smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

Of all the silly performances adults
ever engaged in, marrying Gin fun"
seems to US least excusable; not be-
cause we would exclude fun from
matrimOny, but because something
less sacred than the obligations i'm
posed upon man and wife should be
selected for ''pure sport" We are
therefore rather inclined to enjoy the
predicameIt ola party of eight, all
highly fashionable people, who, for
lack Of something to pass the time,
were ''married in fun," at White Riv-
or Junction, Vermont, recently. At
ter the four couples were duly pro
nounced man and wife "by the laws
Of the State, and before these witness
es,' it was discovered that the man
who oficiated was really a justice OF
the peace. One Of the principal fools
in the play, a learned Professor, was
to have been married in two weeks


Seven of the party were engaged to
be married, but not to the persons
they married Gin fun" The Justice
who married them has been fined $50
a couple for his prank-he belongs to
another county, and is supposed to
have been animated by petty malice
and it is gravely announced that
the Legislature has been applied to
to unite the terrified couples. These
things do very well in q theatrical
way-in real life they are apt to
make people look very ridiculous.
Year: 1869

No subject was ever more free from
all cOmplexity or doubt than the con-
ditiOn of our currency at the present
time. Congress, as a supposed ueces-
sity, authorized the issue Of notes as
money in excess of the natural volume
of currency, and of course beyond the
power of the Treasury or banks to
convert into specie. This caused sus-
pension and depreciation. All this is
plain and such being the cause of
our difficulties, the remedy is obvious.
Contraction must follow expansion.
There can be no other remedy posi-
bic. The project of accumulating
gold sufficient to form a basis for the
mptiOn-including the obligations
of the Government payable on de-
mand-Of thirteen hundred and nine
ty-fve millions of immediate cash liza
bilities, is preposterous, while the idea
of waiting whole generation, for the
country to grow to it," as is often
cOntended, is absurd. The manufac-
lures and trade of the nation cannot
dAOLA " OO CAAAlGl, anu uGllliGA II uCC-
essary or reasonable. But the diff
Guilty is, our statesmen do not dare to
pronounce the word contraction. The
whole immense speculative interests
of the nation are in hostile array
against any movement in that direc-
ton. The people are heeced of their
hard earnings by the present system
to the extent of some three hundred
millions per annum, and that is too
large an amount of plumber to be
quietly resigned. 1t cannot be re-
peated too often or with too much en-
phasis, that contraction is the only
means by which the currency and the
credit of the nation can restored, and
that contraction will never take place
except by the compulsory action of
COngress.-[Our Monthly Gossip, Lip
pincOtt's Magazine.
Year: 1869

Children grow up-nothing on earth
grows so fast as children. 1t was but
yesterday, and that lad. was playing
with toys, a buoyant boy. He is a
man, and gone now. There is no
more childhood for him or for US
Life has claimed him. When a be-
ginning is made it is like raveling a
stocking; stitch by stitch gives way
till all'i gone. The house has not a
child in it-there is no more noise in
the hall-boys rushing peIl-mell it
is very orderly now. There are no
more skates, sleds, balls or strings
left scattered about. Things are neat
enough now. There is no delay for
sleepy folks there is no longer any
task, before you lie down, of looking
after anybody and tucking up the
bed clothes. There are no disputes to
settle, nobody to get off to school, no
complaint, no opportunities for impos-
sible things, no rips to mend, no fin
gers to tie up, no faces to be washed,
or collars to be arranged. There was
never such peace in the house 1t
would sound like music to have some
feet to clatter down the front stairs
Oh for some children's noise What
used to all US, that we were hushing
their loud laugh, checking their moi
sy frOlic, and reprOving their slam
ming and banging the door


We wish our neighbors would only
lend US an urchin or two to make a
little noise in these premises. A home
without children! 1t is like a lantern
and no candle a garden and no flow
ers; a brook and no water gurgling
and gushing through its channel.


