smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

How natural for child, stand


ing by the banks of a river, to
inquire where all .he water comes


from? To inquire why grass is


green ?. what makes it grow? how


is it that tirds can fly? why fish


es are not drowned in the sea? or


where all the sand comes from


they see on the shore ? They


will ask, also, where the rain or
snow comes from p? whA is thun-
der? what are clouds ? or, how is
it that the grass is 50 wet with
the dew Thousands Of oues-
fions like these are asked by


thoughtful children, and what pa


rent would not wish to be able to
give them satisfactory answers ?
But to answer these questions sat
isfactOrily y requires knowledge of


ia urai phenomena, and the cauo-
es producing them. If any one
of whom the child asked, while
standing by rivers banks,
Where does all the water come
from 2 were to take him to his
home, however humble. and show
him the vapor rising from the
water boiling for tea, and ask him
to put cool plate or glass in the
path Of the vagor for few mo.
men S, and then look at it and
notice the drops of water con-
densed upon it, and make him nn-
derstand that these drops were
formed by the vapor.


Then explain to him that great
part Of the earth was covered with
water from which vapor was al
ways rising, and that, when it
rose into the upper region of the
air, it was condensed into drops
of water, just as the vapor had
beenb9 the cold plate, and that
when thus condensed it lell in rain.
That "a great part of this rain ran
on the surface of the ground,
forming little streams and brooks.
which were gradually joined ty
others till those united streams
formed rivers, which by the un-
ceasing flow, which has led to his
question, gave back to the ocean
the.waters which had been raised
from them in vapor by the heat
OF the sun, just as the vapor bad
been raised from the water boil
ing for tea, By the heat of the
fire. What child would readily
forget such a lesson? Or what
child, constantly so replied to,
could fail to grow up an lntelli-
gent observer of all the natural
events occurring around him2
Year: 1874

The Seymour, Indiana, Times
says: We have been on both
sides Of the currency que. ton
-one day seeing our way as


clear as mud in one direction,
and the next seeing it equally
clear in the other. just where
we now stand is somewhat
mixed. Sometimes we take a


quick glance at the thing and


then feel like the late Horace
Greeley, as it were, and are safe
that ''the way to resume is to
resume;" butif we suffer rcfec-


ton to work, doubts will cloud


this simple theory. Having no
clear conception of the subject
we generally write from the
prompting of the moment; and
having no fixed principles on
finances, only to get all the
money we can and keep it, our
readers may look for any kind
Of doctrine. or for different kinds.
We are not quite sure that we
are alone in our financial mud
die, In fact it looks as if sew
eral Of our statesmen have been
tarred with the same stick. If
we understand ourselves just
now we are in favor Of the in
flatiOn bill just passed and shall
ckeerfulIy pocket our part Of
the swagif any comes this way;
although last week we were
honestly opposed to infation.-
We shall endeavor to be honest
in our views, whatever they
may be; and the rather, as hon
esty is thought to be the best |
policy.
Year: 1874

The following story comes
from Ireland: Two men had a
qnarreI in a liquor shop. They
adjourned outside to settle the
dispute. The first man, being
from Connaught, Immediately
seized a lump Of stone and let
fly at the head Of his opponent,
who dipped his head and missed
the stone, which Went through
an expensive plate-glass Win
dow, and did much damage
A magistrate was called upon
next morning to determine
which of the two should pay
the cost. The evidence clear
ly showed that the aim was a
good one, and that if the second
man had not dipped his head he
would have been struck
"Therefore," said the magis-
trate, she must pay the DANA
ges, as it is certain the first man
didn't intend to injure the VIM
dow, and the window would not
have been injured if it had not
been for the act of the second
man."
Year: 1874

And thou art gone 1t makes my spirit
faltcr-


Against the ways of Heaven to half rebel
Sweet, gentle child, ah! pure unselish


Waller,


Thy winning ways, the angels loved


them well
AS who might not "tO know thee was to


love thee"


