smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1869

Some few French newspapers, and still
more English and American, have long
been txying to convince the world that
France was not satisfied with Napoleon
III. 1t seems, however, from the recent
elections in that country, that Napoleon
is all.powerful with the people. This is
the fourth time that the Emperor has ap-
pealed to the people for verdict upon
his policy, and each time he has been sus-
tanned by the popular voice His oppo-
nents have been defeated all over the
empire, and Napoleon will be stronger in
the present Corps Legislatif than he ever
was before. Na& 81 ~


Doubtless the opposition will claim
that the power of the Government In
controlling the elections had much to DO
with the result. And this claim no doubt
will be Just Yet it is certain that if
there was as much opposition to Nspo,.
leon in France as some claim, it would
be difficult for him thus to control the
popular elections. The French people
are such an impulsive set of fellows that
they would not be controlled in their
votes if they had very decided set in
any direction. But be things there as
they may, Napoleon is now master OF the
situation and will be likely to have his
own way for some time to come.
Year: 1869

From the NEW iOfh WViAu'J


Some of "the people Of Macon OBJ
iected to the color OF the postmaster
furnished them by Grant. Certainly the
reasons given for the appointment OF a
negre to that place are very bad ones. 1t
is said to have been done to punish the
people because of the murder of Union
men, ETC. We do not see that the punisk-
ment is proper or likely to be effective,
nor does it seem just that the appointing
power should be made use of in that way
at all. When postmaster is appointed
with view to punish district, is it
meant that the punishment shall be q
complete failure to deliver their letters TO
the people If SO, what becomes OF the
intention to administer the Government
efficiently and honestly2 But is there
any real objection to this postmaster
from the real people of MaconP On the
contrary, is not Macon proper we'll salts
fed with him, and does not all the pro-
lestation come from the Radical carpet
baggers who went South, becoming
Radicals and carpet-baggers simply to
get all the offices. and have been disap-
pointed in manyf
Year: 1869

Senator Chandler left here, with his
family and servants, on Saturday night
for New York, where he will remain a
few days preparatory to sailing to
Europe. His wife and daughter each
take with them colored female servant,
and be takes two black male. servants.
These servants are to be fitted out while
in New York with very showy livery
The coats Of the men servants are TO bs
lavender color, with white buttons, upon
which is the Michigan coat Of arms, ex-
cept that the stags support the letter c,
which is Of red enamel, with gold edge
The female servants wear large belt
buckles bearing the same design as that
upon the buttons. The hats of the men
are black, with wide purple band, and
a large silver cocksde, in the center Of
which is one Of the buttons aforesaid.
Year: 1869

There is in progress in Enfield, n H., a
temperance reformation which deserves spc.
cial notice. Its origin was remarkable. No
unusual interest had been felt on the subject
among the friends of Temperance, and no
efforts had been made by them. The first
movement was made by an habitual drunkard
who had twice suffered the horrors of deliriup
tremeRs. He resolved that he would drink
no more, and went at once to the rumselleI
of the village who had kept secret bar foI
his miserable customers, and induced him tC
Join in the enterprise These two men went
to the clergyman and asked for the appoint.
ment Of temperance meeting, and expressed
their determination to keep the pledge The
meeting was appointed and well attended
The interest awakened was intense, and all
classes came forward to aid and encourage
the hopeful reformation. The bar which had
fed the miserable inebriates of the village
and made wretched their homes, on week day,
and on the Sabbath, was now closed and its
keeper among the foremost to exhort his
neighbors to be sober Two barrels of ale
which had been ordered having arrived 10,
late, were sent back to the city. The old
men and the young men who had fallen vie
Tins to the fell destroyer, had now escaped
his grasp, and walked erect, sober and salts
fed. The Sabbath found them, not as before
in drunken revelry in the dram-shop, but il
the House of God. Weekly temperance
meetings have been held, conducted for the
most part by themselves, which have beer
very fully attended and very interesting The
village is represented as cleared of the nui
sance, rum-selling and rum-drinking, as o
consequence of this movement.


Your correspondent was invited, last Tues
day evening to address this meeting, and he
found church well filed with attentive
and enthusiastic hearers. Two hundred and
twenty had signed the pledge, and all seemed
determined and happy in their noble work.