We want to be tried, to be vexed,
to be run over; to hear children at
work with all varieties. During the
secular days this is enough remarked.
But it is the Sabbath that puts our
home to proof. That is the Christian
family day. The intervals of public
worship are spaces of peace. The
family seems made up that day. The
children are at home, and you can lay
your hands upon their heads. They
seem to recognize the greater and
lesser love-tO God and to friends
The house is peaceful, but not still.
There is a low .melodious thrill of
children in it. But the Sabbath comes
too still now. There is a silence that
aches in the ear. There is too much
room at the table, too much at the
hearth. The bedrooms are a world
too orderly, There is too much leis-
ure and too little care. Alas what
moan these things Is somebody
growing old? Are these signs and
tokens? Is life waning p III. W.
Beecber.
Year: 1869

We find the following in a recent
number of the Ripley (Ohio) Bee:


A few days since, Rev. Granville
Moody, in company with two of the
class-leaders of the Methodist EpiscO-
pal Chuch, of our place, were paying
a pastoral visit among the members of
his Church living in the country, and
while ascending a hill, about one mile
and a half from town, they met a
gentleman, his lady, and two children
descending. After passing the COM
pliments of the day, Rev. Moody, as
is his custom, began to inquire of
them concerning their spiritual well
fare, and then and there preached Ie-
sus and his righteousness to them,
and urged upon them the necessity of
giving their hearts to the Savior. He
then proposed to offer up a prayer,
and kneeling down, the blessing of
God was invoked upon that little as
sembly. Upon rising from their
knees, both the gentleman and his
wife expressed a desire to live Chris
tian lives. Why then put the matter
off? There was no good reason why
they should not, and they sipnifed
their assent to do both. A little brook
was near, and the music of its clear
water could be distinctly heard purl-
ing among the rocks, and the thought
was suggested to Rev. DR.. Moody,
here is the water, the minister and
the elders of the Chuch, why not be
baptized at once? He proposed to
administer the sacred ordinance, and
the parties willingly and gladly ac-
cepting, he led them down to the
brook side, and kneeling down on a
little grassy plat, in Gods first tenn
pie, and with the leaves of the trees
bowed in silence as spectators of the
strange scene, he dipped up the water
in his hands, and, pouring it upon
their heads, baptized them in the
name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost. After that, the necessity
of consecrating the children to God
was impressed upon the parents. The
usual questions as to whether they
would endeavor to train up their chill
dren in the fear and admonition of the
Lord, and to do their duty as Chris
ton parents, were then pronounced,
and the oldest was baptized. The
other, an infant, had not yet been
named, but being requeated TO give it
one, the little fellow was religiously
and patriOtically given unto God by
baptism as "Ulysis Grant" Prayer
was again offered, and each one felt
that God was there, and that to bless.
Doubtless this is the first instance of
the kind that is on record since the
days of Philip and the Eunuch.
Year: 1869

The Southern papers are denOun-
cling Longstreet as smuggler and we
know not what else. He was a very
honorable gentleman, fit for the COM
paniOnship and confidence Of the
Immaculate Lee, before he returned
to his allegiance to the Union with
out the usual Southern mental reser-
walton.
Year: 1869

THERE is tendency amonga pOr'
ton Of the Kentucky Presbyterians
who separated from the Old School
General Assembly on account Of the
resolutions of that body on the subject
Of slavery and loyalty, to return to
the old fold.
Year: 1869

HENRY KEEp-A remarkable career


has just been closed in the death of the


late President Of the Chicago and North.


western railway. Its lesson is on. tha,


will long live in thu annals of our great


railway fiuanciers. The poor foun1ing of


rural poor house in Central New York.


with the secret of his birth never solved ;


then bound boy under flinty -hearted


farmer and then through such an unpro-


missing rift, and opening upon life. too OBJ
scnre and worthless to be followed bv those
all too willing to get rid Of him, the for
lorn little scarecrow rushed into life alone.
Could any ything be more unpromising
Put your own petted. bright-cyed, wei!
clad boy beside him in this picture, and
say which shall surest mount the shining
steps that are known as success in life.
The poor little astray began life for him
self by leading. or riding horses on the
Erie canal. He helped drovers in odd jobs
OF herding and driving cattle. He was
always busy and keen for advancement.
He made his first substantial step as
mere youth in buying Canada scrip and
it. His hand and feet once on
the ladder he climbed strongly and rapidly
into his place as broker, banker, financier
until he came 10 control millions and to be
mighty in stock circles. Dying a: the
head of the greatest American railway
he has shown by his life
remarkable instance Of triumph over oh
'tacIss Of birth and early surroundings.
Year: 1869

