smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

ITO the Editor OF tho Birmingham Postl


II must admitted that the American rebels great
obtained IL, the pledge OF export duty cotton
Afterwards they prohibited the export OF cotton They
issued bonds the security OF cotton pledged for
their redemption and they have ordered tho cotton
TO be burned The object Of this last movement is to
prevent its coming into the market, and thereby to
punish France and England for assisting them. None
o! these bonds issued will be worth the fraction of
penny 1t is not however probable that any consdera
BILE portion Of the cotton will be burned q.
Year: 1862

II Every portion Of space occupied by France
In the great Exhibition OF 1852 is TO be carpeted
Mirrors and girandoles will be hung In every
available position, and the great court In the
southwestern part Of the building will be hung
with curtains stretched from column to column, ],
shutting of this portion from the rest Of the build
Ing and, In effect, rendering Il distinct exhibi-
ton
Year: 1862

III The Calcutta, roomy teak line of battle
ship, Of 2299 tons is now in the course of fitting up
al DeVenpor al hospital ship. Wehave in this
case, says London paper, like In many Others At
this crisis taken time by the forelock and as soon
as we hear Of the first shot being fred, the Cal.
cutta win be ready to proceed on her humane
Year: 1862

fred my muskot. but once after this, as the re-
coil Of it hurt my shoulder SO I was unable to
bear it.


I then left the fence to get behind tree
standing some $50 yards of, and picked up
revolver which lay on the ground. Just after
left the fence at which time bullet struck me
on my right wrist glancing of from the hone
I went little further toward the tree, when
some u or Is Confenerate. soldiers came, out
of ths woods direct toward me.


fred the revolver at them three times,
and just as I fired the third barrel bullet
fred by one of this company struck me just
below my left eye, and going into my head
knew nothing more until about noon the
next day (Gonday). When I came TO I found
myself lying right where I fell the day before
I tried to get up, but could not. After this I
made several Intellectual attempts to crawl
away to the shade of tree, the sun shining
very hot. About p. m, couple Of soldiers
came along, picked me up, and carried me to
the cars, and 1 was sent to Richmond, after
wards sent to Alabama, and finally released
on parole. The bullet still remains in my
head; the hospital surgeon says it lies some
where near my right ear (the sense Of hearing
being entirely lost in that ear), the drum, or
tympanum having been injured by it. The
slightest touch on my chin or near it causes a
severe pain in my right temple and over the
ear. I cannot see at all in my left eye. I
cannot bear to be out in the sun; it makes
me dizzy, and my head pains rely-sP also
does more than ordinary exercise Ordinari-
ly, when sitting quiet, my head only OCCASION
ally troubles me-a little dizziness and heavi-
ness is about aIl-except when out in the sun
or seated, as before stated; and also when 1
attempt to lift anything, it puts me in severe
pain in my head, and my eyes pain ne ex-
ceedingly as well then as when heated or out
in the sun. I am obliged to keep out Of the
sun as much as possible, on account Of this ex-
cruciating pain in my head and eyes; and
when read my eyes fill with water, and
have to rest. I cannot write letter Of or
dinary length. have to stop several times
for this, and from dizziness There is occasion
ally dinness comes over my right eye even
when quiet, but not very often. Thesurgeon
said the bone around my lelttcmple was shat
tered, and that pieces thereof would work out
none has to my knowledge. The bullet
which entered my right side has not as yet
given me any great trouble.
Year: 1862

ATULL-eRowx rabbit had hid itself away in
the copse of a fence, which separated two


fields near the centre and most exposed por-


ton of the battle ground. Rabbits are wont
to spend the day almost motionless, and in
seeming dreaming meditation. This one could
have had but little thought-if rabbits think
when choosing its place Of retreat at early
dawn, that ere it was eventide there would be
such an unwonted and ruthless disturbance.


