smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

BETWEEN THE BLANKETS. Some people
take their cares and troubles to bed with
them. 1t is bad plan, for they are dia-
bolical bedfelows Even if tired Ma
.ure's sweet restorer" whips the spirit off
to drcamland in the midst of its repinings
and forebodings, there is no comfort for it
there. OF the last sad, waking thoughts
are born visible imps that haunt us in the
realm Of Morpheus, which we fight with
horror all night long. Happy are those
who can put off their day troubles with
their day clothing, and, as they assume
the horizontal, forget all the annoyanccs
that belong to perpendicular life. We
have known people who could do all this
individuals who, after struggling from
morning until night in Sloughs Of De-
spond and getting miserably bemauled by
the Giant Despair. no sooner slipped be-
tween the sheets than the Angel Of Sleep,
who seemed to have been lying in wait
there to bless them, took them on her
wings and bore them to Elysium. To


fight over again in bed the battles of life


as many do in their slunbers, is niser-
able business. Still more unpleasant is


it to be surrendered in sleep to all sorts of
impossible phantoms, which are none the
less di*agreeaolc that they are utterly alb
surd. Worst of all is it to lie through
the weary watches of the night self.tor-
mented. The best thing that nervous,
highly impressible, fidgety people can do
upon going to bed, is to take a teaspoon
ful of that miraculous preparation known
as Vars NERvous ANTIDoTE, and in o
few moments all the troubles of the day
will be forgotten, and sleep-quiet, re-
freshing sleep, without which no mortal
can live for any considerable space Of
time-wil close the portals of thought
and watt the spirit temporarily to realms
Of bliss. The writer Of this article has
tried the experiment and knows whereof
he speaks.
Year: 1864

SHopDY FRAUDS Cavalry jackets made
of some nondescript material, apparently
the hair of different animsls) were for.
warded to the Army of the Potomac late.
ly. and a lot of pants were issued so poor
in quality that an equal number Of pairs
were issued gratuitously to replace them
as they were found unfit for wear. Col
lusions between inspectors and contract
orS is more than suspected.
Year: 1864

FRAUD. The history of the present
Administration is one long story of fraud.
There was never so much plunder in any
other nation in hundred years, as has
been carried on by Abolition politicians
for the past forty months. The record is
fearful. Every species Of plunder has
gone on--every member Of the Cabinet
has coined money out Of the necessities
of the country. Corruption runs riot at
Washington; Shoddy organs admit it, the
people know it, and yet who has ever
heard political parson Of the Abolition
persuasion condemn it? Why are they
silent on subject which ought to claim
their attention (which demands their
sevcrest censurc? Who can tell?
Year: 1864

DE>ERTioNS.-I the Southern papers
are to be believed, descrtions are not all
one way. Many Of the Federal prisoners,
it is SAID, have taken the oath Of allegiance
and enlisted in the Confederate army; and
the Petersburg Express says that desert
erS still continue to come into their lines
in considerable numbers. 1t says: "Not
long since, the desertionS from a New
Hampshire regiment were so frequent and
alarming that it had to be removed and
another from the same State moved to
the front in its stead. Ere the lapse OF
many days the same condition of things
was observable in the new regiment. -
The soldiers were exasperated against
Grant for repeatedly hurting them against
Notifications which they found it impossi-
BILE to capture.
Year: 1864

Read the admirable article on "The Price oi


old" from the New York Independent, to be
found on our first page. We are of those whose
unlimited confidence in the Government Of the
United States will not permit US to believe its
promises to pay worth one hundred and fifty
cents less on the dollar than gold. or any thing
else. 1fpeople would stop to think that the
whole wealth Of this great Nation is pledged to
the redemption of greenbacks the chief Copper.
head bugbrar would pass away as vapor True,
the gold speculators are doing deal of damage,
Just a. they would If they should transfer their
operations to bread-stuffs. Gold is not worth


che figures quoted. any more than Aou would
b worth corresrondingly large advance. for
speculatos could run it up just as easily as they
have gold. Neither is it the advance in gold,
and the consequent depreciation of Government
currency. a. come would argue. which affects
shs price Of every commodity. but the growing
ssarcisy Of producers. Really. we do not believe
gold to be worth one cent more than greenbacks.
Year: 1864

THOU SHALT NOT FoREswEAR THYsElF, &C


We have before US an oath signed by .
certain person, the tenor of which is this
"That |, as mail contractor on Route No
-. will faithfully perform all the dutie.
required Of me, and abstain from anything
forbidden by the laws in relation to the es.
tablishment Of postofices." &c.


