smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1859

and it was announced soon after, to the aston
ishment of all, that Martin Speed had married
the widow Goode. The punster OF the village
made notable pun about Good Speed, at
which the people laughed very much; and the
editor of one of the papers. who was very
funny man, put it in print.


1t happened, shortly after the marriage,
that they had famous party. and SONG of the
guests bantered Martin about his marriage,
upon which he told them how it came about.
They were little incredulous, and he yolun
teered to give them some specimens of his
remarkable power over his wife. She was in
the next room attending to some female friends
when he called hel to him. She came obed
emily, and lie asked her to sit down, which
she did. He took her hand and looked into
he1 eyes, to put her to sleep. Her eyes were
wide open and lurking spirit of mischief
looked out of them broadly into his. He
waved his hands before them, but they remain
ed persstently open. He bent the force of
his will to their suhjugation ,but it was no use.


s.Mr. Speed" said she, laughing, 81 don't
believe the magnetism of the husband is equal
to that of a lover; or,perhaps science and mat
rilnony are at war;


She said this in a manner to awaken strong
suspicion in his mind that she had humbngged
him, and had never been put to sleep at all.
His friends--as friends will when they fancy
poor fellow has got into a hobble-laughed
at him and told the story all around the village.
For months he was an object of sport to every
body. People would make passes over each
other as he passed, and women would shut
their eyes and look knowing. But, whether
his power had gone or not, hers remained and
he cared not fig for their laughing, for he
was happy in the beautiful spell Of affection
which she threw over him, that bound him as
a chain of flowers. The attempt TO close her
eyes was never repeated, for he too glad
to see them open to wish to lose sight Of them.
Life with Speed sped we'll. and Martin became
a father in time. He never regretted the
pedient he adopted o get his wife. though he
never could make out exactly whether she
had humbugged him or not.
Year: 1859

Nothing can be fully explained In every
department Of knowledge: il we go few steps
from that which is visible upon the surface,
we come to absolute mystery which no man
can explain. Ask the most learned surgeon
to explain the motion of the hand. He tells
you the little hand is at end of bono
which has Joint at the other end; that band
of flesh, which he calls a muscle, is attached
at one end to this bone and at the other end to
another bone beyond the joint, in such way
that, when the muscle contracts, the bone
moves upon the joint and carries the hand a.
long. A nerve leads from the brain to the
muscle and carries the influence by which the
will acts upon the muscle. ii you ask the
surgeon how the brain acts upon the nerve ,and
the nerve upon the muscle, lie can tell you no
more than the smallest child or the most ig-
norant savage can. What the nervous isfiu-
ence is--whcther it is fluid or a vibration, or
whether it is something different from either
of these-iS known to God, but it is not known
by any of the children of men.


We see pebble fall TO the ground, and we
are told that it is drawn by the attraction of
gravitation but what the attraction OF gravi-
tation is-how 1t reaches up from the earth
and takes hold of every atom OF the pebble
and pulls it down-is 10 US an unfathomed
mystery. There must be some material con-
nection between the stone and the earth. This
was plain to Sir Isaac Newton that he re-
garded the person who denied it as incapable
Ol compromising the IrOpoSitiOn- Dut IL We
pass our hand between the stone and the earth
we cannot feel any substance, we cannot see
any with our eyes, and yet we know that .here
is some matter interposed between the two
bodies which draws them together with tre-
mendous power. We know some Of the pro-
perties of grayitation We know that it diaws
all ponderous bodies together with a force
proportioned to the quantity of matter which
they contain, and in inverse proportion to the
square of distance between them. But y hat
its essence is, and how it takes hold of mat
ter, no human being has ever learned.


Oxygen is more ready To enter into chemi-
cal combination with zinc than it is with cop
per, but why this is not all the chemists in
the world can tell. Vast indeed is the amount
of knowledge in regard to chemical affinity
what substances exhibit its power with the
greatest energy, how to manifest itself in
thousands of curious and complicated and
wonderful operations. all in accordance with
fixed and infallible laws, have been learned by
patient and laborious study of many among
the greatest intellects of our race but what
the essence of chemical affinity is, or how it
takes bold of the atoms which it moves, has
never been ascertaiDed.