So uncomplaining, amiable and mild,
Unlike all others, surely ne'er above thee
Existed one who bore the name of child.
So far beyond one of thy years or stature,
The germs OF thought in that fair soul


enshrined,
Unfolding views of an exalted na ure,
Stored with the higher attributes of


mind;
Thoughtful and serious, giving promise


early,
Gravely attentive, patient in thy ways !;
All! was it strauge that we should thee prize


dearly,


Or Heaven implore to grant thee length


Of days ?
They whom the gods DO love die young,


It's said
Full soon are called to share Saviour's


love,
And so it seems, our darling one is dead,
a lamb the more lor that bright told a.


boye;
Gone from Us now, dear child, so lately given.
Thy dove-like spirit sought an happier


sphere,
One mole congenial--aye its native heaven
And Heaven be praised iOr what is spared


thee here.
Too gentle far, too mildly formed vert thou
To bear the stern realities Of life;
Far better Tar, that it should be as now,
Early removed from suffering, care and


strife,
The dove we priced. This world at best


were dark
And stern, and cold its hearts of granite


stone
But thou art safe within an heavenly ark,
Cnciing with angels round the great
white throne.
Year: 1874

A large proportion OF men ncv,
er Can or vii. accumulate Ur keep
capital. The best illustration of


this fact that | have ever uet is
that of Gerril Smith and school
mate. The latter, Oh the death
Of his father, came into possession
vi Il farm, with house, furniture,
stock, implements and ali things
necessary to a comfortable home
and paying business bat he sold,
lost by tue sale, sold his neHt
home, and his next, always losing,
until be was laDdless and very
poor. His old schUolmate, who
was giving away his large palri-
mony i'll small parcels To landless
men, gave him a house and lot,
but took the precaution to deed it
TO his children. For while the
restless Aan was very happy in
his new home, but soon grew tired
of it and wanted to sell out
When he found that it was not in
his power to render himself and
his family homeless once more, he
exclaimed, III great bitterness {:
There, Gerrit Smith has ruined
me" He believed this and never
iorgave the man who bad preyen-
ted that trade which would have
surely made his fortune
Year: 1874

We do not know who could
possibly be more in want of a
helpmate than Mr.. Ross of Flor
ence. Ala. He never walked astep
in bis life. He has just taken
a No. 2. AT his first marriage be
was supported at the side OF his
bridein a huge basket, but he went
through the second ceremony held
up by the side Of the bed, out of
which he got for the purpose.
Year: 1874

An exchange declares that
"Ben Butler would be happy if
he could get his vignette on the
ten-cent shinplaSters." No
doubt of it, but he would be
much happier if he could get
his hands on them.
Year: 1874

The Milwaukee SentineEthinks
the worst feature about the Gre
nation business is that some
winter morning, i'll fit Of phi
lanthropy, your widows second
husband may empty your ashes
on the icy pavement for the
benefit of pedestrians.
Year: 1874

Some Calilorniaus don't seem
to like local option. The Napa
Regjster says tnat when a slmi-
lar law was Ia force in n W Yurk,
that State was a moral checker
board Of rum and no rum towns.
The rum towns did IA thriving
business IN selling to visitors from
the no rum districts, and the edi


itOr knows one man in a temper
terance town who sent his gal


ion jug weekly by stage to the
adjoining county seat, where
liquor was sold, to have it filled.
Year: 1874

civilian Ward, of New York,
openly claims to be the greatest
thief in the country outside Of
Congress" That may be, but
he ought to remember how im-
measurably he is beatenby many
Of the thieyeoinside Of Congress.
Year: 1874

Some time since, we had occa- sion to speak Of this very repre- hensible practice, which it is evl' dent is indulged in by some of our citizens. It is a very com mon thing to see drunken Indi- ans in our streets. It is time that this thing was stopped. The man who would sell or give liquor to and Indian is an enemy to the community. He not only violates the law, but endangers the pub lie peace and security of the peo- pie. A drunken white man is bad enough, but when the diabo- lical passions of the savage are aroused by liquor, there is no se- curity where he is allowed to roam.