Section 357 Of the Regulations requires
Postmasters to report every instance in
which the mail is brought to the Office by q
person under sixteen years of age.


The contractor referred to in the heading
above has frequently sent boys to the Office
for the mail who wore thirteen years and
less old, end they were refused the mail he
has come and taken it from the Office him.
self, and when out of sight of the Office,
given it to q boy to carry who was not
sworn. Think Of it, sworn agent of the
Government violating bis oath.
Year: 1864

under an iucesssnt FIRE of cannon and


nusketry-nor did We ride fast, but upon
an ordinary lrot. and not once do be-
lieve did it enter the Generals mind that
he was in danger / was by his side,
and watched him closely. In riding that
distance We we're going TO the front, and
I could see that he was studying the po-
sitions Of the two armies, and Of course
planning how TO defeat the enemy, who
was here making a most desperate stand,
and were slaugLtering our men fearfully.
After defeating and driving the enemy
here We returned to Chattanooga.


Another feature in General Grants
personal movements are, that he request
ed no escort beyond his staff, 30 regard
less Of danger is be. Roads are almost
useless to him, for he takes short cuts
through the fields and woods, and will
swim his horse through almost any stream
that obstructs his way. Nor does it
make any difference to him whether he
has daylight for his movement, for he
will ride from breakfast until one or two
10 the morning, and that too without eat
ing. The next day he will repeat the
dose until he finishes his work. Now,
such things come hard upon the staff,
but they have learned how to bear is.
Year: 1864

ARRIvAL.-The Third Regiment OF
Cavalry arrived in cur city yesterday
morning at seven O'Clock. They crossed
the river safely and seemed overjoyed at
being "sately home once more" They
are all in excellent health and are fine.
looking lot of men.
Year: 1864

ITEMs.-We splashed around through
the mud yesterday forenoon in search of
a local, but only succeeded in taking
" the shine of" from our immaculate
boots. We could find nothing that would
make material for local item or furnish
food for reflection.
Year: 1864

Snow STORM IN THE NORTHWEST
On the 1st January, Illinois, Indiana,
Michigan and other Northwestern States,
were visited by one of the most terrible
snow storms and coolest spell of weather
ever experienced. People were frozen to
death while travelling less than a mile in
distance railroads were blocked up, and
the suffering was intense.


At Camp Douglass, near Chicago, where
large number of Confederate prisoners
are confined, the guards had to be relieved
every thirty minutes to prevent freezing,
and even then. they were all frost bitten
1t may be expected that. the Confederate
prisoners, used to warm climate, suffered
a great deal. The Chicago Times says:


"The suffering and tortures endured by
the Confederate prisoners was beyond the
power Of pen to portray. Unaccustomed to
the Northern climate and cold lake and
prairie winds, their light Southern garb was
poor protection against the ordinary tenn
perature of the elements. But with the
winds maddened into fury, the air filled
with freezing snow, they suffered as no peo-
pie ever suffered before. Through the
creyices of their thin board barracks the
wind whisted as if in very mockery, bring.
ing the snow in such quantities as to cover
the floor and beds upon which they had to
sleep. So desperate was their condition
that they were compelled to sleep by reiefs.
Dividing off into squads of FOUR two would
retire to their cold berths, covering with
the blankets Of the four, while the others
kept up the fire. Thus in turns Of four
hours each did these poor mortals attempt
to brave the raging of the storm. In many
cases the Snow had frequently to be shaken
from the blankets of the sleepers. With
all their ingenuity they could not keep
warm, and numbers of them will suffer
from the exposure of this dreadful storm
for all time to come. To add to the horrors
of their situation many of them were sick,
and the wailing wind and searching cold
added fresh terrors to their suffering"
Year: 1864

AS yet, who of US outside Of the army has
done his share? The idea of making for
tunes out of the war should be abandoned.
The question with every man must be, not,
"What can do to make money for myself ?"
but "what can I do to help?"


