smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1864

Exists there in the wide domain oil the
United States an intelligent patrio, who has
not arrived at the conviction that slave has
been the primary cause Of the nations present
troubles, and that only in the ruins of this
institution the Republic will be enabled to
rice to Unprecedented spleudor and excellence?
Has not this remarkable change of opinion
already set the Border States at devising
means how to shake off this institution, which,
like viper, fastens ON the heels of liberty
Who is now shocked at the sight of a negro
regimentl Aud who ought to rejoice more
at this state of things than we, the descend
-ants of Abraham, of whom forty thousand
were carried away into slavery by Titus /;
who during the dark ages were bartered like
chastle, and whom the German empeIors
used to designate their body-servants There
are some people who cannot be moved if even
the heaven fall, that cannot be made to yield
any of their inveterate notions. Persons of
this stamp may yet dream of the possibility
of q rotten peace, which can only perpetuate
the bloody conflict. But God never subjects





sorrow and in anguish she brings forth new
and shining lights of truth, new and nobler
sentiments washes and cleanses them of old
dccaying prejudices, wipes away the flood of
tears, and dries up the streams of blood that
often took their rise in ancient days in order
that the earth may be renovated and made
joyful. Peace and who would not desire
peace But we ask for; real, permanent
peace, peace of God in truth and in justice.
Jacob also wished to make peace with his
brother Esau, and to that end offered him
droves Of sheep and cattle for present, but
not his birth-right, which had caused tho
quarrel, for that would have relinq aished the
high mission to which 1Gud had appointed
him and his offspring. And neither will the
American people sacrifice in this struggle
their birthright, the exalted mission of pro-
claiming freedom to all the world, though
many precious sacrifice it has already cest
TO bring this war to happy issue in the in
Year: 1864

terest and for the sake Of the nations divine
mission.


GA gloomy and anxious night is impend-
ing over the nation, like the one in which
Jacob wrestlcd with the angel, when he con-
tended, as explained by the Midrash, with
tho dark spirit of Essu. Bat on the night
tSc,llows glorious morning, the spirit of dark
ness bows himself before the spirit of light,
and the vanoIished- brother, invoking bles-
sing, lays his hand upon the head OF the vic
tor, and says: Thou hast prevailed 1t re-
quires no gift of prophecy to prsdict a bright
future for this country. Look at the Old
World Do you not observe now the ancient
throne Of monarchs totter how the nation
rise against centuries Of oppression9 Behold
the cleaning eountenancG of young awaken
ed Liberty, at whose relugence the tremb-
ling potentates cover themselves again with
their purple and lawn, and herd together to
take counsel Of each other, and to dazzle the
multitude by their false glare. but at which
the nations mock and cry out: Not your
paint and tinsel we have come to see, but the
glorious dawn of liberty, whose lovely rays
come dancing toward us from the new world
And we, the inhabitants of this new world,
shall we be afraid, or think it even possible,
that Esau, in his robe of purple, approaches
to smite the mother, our republic, with the
children Never The divine spirit that
rules the events of the world has ordered it
otherwise. Liberty; an emanation of this
spirit, is designed to be purged and purified
of the dark spot that still mars her heavenly
'eountenance, that her light may shine bright
er and fuller, and gladden. the whole earth
with her lustre. A brilliant throne shall be
erected sfor her in the new and in the old
world, and when the storms and violent com
motions shall have ce ased, she may excaim:
with my pilgr nj staff have crossed the sea
to seek place Of refuge here, and now have
become two bands; bearing here and there
the staff Of rule and sway"
Year: 1864

