smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

.


We lett Denver at q yesterday morning, in a
wagon drawn by four mules, crossing by rope
ferry the south fork of the Platte directly
This fork is swift, clear, cold stream, somo
thirty rods wide, fordable except when SHOWS
are melting in the mountains. Many gold
seekers wagons were waiting to cross, and more
We're momently arriving, so that the ferryman
at least must be making his pile out of the dig
gings. Henceforward, our way lay northwest
for fifteen miles across a rolling and well
grassed prairie, on which one or two farms had
been commenced, while two or three persons
have just established ''ranches"-that is have
built each his corral, in which cattle are herded
at night, while allowed to run at large on the
prairie during the day; 81 80 per month is the
usual price per head for herding in this way,
and the cattle are said 10 do very well. The
miners leave or send back their cattle to herd
on these prairies, while they prosecute their
operations in the mountains where feed is gen.
orally scarce.


Reaching Clear Creek, (properly ,Vesquer's
Fork)-a cold, swift rocky bottomed stream
which energies Just above u deep narrow canon
from the Rocky Mountains-we left our wagons,
saddled the mules and torded the creek-and it
was all our mules could do to stem its impetu-
Gus current-ascended gentle, grassy slope to
the foot of Rocky Mountains-which had for
an hour seemed almost within stones throw
on our left, Now they wore to be faced direct
ly, and the prospect was really serious. The
hill on which we were to make our first essay in
climbing rose to hight of 1000 feet in little
more than mile, the ascent for most of the
distance being more than one foot in three
| never before saw teams forced up such a
precipice yet there were wagons Of ten or
twelve hundred weight of mining tools, pro-
visions, &c., being dragged by four to eight
yoke of oxen up that giddy precpice, with four
or five men lifting at the wheels of each. The
average time consumed in the ascent is an hour
and half. Our mules, unused to such work,
were visibly appalled, by it at 6rst they resist
ed every effort to force them up, even by zig
zags My companions all walked, but was
lame and had to ride, to my mules intense dis
Year: 1859

THE TRoUT.-The trout is the only fish that
comes in and goes out of season with deer; he
grows rapidly, and dies early after reaching his
full growth. The female spawns in October-at
a different time for nearly all other fish; after
which both male and female become lean, weak
and unwholesome eating, and if examined close
ly will be found covered with a species of Glove
shaped insect, which appear to suck their sub
stance from them. They continue until warm
weather, when they rub the insects off on the
gravel, and Immediately grow strong. The fe-
male is the best for the table. She may be
known by small head and deep body. Fish are
always in season when their heads are so small
as to be disproportioned to the size of the body.
The trout is less oily and rich than the salmon;
the female is much brighter and more beautiful
than the male, they swim rapidly, and often leap
like salmon, to great height when ascending
streams. When first stocked my trout pond,
placed 1900 in it, and was accustomed to feed
them with angle worms, rose bugs, crickets,
grasshoppers, &C., which they attacked with
great voracity, to the amusement of those look
ing on. They grow much more rapidly in ponds
than in their native streams, from the fact that
they are better fed, and not compelled to exer-
else. Trout are the only fish known to me that
possess voice, which is preceived by pressing
them when they emit murmuring sound and
tremble all over.---RObert Il. Pedte,
Year: 1859

II man were to see quarter OF an inch of
worm put in his cup of coffee he could not
drink it, because he knows that the whole cup
would be impregnated. If very small amount
OF some virulent poison be introduced into
glass of water, the drinking Of it might not
produce instant death, but that would not prove
that it was not hurtful, only that there was not
enough of it to cause destructive result i'm
mediatey


We sicken at the thought of taking the breath
Of another the moment It leaves the mouth. but
that breath mingles with air about the bed in
which two persons lay; and it is rebreathed, but
not less offensive is it in reality, on account of
the dllution, except that it is not taken in its
concentrated form, but each breath makes it more
concentrated. One sleeper corrupts the atmos-
phere of the room by his own breathing, but
when two persons are breathing at the same
time, twelve or fourteen times in each minute,
each minute extracting all the nutriment from
gallon of air, the deterioration must be rapid
indeed especially in a small and close room.
A bird cannot live without a large supply of
pure air.


canary bird hung up in a curtained bed
stead where two persons slept died before the
morning


Many infants are found dead in bed. and it is
attributed to having been overaid by the par
ents; but the idea that any person could lay still
for moment on baby, or anything else of the
same size, is absurd. Death was caused for the
want of pure air.


