smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1861

TEE editor ofthe Sandy Hill Herald says that on
Christmas Eve an exPressman delivered 70 him
thirty cens-being just the amount Of cash hand


he proceeded with nervous hands 70 examine its
tents. He says j


The cover was removed, when our eyes we're
gladdeued with the sight Of fine fat turkey
The next thing brought to light was bottle
of champagne, and the next and last was a
huge demijohn, marked 90 Tar" What in
the world is o Tar? 1t must mean old tar
but what in the world induced any one to
send Us either old or new tar 7 We havn't got
any wagon and as for getting up bonfire for
the benft Of the Republicans, we are not in
humor We have it We will sell it to :he
livery man. Called on him, and he said be
did not use tar, bat grease Oh his wagons
Brought it back to the Office in not a very
good hGmor, still wondering why it was sent
to US. Resolved, finally, to draw the cork
Did so. 1t wasn't tar Smelt Of it. Knew by
the smell it wasn't tar. Tasted of it, and be-
came fully satisfied that it wasn't tar. Tasted
agaln-knew it wasn't tar Tasted again, and
drew up a resolution declaring in the most
emphatic terms that it wasn't tar. Tasted
again, and begain to feel happy. Tasted again
and began to feel very rich, and resolved to
give our cottage to q poor widow and purchase
the elegant mansion over the way-to donate
the Office to Jabe, aud buy out the New York
Ledger. Gave the devil" $50 gold piece
for Christmas, and promised him q round hun
dred for New Years. Bought $1,000 pair
Of nags and q sleigh Cushioned with scarlet
velvet, and decorated with gold and pearls
Ordered from the South driver and footman
whose faces shore Ike a glass bottle under
direct sun ray. Went over to the UnioD,7
and told Fred to send every poor family in
town barrel OF the best -four, and nsmeless
ather articles to render them comfortable
Bought all the wood in the market and order.
ed it to be sent Immediately to the aforesaid
poor families Care each 0! the clergymen
in town q thousand dollars adopted fourteen
orphan girls and orphan boys ran around
and paid all debts, what printer on earth did
that = put on our slippers limagiBing We
heard music > did hear music-for somebody
come near being kicked out Of bed. Alas?
We had only been dreaming!
Year: 1861

4 HAD LE7TER--The following letter,
says an exchange, was sent BY 8 man to bis
son at college;


" Ny son, write to you to send you two
pair Of ny old breeches, that you may have
new coat made out Of them. Also some
lew socks which your mother has just knit by
cutting down some Of mine. Your mother sends
you ten dollars without my knowledge, and,
Tor fear you will not use it wisely, have kept
back half, and only serd you FIVE. Your
mother and | are well except your sister has
got the measles, which we think would spread
among the girls if Ten had not had them
before, and be is the only one left hope
You will DO honor to NJ teachings If not,
You are an ass, and your mother and myself
your afectionate parents
Year: 1861

with feelings similar to those of the poor Es-
quimaux they feel that they have had too
much of every thing. The lecturer has not
had time to explain bis terms, nor to repeat
them till they are distinct in the memory of
his audience With children, every mode of
instruction must be hurtful, which fatigues at
tention A skilful instructor therefore, will as
much as possible, avoid the manner of teach
ing, to which the public lecturer is, in some
degree, compelled by his situation.--Maria
EdgetoOrA.
Year: 1861

One appeal to God above,


Supplicating for his love


Daily offer. Peace Of mind
Makes the happy, good, and kind.
Daily sing one cheerful song,
From the bosom's fiery thrOng;
Daily do one noble deed;


Daily SOW one blessings seed.
Daily make one foe thy friend;
Daily from thy surplus spend
Daily, when the gift is thine,
Write one verse in strains divine.
Daily seek kind natures face;
Daily seek for some new grace;
Daily dry one sufferers tear,
Daily one grieved brother cheer.
Daily drink from sparkling eye
Sweeter rapture soar on high!
Then thy life viii know no night;
And thy death be robed in light.
Year: 1861

Oh, say can you see, through the gloom and the


storm,


More bright for the darkness, that pure constella-


ton?