All through November the south wind
poured steadily up through the Kyle, and
filled Rlnaldsay with mist and gloom. But
in the first week in December, when the days
were getting towards their shortest, the north
wind came down, drove the mist away, and
invested the island with cold, cruel, merci.
less beauty. Under an inexorable brazen
sky, every crag came out clear and sharp as
crystal, every cataract was turned into a
glacier, every little spouti2s burn on the
hillside into beautiful ice palace. The lochs
were frozen three feet thick but the curling
stones lay neglected under the bedplace, and
the faded ribands upon the handles only
served to remind the young men of the merry
risks last year, before the potatoes rotted and
left them all starving. The old folks died
first. That was as it should be. One could
not complain of that; one might envy them,
but one could not complain. They had sixty
years of this sort of thing, and it was hard if
they were not to enter into their rest before
the misery grew to its full head The loss of
she deal, Old faces at the firzsite as very sad;
and the hearts of those who were left behind
starving ached sorely but God had taken
them from their misery, which grew more
terrible as the winter went on, and He knew
best. Then the children began to die, and
this was very bitter-very, very hard to bear.
The bonny barelegged little things, who had
done no wrong; who padded in the surf
hot do he Of ,,co
flowers, and called them the lilies of heaven.
This would not do to think of. To be locked
up here in an island in the Atlantic, without
one chance of making ones voice heard till
it was too late, and to see ones own bonnie
darlings. dying before ones face Hush! 1t
was well for the MacTavis that these men
were Scotchmen, not Irishmen! 1t was
well for the peace of the kingdom that these
things happened in Ronaldsay and Lewis,
and not in Manchester and Birmingham
Twas weary noiloween sor tue poor SOUL.
The men who dug the graves noticed that
day by day the frost gotdeeper into the earth.
The fishing lines froze like wires, the blocks
refused to run, the sales were still as boards,
uhh thO NOihOh WIN htulllJt WIN Dlu6
gers, knocked the limpets off the rocks, to
save themselves from starvation, began to
notice that even the salt water in the little
pools among the rocks was beginning to freeze.
And they came home and told the men, and
the men lost heart, and won't no more a
fishing. How could they? Did you ever
sit hour after hour fishing, with fourteen
degrees of frost. and in state of starvation?
The men stayed at home and lay in the bed
p aces. And then they began to die. Yes
The oldest of the able-bodied men began TO
lie down, and to fall asleep in strange. quiet
way. Perfectly happy, perfectly calm
They would lie for day or two, and at last
give over speaking. In the nom ng they
would be found quietly dead, without the
sign of spasm on their faces. This is no
nOvelist's fancy the author has seen what
he is describing.-Henry Kingsley in Aus
tin Elliott"
Year: 1864

In starting the PORTLAND DAILY Press the
Proprietors were influenced by what they be-
lieyed to be demand of the loyal public senti-
ment of the State, and the generous reception
which il has met with, and the unexpected meas
ure of success which has uniformly attended il
thus far, afford the most satisfactory evidence to
the proprietors that they did not misconstrue the
public demand. The Press has been in existence
but one year and half, and though it was COM
menced with no previous canvassing and with
the field, to a superficial observer, fully occupied
by papers having old associations and honor
able antecedents, yet in its brief history it has
gained circulation never before attained by anv
daily paper in the State, and q hold upon pub
lie confidence and respect most encouraging to
the proprietors, and stimulating to their cher
ished desire to satisfy the public wants by max
ing such paper as shall be deemed public ne
cessity by the loyal people of Maine.


Though the PRESS has had success far ex-
ceedlng the most sanguine expectations of its
projectors, and though comparatively few sub
scribers have been heard to complain of its ac-
knowledged DEFICIENCIES, and few demands for its
improvement have come to the notice of its pro-
prietors, and though it may have been all they
could afford to make it at the past and existing
exorbitant prices of printing materials and stock
and with its present patronage, yet the proprie
tors have long felt that it is far short of what
leading journal in the commercial and financial
center OF the State should be; and that the en-
terprise, the wealth, the public spirit and the
asst increasing population of Portland demand,
and dshOuid therefore sustain, such efforts as are
necessary to make paper commensurate with
the growing importance and commanding posi-
ton of their city.


The BUSINESS of this city should demand much
more space for its advertisement than her num-
erous merchants nfmanufacturers have as yet
claimed for its accommodated; while the great va
riety and Importance of the news of the eday-For-
eign and Domestic, Civil and Military -imper-
atiyely calls for more attention than the patron
age actually enjoyed by any paper in the State
would justify bestowing upon it. The Proprie-
tors of the Press, reposing implicit trust in the
good sense and the liberality of the people of
Maine, and their willingness to sustain all en-
terprises having for their object the promotion Of
our common veal, hope the day is not far dis
tant when they may, with full confidence in sue
cess, make
Year: 1864

Tales sand Poetry original and selected will
receive proper attention.