 Our law provides that any per son who shall sell or give any whisky, brandy, rum. gin, wine, or other spirituous or intoxicating liquor to an Indian, shall if con- victed, be punished by fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than three hundred dollars, and imprisonment in the county jail not less than one month and not more than six months, or both such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the Court. The law gives Jus tices of the Peace full jurisdiction in this matter, and gives one half of the fine to the informant. Let the law be enforced.
Year: 1874

An honest Cd farmer from the
country gave his recollections of
the hot spell as follows:


1t Was so dry we couldn't spare
water to put in our whiskey. The
grass was 80 dry that every time
the wind Blew it few around like
50 much ashes. There wasn't a
tear shed at a funeral for a month.
The sun dried up all the cattle, and
burnt on the hair till they looked
like Mexican dogs, and the sheep
all looked like poodle puppies, they
shrank up SO. We had to soak all
our hogs to make EN- hold swill; and
if any cattle were killed in the
morning, they'd be dried beef at
dark. The woods dired up so that
the farmers chopped seasoned tins
Der all though August, and there
amt match through all the coun
try in fact, no wedding since the
widow Glenn married old Baker,
three months ago. What few grass
hoppers are left are all skin and
legs, and I didn't hear tea kettle
sing for six weeks. We eat our
potatoes baked, they being all
ready, and we coulden't spare water
to boil EN-. All the red>headed
girls were afraid to stir out Of the
house in daylight, and, l tell you,
1 was afraid the devil had moved
out of his old home and settled
down with US for life.-Why, We
had to haul water all summer to
keep the ferry running, and he
say it's getting dry; let's take suth>
in.
Year: 1874

In reply toia cry of 8 how about
the independent press 2 he said ;he
independent press had accomplished
work during 1las past year which
would rehohad to its honor as long
as the press lasts, In reply TO the
question how about the third
term p Mr.. Thurman said: My
friend, the White House has not
given that idea uplyet. He is try~
ing to fight it ont on that line if it
takes a. year and half"
Year: 1874

Otis a standing rule in my church,
said one clergyman to another, ";or
the sexton to wake up any man that
he may see asleep" II think" rctur.
ned the other, that it would be much
better for the sexton, whenever o
man goes to sleep under yoyr
preaching to wake You up
Year: 1874

A gentleman at Lake George, af
ter waving his handkerchief for half
an Hour or more at an unknown lady,
whom he discovered at a distant
point ON the shore, was encouraged
By a warm response TO his signal to
approach his charmer. Imagine his
feeling when, on drawing nearer,he
saw that il was his own dear wife,
whom he had left at The hotel but a
shor; time before.


why, how remarkable we recog.
nizel each other At such distance,
exclaimed both in same breath, and
then they chAngedihe subject.
Year: 1874

The latest story of 6lial devo-
ton and heroism at the post of
duty. comes to US from Ohio.
The hero was the son of . VILLAGE
reporter, and, having discovered
a broken rail just ont of town,
he sat for five hours on a fence
near by waiting for the train, 80
that he might carry the particu-
lars Of the accident to his father,
Year: 1874

HIGH ArMs. Aim at perfec-
ton in everything, though in
most things it is unatta,nable.
However, they who aim at it,
and persevere, will come much
nearer, to it than those whose
laziness and dependency make
them give it up as unattainable.
Year: 1874

Not with the victor's palms alone
We celebrate our dead
Dimmed are the guerdons of success
We wreath around bis bead.
Low are the notes, subdued the praise,
Which crowns those finished years
Our gathered laurels droop beneath
The burden of our tears.
Honor to him who opened out
Great natures mighty plan;
Yet more than the philosopher,
We honor here the man.
Whose heart was large enough to hold
Welcome alike for all
Whose genial spell awoke the spark
Hidden in the great and small
Who never held bis scholarship
And humaneness apart,
Philosophy from manhood,


Or intellect from heart
whose single minded esrnestness
Burned as q shining light;
Whose hand, whate'er it found to do,
Did it with all bis might.
Enthusiastic for the right,


Indignant at the wrong,
His very presence kept our faith
In man and manhood strong.
And though bis place shall stand secure
Within the courts Of fame,
And his own light reflected rest
Forever On his name
Yet dearer etill to those who stand
Here where his feet have trod,
The chiidlike 0gArt, which wins alone
The kingdom Of our God.