Besides emanations, erial and more or less
solid, are thrown out from every person
thrown out by the process of nature because
no longer fit for life purposes, because they are
dead and corrupt--but if breathed into another
living body, it is just as abhorrent as if we took
into mouths the matter of a sore or any other
excretion.


The most destructive typhoid and putrid fever
are known to arise directly from a number of
persons living in the same small room. Those
who can afford it should therefore arrange to
have each member of the family sleep in a sep
arate bed. If persons must sleep in the same
bed, they should be about the same age. and in
good health. If the health be much unequal,
both will suffer, but the healthier one the most
the invalid suffering for want of entirely pure
air.


SO many cases are mentioned in standard
medical works, where healthy. robust infants
and larger children have dwindled away, and
died in few months, from sleeping with grand
parents or old persons, that it is useless to cite
special instances in proof


1t would be constitutional and moral good
for married persons to sleep in adjoining rooms,
as general habit. 1t would be certain means
of physical invigoration, and of advantages in
other directions, which will readily occur to the
reflective reader. Kings and queens and the
highest personages of courts have separate
apartments 1t is the bodily emanatons collect
ing and concentrating under the same cover
which are the most destructive of health-more
destructive than the simple contamination of an
atmosphere breathed in common.
Year: 1859

safely though with great MISUNDERSTANDING a
girth and spiling saddle, blanket, &c, into the
water-I betook myself to n spot, half mile
up stream, where the creek is split by islcts in
to three channels and where rude foot bridge
of logs afford dry-shod passage. Here was
met by my friend with his mule and in few
minutes rode to our wagon, beside which we
found supper in an emigrant tent and lodging
in several, and at o'clock this morning har-
messed up and drove into Denver-just three
whole men at party of six, and ali as weary
flied with our experience of three days in the
Rocky Mountains II. q.
Year: 1859

A NEGRO Discussion ABOUT EGGs.-Geneva,
the lovely village on Seneca Lake. furnishes the
following specimen of parliamentary ruling:


In the tarest village of western New ork the
culed pussons," in emulation of their white
brethren, formed debating society for the pur
pose of improving their minds by the discussion
of instructive and entertaining topics The de-
liberations of the society were presided over by
with the utmost dignity peculiar to his color
The subject for discussion on the occason Of
which write was:


'What am de mudder of de chickens-de hen
wat lay de eggs, or de hen wat hatch de chick"


The question was warmly debated, and many
reasons pro and con urged and combated
by the excited disputants Those in favor of the
latter proposition were evidently in the majori-
ty, and the President made no attempt to con-
ceal that his sympathies were with the dominant
party. At length intelligent darkey rose
from the minority side and begged leave to state
a proposition to this effect:


q "'Spose," said he, - dat you set one dozen
duck eggs under hen, and dey hatch, which
am de mudder-de duck or de hen ~


This was poser, was well put, and nonpluss-
ed the other side, even staggering the President,
who plainly saw the force of the argument, but
had committed himself too far to yield without
a struggle; so, after cogitating and scratching
his wool few moments, a bright idea struck
him. Rising from his chair with all the pride
of conscious superiority he announced:


Ducks am not before de house, chickens am
de question derefor | rule de ducks out :" and
do it he did, to the complete overthrow of his
opponent
Year: 1859

A SAD INCIDENT OF THE FIRE AT MuRpHY's.-
Ihe Columbia Courier says that when the con-
iagratlon which destroyed Murphy's broke out.
the mouraful services OF funeral were being
performed. A mother had lost her little child
some Two years old. The little procession had
reached the village church, and were there paw
ing the last sad tribute of affection, when the
fearful cry of fire smote upon the ear of the lit
tie group 80 great was the panic, as the flames
ourst upon their sight through the church win
COWS, that inyoluntarily all rushed out to render
aid in staying the progress of the flames. In a
moment, the poor mother found herself alone
with her dead child and, taking up the little
coffin, returned to her home alone and unno-
tced
Year: 1859