Both papers = the Daily and the Weekly =
will be largely devoted as heretofore, to the dis
cussion of the great principles which underle
our free institutions, and will give a generous
and whole soued support to all the measures
necessary to put down rebellion to overthrow
disoyaty in all its FORMS and to re-establish the
authority of the Constitution the laws, and the
Observation-Disclosures of the government.
over every foot of our common domain


On the great questions of Progress Humanity.
Liberty and Equal Rights, being forced upon
he attention of the nation by the crisis through
which our institutions and our constitutional
Government arc now passing, the PsEss will ut
ter no equiyocal voice and occupy no doubtful
position. The emancipation of those held in
bonds before the rebellion the death of slavery
that Liberty and the Nation may live - will find
the Pass neither hesitating nor reserved in its
advocacy and support.


In word, the Press will stand by the goy-
ernment under all contingencies, and defend
and support those who labor to maintain its in
tegrity and honor; and it will be, as il has been
heretofore, the uncompromising foe of all rebels
and rebel sympathizers, without respect to their
locality or position.


In the political campaign To be fought before
the close of the year 1864, the Press viii be found
acting with loyal Union men, irrespective of an
tecedents, and opposing all disloyal men, on
matter from what tstock they may have descended
Its course for the last year and Il half may be
taken as an ndicationo Of what it proposes for the
future.
Year: 1864

Somebody has written the following beautiful
little triplet about "The Family" which is wei
worth preservation
The family is like book


The children are the leaves
The parents are the cover, that


Protective beauty gives.
At first the pages of the book


Are blank and purely fair
But time soon writeth memories,


And painteth pictures there.
Love is the little golden clasp


That bndeth up the trust :
Oh, break 1t not lest all the leaves
Should scatter and be lost.
Year: 1864

FAMILY COURTESY. Family intimacy
should never make brothers and sisters for
get to be polite and sympathising to each
other Those who contract thoughtless and
rude habits toward the members of their
own family will be thoughtless aud rude to
all the world But let the family inter-
course be true, tender and affectionate, and
the manners of all uniformly gentle and
considerate, the members of the family thus
trained will carry into the world and society
the habits of their childhood They will
require in their associates similar qualities
they will not be satisfied without mutual es-
TEEN and the cultivation of the best affee-
tions, and their own character will be sus-
tanned by that faith in goodness to mind
exercised in pure and high thoughts.
Year: 1864

The New York Evening Post says the
people have made up their minds that the
union shall stand, whether the constitution
does Or not That is just as wise as to say,
the doctors have made up their minds that
the man shall live, whether the breath leaves
his body or not The constitution down,
the union down Webster expressed the
great truth thus: "The constitution and
the union l place them together. If
they stand, they stand together; if they fall,
they must fall together"
Year: 1864

BEGINNING TO SEE IT.-Even the Boston
Courier one the most extreme of the parti-
san Democratic papers, goes so far as to con-
cede that the destruction of slavery by the
war is all right 1t says:


sThe South rushed to arms especially to
protect the institution of slavery, an institu-
tion which comparatively few Northern men
approve. The friends Of State rights in the
North, as body, never defended slavery upon
its merits, but, bravely bearing the opprobri-
um of doing so which was inevitably thrust
upon them by their political antagonists, they
faithfully defended those constitutional rights
which gave to slavery its local security. But
when shareholders go to war, and especially
when they inaugurate rebellion, they must ex-
pect their slaves to take the chances and share
the fate which the war may bring. To this
doctrine every sensible and practical man must
assent. II the war is carried en- until every
negro is set at large in this way, the owners
must bear the consequences of their own acts.
If, after the war, they choose to undertake the
recovery of their fugitive property, the laws
are open to them"
Year: 1864