PoMERoY ON BurLER.-Brick Pon-roy
does get off good thing sometimes We
are not ordinarily and admirer Of bis
Columns of his editorial matter pruned
dow" TO their pith are simply very inga
NOUS and diversified abuse. without much
idea beyond undi-guispd hostility to what
he is pitching into. But the following is
neatly said:


The right honorable and distinguished
Benjamin F. Butler, Of Massachusetts, has
offered An opinion in the case Of Virginia,
and his opinion is to the effect that those
officers elected. who cannot take the test
oath. because of their participation in
the rebellion E" should be set saeids,. and
those whom they defeated admitts1s Once
there was a tims in this country when the
thief was not permitted to express an
opinion in the case Of honest men. and a
time when honest men were in positions of
trust, instead Of plunderers and spectators.
These times have gone. Then there was
another time, so many years ago, when
mob put Christ upon the cross and cried
that Barshbas. the thief might be saved.
And those times are returning.
Year: 1869

ed match to a,small quantity contain


ed in a saucer. Every oil that caM be


lighted with a match should be con-
demned at once, as only the most
dangerous will take first OF ordinary
temperatures" ,.-tist
Every retailer who does not intelli.
gently apply this easy test. before sell.
ing oil, or have it applied BY soms
competent authority, if he distrusts
his own skill and Judgment, is guilty.
of negligence, which the people ought
to be slow to pardon. But until the,
dealers shall have been startled and
driven to practise caution, by the se-
we're administration of the law againss
a few of them, there is no safety for
purchasers but in carefully testing the
oil for themselves. Let it be under
stood that the man who brings to his
house any of the illuminating oil now
commonly sold, or any such oil that
has not been proved and found safe
by this or some similar test, does so
at the peril his life.
Year: 1869

A young man, on being asked by a
judge whether he had father and meth :
er, said he wasn't quite certain whether
he had or not; first, his father died, and
then his mother married again and then
his mother died, and his father married
again; and now he didn't exactly know
whether they were his father and mother
or not.
Year: 1869

THAT'S TIE KINDA spirited Minneso-
to girl dismissed her lover on learning that
ne gave her father drink of whisky -


That the kind. If all the girls III the
land won.I 90 aud do likewise our country
wouid be cursed with fewer young men, who,
by their drinking habits, have ruined them
selves. and been the means of breaking ma
ny fond and loving hearts It IS within
the power Of every woman, particularly ev-
cry young and unmarried one, to WELD q
mighty influence on the side Of the right,
and against the demoralizing, degrading,
usages of society if she only so wills it and
she is not true to her own and the best
interests of her sex and race if she does
not WELD that influence. 1t is question
involving the happines of millions, and no
half way measures will meet the case.
Prompt, decided, action is called for We
commend the action OF the Minnesota girl
Girls if your lovers love whisky SO well that
they viii not give it up for the love of you,
then love yourselves so well that you won t
love those who love whisky
Year: 1869

Use OF BOTH HANDs.-It would be a
good thing fo7 men and women were they
taught in childhood to use their left hand
equally with their right The use of the
right hand only Tor certain actions-such as
writing aud using mechanical tools-is en-
tireiy conventional, and there does not ap-
PEAR to be any reason why people should not
be ambidexter in every kind of manual Ia,
Dor. Persons who have lost their right
had by accident frequently acquire great IA
cility with the left after some practice, but
grown up persons have not always patience
to betake themselves to the necessary prac
tice. BY the children the thing would be
acquired inseusibly, if means were taken to
lead them to the practice of it. Children
living III houses where TWO languages are
spoken, acquire both with great facility, and
what Is true Of tongues would be equally so
of hands
Year: 1869

A ''WIDow s. VICTIM. The New ork
Post says: On Monday young woman,
dressed in deep mourning, and bearing an
infant in her arms got on board a South
side train from Patchoguc at Valley Stream
and took her scat Dy the side Of a young man
named Mulford, of New jersey. \ conver-
sation eusucd between m.and the woman
informed him that she had last week buried
her husband, and was then or her way to
Philadelphia to spend the winter, at the
same time informing him that she was to be
accompanied by her uncle, who would join
her at Springfield.