Are there not many towns in Vermont
which need such reformation And what
other village blacksmith will lead the way


Journal and Farmer.
Year: 1869

summer Away from the roar and dust Of
the city, among large trees and growing shrubs
and flowers, our moonlight nights were bliss.
ful, and the little cottage was palace. Two
years passed. and so much cheaper had We
found it. living in this style, that we had nct
only paid the debt on the house, but on ~
LOT also. We wanted to remain there aud
never leave it. But we could not. Property
had advanced in price to such an extent, tho,
the balf Of our lot brought $4,000. This
put into business, and on this venture fortune
smiled. We stayed another year in the little
cottage, sold il, and built large and elegant
house, on the proceeds Of our first Investment
Years have passed since then. own num-
Der Of houses, and have been successful 10
trade, and now occupy marble front on
Michigan Avenue but we have never been
happier, than when living in the thousand
dollar cottage, and my little wife's advice
was the foundation Of our fortune
Year: 1869

a subordinate position, say, " Douot strive
to make your watch strike be content with
the simple time keeper II observe a youth
iul pair, who have looked forward 10 life as
a perpetual marriage feast and will be salts
fed with nothing when the air is not breath
ing music that becomes an every day at
mosphere, still think 90 Oh, could they but
forget the gold repeater" In short in a
thousand instances have found instruction
in this story, Most men are dissatisfied and
unhappy when things do not turn cut as they
expected they would There is no harm in
aiming at the greatest perfection, since by so
doing energy aud effort are aroused but we
should always be prepared to be contentcd
and happy, although the goal is not reached.


| am now delighted with my watch aud
value it above price.
Year: 1869

Little Minnie in her eagerness after flowers,
wounded her hand on a sharp prickly thistle
This made her cry with pain at first, and pout
with vexation afterward.


wish there were no such thing as
thistle in the world" she said pettishly.


Aud yet the Scottish nation think so
much Of II they engrave it on the national
arms" said mother.


1t is the last flower | should pick out"
said Minnie. " am sure they might have
found great many nicer ones, even among
the weeds


But the thistle did them good service
once, said mother " they learned to esteem
it very highly. One time the Danes invaded
Scotland, and they prepared to make a night
attack upon sleeping garrison. So they
crept along barefooted as still as possible,
until they were almost up to the spot Just
at that moment barefoot soldier stepped on
a great thistle-the hurt made him utter
sharp, shrill cry Of pain. The sound awoke
the sleepers, and each man sprang to his arms
They fought with great bravery, and the in
yaders were driven back with much loss. So
you see the thistle saved Scotland, and ever
since it has been placed on their seal as their
national bower" Well, never suspected
that so small thing could save nation"
said Minnie thoughtiully.


"God can make use Of small things as well
as great to accomplish his purpose and it is
said that very small circumstances often turn
the tide of battle. In the war of 1912, the
British fleet were sailing in the harbor of New
London aud were asked afterwards why they
did not destroy the town, when they could so
easily have done it.


81 would, replied the commander, " if it
had not been for that formidable long fort
whose guns commanded the harbor.n That
long fort, he learned, was an old rope-walk,
and the many guns were the small windows
on the side.


presume the New London people looked
with new eyes on that old rope-walk after
they learned the good service it had DONE
Year: 1869

her life. The wound, though deep and dan
gerous, was not fatal aud her falling insen-
sible had prevented much loss Of blood. But
weeks Of patient watching went by before she
was pronounced out Of danger aud to her
dying day she will bear the scar Of the wound
that nearly cost her her life But in the love
and tenderness Of her husband, she had almost
forgotten that terrible episode in her existence;
and long ago forgiven the unfortunate who
still leads a wasted, ruined life within the
strong walls of mad-house.
Year: 1869

To the Editor Of the Press: 14l


Let me call the attention of all those in our
city who contemplate spending more or less
of the present summer in the country to one of
the most charming and attractive villages in
the State-and where the greatest amount of
genial exercise, pleasant drives and quiet rest
can be enjoyed at a moderate expense of any
place within or outside of the mountains or
ocean resorts. I refer to the village of Alfred,
which is as yet hardly known and little appre-
ciated by the lovers of country life in our city