him 10 Washington as we hear is proposed
we should have very little fear of the results


in the West. All hopes are centered on Gen


Lee His army has been very much reduced,
leaving himi only about forty-ive thousand
troops His cavalry has been scattered
through the countries below Gordonsville for
the purpose of getting forage, and you have
no idea of the accounts of suffering we receive
from the inhabitants where they are quarter
ed, The whole cavalry seems to have been
demoraized into band Of thieves, robbing
alike both friends and foe. A great portion
of the cavalry has disbanded, to return in the
middle of March with fresh horses and new
outfits 1 fear great many will not go back,
but will either desert to the Yankees or hide
in the mountains. There are now several Or
ganized bands for opposing the conscription,
and a number of our conscripting officers have
been killed. The reports Of destitution are
TOO true Our soldiers do not get full ratioHs
half the time, and once they have been with
out meat ten days. These hardships are daily
growing worse, and what we shall do to re-
Iieve US we cannot imagine. Our supply of
provisions is almost exhausted, and no one
knows where more is to come from. It is |
true we have enough among the people to
live on, but supplies for the army are almost
unobtainable.


William says the Government does not in
tend to wait for the Yankees to advance, but
will concentrate our armies, and strike where
least expected in overwhelming numbers
This seems the only hope of success. If we
sho uld be defeated this Spring [ know not
what will become oil. US. So many have be-
come discouraged that believe another dis
saater will almost break US up. All we can
do is to aid the noble army by our example
and contributions, and hope for better things.


1 wish you could send US few things, such
as stationery and those indispeusables OF the
toilet now so hard to secure. We can some
times get them here, but at fabulous prices,
and we are compelled to dress with almost
he simplicity of our servants. Our paper
money is good for nothing. 1t takes a band
ul to buy pair OF Shoes and an arm full
10 get dress. A hundred dollars of Yankee
green backs would be small fortune, The
poorer classes are suffering terribly, and there 8
nave been several cases of actual starvation.
Now have written you long letter, much !
onger than l expected. Do not show this to /
my but your family, and burn it Immediately !
lfter. would not have it fall into the hands 4
# the Yankees for the world. Remember us
O all who ever think o. US, and write soon.-
All Join in much love. Can't you send your
photograph Your affectionate sister,


TARY
Year: 1864

There are some who do not exer


the powers they suppose they pos


sess, because they don't occupy a po


sition adapted to call forth those
powers. They stand idle, because
they say, no man has hired them
When asked if there is nothing for
them to do, they reply in effect,
nothing worthy of their powers
Those who thus wait for stations
worthy of their supposed powers,
may spend a life in idleness.


The true man does vigorously
whatsoever his hand findeth to do
He is never out of employment
No one ever need be out of en-
ployment. There is always work
to be done. Some may complain
that all avenues to employment are
closed to those who have a mind to
work.


A merchant in this city had made
what was regarded as fortune
In consequence ofIosses by the war
of 1912, he failed. He surrendered
his property to his creditors. He
was not out of employment a week.
Though he had been the head of
large jobbing establishment, he took
clerkship in small one. He at
tended to the duties of his clerk
ship as faithfully as to the duties of
the firm of which he had been the
leading partner. Of course it was
not many years before he was among
the merchant Drinces.


Let no young man wait in idle
ness for situation worthy of his
powers. Let him do with his might |
whatever his hand findeth to do
The way to get better place is to |
perform in a first rate manner the
duties of your present situation.-I
The way to prepare for greater |
usefulness is to make yourself as
useful as possible in your present
calling.-E'1ch0nge.
Year: 1864

Some one writes, both gracefully
and forcibly: II would be glad to
see more parents understand that
when they spend money judiciously
to improve and adorn the house and
ground around it, they are in effect
paying their children a premium to
stay at home, as much as possible,
to enjoy it; but that when they
spend money unnecessarily in fine
clothing and jewelry for their chill
dren, they are paying them premi-
um to spend their time away from
home-that is, in those places where
they can attract the most attention,
and make the most display"
Year: 1864