During all the preparations for battle made
around its lair throughout the forenoon, itnev-
ertheless remained quiet. Early, however,
in the afternoon, when the rage of battle had
fairly begun, and shot and shell were falling
thick and fast in all directions a shell CHANGED
to burst 50 near Mr. Rabbits hiding place, that
he evidently considered it unsafe to tarry long
er. So, frightened almost to death, cut he
springs into the open field, and ran hither and
thither with the vain hope Of finding safe
retreat Whichever way it ran, cannons were
laundering out their smoke and fire, regi-
ments of men were advancing or changing
position, horses galloping here and there, shells
bursting and solid shot tearing up the ground
Sometimes it would squat down, and lie per
fectly still, when some new and sudden dan
ger would again start it into motion. Once
more it would stop and raise itself as high as
possible on its hind legs, and look all round
for some place Of possible retreat.


At length that part of the field seemed open
which lay in the direction opposite from
where the battle ragged most fercely. Thither
it accordingly ran with all its remaining speed.
Unobserred by it, however, a regiment was
in that direction, held in reserve, and like
WeIlington's at Waterloo, was lying fiat Oh
the ground, in order to escape the flying bull
let's. Ere the rabbit seemed aware, it had
jumped into the midst of these men. It could
go no further, but presently nestled down be-
side soldier, and tried to hide itself under
his arm. As the man spread the skirt Of his
coat over the trembling fugitive, in order to
insure it all the protection in his power toxic
stow, he no doubt feelingly remembered how
much he himself then needed some higher
protection, under the shadow of whose arm
might be hidden his own defenceless head
from the fast multiplying missiles Of death scat
tered in all directions.


1t was not long, however, before the regi-
ment was ordered up and forward. From
the protection and safety granted, the timid
creature had evidently acquired confidence in
man-as the boys are wont to say, " had been
tanned" AS the regiment moved forward to
the front Of the battle, it hoped along, tame,
as q kitten, close at the feet Of the
soldier who had bestowed the needed protec-
ton. Wherever the regiment went, during
all the remaining part of that bloody day and
terrible battle, the rabbit kept close beside its
new friend. Wien night came on, and the
rage of the battle had ceased, it finally, nm
molested and quietly, hoped away, in order
to find some one Of its cid familiar haunts.
Year: 1862

DENTAL intimation Of duty. The exigency
is portentious. All are ready to meet it.
All are eager to meet it. This is the
ideal Of good citizenship. But portion
must meet it in peculiar personal service,
which they are willing to render. They
have many responsibilities, which operate
as check upon them. Many one can
not see why he should 60 in preference to
another. Hence the appeal is mad to
God, that He may determine who shall be
his apostle in this peculiar work. A
sensitive conscience sometimes makes a
coward of a man-until, satisfied by the
divine intimation of duty, the same con-
science makes the same man hero. His
military oath is sacrament. He is the
most enduring and trustworthy of SOL
diers. I'


Hence, when we come to drafting far
from having exhausted our patriotism, we
first attain to the consciousness of it's re-
ality, We are waking up our reserved
power. The war has come home to mems
busincs and bosoms. Push on the COL
umn. There is no security till we finish
this work. .


Indeed it is very possible that war
should demonstrate its popularity by a
pcremptory demand on the part of the
people for draft. In this contest with
rebellion we have heard clamorous appeals
for taxation. This is honorable. 1t
means that every man shall do his share.


We will not depend upon voluntary con-
tributions. So the most unrelenting de-
termination to furnish men up to the
largest demand of the situation many very
honorably and perhaps necessarily express
itself in this form livery citizen soldier
shall take his chance. ...
Year: 1862

A young child sat lonely in a hot school
room one sultry day in June. A difficult
sum- which over and over again, she had
failed to bring right, had wearicd her own
and her teachers patience, until she was
condemned, as q punishment, to remain
in continued study while her companions
enjoyed their recess in the garden below.
She was neither. a stupid nor obstinate
child; the task had needed some necessa-
ry explanation to render it comparatively
easy, which the heat of the day, and an
irritability produced by some outside
causes, made her instructress indisposed
to bestow; or, perhaps she forced her.
self to believe that the pupils advance
ment would be aided by the unassisted
working out by her own efforts of the
problems whose calculations formed part
of the educational plan. Be it as itmay,
she sat below, experimenting the restrict
ed play of her other charges, while, in
front of an open window above, the Offend
ing scholar sobbed herself into a head
ache. She dared not change her seat, and
the summer sunshine glared in upon her
desk, and the long rows of blurred figures
on the neglected slate; opposite, and lin
iting the view, stood high brick wall,