If we attempt to understand thoroughly any
fact whatever which comes under ohserra-
ton, we shall find thai few steps will bring
US to the dark gulf OF profound and untathom-
ed mystery. Carlisle says: s'Sooty Manches-
ter, it too is spanned by the skyey armament,
and there is Life in it, and Death il it and il .
is every whit unimaginabe, as inconceiva-
bic, as the oldest Salem or prophetic city ~
Year: 1859

o. do not stand so long outside,


Why need you be so shy?
The peoples eyes are open. John,


AS they are passing by,
You cannot tell what they may think,
They've said strange things before,
And if you wish to talk awhile,


Come in and shut the door
Nay. do not say No. thank you, Jane
With such bashful smile;
You said when ladies whispered NO"
They meant Yes" all the while
My father, too. will welcome you;


told you that before;
It doesn look well standing here


Come in and shut the door
You said I did not answer you


To what was said last night;
heard the question in the dark


Thought on it in the light;
And now my lips shall utter what


Ny heart has said before.
Yes. dearest, but stay awhile


Come in and shut the door
Year: 1859

ALL ABOUT A PAIR OF GARrERs.-The De-
troit, Michigan, Free Press, of a recent date


tells the following story A blooming young
damsel who called herself Rosa Johnson made
complaint against another equally attractive
maiden named Martha Jane O'Brien, before
Justice Purdy, charging her with having sto-
len an elegant, costly, and altogether invaiua-
bic pair of garterS, unawtully appropriating
the same to her own comfort and delectation,
much to the detriment of the peace of mind
of the said Rosa. 1t appeared from the state
ment OF the pretty and much aggrieved Rosa,
whose blue eyes suffused in tears as she told
her grievance, that those articles of feminine
wear had been the Joy of her heart. a sea-
faring lover of hers had brought them all the
way from BuenoS Ayres, where the Spanish
ladies indulge in little extravagancesthatw way,
and they were very unique for such q country
as this, where lover never would think of
presenting, a token of esteem, a dozen Of
garters, they do down there. They were
figured with elaborate devices, and inscribed
with pretty motto in Spanish, which she said
he told her meant all about love and kisses,
and such like; and had Cupid on one end
who embraced a heart on the other when the
-article-was clasped. She missed them on
Sunday morning, and kicked mp such row
about it that there was no peace in the family
until all the girlS-t was some sort of femi-
nine manufacturing institution-agreed to a
search. When it came Martha Jane's turn.
however, she demErred on the ground of ex-
treme delicacy, whereupon they ali set upon
her and threw her down, and then made for
chile inspection, which revealed the stolen
property in all its pristine and unblemished
beauty. Rosa said she ould have rather lost
her best silk dress, and demanded that sum-
mary justice should be done. Martha Jano
plead the great temptation and the instructive
weakness of her Sex for the little vanities OF
the world, and maintained that she only wan
ted to borrow them for the occasion
ali of which so oyerruled the majesty of the
law that she got off with only fatheIly ad-
monition to a better conduct in future. Some
thought it was no great sin after all,the offence
was so peculiar and the sinner so pretty.
Year: 1859

Some of the Indians on Lake Superior have
formed a temperance society. The occasion
of this was as follows A large number of
them had collected considerable amount of
money in small sums, which they intrusted TO
the keeping of a chief in whom they had i'm
plicit confidence. This dignitary was not in
fallible, and one day went on spree aid
spent il all. The red men held indigna-
tion meeting over it, and. after a most empha-
tic series of grunts; formed a self-protective
association, based on fundamental principles
that is to say, the first Indian who got
drunk was to be tied to stemp and whipped
with twenty five lasheS.
Year: 1859

The Agricultural Bureau of the United
States Patent Office have received intelligence
of the shipment from Havre, France, OF
large swarm of Lombardy bees. These bees
will be sent upon their arrival here direct to
the Agricultural Bureau. They are of a lar
ger size than the ordinary bee, and having a
larger bill, are able to suck flowers inaccessi-
Bile to the American bee. The product of an
old hive of these is sometimes $50 los of hon.
ey in one season. These bees will not be dis
turbed until 1861.
Year: 1859