-(Boston Transcrip
Year: 1874

A country postmaster, in ma.
king requisition on the depart.
ment at Washington for three
thousand postal cards ; apologies
for the unusually large number
ordered by saying. you may
think that this amount of postal
cards is large Tour Office being
small), but l will explain it to
you. We want them to adver.
tise for a man that was our town
treasurer and absconded.v
Year: 1874

A Texas editor, whose mid
night oil must have failed him
just as he was going to press,
prints the following energetic
opinion The man who would
water petroleum and sell it,
would sneak into the palace ol
the king of kings, and steal the
gliding from the wings of angels. y
Year: 1874

dow.


Do not use eyesight by light so scant
that it requires an effort to discriminate.


Never read or sew directly in front of
the light of the window.


1t is best to have the light from above,
or obliquely, or over the left shoulder.


Too much light creates glare and
pains and confuses the sight. The mo-
ment you are sensible of an effort to
distinguish, that moment stop and talk,
walk or ride.


As the sky is blue and the earth green,
it would seem that the ceiling should be
blush tinge, the carpet green, and the
walls of some mellow tint.


The moment you are instinctively in
clined to rub the eyes, that moment
cease to use them


If the eyelids are glued together on
waking do not forcibly open them, but
apply the saliva with the finger, and
then wash your eyes and face in warm
water.
Year: 1874

OUR NEIGHBoRs' CHILDREN.-A far
mer was walking with friend through
beautiful meadow, when he chanced
to observe a thistle growing thriftily on
the opposite side of the fence. Immedi-
ately he sprang over and cut it off close
to the ground


SIS that your field p asked the other.


30, no but bad weeds don't care
much for fences. If I should leave that
thistle to blossom in my neighbor's field
should soon have plenty in my own


His answer may serve as hint to
fathers and mothers 1t is of importance
to them how their neighbors' children
turn out. Heart-weeds care less than
thistles for boundary fences. Boys and
girls who 60 to the same school, or who
live in the same neighborhood, catch
many trait from each other. Il is our
duty as well as our interest to do what
We can for the benefit of our neighbors'
children.
Year: 1874

Manners are more important than mon
ey. A boy who is polite and pleasant
in his manners will always have friends,
and will not often make enemies. Good
behavior is essential to prosperity. A
boy feels well when he does we'll. If
you wish to make everybody pleasant
about you and gain friends wherever you
90, cultivate good manners. Many boys
have pleasant manners for company and
ugly manners for home We visited a
small railroad town not long since. and
were met at the depot by boy of about
eleven or twelve years, who entertained
and cared for us, in the absence of his
father. with as much polite attention
and thoughtful care as the most cultiva-
ted gentleman could have done. We
said to his mother before we left heI
home, "You are greatly blessed in your
son, he is so attentive and obliglng.


"Yes," she said, Il can always depend
on Charley when his father is absent
He is always such a great help and com
fort to me-" She said this as if it did
her heart good to acknowledge the clev'
erness of her son. The best manner;
cost so little, and are worth SO much
that every boy can have tbem.-ChiL
dren's .Adcocate.
Year: 1874

Do not plant trees directly in front of
the house. The ground here, especially
the central part, should be in grass alone,
kept neat and smooth by frequent mow-
ing. A few flower beds may be cut in
the scd near the dwelling. or by the side
of the pathway, and few trees and
shrubs set irregularly near the fence, to
give shade and shelter, and this more at
the side of the house. especially where
they will screen from view the backyard,
stable. etc., and from background to
the view of the premises from the street.
Do not plant so many trees about the
house as to exclude the sunshine. Too
much shade is common fault with the
older class of residences, and careful
observation will show that families in
such houses are much more liable to
sickness than those living in houses
where sunshine and air have free scope.
Modern science has done good service in
teaching the value of sunshine and dry
earth as disinfectants or preventives of
disease. The greatest improvement
could be made IN the looks as we'll as
healthfulness Of many good residences
of the older class by the free use of the
woodman's axe. Do not plant large
growing trees in small yards, nor tall
growing trees near low dwellings. Most
of our village door yards are quite small
and when filled up, as is often the case,
with few large trees, they appear far
more diminutive than they would if
planted with shrubs or dwarf trees and
the low stature of our older style of
houses is doubly conspicuous where tall
trees are seen towering higher than the
cornice. For small yards and for ceme-
terry lots the dwarish and slow-growing
evergreen trees are most appropriate,
and quite variety of these can now be
had at all good nurseries; but such
kinds as the Norway spruce and Austrian
pine, heretofore too commonly planted,
should be only used in large grounds
and for screens and wind breaks. But
those who already have these and other
free-growing trees planted in small lots
can check their growth and improve
their premises by removing them from
a central position, to one side; or, if
too large for removal, by cutting off some
of the roots Do not plant or tolerate
apple or peach trees in the front yard


