smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1862

Blessed are the Dead! Blessed !r'' do
We believe thisi 1t seems not. 2ysn
when We are assured that they have died
in the Lord" we bemoan their fate al
most as if they were destroyed, body and
soul together. 1t is said BY many, who do
not wish to think they at all doubt the
word of God, that it is for their own loss,
and not for the sake of the departed ones,
that they mourn; but is this really the
case ! Think moment. Have not pa
rents, relatives, and brothers, and sisters,
and friends given up those that were dear
est to them to 60 away for years, and
even for life, as traders, or seamen, or mis-
sionaries and have they not, so long as
they could learn that their wanderers were
comfortable, happy and prosperous, borne
the separation with calmness, and even
with satisfaction, because 1t was so much
for the interest of these friendsa What
comfort they took from the fact that the


absent ones were doing we'll /! How few


were the groans and tears because of the


long partiug! True friends are willing to


bear almost anything when they really be-
live that the welfare of those they love is


secured thereby. Blu: when it comes to dy.


tng-oh what an outcry, what a struggle,


what a holding back! Why, even if one


is poor, and miserable, and blind, and lame,


and lives in constant bodily and mental


pain, and has no hope of better earthly for


tune, bis friends, if he has any, are horror


struck at the idea that be is goiug to die.


They pity him; they fight till the last mo :


ment with the angel who comes to lead


the long suffering wretch forth from his


misery, and usher him, made perfectly ho-


ly, and gloriously happy, into the presence


of his Redeemer and Lord. And when q


youth is taken, the mourning is beyond


all bounds The glad, elastic soul, that


was jsst beginning to taste of the joys o.


this world-joys which are all, even at the
best, imperfect and transient-is led away
. beyond the reach of the mildew and the


rust of earth, to expand its fresh, unwasted


powers in those celestial regions where dis
superintendent sin, humiliation, defeat and
sorrow are never known the warm, loving
! spirit is caught up, before it is defled by
much wrong doing, before it is grieved ane
embittered by unrequited loving,t the very


world of love, where its raptures and it
enthusiasms will all be well felt, and fel
. forever; where no chill nor check of low
. is ever given or felt and anon every on
, who ever knew the youth whom God ha
:. made thus blessed, is ready to beat th
, breast, and tear the hair, and cry, in ut
: most anguish, "Alas alas what had b
r done to be thus early cut down by death
Year: 1862

1t is difficult to restrain the evil passions
of our nature, under the most favorable cir
cumstsnces; but when the blood is in
famed with alcohol, and reason is well
nigh dethroned, then the demon is stirred
up within and none can foresee what crimes
may be perpetrated. Fearful are the re-
cords of drusken fury. Murder and the
bottle 60 hand in hand. We see two
friends, who, when sober, would lie willing
to make any sacrifice for each others well
fare. They are perhaps officers in the
same regiment, and both have wives and
children at their distant homes, of whom
they have often spoken with Affection
Meeting at tavern to spend an evening,
they have their bottle and glasses, with the
view, a. they suppose, of enlivening and
cheering them. The fumes of the poison
they are imbibing rise to their brain, they
become noisy and boisterous, they dispute,
they look at each other as hateful enemies,
and rising to their feet their sword. are
drawn, and soon one of them lies weltering
in his blood. Such is the result of their
social evening! Oce is hurried without
preparation to the judgment seat of his Of
Tended Creator, the other is the murderer
of bis friend, the destroyer of the happi-
ness of an amiable family! Can he ex-
cuse himself becaus he was intoxicated
when he committed the foul deed?


No! indeed this an aggravation of his
sin. The first made himself a madmau
and then murderer. Bitter cause ba,


he to curse the social glass, as it is called


In one night the thickest gloom has set


tied on all bis worldly prospects. For th.


rest of his life he walks forth an unouie


and unhappy spirit terrified when he look


back to the scene of blood, and still NOR,
alarmed when he looks forward to th,
dread account he is to render to God fo
his misdeeds.