An AMERICAN SESTIMEXT.-Some years ago,
while President, Mr. Pierce delivered the follow
ing beautiful aud genuine American sentiment :


The rights which belong to US as nation are
not alone to be regarded, but those which per-
tain to every citizen, in his individual capacity,
at home and abroad, must be sacredly maintain
ed. Every citizen is himself one of a nation of
soyereigns, and he cannot in legitimate pursuit
wander so far from home that the agent W hom
he shall leave behind in the place now occupy
will not see that no rude hand of tyranical pas
sion is laid upon him with impunity. He must
realize that upon every sea, and on erery soil,
where our enterprise may rightfully seek the
protection of our flag, American citizenship is
an inviolable panoply for the security of Amer
lean rights.


UrAH.-The Bulletin's Salt Lake correspondent
says;


The election for delegate to Congress has
resulted in the election of William H. Hooper, a
Mormon, who halls from Maryland, and was for
many years steamboat captain the Missis-
sippi river. Hooper is a very clever fellow, and
not much of Mormon at heart. believe he
has avoided any practical endorsement of po-
lygamy, and is content to live with single wife
He was formerly a merchant here, and has the
reputation of an honorable man in pecuniary
transactions. Certainly he is an improvement
upon the hoary headed old hypocrite, Dr. Bern
hisel, who boasts OF half dozen wives
Year: 1859

The Boston Ledger publishes the following. 1t
is moral lesson that will bear ponderng


ssIn 1887, youth, then residing in Maine,
owned jack knife, and, being of a somewhat
trading and money making disposition, sold it
for gallon Of West India rum. This lie retail
ed aud with the proceeds purchased two gall
Ions, and eventually barrel, which was follow
ed in due time with large stock. In word,
he got rich, and became the squire of the dis
trict through the possession and sale of a jack
knife, and an indomitable trading industry He
died worth property in real estate and money,
valued at $50, 600. This was divided by testa-
ment, among four children-three boys and a
girl. Luck, which seemed to have been the
guardian angel of the father, deserted the chill
dren, for every folly and extrayagance they
could engage in seemed to occupy their exclu-
sive attention and cultivation. The daughter
married unfortunately, and her patrimony was
soon thrown away by her spendthrift of a hus-
band. Tue sons more fortunate, and
two of them died of dissipation and in almost
poverty. The daughter also died The last of
the family, for many years past, has lived on the
kindness of those who knew him in the days of
his prosperity, as pride would not allow him to
/ 90 to the poor farm. \ few days ago he died
/ suddenly and unattended, in barn where he
/ had laid himself down to take drunken sleep.
| On his pocket being examined all that was
/ found in them was small piece of string and a
/ jack knife. 3d. the fortune that began with an
implement of that kind, left its simple duplicate.
| We leave the moral to be drawn in whatever
fashion it may suggest itself to the reader-sim-
ply stating that tue story is true one, and all
the facts well known to many whom this rela-
ton will doubtless reach"
Year: 1859

oh, if there is one earthly bliss
More precious than another,
1t is when with delight you kiss-a pretty girl
when she sends a certain individual out
the room on the important errand of seeing
what hour is indicated by the family time
piece down stairs


Certain individual being her brother.
While musng thus, one summer eve,
As by the fair ones side sat,
The time was near at hand to leave-so, stealing
my arm round her waist, drew her gently
to me, and when in the act of applying my
lips to hers, the door softly opened, and
her respected Ma" appeared, armed with
broomstick, and before knew where
was,


| was knocked into cooked hat
Year: 1859

EQUlvocAL CoMPLIMENT.-The Boston Post
says that an editor who lived at a hotel, being
absent one night, the landlord took the liberty
OF allowing stranger to occupy his room. Ia
the morning the ungrateful lodger left the fol-
lowing written on the margin of one the editors
old newspapers:


l slept in an editors bed last night,


And others may say what they please;
| say there's one editor in the world


That certainly takes his ease
When thought of my humble cot, away


could not suppress a sigh,
But thought, as rolled in the feathery nest,


How easy editors lie STRASGER
Year: 1859

To THE YoUxG.-If the spring put forth no
blossoms, in summer there will be no beautv
and in autumn no fruit. So if youth be triaed
away without improvement, ripper years will be
contemplate, and old age miserable.
Year: 1859

The condition of this institution deserves the
attention of all those who feel an interest in the
unfortunates who are thrown upon the care of
The county. An institution of this nature should
not merely have an existence, but should meet
the hearty support of the citizens of the county
To make it efficient for the purposes intended, an
economical distribution of the funds is necessary
but the most economical measures must fail to
effect the object, if the fund intended for its sup
port is allowed to subside altogether.