The existence of an organized band of rob-
bers. extensive in numbers, and carrying on
concerted operations over wide region OF
country bordering on the southwestern shore
of Lake Erie, is certain beyond doubt. The
frequent and heavy depredations committed
between Buffalo and Cleveland have caused
the police of both cities to suspect that such
is the case, and that their rendezvous is some
where near Erie, in this State
Year: 1859

MARKING PAPERs.--The PostmasterGeneral de.
cides that pen or pencil mark, made for the sole
purpose OF attracting the eye to particular article
or portion OF printed matter does not subject matter
to letter postage insisted by some Postmasters


The coat of horse is the gift of Nature n That of
an ass is often the work Of tailor.
Year: 1859

RoAD SURvEY.-Last week we briefly
called attention to the necessity of a road to
connect Marysyille and Misplace directly
with the summit routes and eastern slope of
the Sierra Nevada. Such a necessity is
likely to be soon met. Messrs Freeman and
Wood, experienced and enterprising road
makers of these parts, in company with one
or two others, contemplate an immediate
trip to the Henness pass, for the purpose of
examining into the facilities of that route
for the construction of the needed highway.
We expect to be one of the party, and will
endeavor to acquaint our readers fully with
the result of its observations
Year: 1859

THE IRISH AND Louis NAPoLEoN-In the
present conflict, the sympathies of the Irish
are strongly, enthusiastically in favor of Louis
Napoleon. 1t would cause almost shrek
of delight to see the war terminate in rem
dering him the paramount man in European
affairs. The feeling does not spring from
an intelligent conviction that he is a sincere
friend Of the liberal cause, and that popular
rights and national liberties are to be estab-
lished and defended under his auspices
They believe he has ulterior aims upon Eng
land; that he designs 20 reduce her to a Sec
ond-rate power that he means to humble
her pride and diminish her importance
They look upon England as hard and cruel
tyrant, and their desire for tho chastisement
and humiliation of England is far more in.
tense than their anxiety concerning the true
interest of the popular cause in Europe.
Year: 1859

The merchants of Chicago are advocating
the establishment of clearing house in
that city, for the purpose of asserting the
notes eff the country banks and sending
them home for redemption, whereby the
high premium on exchange may be reduced
Year: 1859

4 STARCH PoLIsH.-Take one ounce
Of spermaceti and one ounce Of white
wax melt and run it into thin cake
on plate. A piece the size of a
quarter dollar, added to quart of pre-
pared starch, gives beautiful lustre
to the clothes.
Year: 1859

2 Under this head we wish to say fe,


words to such of our Muscatine citizens a


are able, and have not yet taken stock in thi


road. We have been travelling up the line c


the Clinton and Cedar Rapids Road, no,


completed to within eight miles Of Csda


Rapids. We saw large quantities Of whea


and other kinds of produce being delivered


at Lisbon and Mount Vernon, and car


loading there with produce collected a


these places, for the Chicago market. W,


also met on our return, teams, loaded will


wheat on the road between Upton and Lisbon


bound to Lisbon for market. The produce


buyers at these places very Significantly


snapped their fingers at US, saying, 'we have


done sending our wheat to your market-if


however, you will build your road so as to
connect with ours soon, you can compete for
our produce; but, if not, you are done with
us-we can 50 to Chicago now easier than to
Muscatine." Upton is now driving ahead her
part of the road, to the Junction, with the
Clinton road. We saw a strong force at work
on that line, beyond Upton. When that is
completed, we are certain to lose the trade
and produce from Upton and the rich country
around it. We might name other reasons,
which, you can be satisfied exist, but upon
which we choose to be non -committal at
present; but we wish to say that if our
business men could see their interests as we
see them, they would see that an investment
of ten per cent, upon their Stock in trade
would yield them surer return by an increase
of their business than any investment they
can make; and to real estate owners in
Muscatine, we would say, that similar
investment Of ten per cent. on the value of
thcr real estate in this city, would be sure,
in our humble opinion, to increase the value
of their property from twenty to fifty per
cent On the other hand, we fear that cur
neglect or refusal to take the stock needed
to insure the building of said road, will result
in the depreciation from the present value of
such property, Of a corresponding amount or
more. 1t is surprising that we do not see
this-or, do we see it, and decline acting I?
thinking that others more liberal than we
have hitherto been, will accomplish it, and
we reap the advantages. We fear that if we
are thus treating the matter, we shall find,
when too late, that we have presumed too
much. We, however cannot think seriously
that such is the feeling, but that the hesitation
of some who have not yet subscribed, arises
from not having given the subject that exam
ination which ,ve feel that its importance
demands, and that all that is wanting to
induce those who have capital, to come up
and help forward the enterprise, is to be
awakened to their true interests. We would,
therefore, ask all to discuss the subject-talk
it over, write about it, publish it, and act
upon it; but don't be too slow about it, or
it may soon be too late. MUscAT1NE.
Year: 1859