Il Reader, if thou wouldst avoid such
|; crime, and such fate, let not alcohol pas
|, , thy lips, to steal away thy reason,
Year: 1862

The MURDERED MAN CONE TO LIFE
The Memphs Appeal in noticing the recent
retaliatory order from President Davis to
Gen. Holmes says


"What makes the crime of this Federal
officer more deserving of punishment or
retaliation, as proposed, is the fact as an
nounced BY the St. Louis papers, copied
by US, that on the day after the murder of
the ten victims alluded to by the President,
the party whom they were suspected Of
having removed returned to his home, and
stated he had not been nolested, but had
been absent on q trip of the nature of which
he had not chosen to advise any one before
hand. If ell the circumstances to this case
do not warrant resort TO the rule of lee
talioais, it would be difficult to conceive
circumstances that would. We hope Gem
eral Holmes will obey his Instructions to
the letter"
Year: 1862

PRAYER.-An old author says: Prayer is
the rope In the belfrey-Re pull it, and it
rings the bell up in heaven-and 30 it is.
Keep that bell moving. Pull it well, and
though the bell is up 50 high that you can
not hear it ring, depend upon it, it can be
heard in the tower of heaven, and is ring
ing before the throne of God, who will
send answers of peace according to Jour
| faith.
Year: 1862

A SUDDEN AND SAD BEREAVEMENT
A daughter of Mr.. Trask, who resides in
Spring Street, fell down the stairs of the Pri-
mary School House in Spring Street yester-
day, striking one side Of her head frightfully.
She undertook to walk home, but tainted a
short distance from the school house, and was
taken into house.


DIR. Fitch was at once called, who feared a
confusion of the brain, and effusion of blood;
she was removed to her fathers house on
mattress and stretcher, but died shortly after.
She was about ten years of age.
Year: 1862

Dr. Cotton had another audience which
packed the new City Hall last evening, and
the entertainment went off to the delight of
all present. DR.. Cotton announced at the
close that at the suggestion of several ladies
and gentlemen, he would give one more exhi-
bition tomorrow evening" with all the attrac-
tions of last evening-and that he would give
an exhibition for ladies this afternoon at three
o'clock.
Year: 1862

To THE LADIEs.-The ladies of this city
have been unwearied in their efforts hereto
fore to promote the comforts of our soldiers,
and we doubt not they are willing to continue
in "good works." We would inform them
that there is considerable work to be done at
the room of the Ladies' Committee, and they
are invited to apply for it.
Year: 1862

RUNAwAY.-A horse attached to a wagon
belonging to the Reform School, while stand
ing on Union street yesterday noon, was
frightened by some boys playing with shaw
ings and starting on a run detached the fore
wheels from the body of the wagon. Turn
ing furiously into Middle street, he ran into
wagon, demolishing the seat on which a man
was sitting, and breaking one of the axles.
The man miraculously escaped injury.
Year: 1862

In THE RIGHT PLAcE.-As the steamer
Queen was passing the Devils Head ON her
way up river last week, man standing near
the summit of the high bluff took his hat and
gave three cheers for jeff Davis-IEastport
Sentinel
Year: 1862

A quota from the town Of York, about 60 in
number, game in yesterday.


The first dress parade was performed yester-
day afternoon. The visitors at the camp were
numerous. The soldiers seem gay and happy,
and are much pleased with their comfortable
quarters
Year: 1862

THs EVACUATION evacuation of Norfolk and
Portsmouth without shot, and the destruction of
so large an amount of public property, does not
strike every one as wise or necessary measure yet
it must be apparent that the fall of those places
has been foregone conclusion ever since the cap.
ture Of Roanoke Island. Mr.. Benjamin perhaps
before this concludes that the taking Of that Island
was not SO small an affair after ALL The policy,
however, of surrendering those places and destroy


ing the Merrimac, just at the time when they were
so much needed, to force Mcclellan to move upon
Richmond directly by the way Of the Peninsula,.
msy well be doubted. Tho evacuation of those
places gives Mcclellan an opportunity Of moving
upon it both in front and rear. D
We have heard nothing direct from Norfolk and
Portsmouth, since the evacuation Of those places


The last report is that Suffolk in possession Of
the enemy. -.
Year: 1862

The authorities Of Salisbury in this State aave
prohibited the sale ofsplrituous liquors in the town
and five miles beyond its limits in quantities less
than barrel Whiskey and its cousins-german,
have done the cause Of the South incalculable injury
during this war. Now, that matters are assuming
so serious an aspect, 1t would seem to be high time
for the army and the people to become sober, what
ever may have been their course heretofore.
Year: 1862