Something more than year ago, a County
Hospital was established by the Board Of Super
visors Of this county, that body believing that
provision should be made for the proper care OF
the iriendless SICK and poor of the county. The
two dollars, baAving it would be sufficient for
the support on county poor. AT the COM
menceuent of th6Yresent year the Fund was in
debt about $4,000, and at the May term of the
Board it was found necessary. and the tax in
creased to 81.


We are informed that up to the present time
only about $500 have been collected. The pres
ent Board have audited bills to the amount of
Sl6j9 AZ, making the present Indebtedness of the
Fund between $4,000 and $4,000. Payment of
the tax by 1000 persons, only about one-half OF
the voters in the county, would create a fund OF
$4,000, enough TO liquidate the debt. 1t is very
plain that unless the payment of the Hospital
tax assessed by the Board Of Supervisors is en-
forced, that the Hospital must be abandoned, and
the county sick thrown upon private charity. To
aid this, some means should be adopted to iaoili-
tate the collection Of the Tax.
Year: 1859

Ordered, That John Martin, David Kinds and
III. j. Howe be appointed to view out road or
street to run along western line of lots on Wes-
tern side of Main street, and to make their report
to this Board.


Ordered, That the trail or road now used lead
ing from Chamberlains store, near the mouth of
Rush Creek and Trinity river, to the Weaverville
and Bates trail, near where said trail crosses
Rush Creek, be declared public highway.


Ordered, That John Arm be appointed Road
overseer OF the Rush Creek road district, on the
filing of his bond for $1,000.


Ordered, That Vim. Fox, T. McCausland and
Increase Adams be appointed to view out road
from Mouth of Deadwood Creek running down
the East Bank Of Trinity river along the line OF
Fox d Crows ranch, to intersect the road leading
from Grass Valley to Mud Valley, and that they
report at the next regular meeting OF this Board.


Remainder Proceedings nert aceek.]
Year: 1859

MAIL SERvICE.-We are told that the mail SER
vice between Shasta and this place is to be re-
duced from tri-weekly to semi-weekly. These
reductions are being made throughout The whole
State, because of insufficient appropriation last
winter to provide for their transportation. We
trust that, through the courtesy of the California
Stage Company, the tri-weekly mail may be con
tiuucd
Year: 1859

quires our service will go TO the inrthermcSt
ends of the earth 10 do what can. jacob,
remember, when the cold winter nights come,
these men will forget that you eyer did them
a service if our children cry for bread, you
know who you will call upon; itwont be the
men who call you ont Of bed to elect this
Blatherskitc to Office


The voice of the woman made an impression
upon the rude mans mind, that it would be
Difficult to eradicate. He knew full well TINT
she had spoken some homcly truths, and touch
ed upon incidents that were fresh in his mem
ory. Would he be aware of the friend and
cvade him, who had stood by him through ad-
yersity and troubles, or would he turn to the
friends of a day whose principles lay in their
pockets, and who would throw him of like an
old shoe as soon they had accomplished their
ends?


How near this imaginary character comes to
the truth we will leave to the imagina-
ton of some of our Irish acqnaintances who
have had little experience with the author in
making Senator's.


