my wife and girls, it
would be more to me than pay, glory and hon
or. This is glory, is it? Yes. Nine princes
have surrendered their swords to me on the field
of battle, and their kingdoms have been con-
quered by me and attached to my own country.
Well all the glory that can be desired is mine,
and care so little for it that the moment can,
all shall be resigned to live quietly with my wife
and girls no honor or riches repays me for abb
sence from them. Otherwise, this sort of life is
to me, as agreeable, as it may enable me to
do good to these poor people. Oh, if can do
any good to serve them where SO much blood
has been shed in accursed war, I shall be happy.
May l never see another shot fired Horrid,
horrid war -


@ An eccentric wealthy gentleman
stuck up a board in a field upon his estate,
upon which was painted the following:


Il will give this field to any man who is
contented." He soon had an applicant.


:'Well, sir, are you contented man?''


Eyes, sir, very"


"Then what do you want with my field ?"


The applicant did not stop to reply.


---->s>~---
Year: 1860

dignifed. But Mr. Calhoon is in fun, for he says elsewhere that Hindman is gen tleman of too much refinement to do vio- lence to mans private character. Now, if he means Tom Hindman, the bully and street fighter, the man who shot Rice and tried to kill Moon, who ran down the aisle of the House and shouted for protection, it is evident irony on the part of the editor To a bully, without any of the characteristics of gentleman, defamer of private charac- ter, whose mildest term for political op. ponent is corrupt scoundrel" or "perjur- ed william" and who carries his hand for ever on the hilt of his knife or butt of his pis- tol, the above terms used by this editor must evidently be taken in sarcastic sense. At all events as Hindman brags on doing the very things Calhoon says he does not do, he is either liar or a harmless braga- docio.

 Take him in all, this is the funniest spe- cimen of an editor we have ever seen. And he does all these with grave countenance, with an air of seriousness that would lead some people to believe he was in earnest. When he stands on his head and swears the world is upside down, he does it so ear- nestly as to startle us. He is interesting as we'll as amusing. There is sameness in his exhibitions-his show is a one horse concern, but worth looking at once ortwice. After that it wearies. People get tired of seeing a nurse alternately skipping and fondling brat.
Year: 1860

Secession will be followed, if not pre- ceded, by civil war. Blood will flow like water. Not only in the south, but in the north, the negrophilists will find armed men to resist them. Both sections will sui fer. The cost ofthe Union cannot be count ed, but there is point at which to remain in 1t longer would be worse than death- We hope the day is far distant. Possibly it may come during the present year. When it does come, we hope to be prepared to meet it. In the meantime, we firmly be- lieve that in the success of the democratic party lies the hope of the south and main tenance of the Union. Hence the necessi- ty of harmony among ourselves. It is very evident that if there is dissolution of the Union, it will not be brought about by either the Old Line Democrat or this pa per. When the result of the Presidential election is known and it should be found that black republican is elected, the south will take counsel together. Her wisest and bravest men will meet and adopt course for us to pursue. But we hope and believe that day is far off and that democratic prin- ciples and conservatism will yet triumph over the opposition and their allies of fla naticism.

 In no carping or retaliatory spirit we venture to add few more words. The editor of this paper is known to be south ron by birth, slayeholder and with his every interest identified with the south To suppose he would counsel course contra. " to the interests of the section he lives in is absurd Even the pro tenn. is slave. holder in small way, and all his interests are here Born in the Old Dominion, he never was any thing else but southron.- We need not assure our readers that so far as the rights of the south are concerned we are and have been prepared to defend them with what ability we possess. The col umns of this paper are evidence of that It does seem singular that a comparative stranger to our State should take those to task whose great fault heretofore was said to be too intensely southern feeling.
Year: 1860

are many of our lady readers who are con- plaining of weakness and debility. Our advices is to go at once and get some of MCLEAN's STRENGTHENING CORDIAL AND BLOOD PURIFIER. It is delicious ToN1c, and just the thing to STRENGTHEN and INvIcoRATE the whole organization, and PURIFY the BLOOD. See advertisement in another column.
Year: 1860

RIVER, ETc.-The river is yet in toler- able boating stage and full of steamers.- The weather is snapping cold, and for sev. eral mornings, floating ice was seen going down stream. The boats going up and down are heavily laden and there is an un- preccdented amount of travel this winter.
Year: 1860

Our readers will bear in mind that Tues day next, is the day for the meeting of the friends of the Memphis, Little Rock and Fort Smith railroads in this city.

 The object of the meeting as we are ad- vised IS to take the necessary steps for the consolidation of the two roads mentioned

 Several gentlemen from abroad are in- vited; and it is hoped that every friend of internal improvements will be present on that occasion.
Year: 1860

For more than eighty years our nation stood, And freedoms star shone brightly Der the food,- Must it, at last set ill a sea of blood?