The UniUerse, the Catholic organ of Phila
delphia, now powerfully edited by Mr.. j. M
Spellissy, is not disposed to be silent upon
facts which no one can deny. From its ed
itoriaI columns we quote The following very
sensible and frank admission:


In recent edition of the UniUsrse the
facts by which Slavery is at present surroun-
ded were examined and those facts were fair
ly shown to illustrate that the institution OF
Slavery is virtually destroyed by the war
the future peace of the empire demands its
subversion. But we now see that the Bos-
ton Post which is the most respectable Demo
cratic Journal in the couatry--the New York
World, which has been a most formidable en-
emy to the Administration, and the New York
Herald, which has upheld Slavery with the
most signal ability and pertinaciousness for
twenty years, now view things in precisely the
same light We Irish Democrats may not
like this complexion of things, and we may
abuse till we burst the Abolitionists as princi-
pal instigators of the Southern revolt but
facts whether just or unjust are against u.s.
The AbolitiOnists have actually carried the
day, and it is utterly out of power to drive
them back to right again. Abolitionism OF
the most perpetual and sweeping kind is seiz-
ing the entire nation. And we may as well
not attempt to resist the national current
The tide is rising, let us not permit it 10 leave
us in the solitary sand. As there is Christian
philanthropy in emancipating the blacks, let
us have that philanthropy; as it is justice to
the nation to destroy Slavery, let US be just
to the nation ; and as the future peace OF the
country demands the ruin of Slavery, let us Sc
cure the future peace of the country. Away
with partizanshp! Away with mere preju-
dice Away with the nonsense of resisting
the national current Let US at all events
accept with grace what we can not undo"
Year: 1864

The BLESSED ONEs.-Blesssd are they that
are blind, for they shall sse no ghosts.


Blessed are they that are deaf, for they new
er lend money, nor listen to tedious stories.


Blessed are they tina. are afraid of thunder,
for they hesitate about getting married, and
keep away from political meetings.


Blessed are they that are lean, for there is
q chance to grow fat.


Blessed are they that are ignorant, for they
are happy in thinking they know everything.


Blessed is he that is ugly 10 form and fea-
lures, for the gals will not molest him.


Blessed is she that would get married, but
can't, for the consultations of the gospel are
hers.


Blessed are the orphan children, for they
have no mothers to spank them.


Blessed are they that expect nothing, for
they shall not be disappointed.


Blessed are they that do not advertise, for
they shall rarely be troubled with customers.
Year: 1864

A person Of the denomination of .Quakers
once took his watch to the maker with the
following words Friend, have once more
brought my erroneous watch, which wants
thy friendly care and protection The last
time he was at thy school, he was no ways
benefited by thy instructions. l find by the
index of his tongue, he tells false, and that his
motions are wavering and unsettled, which
makes me believe he is not right in the ia
ward man mean the main spring.
would have thee improve him, with thy adjust
ing tool of truth, that if possible thou mayest
drive him from the error of his ways. I'm
agining his body to be foul, and the whole
mass corrupted, purge him with thy cleansing
stick from all pollution, so that he may vib-
rate and circulate according to truth. l will
board him with thee for few days and pay
when thou requirest it. In thy late bill thou
chargest me with one-eight Of pound ster-
ling, which will pay thee also. Friend,
when thou correctest him do it without pas
sion lest by severity, thou drivest him to
destruction. I would have thee let him visit
the suns motion. And learn his true calcdla-
tion table and, equation and when thou
fndeat him comfortable to do that send him
home with just bill of moderation and it
shall be remitted to thee by thy kind FRIEND"


e.r 7. d.
Year: 1864

BLUENG FoR CLorHEs.-Talze one ounce OF
soft Prussian blue, powder it and put it in a
bottle with one quart of clear rain water, and
add one quarter of an ounce of oxalic acid. A
teaspOonful is sufficient for large washing.
Year: 1864

From the New York Herald.


The annexed intercepted letter from South
ern lady in Richmond to her sister in Ken
tucky, gives an unusually interesting picture of
affairs as they now exist ia rebeldom The
communication evidently emanates from an
intelligent and reliable source, and should be
perused with care: