smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1874

Pitman's woodpile had suffered good
deal lately from the ravages of thieves, SO
the old gentleman the other day loaded his
gun with coarse salt, and expressed his
determination to lombard the first man
who should be observed to haunt the tim
ber On Wednesday morning he had to
attend court, and as he did not expect to
reach home until late in the evening, Mrs.
Pitman felt it her duty, to keep an eye on
the woodpile. But Mr.. Pitman returned
about dusk, and as he walked up the yard
he thought he might as well carry in
enough wood to last all night. He bad
just placed the fourth stick upon his arm
when an explosion occurred, and the same
instant he felt as if million red-hot darn
ing needles were dancing up and down his
legs. He had heard from Mrs. Pitman.--
He yelled with pain, and dropping his
wood, most of it upon his toes, he fell to
the ground Just as he did so, he saw
Mrs. Pitman standing in the kitchen door
way with the firearm at parade rest, and
contemplating her victory and her victim
with serenity. Pitman's first thought was





that she had suddenly been animated by
an insane but judicious desire to realize
upon his life insurance policy. But when
he screamed to her, she dropped her ar
tillery, and flew to the scene with expires
sions of alarm and grief at the discovery
that she had perforated Pitman. She call
ed the servant girl, and as they carried him
into the house, she explained that she had
mistool1 him for thief, and then she
apologized. Pitman said it was all very
well to apologize, but what good was that
to a man with two quarts of salt and half
pound of gun-wads in his legs. Mrs.
Pitman insisted that he ought'nt to mind
little salt, it would do him good. She.
urged that salt was better than anything
else for preserving meat, and that his legs
would probably be alive and we'll and
prancing around the universe when the
rest of him was dead and spoiled. That
made linn mad, and after splitting up his
gun with the axe, he went to bed, and he
hasn't spoke to Mrs. Pitman since but he
has limited gloomily to the doctor that if
divorce can be had he will obtain one.
Year: 1874

A farmer in Canada had large number
Of ponies, and among them very hand
some and playful one, which was a great
fayorite with little boy about ten years of
age, the only child of the farmer. One
day the boy was sent several miles on an
errand for some money, with warning to
return before night, as the country was in
lightful that he forgot the command of his
parents, and did not mount his pony to
return till it was quite dark His road lay
through thick forest, and it was not long
before highwayman attacked him and
dragged him from his horse, which ran
swiftly homeward. Meantime his terrified
parents sat trembling by their flreside,
awaiting their boys return. They were
just preparing to 90 in search of him when
they heard the olattering Of hoofs, and
soon after a loud kicking and paving at
the door. On opening it, they saw the
pony in state Of great excitement, with his
saddle and bride dangling about him. He
ran from them short distance, then fIisk-
ed about and, seizing the fathers coat with
his teeth, pulled him along. The agOnized
parents followed the animal, who ran
ahead, constantly turning back, and neigh
ing to urge them onward. After travelling
many miles through the woods, they came
to the place where the boy had been rob
bed, and found him tied to tree, stripped
Of his money and clothes, and half dead
with fear and cold. He was placed ON the
pony's back, who proudly bore him home,
and was ever after treated as true friend
by the boy whose life he had saved.
Year: 1874

There was a band ON the music stand,
which played quadrilles without any dan
GERS for some time, owing to the known
modesty of the fat people. Through an
unadvised sentiment was induced to dance
a waltz with fat woman, who turued the
scale at 1913 pounds Now, let it be re-
membered that the thermometer stood at
lightweight degrees and the floor was
highly glazed. After several bows had
been delivered / approached my female
Behemoth and grasped her madly around
what was intended for waist, but which
resembled much more sack of oats.


The band of eight pieces struck up
waltz troi-temps, and, in the words of
Artemus, we commenced to "glde."
After the first step Or two felt IS if l had
been swinging Kehoe's clubs for week,
and there was singing in my ears as
vainly strove to glue myself to the floor. ]
looked over the ladys shoulders and saw
tears in the eyes of some of the spectators,
while others were laughing outright at my
predicament. The lady grasped me tight
or, and the drum gave rattle. My collar
flew of, and button was heard audibly to
rattle ON the floor like the sound of a pis-
tol bullet that might be dropped suddenly.


Miss Obesity had not eaten onions and
had. She struggled moment as we went
whirling around l mean as went whirl-
ing around, .for she was moving with the
specific gravity of lumber yard on wheels
and suddenly was hurled into space and
lay on bench, while the lady dropped into
a seat, and her bench shut itself up like a
fan, under the terrific weight of her person.
Thus ended my first and last waltz with "a
fat woman. felt humiliated, and heard
her telling lady friend shortly after that
didn't amount 10 much-1 was too
light. is
Year: 1874

UNDER CURsE.-A dismal tragedy
comes from New England. as sad
aud melancholy as any we have heard.
Miss Cross, u girl of % years Of age,
was teaching school in Stark, n. IL.
Her classes fell into confusion and dis
order, and the teacher was summoned
by the Committee, who gave her the
alternative of improving the discipline
or resigning. The girl committed
suicide By drowning She left a note
to her sister merely stating that she
curse was being fulfilled. \ careful
inquiry in her history was made and
the riddle was solved. Her father,
Amos X. Cross, Of Waterford, Maine.
was separated from his first wife and
married again. His own mother was
greatly incensed against him, and, in
fit Of rage, cursed his children, saying
that his sous should die in infancy,
and his daughters in SORROW, If not il
shame, before they we're 20 The
curse had been fulfilled so far as the
sOns were concerned, and this c0Inci-
denee confirmed the belief of the un.
fortunate girl in the curse. As she
neared her 10th birthday the gloom OF
approaching death untitled her for her
work, and the circumstances which fol-
lowed urged her to the dreadful step
which developed the mystery. She
leaves one younger sister, whose future
will be watched with care and interest
by an awe stricken community. With
such history to look back upon IL
would require a mind Of no average
strength to combat the melancholy ana
superstition which caused her sisters
death. But what could be the TemOrse
Of the wretched woman who had
wrought the ruin? lie. rs hope she is
dead and beyond the knowledge Of the
veri6cation of her fearful curse.
Year: 1874

CLARKsvILLE Tenn October II, 1874.


all flaming
This Fall can't have another panic they have
up Price upa who have tried it have
houses fishing for public
they surely will As all business know the merchant is
they Ny object in this ader
fully the surroundings and
duly appreciate the evidence that do will here my de-
Just as ow as any town. selling
express willingness at less than
NV
friends shall be protected in particular can easily do this
H. then back buy their goods
of will testify Dom take for this else but come
Make and assured will always
be welcome Look for the Green Sign middle of street. Immediately
Price Cost Price goodpce mineand
then buy where best inducements offered E


Very Respectfully i -
til -. y - II --.----L v. j. WILLIAMS
Year: 1874




We must, in time, come into an al
most universal system of cooperation.
Our growth in that direction has been
so gradual that we have almost failed
to realize the steps; but we can see
them clearly enough, if we consider.
Letters used TO be sent by the special
messenger of the rich, who cooled
their heels in the hall the three quar-
ters of the time, aud did errands the
other quarter. Now the busy postman
carries the thousand swift messages of
rich and poor alike, and stops for his
good morning to the brisk maiden that
opens the door. Formerly there were
post chaises now there are railways
formerly private wheel and loom in
every farm house; now there are great
factories. Hotels are successful ex-
periments iD cooperation to house
keeping; and there is little doubt that
the time will come when each mans
separate chop will no more be cooked
in his own kitchen than his separate
piece Of muslin or brOadcloth is woven
there.


1t is the tendency of the age to have
things done in large and not in little
to have horse power to save man pow
er, and machinery to save labor. This
kind of progression may have its draw
backs. Directors claim that it is sub
versive of individuahty-that il ex-
tiDguishes special tastes, and makes of
working men mere machines. 1t is no
doubt true that the old artifeer, who
made all of pin, from head to point,
was, as far as his mere business went,
more of a man than he who passes his
whole working life in just putting the
heads on innumerable pins. But the
man of to-day, though his work is
more monotonOus, has more time for
thought, and many more avenues for
outside culture than did his grand
father, who made the whole pin, The
true Utopia must grow out of the
concentration of employment-out
of the most work done by the fewest
narSons-ont in short of co-oDarafion
Year: 1874

Dyspepsia is a national evil, and is
largely due TO rapid eating, particular
ly among workers. With many per-
sons il is impossible for the body to
carry on the work of digestion while
the brain is also working. The stOm-
ach must have some nerve force with
which to perform its duties. A little
time for rest before eating. as well as
afterward, is Of great importance 20
many persons. csl fE
Year: 1874

WHEN a person is found guilty of
drunkenness in Burmah, he is paraded
through the streets By the State Minis
tiers. who read the crime at the street
corners and lash him with thongs. He
is then taken to the high court and
aogged more seyssely, and then sent
home. If he is found guilty second
time, he is treated the same way, and
then banished from the country
Year: 1874

From these figures it appears that
the debt was increased SIS, ,678, ,246 from
1865 to 1870.


This increase took place, although
noimportant railroads exceptthe Nash
vile and Northwestern were built
during that time, and even this was
commenced and much work done on it
before that time, and it was left in a
very bad condition, almost worthless,
as the reports of its operations show.


Notwithstanding this large increase
in the debt considerable amount of
money was paid into the Treasury each
Year: 1874

A CURIOUS fact in South Carolina
economics has just come 10 light.
Twenty.seven convicts have been par
doned out Of the penitentiary because
the State was too poor to provide for
their support. This, however, was not,
the end OF the farce. As soon az they
were released from durance vile they
marched IN a body to the Governor and
asked for pecupiary relief from the i'm
poYerished treasury OF the Common
wealth. Whether they got it, or not
is not stated; but it is evident, from the
condition of things in the Palmetto
State, that reconstruction" is quite as
much needed there now as il was i'm
mediately after ihe war.
Year: 1874

OF all the great personages OF history


there is no one of whom so individual
and living an idea may be had as OF
Jesus. For this reason because, brief
and imperfect as they are, they are
made MP OF Just such particulars as al
ways afford the most satisfactory insight
into the stuff and quality of the per.


sons of whom they are related. In the
free aud progressive spirit which dis
tincuishes Christendom, science is now
advancing as never before. Theories OF
life are becoming popular, which set at
naught our old theologies, and are re-
volntionizing our modes of thought. In
this state of things, what tongue can
tell the worth of such person as Jesus
The idea of Jesus, onshrined within us
by the aspirations it wi kindle for the
highest, will be a witness in our lnmost
consciousness Of the invisible and ever
lasting. Jesus so stirred the imagina


tion alone, that for ages, poor peasan'
as he was, he has been held to be moth
ing less than the infinite God himself


and this, too, not in the absence OF in'
formation concerning Lin, but in the
face of facts showing him to have been
man, tempted, suffering man. "Twc
things" said the philosopher Kant, GILL
me with awe; ; the starry heavens, and
the sense of moral responsibility il
man." TO these two add third-fill


ing the soul with faith and love ant
hope as well as awe.-W H. FMncss
Year: 1874




VALE, k1CHARDsoN!-On his surren-
dering the portfolio of the Treasury, the
New York Tribune bads Richardson
farewell in the following pathetic terms


"Gone like beautiful vision. Like
the baseIess fabric of paper ten cent
piece, the Great Minister of Finance,
who for fourteen months has delighted
the heart of the American people with
the nost unique spectacle ever Witness
ed in a republic, has disappeared; fad
ed away like the plan for specie resnmp-
ton in sums of five dollars and less
1--WE shall meet and we shall miss
him." Think how gradually he has
slid away from us; melted away like a
moonbeam or q snowflake: dried up like
a dewdrop or like the red herring of his
native strand; gone like slow-trotting
nightmare of finance, whose retreating
footsteps echo on the ear of q country
that wakes. up in cold sweat and fubs
its eyes. All! he was great. In his line
the greatest we have ever had. How
beautifully the succession tapered off in
him. He was great in that the line end
ed with him. The "little end of the
horn" was reached when he took the
portfolio of Alexander Hamilton. In
this his greatness lay: he was suigeneris.
He had no predecessor-even Mr.. Bout
well--to compare with him, and there
can never be such another. The mold
is broken. We shall never look upon
his like"
Year: 1874

CRY OFFIcERs.-We have been cen>
sured by some, and our motives ques-
toned, for suggesting the improperly
of members of the Citizens Nominating
Committee being candidates. The object
eftaking the nominations out ofthe hands
of party politicians, is to secure disin-
serested action, looking only to the pub
Ne interests. That object signally fails
when members of the committee use
their positions to promote their own
personal ends. Ring combinations are
as corrupt and Objectionable under one
name as another, and nomination, or
a number of nominations secured by an
interchange of votes by the members of
committee popularly selected, has all
the corrupt and Objectionable features
of the secret caucus system of the old
political parties, against which this peo-
PIES movement is a public protest. It
is a monstrous assumption that this
committee, embracing not much more
than a twentienth part of tbe voters of
the town, include SO large portion Of
the virtue and intelligence of the popu>
lation that suitable ticket cannot be
made up without permitting the men,
bers to vote for each other and divide
up the offices among themselves. II
there are any who desire nomination
they have no more right to sit in that
committee to influence its action than
they would have to sit on jury to de-
termine case in which their own inter
ests are involved. We highly approve
of the plan adopted to present tlcke1
free from party entanglements, but IL
order to be successful. it must be KEEP
free from the suspicion of ring combi
nations.
Year: 1874

A Washington special says Supervis-
ing Architect Mullett gave the contract
for the granite for the Cincinnati Gus
tom House to the Balm Granite Co. at
70 cents per foot or less than it would
take to transport it from the quarry to
Cincinnati. The mystery attached to
such a singular contract has, it appears,
been solved that by an agreement with
w. and P. Mullett the Granite Co. are
also to have the cutting of the stone on
the following conditions: The company
are to furnish yard room and Govern
ment men and pay all expenses and the
Granite Company to have Is per cent.
of the entire cost. By this arrangement
the Granite Company can afford to give
stone for nothing and still clear one dol.
lar foot on the cutting.
Year: 1874

q The Norristown Herald says: ga
loving wife in Bridgeport wants di-
vorce. She recently found pieces of an
ostrich plume in her husbands beard of
entirely different shade from that on her
own hat. He explained that bits of os-
trich feather sprinkled on the beard is
the latest style in New York, and it is
not his fault that the shade is different
from her own.
Year: 1874

The PRINTERS AGAIN.-An ~ dent low
er, pouring out his passionate devotion
IN verse, spoke of that night when walk
ing with his sweetheart, he kissed her
under the silent stars" In print he
was made to say that he "kicked her
under the cellar stairs"
Year: 1874

1t viii be seen by reference 10 tie proceedings
OF the City Council that that body, by vote of
u to s. has authorized an ordinance TO be drawn
institutng Paid Fire Department Tor this city.
Mr.. Adams proposed to let the people vote upon
The question at the next city election, but his res
oinion was very quickly voted down. The Coun-
Gil fears to go before the people on the question
They are satisfied with the present efficient and
well managed fire department, and would no
doubt vote against change that would bring no
benefit but add expense, endanger the loss Of
property ana heavily increase the rates VI insur-
lnce, as has been the case in all the cities where
The change has been made.
Year: 1874

lhs Commercial very naturally makes an ap-
peal to the Board of Health in behalf OF the me-
gro men who have heretofore been allowed 10
follow the business OF night scayengers but by
the action Of that body and the Council together,
they have been deprived of this work. 1t says
the n.en number about sixty, and are now unable
to live and are suffering in consequence.


This very hard, and coming from their own po-
htical friends must be keenly felt by these color
ed men, by whose votes the councilmen were
placed in potTer. The Commercial says they are
Industrious and careful. and have families de-
pendent on them, and this work was all they had
10 depend upon at this season Of the year. No
doubt this Is true but until the matter was con-
aummated the Commercial failed to raise its voice
n behalf OF its colored friends, and allowed the
Council TO ratify con :ract which the GAZETTE
exposed and denounced as the most Objectionable
piece Of Radical party legislation that had ever
ceen accomplished in this city. 1t actually de.
Lies The right OF citizen TO employ any other
parties than the company that control the odor.
less mashinc to do this work; while It 1xes the
charge at greatly increased cost, and in some
cases must fail TO accomplish the work BY the
machine at all 1t is not IN our power u aid
these colored men. They elected the Council
with their own votes, and they should appeal 10
that body, as it only can remedy the matter.
Year: 1874