betwee, whose base and the garden fence
ran one of these small city streets reeking
with filth, and swarming with population.
The garden was two small to extend with
in the range of her vision, even as she
leaned forward to catch one breath of a
hoped for breeze, and there only foated up
to her fevered senses the odors of the all
Icy mangling with the sickening and


heavy scent of some blossoming plant. &
bShe crossed her hands on the green


baize before her and rested the throbbing
temples on the palms. Pain, the close
ness Of the air, sense of injustice, rem
dered her mentally and physically as mis-
erable as many sufferer Of larger growth
under more aggravated evils; for our sor-
rows are proportional to our strength
the trial of a child is as sharp to the
child, as keen in endurance, as is the
agony of man to q mans susceptibility.


Suddenly, as she there with her thoughts
all in whirl, there rose, through the ST.
lence of monday, hitherto broken only by
the tones of her school-fellows, a solitary
human voice; one of these sounds that
hoated continually through the summer
air of large cities---a cry of the streets,
the call Of some itinorant salesman, or
the bargainer for the offscourings Of our
homes, rags or old iron. There was in
the deep and prolonged notes that element
Year: 1862

SLAVERY IN TIE DIsrRIcT.-We understand
that abort time since petition was drcu-
lated in the city, by clerk in one Of the De-
partmsnts, praying Congress to abolish slavery
In the District Of Columbia, and that be re-
csivsd an official intimstion that be must stop
the circulation Of the petition, or leave BIZ
desk. We should like to know the truth oi
this report.
Year: 1862

he.prospects for most bountiful wheat
crop are of very fattering character. All
through this section Of country the growing
grain presents as promising an appearance
as We ever saw in the grain growing regions
of the East. From gentleman who has
just returned from an extended trip through
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, we
learn that in no part of the States named,
does the wheat present as fine an appear
ance as i: does in Kansas. And this is
more particularly true Of fall wheat.


Many people were doubtful of the sue
cess Of fall wheat in this section of coun,
try, but the bountiful harvest that was
reaped last year, and the strong evidence
which We have of still more bountiful
one this season, will dispel the doubts from
the mind of every person, as it is now
plainly shown to be one of the best grain
producing regions in the entire West. In
the raising Of fall wheat it far exceeds Illi-
nois or Iowa and is fully the'rival of Ohio.
The yield is large, and makes most excel
lent -four.


In view Of these facts, We think it would
be we'll for our farmers to make arrange
ments for putting in large amount Of
seed the coming fall, and SOW less spring
wheat, which does not yield as we'll as fall
wheat and does not make as good -four.
Year: 1862

In our telegraphic columns last week was
a SYNOPSIS of proclamation by Gen. Hun
ter, declaring the slaves in the States of
Ceorcia. Florida and South Carolina for
ever free. His right to do this he bases
upon the fact that, as those States are In
rebellion agains: the Government and mar
tial law has been declared over them, and
slavery and martial law are incompatible
and cannot exist together, the slaves are of
necessity free. Slavery cannot exist
without local laws to protect it, and when
those laws are supplanted by martial law
the chains of the slave fall to the ground
and be becomes free. But however right
General Hunter may be in his views of the
subject, the President does not seem pre-
pared for such movement, and in proc
lamation pronounces General Hunters
action unauthorized and altogether void.
He says that such supposed right" be
reserves to himself and will not be entrust-
ed to commanders in the field.


The President in his proclamation, calls
attention to his former proclamation, urg
ing emancipation upon the people Of the
border States, and appeals to them as
follows:


"To the people of these States now
earnestly appeal. I do not argue, I be-
seech you to make the arguments for your
selves. You cannot if you would be blind
to the signs of the times. beg of you a
calm and enlarged consideration of them,
ranging, if it may be, far above personal
and party politics. This proposal makes
common cause for common object, casting
no reproaches on any. The change it con-
templates would come as quietly az the
dews of Heaven, not rending or wrecking
anything. Will you not embrace it? So
much good has not been done by one effort
in all past time as, in the Providence of
God, it is now your high privilege to do.
May the vast future not have to lament
that you have neglected it."
Year: 1862