During the ride she lear ed over the young
man several times, apparently anxious TO
know how far she was from the station.
Arriving at the station she appointed out
her uncle, and asked the young man to hold
the sleeping infant while she conducted him
on board the train, as he was old and feeble.
The yong man consented and took the child
The train soon moved off, but the woman
did not return, and the young man becom-
ing suspicious felt for his watch, but found
il was missing, as was also his pocket book.
He then proceeded to uncover the infant,
and was astonished on behoiding nothing
more than large rubber model He made
the facts known TO a few persons, and vowed
never to ride in the same seat with strange
woman, or become a nurse to widowed moth
erS.
Year: 1869

\ subscriber TO a western paper having
gotten in arrears for subscription, was finally
sued by the publisher. He had paid no at
tention to repeated duns, but when served
with the summons he came into the office
apparently in a towering rage, and throwing
down money enough to liquidate the account
and pay two years in advance, said, why
didn't you sue me before? Never pay till
I'm sued Be more prompt in future, or
you will be ruined And the old gentle
man walked off full of virtuous indignation.
Year: 1869

Lo lying in the fierce meridian heat,


The beauteous earth looks like a thing that dreams
And, all o'ercome with stupor strangely sweet,
She wholly in the warm suns clutches seems.
Cows seek the sheds cool shade; in sober wise,
So lazily through the langud noodtide air,


A crow flies from the high green hill that lies
Aback beyond the fiat. The heat, the glare
Chalks out the white highway that runs along
The distant upland. Not bird makes choice
To warblc even the fragment of song,


And nature would not own single voice
But for the restless brooks that, all alive
Murmur like bees content in honeyed hive.
Year: 1869

PASSED the winter of 1904 in the
very hospitablc city of IL, where l
was so fortunate rs TO form an extended
circle of agreeable acquaintances, who, by
their genial and intelligent social inter
course contributed greatly to my happi-
ness, and enabled me To while away the
monotony of protracted northern winter
in the most satisfactory manner. In the
spring following, as l was about taking my
departure, my friends called, and wishing
me all manner of good fortune, bade me q
kind adieu, and all, excepting my particu-
lar friend j. S., had left. He detained
me for some time upon the little porch
fronting the hotel, seeming 10th to say
gOod-by; but as it was nearly time for the
arrival of the train l was forced TO tear
myself away from him, and was on the
point of stepping into the carriage when
he entreated me to come back and take Il
farewell glass.


was obliged to decline, remarking, as
| closed the carriage door, that we would
postpone our drink until my return and
away / went, consoling myself with the
ferVent anticipation that might soon be
permitted TO revisit the excellent friends /
was leaving behind. But, alas for the
realization of my cherished aspirations
my tortuous trail led me into Texas,
Mexico, Arkansas and Utah, and it was
nearly twenty years before l could get
back


The time came at last, however, and l
anxiously drove toward the old hotel,
where | expected to see a great many
changes; but, to my surprise, found all
the. surroundings looking precisely as
when left, and To my utter astonishment
there was my old fried, j, s., who was
the last TO bid me farewell seated in the
same spot upon the same porch, apparent
ly in the same armchair, and with his feet
raised at the same elevation, and resting
against identically the same post as when
declined his invitation to join him in the
Stirrup-cup.


Getting out of the carriage, walked di-
rectly up to him, gave him hearty slap
on the shoulder, and said; "Well, s.,
as you are so pressing, l don't care if do
take drink"


He looked up with astonishment and
did not recognize me at first but he soon
appreciated the joke, and selling my hand,
replied that his patience was nearly eX.
hausted in waiting for my return, and that
if had not arrived within the next five or
six years he would have been obliged to
drink alone.-Gen. Marcy, in Hdrpers'
Magazine for October.
Year: 1869

REV. 7. De WITT TALMAGE, of Brook
lyn, N. Y, in a recent sermon, thus spoke
of light in the school-roomi q