Like the symbol of love and redemption its form,
As it points to the haven Of hope for the nation.
How radiant each star! they beacon afar,
Giving promise of peace, assurance in war;
Tis the Cross of the South, which shall ever remain
To light US to Freedom and Glory again.
How peaceful and blest was Americans soil,
It'll betrayed by the guile of the Puritan demon,
Which turks under virtue, and springs from its


coil,


To fastcn its fangs in the life blood of frccmcn.
Then loudly appeal to each heart that can feel,
And crush the foul viper meath Lbcrty's heel;
And the Cross of the South shall forever remain
To light us to Freedom and Glory again.
'Tis the emblem of peace, It's the of hope;
Like the sacred Labarum, which guided the Roman,
From the shores of the Gulf to the Dclawares SLOPE
Tis the trust of the free and the terror of focmcn-
Fling its folds to the air, while we boldly declare
The rights we demand, the deeds that we dare :;
And the Cross of the South shall forever remain
TO light us to Freedom and Glory again.
But, if peace should be hopeless and Justice denied
And wars bloody vulture should flap his black


pinions,


Then, gladly to arms while VIC lurl in our pride,
Defiance to tyrants, and death to their minions,
With our front to the field swearing never to yield,
Or return Ike the Spartan in death shield;
And the Cross Of the South shall triumphantly





AS the flag Of the free, OF the pail of the brave.


TwESTy-sEcoSD FEDRUARY
Year: 1861

The man who stands upon his own soil,
who feels that by the laws of the land in
which he lives, by the laws of civilized ma
tions, he is the rightful and the exclusive
owner of the land which he tills, is by the
constitution of our nature under the whole
some influence, not easily imbibed by any
QI14ai QtheE source Ae faeh -other thinas haiaa
-acter Of man who is the lord of an mani
mate world OF the great and wonderful
sphere, which, fashioned by the hand of
God, and upheld by his power, is rolling
throug h the heavens part of his-his from
the centre to the sky. 1t is the space on
which the generation before him moved in
it's round of duties, and he feels himself con-
nected by a VISIBLE Enk with those who
follow him, and to whom he is to transmit
a home. Perhaps his farm has come down
to him from his fathers. They have gone
to their last home; bat he can trace their
last footstep over the scenes of his duty la
bors. The roof which sheltered him was
reared by those to whom he owes his being.
Some interesting domestic tradition is con-
nected with every inclosure. The favorite
fruit three was planted by his fathers hand.
He sported in boyhood beside the brook
which still winds through the meadows
Through the fields lies the path to the vii
lage school of earlier days. He still hears
from his window the voice of the Sabbath
bell which called his father to the house of
God; near at hand is the spot where his
parents laid down to rest, and where, when
his time has come, he shall be laid by his
children. These are the feelings of the
owners of the SOIL Words cannot paint
them gold cannot buy them they flow out
of the deepest fountains of the heart; they
arc the life-springs of fresh, healthy, and
generous national character. - Edwarl
Ererett.
Year: 1861

If you did not, as you have so often been
advised to do, save your seed corn by select
ing the best ears in the field, don't lose an
other day, bat go at once to your corn cribs
and pick out the handsomest ears that you
can find, and store them up in some dry
loft-no matter if it is very smoky one.
and as hot as July sun; it won't hurt the
vitality of the seed.


1t is of the highest importance that your
seed should germinate Immediately after you
plant 1t That IS cf more importance than


ICcn'inuel on 4th rpgrl
Year: 1861

Are you grumbling about your tax bill,
sir? Or, do you growl because the rumors
are thickening in the air that we are to have
direct taxes levied on uss Just let US sit
down moment or two, and quietly look the
matter over.


There is list Of taxes that you and
pay, sir, Of which no note is taken, and we
presume to take none. For example, wnat
do YOU pay every year to your Pride p
You laugh. Never, mind; the matter will
bear looking at first, and laughing at after
ward. Your neighbor Soand-so has just
bought him new carriage. You look at
that same vehicle, all glitter and glory, with
an eye ofenvy. Up to d4te. you rested in
the satisfactory belief that YOU had yourself
ridden in the better carriage of the two. and
that was quite sufficient to keep YOU quiet
but suddenly you find that your ambitious
neighbor has beaten yon. What will you
do nopf Go and get one that will outshine
his! is your reply; and you do what you
threaten. And this is the heavy tax yor
pay to your Pride, and to just nothing else


Or, again, what do you pay by way Of ia,
to Appetites Please to reckon up your bi.
each year for tobacco. so soon spit away o.
whitfield out in air. Or count up your ex
penses for what goes by the generic name Q
s'rum; !" how much f,r yourself and how
Year: 1861

much more to save and keep up appcaran-
ces with those who know your habits and
presume upon your own indulgence to sell
fishly enlarge their own. What amount do
you pay for games Of chance for iadplSsn-
ces purely and ruinously sensual! What
for mere show, in which there is neither
sentiment nor sense? Now is is not to be
denied that all these things cost, and cost
'roundly; and this very cost is what we call


Taxes. They are direct taxes, too, for they
cat up the individuals self Few give them
any attention, as they incur and so on pay
,ing them, but they are paid none the less


Little know we what the impercepta5le cost
Of life is; the ostensible part, about which
we talk 50 mich and grumble so much, is the
smallest and most easily paid Banner of


LiOht -
Year: 1861

this that has taken away more than half the
value of life with US during the last six
months. The curse on store and workshop,
on street and levee, on river and field and
sky, and on society md the soul Of man, is
no blight of Heaven, no stroke of God : it is
disloyalty.


We have had the best Government on
earth. Under 1t we have bad peace, order
and liberty, and security of property, person
and pursuit. It has done us purely good
and no evil; and, while it has fostered and
protected us, has no more oppressed us than
the air and light so kindly and gentle has
been its rule BY it we have gotten pleasant
homes and. riches and golden prosperity
But we have not bad sense enough either to
appreciate the gift or to be grateful for it.
But, in stupidity and wantonness, have lift
ed our bapded bands against it. We have
ruthlessly assailed the benign and beautiful
order it has established; and therefore we
are cursed Our prosperity is blighted, our
peace is poisoned, our property is ruined,
our pleasant homes are filled with trouble or
taken away from us, aad the evils we now
feel are but the first installment Of the curse
that awaits our consummate folly-the fore
shadowings of sin and shame and wretched-
ness that shall darken ages.


The land is perishing Of its disloyalty.--
Let this be changed and the whole scene will
change at once. Prosperity viii return to
the land. and to our smitten city also in a
golden stream past former knowing. Let us
turn again in truth and honor to the glorious
Government bequeathed US by our Fathers.
Let us cease canting about mere secondary
and occasional causes, and go back to the
primary fontal one and staunch it. Let us
cease tpe driyel about coercion and SUBJ
jugation," and address ourselves as men to
striking down conspiracy whose clutch is
on the throats of us all. Let us glory in a
submission" Of loyalty, honor and reason,
to constitutional authority and civil order,
and fee as from eternal curse and shame, all
completely with a crime beyond example in
the history of the world-the destruction Of
the best Government ever given of God to
man-the murder of a great and free nation.


VERAx.
Year: 1861

Der that the shopman's bills for some te
months thereafter seemed unusally full, bot
in number of items and footing Of column
and shrewdly suspect that my wife had a,
ranged, with the shopman to have the article
scattered along through the months. Sh
was always good fnancier.


The ceremony was performed IN church,
was present, least my absence should give to
great notoriety to the family jar. Useless
The whole town having long since been mad
acquainted with the state of affairs, the BRIDE
beauty and the bridegroom's popularity sc
many eyes on me with sparkle Of criticism
| in them. a % aa
lie needn't look so savage like" mutter
| cd gruff old yeoman behind me "ther,
amt a likelier young fellow anywheres here
about than Jemmey Brun an though Mimi,
De purity as pink, it's good match, say
IA real even bargain--so."


Long, long months went by after the mar
riage--tedious, unhappy months for me.
knew was being sourcd by the sclf-mposet
restraint on the atfectional part Of my nature
Minnie came to her old home sometimes. Onct
or twice she begged for the return of the old
love, the old home kiss. No. My daughtc,
was happy in her husband, happy in her new
home. But saw very plainly that the bliss
Of the old home was lost to her.


Nearly two years went back into the past
shadowed in this manner, when q little hu-
man blossom was laid in the cradle. A little
struggling wee thing-another Minnie. Poor
me! Here was another influence to be stem.
med, as boats stem another wave and another
gust. But braced myself; and when had
been forced into Minnie's chamber, stood
over the poor child with the little one in her
arms, and heard the faint voice add to the
sweetly beseeching look, "do kiss me father!''
| shook my head anil went out.


One day strange change came over the
young mother, alarming the experienced, and
giving to the physician that ominous air OF
grave mystery which strikes into the soul Of
the loving. moved about, full of fear and
guilty distress. The symptoms became more
and more alarming-she was sinking. |
was called to her bedside, the white face,
almost translucent with meekness, my Min
ME gave me the old time glance of love, and
throwing up her hands as if to clasp my neck
said family, but oh SO earnestly


Kiss me. father!" u aaa# z.


bent down to my daughter, my first born
and we wept long together-the strong father
and the family breathing child.


Nhat 40 you think Minnie did! Why,
she got well again, and in two months was
as musical as lark, and as gay, looking af-
ter the little Minnie like pretty mother as
she was


However, the ice was fairly broken, and
was my old fathcrly self ever after. Minnie
even ventured, after time, to make merry
at my expense, over the fact that not only
was Jemmey Brun the best of husbands, but
of the well known American writers.


think l was great fool.
Year: 1861




WoRRYING.-An old author has remarked
that there are two things which it does no
good to fret about. One is what you can
help, and the other is what you can't help
In the latter case because fretting won't help
the matter, and in the former, because it is
your duty to 60 and help it without fretting.


Society is like delicate piece of machin-
cry, very small things sometimes cause very
serious disturbances. Even the ponderous
revolutions Of milestone may be interrupted
by few bits of gravel. What would be
thought of the miller who instead of grinding
clean wheat should keep throwing sand and
pebbles into the hopper? He could hardly
expect to have his custom last very long or
his mill either. And what better, pray, is
the conduct of those fretful people who 20
about with their hands full of gritty grievan-
ces ready to fling into the social hopper, and
who seem to take kind of malicious pleas
urc in hearing the wheels grind and CRATE I


Kindness and politencss, those little name.
less social amenities which the true gentle.
man and the true lady always exhibit, and
which Paul seems to have especially recog.
nized as among /" the things that were lovely
and Of good report and "that make for
peace" are certainly marvelousiy efficient
lubricators Of the mechanism Of life. Let Us
remember that the "oil of joy" is better
than gravel stones, and that the man or wo
man, who goes through the world grumbl
ing and frctting is not only violating the laws
Of God, but is sinner against the peace and
harmony of society, and is, and Of righ
ought to be, stunned accordingly.-N Y
Chronicle. n t4' - Is
Year: 1861

I love tho man that will dare to lift


His voice for the struggling poor;
The man that will open his heart, nor close


'Gainst the beggar at the door,
O! give me heart that will firmly stand


When the storm begins to lower
A hand that will never shrink if grasped


In misfortnne's darkest hour,
Year: 1861

but it was no use. The men only
howled, hooted, yelled and groaned
at them, and pelted them with crack
ers; but they finally quieted down
and went to their quarters, swearing
that they would kill the first man
they caught hauling crackers or bad
meat into camp. On Saturday NOR
ming the crackers and bad meat made
their appearance once again, but no
sooner did the men sec it than they
made break for the gates, forced
the guards away and went to town.
About eight o'clock the town was
full Of squads Of soldiers. headed by
officers, securing the town from one,
end to the other, driving the runa-
ways to camp; but it took until some
time in the afternoon to get them in,
and after they did get them in they
were not in a condition to drill, there
fore there was but little drilling done
that day. Thismorning we got good
beef and good bread, and everything
went Oft tirst-rate.
Year: 1861

II l. refreshing 70 come across such gen
as the following:
The first bird Of spring attempted TO sing,


But 'ere he had sounded note,
lie fell from the limb-a dead bird was him


The music had frz in his throat.


But the most terrible specimen Of a bea
that we ever heard tell Of s mentioned il
the following spirited verses. which we cliI
from Western poem:


"There was a jolly woodman
Was standin' by tree,
When he spied an awful Big bear
A-coming right at bel
The bear was ramparagous.


The foam was on his lip,


And full yard Of prairie


lie cleared al every skip"
Year: 1861

ToUGH.-The Rock Island Argus
ssys that the saloon keepers Of that town think
Of prosecuting Brother Pickett Tor causing. in
bic Senatorial capacity. their eslcens TO bs
closed on election dsy-thus cutting them of
from making their pile while the sovereigns
vote. That vonld Be bad We Thick the
Senator ought TO have the thanks Of The people
Of Illinois il he has been Instrumental in effect
ing the passage Of such Law.
Year: 1861

Dv1slDu1TY OF MATTER.--There appears to be
no limit to the degree of minuteness to which yar
ous forms of matter may be subdiVided. The
human hair varies in thickness from the onetwo-
hundredand-fftieth to the one-sx-hundredth part
of an inch. 1t is, however, massive cable in
comparison with some other fbres. The thread of
the silkworm is many times finer, being about the
one-two-thousandth of an inch. But this is moth
ing to the scnderness of the SPIDERS thread, which
has been found in some instances to be no more
than one-thirty- -housandth of an inch in diameter.
1t is difficult even to imagine quantities so small
and the best way to realize them to the mind is to
consider that thirty thousand such threads laid side
by side, would make riband only one inch broad.
The Gbres yielded By the vegetable Kingdom are
also of astonishing minuteness. Every fibre OF lax
is composed of bundle of other fibres, which
have been found to be about one-tWenty-hVe
hundredth of an inch in diameter Similar hbres
obtained from the pineapple plant, have been as
certained to be no more than one-ive-thousandtl


or even one-seven-thousandth of an inch in diane
ter: these, when twisted into threads, and woven


are said to form cloth of very beautiful silky tex
| ture.
Year: 1861

An ATRoCIouS LIE.-The New York Illustrated
News contains wood cut representing mob in
Alabama in the act of tarring and feathering q
Yankee schoolmistress. The pretty girl, with her
head bowed down in sorrow and anguish, stands
before self,constituted jury, while the admins
traitor of justice empties over her head and shoul-
ers the tar and feathers. Such are the pubica-
tions which have brought about the present deplor
able state of feeling which has almost eliminated
in hostile collision between the Northern and
Southern States. There is no conceivable crime
which a woman could commit in the South that
would bring upon her the vengeance of q mob
The story concocted by The Illustrated News is a
lie as false as the demoniac spirit which con
ceiyed it,
Year: 1861

lady yesterday went to the Citizens Bank to
ret check for $50 cashed. She took the money
in gold and was just stepping ont into the street,
when well-dressed young man came running after
her, and politely told her that the paying-teller
had made a mistake in the amount, and wished to
correct it: at the same time he requested her to
step into sideroom (the mortgage room, which
opens on the hall leading from the street to the
banking chamber) and to let him have the money
and he would fix it in minute. She was much
obliged, and not suspecting him at the moment
said she would go back and see the mistake cor
rected herself. She did go back to the teller. and
ask what was wrong; he raised his eyebrows ant
said that nothing was wrong. She then explained
A search was instituted for the polite young man
but he had taken time by the forelock, and was
not to be found
Year: 1861

MARRYING IN FuN.-An Erie tPa-) paper tells
how at an evening party in that vicinity, recently
as matter of fun, a proposition to marry was en-
tertained by two parties who had then for the first
time met In carrying out the joke it was suggest
ed that the ceremony be Immediately performed
the preacher residing near by. They went to the
house of the minister to consummate the joke,
found the reverend gentleman in bed, woke him,
had the ceremony performed in the spirit OF JOKE
and paid the fee ina joke but the best part Of the
joke is they have since learned that the marriage


was legally performed, and Is binding upon the
| parties engaged therein. It's supposed the par
ties, who are both respectable, will mend matters


by eventually assuming in earnest what was lntend
ed as jest, the true relationship OF man and Wife'
| The gentleman is named Deane, resident OF New
York State, and the lady is Miss wheeler.
Year: 1861

A hard customer, giving his name as Thomas
slocomb, went on Comanche pleasure excursion
yesterday. He wanted to whip everybody he met !;
made violent attempt to outrage the person of
John Hahns wife, the corner of New Levee and
Adele streets; and pitched into and knocked down
officer Hamilton when he went to arrest him. The
animal was Gagged at last and will probably stay
in the municipal cage for some time to come.
Year: 1861

The telegraphic alarm at o'clock last evening
was caused by fire among the cotton tales at the
Carollton Railroad Depot, Tivoli Circle. Several
bales were scorched; No. Is getting on the first
aud only squeeh necessary, and the other compa-
MES leaving without unlimbering.


The alarm at O'Clock was started by police
officer in the Third District, who thought there was
a serious fire when it proved to be only the burn
ing of pile of shavings on Casacalvo street, just
below the Railroad.
Year: 1861

THE CHINESE OPPOSED TO IMPROVEMENTS During
the destruction of Yeun-ming- -Teun, the soldiers
came upon two peasants that had been sent to the
Emperor of China by Lord Mccartney from George
III-a State coach and two twelve-pounder howit-
zers-complete in every way, and in very good
condition and repair yet, strange to say, with these
guns in their possession, they have never made any
endeavor to improve their own field artillery car
riages Shot and shell were even piled closed to
the guns in the coach house in which they were
found