Pear and cherry trees are more symmet-
rical, and few of these may be allowed
on the side of large front grounds, but
the apple and peach usually look shabby,
and should occupy back premises with
the cabbage and currant bush.
Year: 1874

A lady calling at the White House,


the other day, expressed much admira-
ton of a picture of the President. "Yes, %


replied he, at is good picture, but SO
large that Mrs. Grant and myself often
wonder what we can do with it when |
retire to private life" Congressman
Woodford of New York, who was pres
ent, responded that the President might
have to remain in the White House four
years longer on account of the picture.
"Ah!" said the President. '.that would
be an imitation of my term of Office; and
as l have taken occasion to pronounce
against imitation the suggestion would
also. for consistency. have to be vetoed. "
Year: 1874

CAREPULsEss IN OLD AGE.-An old


man is like an old wagon with light
loading and careful usage it viii last for


years but one heavy load or sudden
strain will break it. and ruin it forever.


Many people reach the age of fifty, six
ty, or even seventy, measurably free from
most of the pains and infrmities of age.
CHEEKY in heart and sound in health, ripe
in wisdom and experience, with sympa-
thies mellowed by age, and with reason
able prospects and opportunities for con-
tinued usefulness in the world for a con-
siderable time. Let such persons be
thankful. but let them also be careful.
An old constitution is like an old bone
broken with ease, mended with diff
Guilty. A young tree bends to the gale,
Year: 1874

Cincinnati has swell known business
man. who is evidently in earnest when
he says he believes in cremation. In a
conversation with reporter of the Com
mercial recently he said; Cremation
is right, | don't want to be buried alive !;
/ have great horror of that and always
had. A little roasting would soon settle
any doubt there might be. But serious
ly, if you will take the trouble to look
at my will you'll find that years ago 1
directed that my body should be burned.
1t is beautiful and wholesome custom.
How much more grateful is an urn of
clean ashes than mass of corruption
under the ground"
Year: 1874

an old one snaps and falls tbefore the
blast. A single hard lift an hour of
heating work /; an evening of exposure
to rain or damp a severe chill an ex-
cess of food the unusual indulgence of
any appetite or passion sudden fit of
anger an improper dose of medicine
any of these, or other similar things,
may cut off valuable life in an hour,
and leave the fair hopes of usefulness
and enjoyment but shapeless wreck
Popular Science nonfhly.
Year: 1874

Mrs. Sallie A White, wife of Captain
j: E. White, the celebrated horse-thief,
died at the residence of her mother, near
Germantown, Tenn, of broken-h heart.
Mrs. White, it will be remembered, res
cued her husband from jail last winter,
and won for herself the sympathy of
chivalrous gentlemen, by handing him
a revolver when she was permitted to
visit him. Mrs. White was ahigh-spir-
tied woman, refined and cultivated, and
of good family. The disgrace of her
husband being arrested and confined as
horse thief wrought upon the finer
feelings of her nature to such an extent
that the overstrained spirit refused to
bear its burden, and took its fight to
another and better sphere. While her
husband may be guilty of the crimes
charged against him his wife was inno-
cent, and the manner in which she res
cued him, her culture, elegance, and
good standing have enlisted in her be-
half the sympathy of all who knew her;
and her sudden death from the causes
which led to it render this sympathy
still greater. and indicate clearly that,
while she was true wife, ready to sue
cor her husband under any circumstances
she was also truly honorable woman.
who could not "suffer the stings and
arrows of outrageous fortune" " nor bear
the disgrace attached to blasted name.
So says Memphis paper.