Authority, which you will profess to re-
cognize as paramount, has said, "All things,
therefore, whatsoever ye would that men
should do unto you, do ye also even 50 unto
them. You boast that you have recogni.
zed that authority in your Constitution
"God is not mocked," and this recognition
is mockery if you do not recognize it in
practice. If you were.in the army, endu-
ring hardship and privation, and encouuter-
ing danger and death, to save the property
and liberty and lives of those at home,
would you that they should live at home in
ease and luxury, while you were shooless,
blapketless and breadless 2. Would you
that they should make fortunes out Of the
necessities and the labor of your families !?
Would you that they should permit your
family to want for the necessities Of life
I think not. Then apply the rule. You
cannot escape its obligation by saying "Let
the government do it," You are the gov
ernment those who administer it are your
agents ; they can do nothing without you,
and if you SO influence and control them as
to use their powers to enrich you at the ex-
pense of others, either present or prospect
lively, the sin lies at your door.


The Government can act only as you give
it power and direction. 1t can, when you
SO order, call men to the field, but it can
neither arm, feed or clothe them unless you
furnish means. And if you continue to
act as you are now acting, upon the assump.
tion that you are to go on making and accu-
mulating money and property, while others
are at their own cost to fight to secure you
in the possession and enjoyment of it, you
will too late discover that you have made
a fatal mistake. You have already pursued
this course TO the verge of ruin, and it is
time not only that you pause and renect,
but that you retrace your steps. You must
lay your gains where others have already
laid their lives, upon their altar of their
country. The country needs all that every
man can do. The safety of your property,
your liberties, and your lives, requires all
that you can do. If yon are in a position
or have means to do more than others, be
not afraid of doing too much, but be thank
full that you can do so much. When We
shall have achieved our independence no
man will feel that he has done too much !;
but if, through our supineness or our Gu.
pidity, We should fail, how bitterly will you
feel that you have not done enough. five
who stay at home should give all our means
beyond a very humble living, we shall not
have done half as much as thousands of the
humblest of our soldiers, for they have
given all, and life with it.


JAMES T. BETHUNE.
Year: 1864

raa-When will men-in town and iD
cOuntry--cease to be such fools or knaves
Rs to hitch horses to valuable shade trees
and fruit trees! A few days ago we saw
choice young maple which some BOBBY
had permitted his horses to eat the bark
from the horses bad no business there,
and their driver might just as well have
picked the pocket Of the owner Of the tree
as to to ipj lre that which cost him money
and is worth money. To enforce the law
against few such fellows, would be
wholesome lesson for others.
Year: 1864

An annual mortality of G out of l03
men--or l of every 6 for the whole term
of most dangerous and effective service
is sad enough, bat it is far less proper
ton than is generally supposed. Thirty
years is generally considered the average
duration of human life.


OF those discharged" aud "doserted,"
some are again in serVice-aud Of those
"missing" in action, some may possibly
re.sppesr in future time.
Year: 1864




In the correspondence column ofNOsh'S


Times and Rssseagz we End the following
question and answer:


Ques6on.-"In your paper of last week
you refer me for an answer to my question
[tWhether it is correct for a gentleman to
kiss lady friendly TO the reply tos'Iss-
BELLE But my case is different one: If it
were like hers should have no doubt on
the subject The gentleman, in my case,
is not a married man, and has for some
time past paid me considerable attention.
/ do not know whether these attentions
are serious or not. BE tells me he wishes
to ascertain my feelings with regard to
him, and takes my refusing to allow him TO
kiss me as a rebuff. Now, please tell me
whether you think be is in earnest, or
whether it is only an aPology7 Excuse
my troubling you 50 often, but l wish to
do right. l am not living with my pa
rents, and have no one to ask advice of.
Moreover, / like the said gentleman, but do
NOT wish TO make myself TOO cheap either,
nor to offend him. Should be not first as
certain from me by the direct question
whether ] care for him or not, or judge in
another way?"