S0UTH-CAROLINA CONvENTION.-It seems that
there are persons in South-C Carolina who object to
the Convention ofthat State remaining in existence
and who insist that it should dissolve. There are
discontented persons also in this State, who have
raised the same cry against our State Convention.
The attention of the Charleston Mercury having
been called to the subject that paper says:


- is assumed that the Convention of the People
of South Carolina was called to take the State out
Of the Union and into the Southern Confederacy,
and then dissolve itself forthwith. We think there
is no warrant for such notion, and that it should
remain in existence so long as there are dangers
incident 10 the removal Of the State from Federal
Union, and so long as it may provide measures neces
sary and proper in taking care that the Common
wealth of South Carolina shall suffer no detrment.
Two years was proposed, in the Legislature as
limit to the existence of the Crnvention. 1t vas
supposed that in two years every thing would be
settled. But the body wisely determined to suggest
no period for the Convention, and there is none in
the Act as passed. 1t was expected that the Con-
venon would see the State through her difficulties.
Had no difficulties occurred, the Convention would
have adjourned. But we in the midst of bloody
war for existence, and We have need of BODY vest


ed with extraordinary powers for extraordinary
emergencies. The salvation of the State may yet
depend upon the wisdom and vigor Of that body: We
trust the Convention will not dissolve itself until
We are through difficulties nor leave the State at
such time without the means of providing what
ever measures or instruments emergencies may re-
quire for our safety and people. All is
not plain sailing We are in the midst of bloody
revolution and have need of our highest wisdom
and best energies. Let the Convention furnish
these, and its course will receive the applause of
the people," -.


If the Mercury had been speaking for the Con.
ventiOn 0f fhc Sfoto md -,
assailants, its language could not have been more
just and appropriate The Mercury be it remem-
bered is an ultra secession journal, but it differs on
this subject with its political associates in this
State. 49,. -.
Year: 1862

We regret to hear that continued and in.
creasing illness has compelled this accom-
phshed soldier to resign his commission as
captain,in in the 4th cavalry. He has returned to
Port Byron Dickey's cavalry has been in
constant and ariuous service ever since the
fallof Fort Henry and now numbers scarcely
two hundred men. In all probability the reg
ilaent will be mustered out Of the service
within IA month
Year: 1862

The Tribune again had a spasm this morn
ing because the confscation bill did no, pass
unanimously. Perhaps when we get a full
report OF the vote on 1t, we shall see that
some oi the more ultra members voted against
II, because 1t was not radical enough. We
judge this to be the case. se.--Jourpal
Year: 1862

| then as it became more light | heard it again.
| | lstened-the sound Of the drum was famil-


lar to me-and knew that it was


Our drummer boy from Tennessee


Beating for help the rereUe.


was about to desert my post to go to bis
assistance when | discovered the officer of the
guard approaching with two men We all
! listened to the sound, and were satisfied that
it was Eddie's drum. l asked permission to
go to his assistance. The officer hesitated,
saying that the orders were to march in twen-
ty minutes. l promised to be back in that
time, and he consented. Immediately started
down the hill through the thick underground,
and upon reaching the valley | followed the
sound of the drum, and soon found him seated
upon the ground, his back leaning against the
trunk Of fallen tree, while his drum hung
upon bush in front of him, reaching nearly
to the ground. As soon as he discovered me
be dropped his drumsticks and exclaimed =
Oh, Corporal, am so glad to see you !
Give me drink" reaching out bis hand for
my canteen, which was empty. Immediately
turned to bring him some water from the brook
that could hear ripping the bushes near by,
when thinking that was about to leave he
commenced crying, saying Don't leave me,
Corporal-I can't walk"