 May He who holds all nations in his hand, Avert the civil war,--the sword and brand That threaten now to desolate the land. And let us hope the gloom will pass away,- Ger northern minds Reason resume her sway,- And true democracy shall win the day. After the long drought comes the welcome rain,- Land comes ill sight to those who sail the main,- Though winter now, the spring will come again. But if our hopes should fail and suffer blight Ii on the South is forced this fearful fight, Then, to your tents and battle for the right!
Year: 1860

has ever proved to the opposition of what ever hue or name, an indomitable, fearless, and redoubtable champion of the liberal and humanitarian principles of democ- racv. And when know nottingham reared it's huge head in our midst, and was gather ing daily in its insidious folds thousands of the unwary and unsuspecting of our land; and by its alluring colors was daily beck oning hosts from our camp, he, like gal lant kni h. lily impressed with the great and overwhelming importance of the cause girded on his armor of crippled steel, and at great and ever memorable rally of the iron-nerved democracy of old Hampstead, in "vords that burned and thoughts that breathe" was he first to meet the gaunt and hungry monster, and repel him with his insatiate minions from the parapets reared by the hand of patriotism, in de- fence of our constitution and of this glorious confeleracy. And in his efforts and devo- tion he has never in any manner faltered or wavered Upon the stump, and by their firesides, he has appealed to the hard-fisted yeomanry; and on days set apart for cleo tions he neyer maakesa convenient to absent himself from his county, far aacay from Me field of excitement, in dread ef syuring his popularity; but he ever hunts the most populous precinct, and there discourses with the voters upon the great principles involved in the impending issue, and there casts his vote for the democratic nominees the chosen opponents of his creed, and the standard bearers of his faith.

 In regard to the comparative strength of the two in this judicial circuit, this is yet to be tested, the opinion of Jackson Demo- crat to the contrary notwithstanding.

 Much has been said in regard to the a tive attainments and qua ifcations, but of these we will all have an ample opportunity afforded us of judging dur ing the campaign before the meeting of the convention. It is not the inten- ton of this communication to disparage the claims of any aspirant, for the purpose of giving undue weight or importance to those of another It should be the object of every good and true democrat, to see that the several county conventions are fairly represented, that the delegates from each may meet in convention, fairly and justly refecting the will of the masses, that the nominee thereby may truly be con sidered the choice of the party. Armed with such commission, he will go forth on the arena of conflict, conquering and to conquer FAIR PLAY.
Year: 1860

More may be learned by devoting a
few moments daily to reading. than is
commonly supposed. Five pages may
be read in fifteen minutes, at which rate
any one person may peruse twenty-six
volumes of two hundred pages each in a
year. You say you have none to guide
you. The best scholars aud men Of sci
er c. will tell J, u ty far tie most valuable
part of their education is that which they
have given themselves. Volumes have
been filed with the autob; ography OF
self-taught men. Think Of Franklin, the
printer; of Lime, the shoemaker, OF
John Hunter, the cabinet maker of Her
schel, the musician; OF Donald, the wea-
yer; of Turner, the Printer: of Burritt,
the Blacksmith. Love learning and you
will be learned, Where there is a will
there is way.


Begin at once, take time by the fore
lock, aud remember that it is only the
first step that costs. and having begun
resolve to learn something every day
Strike the blow and avoid the weakness
of those who spend half of lif. in think
ing what they shall do next. Always
have volume near you which you may
catch up at such odd minutes as are your
own. 1t is incredible, until trial is made,
how much real knowledge may be acqair-
ed in these broken fragments of time
which are like dust of gold and dia-
monds,
Year: 1860

There is a certain class Of people in
this world. say an exchange, who appear
to think that a newspaper is mere ma
chine organized and established for the
special benefit Of any one and every one
who may demand the use Of its columns
at pleasure. without money and without
price, 1t is about time that the minds
Of these people were disabused of all such
mistakes. A newspaper is the private
property of its publisher and, the bust
ness Of printing he follows for the pur-
pose Of making living for himself and
family. Every type that is set. and
every sheet Of paper that is printed upon
costs tie printer money: and besides.
there are other sources of constant ex-
penditurc, such as ink. rent. fuel. lights,
&c, all of which have to be met with
money. Printers. as class are just as
liberal and charitable as other folks
but It is asking quite too much Of them
to do all manner of printing for nothing!
All expect pay for their wares ard their
professional services. Then why should
printers be a made. exceptions? They
work hard and receive poorer pay than
other classes in the community. but to
ask them to work for nothing, is ''piling
On the agony" little too high.
Year: 1860

A singular fact is related of two citizens
Of Southbridgc, Mass, by the Webster
Times, who have jointly owned and occu.
pied farm in that town for sixteen,
years but have lately dissolved partner,
ship. During the whole of this period NO
accounts Of any kind have been kept by
either Of the parties. Both individuals
were men Of family occupying diAerent
portions of the same house: aud when
either wished to use cash be went to the
drawer in which it was kept, and took it,
no account being kept in a single in-
stance. ...