The Shakers have quite a large settlement
ON the broad summit of commanding hill
within mile of the village, whence they can
look over hundreds of acres of rich farming
lands. More than ahundred members Of this
peculiar sect dwell together here in peace and
unity, and on the Sabbath they worship in
their beautiful church in their peculir manner. !
Coming in from opposite sides OF the room
they form in ranks in regular order
and then move forward and backward in time,
to their own singing which forms large part
of their religious services. Hundreds come
from all quarters during the summer time to
see them serve the Lord with their singular
style of worship. 4l.f.a


A beautiful pond one half mile wide and
mile long, sweeps around one side Of the
base of Shaker Hill, and is called by their
name. This pond is bordered by rich farms
and wooded slopes and hills, and presents
landscape of great variety and beauty, One
of the charming rides is around this pond and
through this scenery and over shaker hilL-
But on the right there is a larger pond, CALLED
by the old Indian name "Bnnganaut,' which
is still more picturesque, if possible. The
drive around this pond is between7 and s
miles and passes through luxuriant fields and
orchards, naples, pines and spruce which fill
the air with delicious perfume. AT the foot
of this pond the Shakers have saw mill and
manufacture considerable lumber. Fine pick
erel are said to dwell in these ponds and hold
Year: 1869

The ONO CRoPs.-The Dayton Ledger
says that the present harvest win prove by far
the richest gathered in in this valley for many
years. The growth Of all kinds of grain, with
the exception of corn, is remarkable, and gives
every evidence Of quality aud quantity that
the most unreasonable could wish Corn is
doing well enough; but great deal was plant
ed late, and, of course, does net make as good
a showing as other grains.
Year: 1869

oat tempting attractions to sportsmen-
On the 2lst instant two pickerel were caught
in the Shaker pond which weighed four
pounds apiece, and more of the same sort are
left there and in "Bunganaut If any one
doubts it, he can 80 and try for himself, and il
he knows how to fish he will find all he
wants ID.
Year: 1869

LEARN A TRADE,-The advice
of Benjamin Franklin was, to give
every child trade by which he
could earn a living, This IS a
good and wise COUNSEL, and should
be needed where it is necessary.
There are too many idle boys
seeking easy positions positions
that do not require manual la
Dor. Parents may leave their
children fortunes ; but :'riches take
to themselves wings" You may
give them finished educations, and
they may be gifted with extraor-
dinary genius; but they may be
placed in situations where no edu-
cation and no talent may be so
available as some humble honest
trade, by which they can get their
living and be useful to others.
Year: 1869

Mr.. Charles Dickens says that
'sthe first external revelation Of
the dry rot in men is a tendency
to lurk and lounge to be at street
corners without ineligible res-
sons ; to be going anywhere when
met, to be about many places
rather than any; to do nothing
tangible, but to have On intention
of performing number Of tangible
duties tomorrow or the day AFTER -
Year: 1869

THERE are many cases on record Cl
men of professional experience losing their
nerve when most needed. One case was
that of an architect, thoroughly used to
walk about on all parts of houses in
course of construction, who once, when
walking along plank which joined two
walls at great height from the ground,
felt sudden sense of danger, upon which
his senses left him, and only returned
after some seconds, when he awoke, 80 to
speak, in the arms of one of the masons,
who had most fortunately seen his state
in time to carry him across the plank at
the risk of his own life.


A more curious case requires little
previous explanation. Some years ago
the paintings on the inside of the dome
OF st. PauPs, London, wanted repair. 1t
was contrived, in order to save trouble
and expense that a suspended scaffold
should be made, supported by ledge half
yard wide, and hanging by ropes through
holes IN the dome. An experienced ships
carpenter undertook the job, and began
the job by stepping out of small door
at the foot of the dome on the
ledge In question, from which there
was clear fall of 200 feet to the pave
ment. He walked few steps, and then
found that the inward curve of the dome
made him unable to stand upright, and
caused him to lean over dangerously, with
an altered and unsteady centre Of gravity
Seized all at once with an ovcrpoweripg
sense of fear, he managed, nevertheless,
to turn his face to the dome and to rest,
being once more able to stand upright, till
he had recovered his senses. Then, to his
horror, he found that he had forgotten on
which side of him the door was, or how
far off it was, and in trying to get to it by
:. hort sidelong steps, took the wrong di-
Tection, and literally walked in search of
it round the whole base of the dome, fall
ing into the door at last utterly prostrated,
and feeling, as he said, "ten years older"
However, he made the scafold sfterward,
and used to tell the story Of his fright,
while walking about on the ledge, in the
most unconcetned way.
Year: 1869