Let us have plenty Of light in our
schoOl-roOms and homes-light, clear and
beautiful, such as God pours out of His
sun every day, world full of it; not
crowding through between small windows,
and glass stained or cObwebbed plenty
of light, like that which puts blue into the
gentian, and gold on the cowslip, and spots
the pansy, and covers the sea with emerald,
and sends up the mist of the valley into
whirling columns of glory sky tall, and at
sunset pulls back the bars of heaven until
the brightness of that land strikes through
and through the cloud racks, dripping
DOWN the battlemCnt in sapphire, and
purple, and orange, and flaming fire. Give
us light and no gloom, for God is light,
and in Him is no darkness at ALL If the
photographer takes the brightest room in
the building to make his pictures, shall
we not have bright room where the Sun
of righteousness is 70 impress the image
of the eternal God on the human soul
Let there be deep night in mountain
cavern, and down in the coal-shaft, and in
the hold of ships, but let it fly from the
schoOl-roOm as quick as you can batter q
hole in the wall or throw back the shut
t,rs. God said at the beginning, and i
thrilled through all the universe, Lei
there be light, and lhere was light.


with the light will come the air-nOi
the bottled-Gp air of other Sundays kept
over from week TO week, as though, like
wine, it improved by age; or such as lingeri
in damp Easements under the church, bu1
fresh, clear, air, such as comes pant
ing of the sea, or down the hill side
'sweepmg up the.aroma of whole acres q
rel cloyer-tOp. Make such places brigh
and glad. Because Christ was born in
manger is no reason why we should. wor
ship him in a barn."
Year: 1869

In 1855 she was married to Henry
b. Blackwell, an sEnglishmaI by
birth, who was then hardware
merchant in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
who had for years been identified
with the anti-slavery cause, He
was well educated, honorable
gentleman, and had long been an
ardent admirer Of the brave little
woman, who had never suspected
an attachment of a warmer sort.
When he proposed to her lie said
he wished her TO become his wife
on her own terms. She consented !;
her terms beng the retention of
her maiden name, and the renun
citation on his part of all his legal
rights and authority as husband.
/. Such union could not have
been formidable to her, whatever
it might have been to him. Their
marriage was nothing more than
an agreement to live together
while they were agreeable to each
other, and as there were few bonds
there was little temptation to break
tncm. Perhaps such unions might
&c repeated to advantage between
persons who feel uncertain of O
harmonious future. ...s..


Lucy Stone and her husband
say those who ought tn know
have never repented. They have
lived very happy together for
thirteen years, and are likely to
do so to the last. They have but
one child, daughter, and have
since their marriage resided most
of the time at West Bloomfield,
New Jersey, in the strictest retire
ment.


Lucy sStone--the name of Mrs.
Blackwell always offends hcr-is
very far from handsome. She is
small in stature, has grey eyes, dark
brown hair, well shaped mouth
and handsome teeth. Her com.
plexion is 80 forid as to indicate
rusticity, and her features are not
at all regular, or expressive of
high breeding. Hers is strong
face. and when lighted up loses
much Of its homcliness and strikes
you rs intellectual. Her charm is
in her voice. Turn away from
her and you can well imagine she
is lovely. Look at her critically,
and you almost forget the sweet
tones that have so much to do with
her power of persuasion. She is
extremely kind hearted and
benevolent, and never neglects
any opportunity to do good. She
has been much misrepresented,
ridiculed and abused, but no one
who knows her will say she is not
a true woman, whose aims and
purposes have always been in the
direction of justice, humanity and
right.
Year: 1869

WITHOUT AN ENEMY.-Heaven
help the man who imagines he can
dodge enemies by trying to please
everybody. If such an individual
ever succeeded, we should be glad
OF it-not that we believe in o
man going through the world try.
ing to find beams to knock and
thump his poor head against, dis.
putting every mans opinion, fight
ing and elbowing and crowding all
who differ with him. That, again,
is another extreme. Other people
have a right to their opinion, SO
have you don't tall into the orror
of supposing they will respect you
more for turning your coat every
day to match the color of theirs.
Wear your own colors, in spite of
winds and weather, storms or sun.
shine. 1t costs the vacillating and
irresolute ten times the trouble to
wind and shuttle and twist, that it
does hones', manly Independence
to stand It's ground.