was soon back with the water, when dis
covered that both of his feet had been shot
away by cannon ball. After satisfying his
thirst, he looked up into my face aud said =
You don't think | will die, Corporal, do you !?
This man said / would not-he said the sur
geon could cure my feet" l now discovered
man lying iu the grass near him By his
dress / recognized him as belongieg to the
enemy. 1t appeared that he had been shot
through the bowels, aad fallen near where
Eddie lay. Knowing that he could not live, aud
seeing the condition of the boy, he had crawl
ed to him, taking off his buckskin suspenders,
and corded the little fellows legs below the
knee, and then lay down and died. While be
was telling me these particulars, 1 heard the
tramp of cavalry coming down the ravine, and
10 moment scout of the enemy was upon
US, and l was takeG2risoner. requested the
officer to take Eddy up in front of him, and he
did SO, carrying him with great tenderness and
care. When we reached the camp OF the
enemy the little fellow was dead


1t is now about two weeks since | made my
escape from MCGlIoch's grasp. [ have re-en-
listed for the war, and as we are likely to be
in camp for some time, l may write again
of other scenes through which | have passed
Year: 1862

The FIFTH CoM8iANDMENr.-An old school
master said one day to minister who had
come to examine his school:


=" believe the children know the Catechism
word for word"


" But do they understand it T.? that is the
question" asked the minister.


The Schoolmaster bowed respectfully and the
examination began. ..


A little boy had repeated the fifth command
ment, Honor thy father and thy mother, I"
and he was requested to explain it.


Instead Of trying to do it, the little boy,
with his face covered with bushes, said, a-
most in a whisper


Yesterday l showed some strange gentle
man over the hill. The sharp stones cut my
feet, and the gentleman saw they were bleed
ing, and gave me some money to buy me shoes.
| gave the money to my mother; for she had
no shoes either, and hought I could go bare
foot better than she could''
Year: 1862

The RARITY OF GENTLEMEN.-Perhaps gen
Henen are rarer persouages than some of US
think. Which of us can point to many such
in his circle men whose aims are generous,
whose truth is constant-and not only constant
in kind, but elevated in degree-whose want
of meanness makes them simple who can look
the world honestly in the face, with an equal
manly sympathy for the great and the small
We all know hundred whose coats are well
made, and score who have excellent manners,
and one or two happy beings who are what
they call inner circle, and have shot into the
center and bulls eye of fashion but OF gen
Aemen, how many? Let US take little scrap
of paper, and each make out his list THacE-
erGg.
Year: 1862

BD~A balmy fellow, Dragging that he could
carry barrel of pork without difficulty, was
suddenly put to his trumps when told that he
was frequently seen staggering under load Of
less than ! IS pounds of c0raed meat.
Year: 1862

Another days journey brought US to Cha
taon-a hamlet at the foot efthe Great WALL
The road for the last fifteen miles had been
so bad that we were obliged to leave our hor-
Ses at Naukan, hirjDg in their places Tarter
ponies Nothing less Surefooted than these
shaggy. hardy little beasts could have carried
US through those rugged mountain paths, which
we would have done on foot, but that one
miles march over the sharp rock which forms
the pavement would have left US shoeless.


At daybreak on the following morning we
climbed the highest peak of the mountain
range, and there, standing on the top of the
great wall, reflected upon the stupendous folly
of this wonderful work of human industry,
which is said to have cost the country two
hundred thousand lives from sheer physical
exhaustion. The wall, which is built of stone
and brick. is twenty feet high and fftea broad.
surmounted by double parapet-loop hOled on
the north side. As far as the eye can follow
the mountain range it winds over the ridges Of
the preciptouS black rocks like a gigantic
serpent crawling along, and with its breath
poisoning all around for, turn where you
will, nothing meets the view but the deSolate,
dreary track of rock, unrelieved by blade OF
grass or tuft of moss, and huge boulders
StIeNiGS lh6 DaSe OF Jne mountain siueS. 4C
was the whim of a tyrant to build a wall
where nature had already bailt q barrier far
more effectual than anything that human art
could construct However, there it remains,
after a laps of nearly two thousand years--a
monument of the cruel folly of one man, and
the patient industry and sufferings of many
thousands.