The moment they reached the boundary
line Pricess Mary changed herself into q
cave, Prince John into hermit, and the
horse into post, on which hung little
bell At that minute the Underground
King and all his men came gslloping up
Have you seen any one pass this way,
my good old man!" asked the king of the
pretended hermit.


"TO be sure," answered the hermit
just this minute young man and woman
came riding by, both upon one horse.
They came into my cave to rest, and when
they went away told me to swear I hadn't
seen them in case happened to fall in
with you"


"Well, there's nothing to be DONE" said
the Underground King, seeing that by
this time Prince John was fairly out of
his reach; "my daughter may marry him
if she likes. There's no denying it, he's a
fine lad of prince" Aud he turned his
horses head, and rode home again,


In the meantime Prince John and Prin-
cess Mary, having no longer any pursuit
to fear, went quietly on their way to the
country of Tasr Berendi, where they were
received by the king and queen with such
joy as neither had ever felt before. There
was no time lost in deliberation; first
came grand feast, and after the feast
wedding. Prince John married the love-
ly Princess Mary, and they lived thence
forward happily and prosperously.
Prince John helped his father to govern
the kingdom. Everything went smooth
ly and well-and that is the end of the
story.
Year: 1869

ALEXANDER HAMILTON once said to an
intimate friend:


"Men give me some credit for genius.
an the genius have lies just in this
When have q subject, study it pro-
foundly. Day and night it is before me.
| explore it in all its bearings. My mind
becomes pervaded with it. Then the eff.
fort which make the people are pleased
to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit
of labor and thought"


Mr.. Webster once replied to gentle
man who pressed him to speak on . sub
ject OF great importance:


"The subject interests me deeply, but l
have not time. There, cir" pointing to q
huge pile of letters on the table, "is pile
of unanswered letters to which I must re-
ply before the close of this session (Which
was then three days off. Ihave no time
to answer the subject SO as to do it JUS
tice."


"But Mr.. Webster, a few words from
you would do much to awaken public at
tention to it."


If there is so much weight in my
words as you represent, it is because do
not allow myself to speak on any subject
until my mind is imbued with it"
Year: 1869

THE trouble with the young people OF
our day is, that that they skim over q
great many things, but do not know any
thing positively. They catch at the sound
of words, as did the lad, who, when asked
if he had studied German, answered, IL
have not, but my cousin plays the Ger
man flute" They study mineralogy, bot
any, and ornithology, but how little DO
they really know about the rocks, the
flowers, and the birds! For this reason
they fud but little pleasure in them.
When stranger comes to the place where
we live, we feel very little interest in him,
but after we are introduced to him, and
become fully acquainted with him, and
find him very agreeable, we wishto be in
his society as often as possible. Professor
Agassiz once placed grasshopper upon
his lecture table before class OF young
men, and told them that this inject would
be the subject of their conversation for
the hour. The class smiled at this, won
dering what new thing could be told of
of this familiar little skipping fellow,
jumping about their feet every summer.
But they found the hour to be only too
short, and wished for another, as the Pro-
fessor opened before them all the curious
and interesting facts about the grasshop-
per which his careful observation had re-
| vealed to him. ttt