If men will drink alcohol in some shape


the least injurious time for il, is during q


regular meal or within few minuts after,


for then, the strength of the stimulus IS


expended on the digestive organs, and en-
ablcs them to perform their work more


thoroughly; hence an amoast Of brandy


which would make one tipsy, on an empty


stomach, would have no effect if taken du-


ring dinner. But that amount 10 be in


any way beneficial, must be in proportios
to the fat or oils, used at the same meals;


then ii aids the system to appropriate the
fat to itself; in other words, brandy taken
with fatty food, tends to fatten quickly, but
il does not give strength; fat people are


not strong. On the other hand, it is con-
ceded fact in physiology, that alcohol in
every shape impedcs the digestion of the
albuminous portion of our food, that is,
brandy makes no flesh, makes NO muscle,
gives no strength The prize fighter does
not want fat; one main object in his train
Jug is to get rid of it and replace it with
substantial muscle with flesh; hence
when trsiuing be never touches liquor
The advocates of brandy triumphantly
point at ruddy faced drinker with his APP
peareutly well developed muscle and well
filled skin, but fat is diseas, is puff; he
has no agility of limb, or courage in bis
heart for he knows, and We do too, that q
lean STRIPPING or plow boy of twenty, who
was never drunk in his life, "could whip
them all to pieces in five minutes" Away
then with all the nonsense about brandy
strengthening anybody; it weakens the
head, it covers the heart, and wastes away
the whole man.-HaTs Journal Of Hsolt6.
Year: 1859

And, when you have succeeded in effec-
ting the difficult, but in no wise dangerous
descent, remain there. The cool air Of the
place will not hnrt you. On the contrary,
it will do you a world of good. The fever
and heartburn which effected you will
feel no more when once you have actually
''come down to your circumstances"


"But what's man to do that has but
three or four dollars a week TO live on
sounds. out ina dissatisfied answer to our
injuction. You mast live inside of four
dollars, ii that is all you have. If you
don't do it, the depts that will accumulate
will kill the courage all out of you. II
you do do it, the very minute that you can
manage 10 obtain higher pay you begin
to enjoy the feeling which plenty begets.
Nobody knows how good six dollars
a week seems, so well as ne who has
for long time contrived To live on four, or
even less.


The chief affection and misery of poverty
is, the tornenting desire to hare more
than you can get, and the shame there is
in ownin9 that you must deny yourself
many things Mot oil about you possess.
To those who care chiefly for externals'
this is a very great trouble; but DO not iet
your life consist in the abundance OF the
things that you possess, nor your destrnc-
ton be the lack of the goods OF this world.
Work faithfully and patiently, get ahead
as fast as you can, and as yon 60 be care
ful to keep down to your means; and, soon
or late, success, honor and happiness will
certainly be yours.-M YLsdgsr.
Year: 1859

rTbe following lines, written by convict 4
e Ohio Penitentiary, are touchingly beauti
I'VE wandered far from thee, mother,


Far from my happy home.
I've left the land that gave me birth.


other climes TO roam;
And time, since then, has rolled In years,
And marked them on my brow,
Yet have often thought of-thee,


I'm thinking Of thee now.
I'm thinking on the day mother,


When at my tender side,
You watched the dawning of my youth,
And kissed me in your pride:
Then brightly was my heart Lit up


With hoPe of futurejoy
While your bright fancy honors woYe,
To deck your darling boy.
I'm thinking on the day, mother.