The Post Office Department invites pro-
posals for carrying the mails from this
place to Pawnee Fork, there to connect
with the Santa Fe mail from Council Grove.
The object of this move is to test the rela-
tive advantages Of the two routes, with the
view Of permanently awarding the contract
to the road presenting the best facilities for
the speedy transit of the mails. For the
result We have no fears, as the route from
the Missouri river to Pawnee Fork BY way
Junction and Salina is much shorter than
BY the old Santa Fe road, as has been fully
demonstrated.
Year: 1862

1t has always been customary in the
frontier States of the Union for the the
settlers to extol the merits of the particular
section in which they happen to reside. It
is natural for the people of a new country
to desire to create favorable impression
abroad concerning the inducements offered
to immigrants. 1t is frequently the case
that the descriptions of country that meets
the eyes OF Eastern people, are drawn more
from the imagination than from existing
facts. So true is this, that emigrants in
search of homes in the Western country.
avoid as if by instinct, those localities that
are lauded the highest. Happily for the
Kansas Valley and the vallies Of the Smoky
Hill and Republican rivers the praise be-
slowed upon them is substantiated and
founded upon fact; and the results of this
salutary method of obtaining settlers is
plainly perceptible upon the growth and
prosperity of the vallies referred to.


The country west and northwest from
Fort Riley is undoubtedly the garden of
Kansas. The great Smoky Hill river
drains scope Of country unsurpassed any,
where in the West in point of agricultural
resources. Stretching far back towards the
Rocky Mountains, this river is fed from
never failing fountains, and its waters "a
they flow eastward diffuse life and beauty
over millions Of acres of land a. desirable as
any that eyer sun shone upon. For distance
of fifty miles back from the mouth of this
river, may be seen aourisbing towns, the
fruits of an energetic civilization; while
still farther back the buffalo quenches his
thirst in its waters, and the camp fire of the
red man CLEANS upon its swift-moving bos-
ON. The time cannot be far distant when
the valley of the Smoky Hill will be one
of the most populous portions of the State.


The Republican river, in every respect
the compeer of the Smoky, also presents
attractions that cannot escape the eye of the
home-seeking emigrant. The soil of the
Republican valley is unequalled in point of
fertility by any other portion Of Kansas,
while Nature has bestowed her facilities for
the rapid improvement Of the country with
a lavish hand.


The confluence of the Smoky and Re-
publican rivers in Davis county renders the
county IN an agricultural point, one OF the
most important in the State. As stock
raising county, Davis has 40 rival in Kan
sas. The uplands afford large range bet
ter adapted to grazing than any other
purpose. Clothed for nearly nine months
of the year with nutricious grasses, and
watered by numerous springs, these high
lands contain the elements Of wealth that
can easily and quickly be brought to bear
upon the prosperity of the county. All
that is wanted at the present time is
market, and that want will soon be supplied
by the Union Pacific Railroad. Then will
the resources Of this unparalleled Country
be fully developed. Then will the Kansas
Valley TEEN with thriving population.
Then will the monuments of wealth and
magnifcence spring up On every side. and
the genius Of civilization will joyously turn
her eyes towards the Pacific. *.*
Year: 1862

The manifest justice of requiring, says
the Topeka Tribune, nonresident land
owners to pay fair proportion of the tax,
upon such permanent Improvements, made
By actual residents, to alone enhance the
value of his own land and render it sale
able, is attracting the attention of our peo-
pie, our Assessors, and our County Boards.
In Usage county, measures have been taken
to this end, the County Boards yielding to
the demands of the people, and the Asses
sor will assess the lands of non residents
(that is those who reside in another State,
or who living in another county fail to
inform the Assessor Of their residence,) as
much higher as will equalize the taxes in
this particular. Will not our County
Board and our Assessor come to an under
standing ard take similar measures to
render equal and exact justice to all !? The
following communication will explain itself:


RIDGEwAY, Usage Co., Kas.,


April Sd, 1862. (
To the Commissioners Of Usage County,:


GENTLEMEN-The new tax law Of 1862
provides that all Improvements on lands,
exceeding in value five hundred dollars,
shall be valued separately, and be liable to
be taxed. There are men in our county
whose farms are nearly surrounded by
unoccupied lands. Their improvements
may be valued at $4,000. These improve
ments enhance the value of all the
lands in the neighborhood The owners Of
these farms will have to pay about twenty
dollars annually for the privilege of en-
hancing the value of nonresident lands,
the owners of which escape the payment Of
the personal road tax altogether. This
may be uniform, but it is certainly not
equal. 1t is therefore in violation of the
spirit and letter of our State Constitution
The article on finance and taxation makes
it the duty of the Legislature to provide for
uniform and equal rate of assessment and
taxation.