TO DE CONTINUED.
Year: 1859

again and sustain him. With full ap-
probation of the importance of having a
good man in the Senate, want all my
friends to rally to my standard. 1t is true
that | have deserted my party once Or
twice, but when the people consider that
| am lawyer and the lineal descendant Of
all the Blatherskites, they will look over
my foibles and nse their utmost endeavors
to make me Senator TO insure this tri-
umph, Mr.. Baker, | have selected you to
operate among the mechanics and working
men, and blow my trumpet. By doing
this, you can raise furor in my favor
that will overcome all opposition. Your
political friend, here, will give you such
instructions as will vastly accelerate your
movements. What funds will be required
will be found with him; they were fur
nished by my social friends in Philadel-
phia, and will be used very literally.
There will be many ways in which you
will become useful, by following his ad-
vice. Stop at nothing; remember that l
am lawyer and can put you through If
you get in trouble You had better quit
your business and turn politician; it will
pay better and be more congenial to your tastes
besides, you will have relaxation from labor
Labor is not halfas respectable as being poll
tician and attending to the affairs of the coun-
try"


To this speech of Mr. Blatherskite, Frank
knew not what to say; he was so completely
taken abuck; he only looked surprised. To
be sure the fancy of quitting work tickled him
a little, but then he felt that it might prove an
injury rather than benefit to folly the advice
of the oilice-seeker Had that thought held
possession of his mind probably it would have
saved him many day of adversity. Scarce
had this thought entered his head before the tall
gentleman, with his Establishments, began to
speakin terms ofpraise of his protege Flattery
often conquers what more rude means might
strengthen. 1t was not long before any good
resolution, that might have had terminating
point in his mind, was completely banished
Humble minds look up with admiration to those
who hold higher position than themselves
and from their own acknowledged insignifcance
constitute n kind of man worship.


The glasses were replenished and drank off
the affairs of State were duly discussed, and in
their interesting occupation we will leave them
for the present.
Year: 1859

Being a lover of good fruit, and feel
ing an interest in the cultivation of it in
our State, would like to give some of
my experience, which if you see fit to
publish, may be of service to those who
will practice with care the few sugges-
tions which / am enabled to make by
careful study and practice for the past
six years.


1t is a general complaint in this country
that trees on our rich, warm soil, grow
late while young, therefore the trees are
unripe when the hard frosts come, and
winter sets in before the sap returns to
the root as it should, the cause of which
is that the tender twigs are injured or
killed by the severe frosts, and often as
the bark is unripe as it congeals it causes
the bark on the trunk of the tree to con-
tract and part, which is surely cause
enouge for it to give up the ghost, as 1t is
sure to do.


The enquiry is, how shall we remedy it?
l answer, by causing the sap to return to
the root In season TO cause the wood to
become ripe and hard before the hard
frcsts come. This we may do by hoeing
away the earth from the tree and expos
ing the roots to the weather, thati is, leave
the earth thin for time on the roots, un-
til the sap returns and checks the growth
of the tree; after which the tree should
be earthed up for the winter by making
a mound around the trunk foot or more
high, and extending eighteen inches OF
more from the tree; which will protect
the roots from the hard frosts our winters
are subject to, and prevent the sap from
starting too early in the spring before II
becomes settled warm weather; when the
mound should be removed, and the tree
cultivated or mulched through the sum.
mer so as TO cause as thrifty a growth a:
possible the first part of the season.


The time to expose the roots depends
upon the season, but about the 10Th Of
Sept. is generally the time. This remedy
will not need be applied but fewyears
while the trees are young, after which
they will ripen themselves in season
to become hardy-R. B. S.. ,Va
SIN Farmer IN HIscOn
Year: 1859

taken to teach them to draw forward, but
none to teach them to push backward =
To remedy the occasion Of this humping
as soon as l have taught my steers to be
handy, as it is called, and TO draw for
ward, l place them on a cart where the
land Is little descending; in this situa-
ton they will soon learn to back it. Then
! place them on level land and exercise
them. Then teach them to back cart
up land that is little rising, the cart hav-
ing no load in as yet. When / have
taught them to stand up in the tongue, as
they ought, and back an empty cart,
next either put a small load in the cart,
OF take them where the land rises faster,
which answers the same purpose; thus in
few days they can be taught to back well,
and know how to do it, which, by little
use afterward, they never forget. This
may appear Of little consequence to some,
but when it is remembered how frequent
ly we want to back load, when we are
at work with our cattle, and how conve-
nient 1t is 10 have our cattle back well
why should we not teach them for the
time when we want them thus to Law out
their strength? Besides, it often saves
blows and Yexations, which is considera-
bic when one is in a hurry. 1 never con
slider pair of oxen well broke until they
will back well with a reasonable load, and
l would give a very considerable sum
more for yoke thus trained.


c. A. H.