When, with anxious care,
You lifted up you heart 10 heaven


Your hope, your trust was there;
Fond memory brings your parting words,
While tears roll'd down your cheek,
Thy long. last loving look told more


Than ever words could speak.
I'm far away from thee, mother,


No friend is near me now.
To sooth me with tender word,


Or cool my aching brow;
The dearest ties affection move,


Are now all torn from me.
They lett me W hen the trouble came
They did not love like thee.
Tn lonely and forsaken now,


Unpitied and unblest;
Yet still l would not let you know


How sorely I'm distressed;
know you would rot chide me, mother,
You could not give me blame.
But sooth NE with your tender words
And bid me hope again.
I would not have thee know, mother,
How brightest hopes decay,
The tempter with his baleiul cup.
Has dashed them all away;
And shame has left its venomed sting
To rack with anguish wild
Yet still would not have thee know
The sorrow of thy child.
Oil l have wandered far, mother,
Since deserted thee.
And left thy trusting heart to break.
Beyond the deep blue sea;
OH mother. still love thee well.
And love to hear thee speak.
And feel again thy balmy breath
Upon my care worn cheek.
But ahi there is a thought. mother,
Pervades my bleeding breast,
That thy freed spirit may have flown
To Its eternal rest;
And while wipe the tear away,
There whispers in my ear
A voice that speaks of heaven and thee,
And bids me enter theirs.
Year: 1859

A MILD SUoaEsrIoN.-A conflict hav-
ing arisen between President Buchanan
and Gov. Wise as to which stall have the
honor of hanging poor Brown it is respect
fully suggested by a high intervening par
ty that be be hung between the two.
Year: 1859

Tell them that when every remedv has failed when
they have been doctored to death with Mercury
sarsaparila and other popular deusions when, from
whatever cause they become lank languid and Ailing
TO try most blessed Herbal Concoction. nx
Year: 1859

" We would be obliged to those of our
subscribers who expect to change residences
the coming eek. to inform US speedily at what
Post Office they will in future get their pa pers.
Please attend TO it.
Year: 1859

DETERMINED TO DIE.--A young lady came in
and requested the Doctor to give her u dose of
"cold pisin'' something that would take her
"out of the world easy She told long story
about how her brother-in-law abused her, and
expressed determination to live no longer.
cessary drug, and tried to impress upon her
mind the impropriety of taking her own life ;
but she left declaring that she would "lvc no
longer" The girl is some seventeen or eigh-
teen years of age. and VIC are Informed that
she was arrested some time since on a charge
of insanity: but there being doubt as to whcth-
er she was insane or idiotic, she was discharged
We did not learn her name.
Year: 1859

PANTHERs.-A gentleman living aear Santa
Rosa, discovered one evening recently, con-
siderable tumult among his flock of sheep. Go
ing among them to discover the cause. he found
couple of them with their throats cut and dy-
ing. Imagining this destruction to be the work
of wild animals he cut them open. and secreted
strychnine in their bodies. The next morning
he found the poison had done its work. Four
panthers. measuring not less than eight feet
from tip to tip, were discovered dead within a
few rods of where the sheep had been left.
Year: 1859

LUCKY EscAPE.-A child two years of age,
accidentally fell into shaft at Grass Valley
few days ago. The shaft was twenty feet deep,
and at the bottom was confused mass OF rock,
broken bottles, and timber. In as short time
as possible the helpless little one was brought
to the surface, and with the exception of a
slight bruisc on the side of the face, was unin-
jured.
Year: 1859

Az EXTRAORDINARY DrEL.-Ths Mobil,
Tribune Of Sunday, has the following:


Two young gentlemen had q difficulty
and after it had been settled they met in 10,
street, when one made proposition to The
other that both should take poison. This
was agreed to by the other, and he forth
with went and procured some laudauum-
the only poison he could get-and swallowed
it down. No. l. touched his dose to bis Inns
but did not drink 1t. There was not enouOh
taken by No2 to do any damage, further
than to put him to sleep shor, time; .pd
ne also being under the influence Of liquor.
be was taken in custody by an Officer. hi.
Honor thought II was about as sensible A
way OF lighting duel as any. The gentle.
man Who took the laudanum was ancd tween
,y dollars.