1 have given bond and subscribed on
oath for the faithful performance of my
duties as Assessor. I shall therefore assess
all unoccupied lands owned by non-resi-
dents at such figure that the owners will
have to pay tax equal to that paid by the
resident owners, whose Improvements do
not exceed in value $500, including the
personal road tax paid by the latter. This
will be unitorn', as there will no exception
to the rule; and it will be equal, as both
resident and nonresident will pay in the
aggregate the same amount Of tax. If
non-residcnts cannot afford to pay the same
amount of tag that residents pay, they had
better sell out to somebody who can.


Residents of adjoining counties, owning
lands in this, will of course stand in the
same position as residents of this county,
provided the Assessor can ascertain the
names and residence of the real owners.
But as the Legislature, in the pleuitude of
their wisdom, have repealed that portion
of the old tax law, making it the duty of
the Register Of Deeds to make out an alb
stract Of conveyances for the use of the
Assessor, it will be necessary for the own
ers Of unoccupied lands in this county, to
communicate Immediately. their address and
minute description of their lands to the
undersigned. They viii probably save
about three dollars on each quarter section
by SO doing. Yours, &c, o. II. BROWNE
Year: 1862

Nhe New York Herald says that
there are l45 members of the Northern
Congress to be chosen this fall. SeveR
have been already elected, and thirty
will not be chosen till next year. A
numbcro Of military men are candidates.
Year: 1862

- The Wheeling LteAiSenctr mentions
TINT the lady members Of the f1nly Of gov
eminent officer, in that city, got up i regular
jubilee over the evacuation Of Ronucy, in the
idea that it was secesh victory. The only
support Of the Emily comes from tie Federal
Treasury. Comment is unnecessary.
Year: 1862

unheard by him. 'He rose like a
lion ready to run his course
Something of this she felt as, part
ing with her, he held her hands In
his own for moment in an iron
,grasla and looked down into her
face with fixedness of purpose
that seemed to claim her from that
hour.


The white phantom of peril grew
nearer and clearer. A dim presen-
timent of danger underlined and
mysterious penetrated her soul
but the brave soul never faltered.
But what was this awful fate
which was closing her in? What
dire destiny had given her letter to
loss, and at last sent its betraying
fragments into the only hands that
could use the frail clew-the mar.
red and broken seal bearing the
ancient arms Of her family.


TO BE CONTINUED.
Year: 1862

Real success must always be
founded on merit. That which a.
rises from triekery, overreaching,
fraud, or what che world calls
smartness, is not worth the name
of success


Never be above your business.
Whatever it may be, follow it,.
and honor it with your attention
and care. If unworthy or dishon-
orable, abandon it at once.


Society is the atmosphere of
souls; and we necessarily inhale
from it what is either beautiful or
infectious.


Our customs and habits are like
the ruts in roads. The wheels of
life settle into them, and we jog
along through the mire, because It
is too much trouble to get out of
them.


He who thinks he can do with
out others, is mistaken !; he who
thinks Others cannot do without
him, is still more mistaken.


The man who ate his dinner
with the fork of a river has been
attempting to spin a mountain
top.


The best way to do good to our
selves is to do it to others; the
right way to gather is to scatter.


Ii you are conscious of certain
infrmities Of character, select COM
panions in whose society you would
be ashamed to give way to them.


Some of the medical journals.
are much distracted about the Gus
tom of lying in bed; the habit of
|ie-ing out of bed, is, we think, a
great deal more to be guarded
against.


Believing is always gainful; no
man ever lost anything by bellev"
ing God or trusting His word.


R% Subscribe for the Press