AnsEeF-You ask us q question difficult
to answer, for some times il is perfectly
modest and proper for q lady to allow 8
gentleman to kiss her, and some times it
is not. AS you are not with your parents,
and you ask rs TO advise you in their stead,
We prefer to be considered little too fss-
tidious than to be suspected of giving
counsel which might in any event lead to
misfortune. In your case, therefore, We
do not hesitate to say that You have pur-
sued a discreet course, and that if you
persistently bat politely object TO being
kissed by any gentleman but the one des-
tined to be your husband, even the snitor
who now yeArns for the favor viii respect
you, in his heart, so much the more for it.
If he get offended at yonr strict interpre-
tarion of modesty, let him 60. His evident
ly loose notions of what constitutes a wo-
mans greatest charm would never permit
him to appreciate you as he should Since
you really ike him, it Is still more in
dispensAble that you should exercise
that sort of self control which amounts 10
self denial; il will the better keep you, as
we'll as him, from q temptation TO err
finding an excuse afterwards, in mutual
love, for mutual error. Any gentleman
can discover his position in q lady's regard
If be possesses ordinary tact, without ask
ing her plainly and squarely whether or
moi she loves him. Her look, her manners,
her actions, all betrsy her to The observant
understanding, unless she be & capital
actress, -sRd, commonly speaking, the
'sacting" is quite as much upon the gen.
tlemauis side, 10 a wooing match, as upon
q lady's. 1t is because be suspects you
like him that your suitor, perhaps, imag-
ines be can persuade you TO abandon yonr
idea of perfect womEnIy purity. UDde-
eefVe hIm BY your courteous but stesdfAst
refusal If be really loves you he will
soon endeavor to compass bis desire by
opening his heart and Offering you his
hand. If be has DO such intention, why
should you purchase the attentions of q
mere dangler at the expense Of your sense
of feminine delieRcyf
Year: 1864

that were the project 20 be abandoned in
consequence Of s diheulty or objection
arising on the part either Of the South or
North, its enforcement in this city, and
perhaps elsewhere, would be far more per-
ilous TO the public peace than if the idea
had never been promulgated. More than
the want of money, which can be supplied
by the Treasury printing press at WASH
course under the usual penalties
of depreciation Of the currency and the
dread of bankruptcy aad repudistion-it is
the want Of men that viii compel the fed
eral government to take heed lest its pres
est naughty spirit should not go before
destruction.
Year: 1864

1t is reported here that there has been an
engagement near the bridge over the tele
graph road about p miles Northwest OF
this place, this evening, in which the enc
my were repulsed with some loss It is
supposed to have been an attack Of the enc.
my's cavalry on our forces stationed at that
point.
Year: 1864

reflect that sound mind and body the most neces
ssry requisites to promote connubial happiness In
deed without these the journey through life becomes
weary pilgrimage the prospects hourly darkens TO the
view; the mind becomes Swallowed with despair and


filled with the melancholy reflection that the happiness
OF another hecamaa hliRAtei With onr own.
Year: 1864

The Peace Men who say they are oppo-
sed to the war, and yet support 2 candi-
date whose only recommendation is that
he has helped to conduct it, occupy a
strange position, and are nearer insanity
than they are independence
Year: 1864

GEN. FREMONT has withdrawn from
the field as a Presidential candidate. We
have always regarded him as being too
little of a demagogue and too much Of a
patriot to endanger the success Of the
Government in this fearful struggle for
existence, by factious opposition to the
will Of the majority. The field is nov
clear, anI the people have but two can
didatos offered for their support. The
issue is sharply defined IL is Lincoln,
and an united republic-or Mcclellan
and country hurried into the vortex oI
the terrible fate which has made Mexico
and the South American republics The
theatres Of incessant war. These are The
alternatives. Choose between them.
Year: 1864

Gen. HOOKER got captured by crowd
in Springfield, H., last Friday, 2lst Oct.
and was carried to the Representative
Hall and made TO speak. In the course Of
his patriotic and soldierly talk he said:


| think that all the battles we will Eave
to fight are already fought. Tremendous
cheers. The election early next month will
pass of quietly, and it will pass of success
fully. Renewed cheers. The victory at
the ballot-box will be In vindication Of this
Union and OF our authority. 1t will be IN
support of your armies in the field, and it
will be in support of the honor of the ma
ton. Applause That yindication will be
far beyond what the most sanguine who are
here anticipate. II will be more than 4
Waterloo defeat to those who are arayed a.
gaInst our country. Long continued ap.
plause. 1t will be almost a death blow 1t
will be staggering blow to the Rebels that
we have been lighting IN the war IN which
your brothers and your sons have been enga-
ged for the last three years and a half; it
will be a withering blow to them and it will
be worse to the Copperheads. Iremen-
dous cheers. would not for the world
say anything to excite hopes that may not
be realized; but | will say this, that it is
the opinion Of those who have much bet
ter opportunity than have, that in the
next election we will achieve the greatest
victory that has been won from the begin
ming Of the Rebellion TO the present time.
Ii viii be two edged sword, cutting both
ways North and South [Cheers. l stats
this confidently, believing from those who
have much better opportunities of knowing
| than | have, that every single State In this
Union will cast It's vote for ABRAHAM LIN
coin. Loud applause and cries of that's
Year: 1864