Yet, in all these slxteen years not a
word Of fault was spoken, no i'll feeling.
jealuoey or suspicion was shown, and
perfect harmony subsisted between the
parties to the day of their separation
The final dissolution in business was occa-
stoned by the marriage of member of
one Of the families, when it was thought
the house might not be able to contain
''the consequences. SO one party raised
the value OF one half of the premises in
cash, and paid it over to the retiring
partner, who quietly left. We believe
this to be an unparalleled case of honesty
and confidence.
Year: 1860

This little coin has become SO unpopu-
lar that the Secretary of the Treasury
has ordered three millions of them, at the
Philadelphia mint, to be re.melted, and
converted into double eagles. Every one
remembers what turore was created at the
time this dininutive coin was introduce
ed; they in many cases commanding a
premium from persons desirous of handl
ing the tiny bits of gold. When first
coined they were eagerly sought after by
almost all classes, but as soon as the nov
city OF their appearance wore off the coin
was found to be not half so useful as was
at first supposed. Gentlemen and Ia
dies blessed with few of then. were Of
ten painfully annoyed by finding, upon
examining their 'scash account" that
they had inadvertently passed one of the
little coins in place of a Eve cent piece,
persons of dim vision were subjected to
such mistakes. A few experiments Of
this nature soon determined them to re-
fuse tie gold dollar, and carry bank notes
instead. Indeed, a re- e-action was felt al
most Immediately after their issue, and,
instead cf anxiously seeking for them.
people were rapidly disposing of their
small stock. SO that in very brief peri
cd of time there were but few in circala-
ton. Since ls45 there have been near
ly eighteen millions OF these little coins
struck off at the various mints in the U.
S. Now these diminutive fragments of
gold are pouring into the various Sub.
treasures and overfowing in the vanlts
of custom houses. The experiment has
been failure. What renders the exis-
teLce OF this coin more annoying to the
custom house and Sub treasury officers is
that every time they are exchanged they
must each be counted, as, owing to the
facility with which they can be counter
feited and tampered with, it would be un.
sa e to determine their number by
weiyht.-(New York Commercial Adver-
tiser.
Year: 1860

A western editor, whose subscribers
evidently do not pay in advance, goes in
to print in six long stanzas. setting forth
the peculiar advantage to be obtained by
paying the printer" The subject is by
no means :ovel one:


All honest men attend to hear


The serious Eact-the times are dear.
Who owes a bill, It's Just as clear


AS starlight in the winter


That he should come without delay


hats if he can--hat bill to pay,


And ere he puts his purse away,


Fork over'' to the Printer.
The conclusion Of this poetical dunning
contains great deal Q! good advice, and
closes With very pretty climax:


Be simple just. and don't disgrace


Yourself but beg the Lord Of Grace"
To thaw that harden'd icy case,"


That honesty may entcr;
This done man will with man act fair,
And all will have the ''tin" to sp re-;
Then will the Editorial Chair


Support well pnid Printer. F.
Year: 1860

Before the winter sets in, there are q
few things to be done with the trees and
vines. Among the peach trees. look out
for the borer. Take sharp. slim bladed
knife. and prick about the tree just above
the ground surface, wherever you see a
bunch Of gnm or any opening. Cut away
carefully and follow up the borer as old
Gen. Putnam did The wolf, and with the
point Of the knife or wire, kill him to
death in his holet


The grape vines may be pruned with
great advantage at this season. Such
vines as have fiuited fully the past sea-
son. should be cut back to within one
eve or the old wood. Select such Of the
new vines Of this year as you design for
next years fruiting. and cut away the
rest, then sec that the reserved vines are
well secured in their places for winter, SO
AS not 10 be swept about and broken by
storms.


The strawberry beds should now
have their coats for winter protection
Give them a good litter Of old straw
which will protect shem during the winter
and in the spring will make good feed
of manure for the land. In large pfanta.
tons of strawberries, put on three loads
Of straw to the acre.


Cut out the old bearing wood of all the
raspberry canes. except the Catawissa and
other ever bearing varieties, aad have the
tender sorts ready for laying down be-
fore all the fne weather is over. These
and other tender fruit canes or bushes,
which are too stiFf to be laid down and
covered. may be trussed about with
thatch Of straw, for winter protection.
And lastly. nou is about the time to
get ready your newspapers and twine. to
put all the little trees in their paper SUR
tou:s, to keep them FROM the teeth OF the
rabbits, as set forth by Mr.. Gallagher in
the Ohio Cultivator Of Sept, I. and it
you wish to make very sure work against
the rabbits. smear the papers ,.ssttie with
gas tar and greese, or blood from the
slaughter Ohio CuAivator.
Year: 1860

gg An eccentric gentleman stuck up 4
board in a deId upon his estate, On whiel
be painted the following :-sI will give
this field to any man who IS contented.
He soon had an applicant. Well, sir
are you a contented man Yes, sir
very. Then what DO you want with
my field