Having made an abortive attempt at a
sketch, and tried in vain to discover one re-
deeming feature in this vast scene of desola-
ton, | secured my brick, and descending to
the pass, remonnted to proceed homeward,-
Our guard could hardly believe his senses
certainly he doubted ours. When at Nankan
mine host imputed what we were going to the
Great Wall for Our honest answer met
with no credit. e1there not walls every
where Was not the wall of Pekin much
better worth looking at ? And then as for
shooting, why come so far for game when it
could be bought in the market at our very
doors His impression evidently was that We
had some sinister project in view but when
we returned with the brick the good man sim
ply burst out laughing, and set US down for
couple Of harmless manacs
Year: 1862

BEWARE OF CouNTEKFEIrs.-Our attention has
been called to the manner in which one of the two
dollar treasury notes of this State has been coun-
terfeited so as to make it pass for ten dollar note
The figure ten had been cut from the margin of
some blank Bank notes-probably from those on
which the treasury notes are printed-and the ten
thus cut was pasted over the to wherever it occurs
in the two dollar note, so as to change the issue
into ten instead of two The treasury notes, which
are printed on the back of the blank Bank notes,
should be closely clipped, and never sent out with
any Of these extraneous figures attached to ther:.


We have heard also, that some of the five and
twenty cent issues have been circulated without au'
thorty of law, either in blank filled up. This must
be owing to the neglect of the printer in not prop
erly guarding the form Of types on which these
notes are printed; or these notes may have been
stolen from the printer, or from some one who had
them in possession after they had passed from his
hands. We have no idea, however, that Mr.. Treas
urer Courts is TO blame in this matter.
Year: 1862

FREE TKADE.-The propriety Of suspending all
tariffs upon imported goods during the existence
Of. the blockade or during the war, has been
urged upon the Confederate Congress by several
of our contemporaries. 1t is understood that the
Congress is considering that question, and that
President Davis has avowed his adherence to =
"free trade policy" Are we to understand by this,
that the proposition to abolish all tariff duties du-
ring the war; is to he entering wedge to the fu'
ture policy Of the government after the war is overs


If So let it be openly avowed and let the people un-
derstand it We have heretofore alluded to the sig
nicant fact that nearly all the cotton States have
assumed the payment of the Confederate war tax
the present year, in order to save the people from
the burden OF paying it now by "direct taxation )"
Now, if the country is to be launched out upon an
eEtire free trade policy, with an enormous public
debt upon it. why not let the people at once begin
to taste the sweets of direct taxation? Are they
afraid? We have no hesitancy in saying that We
hold still to the old doctrine of tariff upon mpor'
ted good, for the purpose of revenue affording in
cidental protection to our own manufactures. This
the old jackson doctrne-it has been tried, and
found to be the true policy Direct taxation for the
support Of the Confederate government and the pay
ment of the war debt, would never be borne by the
great mass of the people.
Year: 1862

CALLING OUT THE ML1rIA.-A correspondent Of
the Charleston Mercury has the following account
of Gen. Magruder's calling out the militia. He
seems to have peculiar fondness, like some other
people, for showing off the militia without muskets
or rifles bayonets sabres, cartouch box or other
war paraphernalia. They will cut fine figure
with common fowling piece to shoot snow birds,
and with powder horn and shot bag:


"Magruder, as am told by one who, read the
order in his own handwriting, called out the militia
of twenty-one countess and directed every mother
son ofthem provide himself with suit of clothes,
blanket, any weapon he could obtain, coffee pot,
a tin plate and spoon, and with these to hold him
self in readiness to march at moments warning
to Yorktown where it is said he is havir huts for
5000 militia constructed. Was there ever such a
man? The War Department has decided to check
his militia madness"
Year: 1862

The MAlLs.-We continue to get complaints of
the failure of the Standard to reach our subscribers
in good time at places and at other points not
at all At Roanoke, Martin county, We learn the
failure is frequent and friend at Covngton writes
US that the Standard is often ten days old when it
arrives. This state of things is really provoking
No paper in the State goes to press more regularly
or is better put up or more promptly deposited in
the Post-ottice here than the Standard is and yet
We learn that other city papers are regularly
ceived, while ours is delayed. We shall be greatly
obliged to Post Masters and Mail Agents to look
into the matter, and remedy it if possible. We
have no idea that any one can intentionally delay
the Standard, yet it is done from neglect or some
other cause The fault does not lie at our door, our
readers may be assured.