/ That faction of the copperhead organiza-


ton known as the Peace Democracy are


pandering to the towards and mercenaries of
the North, with promises of an early settle


ment of the war on the basis of the Federal


Union, hoping thereby to delude their vic


tins with the idea that such settlement


can only be effected by placing the Demo


cratic party in power There is question


attached TO these Democratic promises,


which it would be well for timid people al


ways to put TO the men preaching their pow
ers to SECURE an early peace. Why did not


the Democratic leaders maintain the peace


OF the country when they had the control of


the affairs OF the Government? Before the


war had assumed It's present magnitude, be-
fore the rebellion had thrown off the mask


which concealed its bloody antagonism of
freedom, the Democratic party was in au-


thOrlty, ana had the power to make peace


When South Carolina left the Union. James


Buchanan was President of the United States
the L. S. Senate was controlled by a


Democratic majority-the Supreme Court


was Democratic-the sinewS and resources
Of war were commanded by Democrats and
get the DenlOcr0cY 1cere UadbiG to DlGIttdit


tie peace They were not only unable to pre-


serve the reace, but they actually, in their
official capacity, embezzled the funds and APP
pTOliTIaJeu the property OF tilG Government,
to give magnitude and strength to treason.


Keeping these facts in view, how can any
man be deluded with the Democratic .
declaration that the Democratic party, if
placed in power, will be able to restore the


land TO peace. Certainly that which Dem
| ocratic" officials could nor preserve, Dem
ocratic' politicians cannot restore. The on
y party capable OF rc-inaugurating peace, i
that which is able to meet armed rebellion
with arms, take it by the throat and choke it
either into obedi >ncc or into the grave.
Year: 1864

The Providence Journal has the follow
ing: ''Without charging small potatoes
upon our Swanzey friend who sent US the
two pound -five-ounce specimen, we are com
PEELED to say that Rhode Island does a little
better The Coventry Company sent us
three which weigh six pounds, while one of
them weighs two anda half pounds. They
are of three different varieties, showing that
the large yield is not confined to any one
kind -
Year: 1864

Strike for your rights squealed Nc
Clellan orator in Newark, mildly argument
ative against the lawfulness OF the draft, and
tenderly objective to the continuance Of the
war.


A soldier on a pair of Sanitary crutches
IF you was mt both coward and a traitor,
you would be at the front striking at the Re-
bellion. That's the only kind of striking
that ought TO be done NOWADAYS.
Year: 1864

The Wing, referring to the destruction
of rebel property in the Shenandoah
Valley, says: THE fell work is going on
by order of Gen. Grant, to destroy every
thing that will sustain life in the Valley.
There is one efectual way, and the only
one that we know of to arrest and pre-
vent this and every other SORT Of atrocity,
and that is, to burn one of the chief
cities of the enemy say Boston, Philadel-
phia, or Cincinnati, and let its fate hang
over the rest as a warning of what may
be done and what will be done to them,
if the present system of war on the part
of the enemy is continued. If we are
asked how such thing can be done, we
answer nothing would be easier. A mil
lion of dollars would lay the proudest
city of the enemy in ashes. The men
to execute the work are already there.
There would be no difficulty in finding
there or in Canada suitable persons to
take charge of the enterprise and arrange
its details. Twenty men, with plans all
preconcerted and means provided, select
ing some windy night, might FIRE Boston
in a hundred places and wrap it in flames
from the centre 70 the suburbs.





They might retaliate on Richmond,
Charleston, etc. Let tLem do SO if they
dare it is a game at which we can beat
them. New York is worth twenty Rich
monds. They have dozen towns TO our
one, and in their towns is centered near
lY all their wealth,