We may have an active business, en-
ploying us daily, and still find time, if we
are in earnest about it, to become &C
ouainted with at least one ct the branches
of natural science. One of the most &C
tive physicians in the Connecticut Valley
collected q cabinet of insects and birds
that was valued at $4,000 when he died,
and college considered itself very fortu'


nate in securing it, while the work of col
lecting it was the joy of his life. Another
| in the same Valley, became the most
thorough scholar in the fossil tracks made
in the sandstone formations Of the vicin'
ity. The writer well recollects the great


pleasure exhibited by an eminent medical


professor, who is also very busy anc
brilliant writer, when shown large elm
tree; he whipped out his tape measure IN
A moment to learn its exact size. 1t proved
| to be . giant in circumference. All The
facts about it were noted in his diary: Hs
was acquainted with nearly every large
tree in his native State, and every thing
| of interest connected with them. 1t wa
delightful to hear him recount the Incl


dents which he had gathered about them


We have often met charming Ole
gentleman, who wore plain and meat
ouaker dress, and, until his lamentet


death. vas interested in the charitable in
stitutions Of the etass ~ which he lived
3. -
Year: 1869

He made . large fortune by economy and
diligence. Wherever he went he carried
with him convenient little flower case,
and whenever his quick eye fell upon q
new blossom, or even an old one, If at
tractive, he gathered it as q great prize. He
knew each flower by its own name, had
learned all its habits, and seemed almost
to hold conversation with it.


What pleasure to recognize every diff.
ferent bird by its form and note, to call
them all by their appropriate names, and
to know all their wonderful instincts
shown in making their nests, gathering
their food, and caring for their young
Choose one of these branches-the rocks,
the flowers, the trees, the insects and fish
es, or the birds, and then from books,
from conversation with those who have
information, and, above all, from careful
observation, learn all about them and thus
an inexhaustible source of enjoyment will
be Observation-Disclosures AgrieMturie.
Year: 1869

MANY of the boys of the SD Maasachus-
sets regiment who were with Weitzers
brigade when the charge was made on the
works at Port Hudson, will remember
well the gallant defense which three or
four men made at the salient it was ex-
pected this brigsue would take and hold
until Psine's division could come up. One
of those men, SO a native of Port Hudson
told us, resided on plantation about
nine miles from the landing, near a farm
now owned by Moody Brothers, from
Massachusetts,. None of the men who
saw him with his "musket clubbed" tina,
day will doubt his being brave man.
He was afterwards captured at Chat
tanooga and taken to Camp Douglas,
Chicago, where he remained nearly six
months About year before his capture
he lad been among party who seized
supply train of the Federals, near Corinth,
Miss. In box of stores belonging to the
Sanitary Commission he found psir of
blue cotton socks, and when he drew them
on he discovered the following note in
side:


"SoLDIER: Whosoever thou art, wear these
socks, with the comforting assurance that the
fingers that knit them were supplied with Lille
fron warm and symPalhizing heart


LIZZIE v. GEE, Chicago"


This short letter (which wasprinted in
the Louisiana papers at the time) wss
called to mind one day at Camp Douglas
when he was putting on the stockings
and he resolved, for the fun of it, to write
TO her and tell her the history of the pair
of socks This he did, and soon after re
ceived q call at hie quarters from Miss Gee
and her father. He did not see her OF
hear from her afierward until he was
aoain in the Southern army and atationed
at Harper's Ferry. There the company
in which he was Lieutenant captured q
SQUAD of cavalry and among the number
was the only brother of Miss Lizzie V
Gee. Every kindness which could be done
for prisoner was done for young Gee by
his new acquaintance, and when, shortly
after, Gee was paroled, he was the sworn
friend of the Confederate Lieutenant.
When the war closed they had some cor
respondence, and the Confederate soldier
was invited up to Chicago to attend the
wedding of young Gees sister. When he
got there, much to his surprise, the ex-
Confederate found that Gee had two sis
ters, and that the one about to be married
was not the one he had seen. The rest OF
the story is told in a twinkling. He mar
ried the sister that knit the stockings For
the details of the latter part of this TO-
nance, zee everybody's experience,
such as sighs, palpitating hears, q little
moonlight, and silly resolves to die OF
win her" The matters which concern
lovers were not told US to circulate. Blu,
the story itself we feel satisfied is true
one, as the address of the firm in Chicago
of which the bridegroom is q member
lies before us in our diary as We WRITE
Cor. Boston Traveller
Year: 1869

An English paper Gays it is not an un-
common thing in that country for ladies
travelling in first-clsss railway carriages
70 cut down and cary away the silk cur
tains of the windows. for the purpose of
making aprons of them. So general
did the practice become on one line that
all new curtains were made of Q material
that was not worth shalinR.