admitted into the Union, he was chosen
its first and at that time only representa-
tive to Congress. Before the end o. the
term he was chosen by the Legislature to
the United States Senate; but resigned
before the end of the session. He filled
the office of Supreme Judge of Tennessee.
After leaving his Judgeship he was cho-
sen by the Legislature to fill the office OF
Major General of the State militia. Thus
We find him at the commencement of the
war of 1872


EAPOLEON's FLOWER.


The violet is the emblematic flower of
the Bonapartes, as the lily is of the Bour-
bons. When Eugene agreed to accept
Napoleon's offer of marriage, she express
cd it only by appearing enc evening in an
exquisite violet toilet-violets in her hair,
in her dress, even to bunch in her hand.
Louis Napoleon understood, and it was
his only answer Napoleon the First,
while consul, selected this as his flower.
1t was through Josephine asking hinf to
bring her bouquet of violets on her
birthday--a desire he was only able to
serve after great difficulty. lie cultivated
violets assiduously while prisoner at
st Helena; and they were profusely
planted over the grave of Josephine.
After his death his coffin was covered
with the humble flowers he loved 1t is
even said, that in the earlier days of Louis
Napoleon, he was silently made acquainted
with his secret friends by Il cautious dis
play of violets.


1t is curious fact that there are about
five hundred verses in Mathews gospel
that are also in Marks, more than three
hundred verses in Luke that are also in
Mark. and about one hundred and twenty
that are also in Mathew. Nearly one
half of the gospel 10y Mathew Is to be
found in Mark, and more than one third
of the gospel by Luke is TO bc found in
Mark or Mathew


The gates of Constantinoplc, which
endured the attacks of decay for more
than 100 years, were made of cypress
wood.
Year: 1874

LOUISVILLE, July ls Mr.. Alexander


Mcbride, an old and well known hard
ware merchant Of this city, was found
dead in bath tub in barber shop this
afternoon. He had gone into the shop TO
take a bath, and the proprietor at last
alarmed that he remained so long, broke
open the door and found him lying In the
tub with his head under water, dead. He
had been very feeble for some time past,
and is supposed to have iallen in the
water and was too dcbilitRted 10 raise
himself again. He had been in business
here for 20 years, and was quite wealthy,
Year: 1874

Iconslder that our Institute In Grafton
was q decided success. In all, forty
teachers were enrolled, and II closed in
perfect harmony on yesterday. The State
Board Of Examiners were present at the
close, and class OF seven,
Year: 1874

TaE EVENT OF THE WEEK. San Francisco has
not monopoly of all the fine weddings. On
Wednesday of this week, Judge B. +. Myres Of
this town was married to Mrs. E. A.Gae, former
" of Gaesburg, Ill. There were assembled SOM
sixty guests at the residence Of the bride, who
had been invited to witness the ceremony. The
rooms were beautifully decorated with flowers,
and the complete. When just at
eight o'clock, the bridal pair entered the parlor
and standing under an arch of natural flowers
the simple and appropriate words that made
them man and wife, were pronounced by the
Rev. King, pastor of the M. e. Church. Then
followed congratulations and good wishes; and
very soon the guests wre ushered into the dining
room where a most bountiful repast was laid. If
there be any truth in the old saying, that the
bridal cake when cleanly cut, foretels happy
future, then our friends may rest content. The
delicate hands cut evenly and WELL though they
did tremble little, and no wonder for the bridal
cake seemed too much thing of art and beauty
to be put to s. ch use. The BRIDES dress,
elegant silk of one of the new shades of delicate
CUR color, was made square postilllon basque
waist, with puffed sleeves. The front of the
skirt was trimmed en- tabHer, rich shirring and
rufiling to the waist, court train in the back,
trimmed with deep founce shirred at the top,


held gracefully back by wide sash OF the same
material, caught at the side by pearl ornament.
The costume was complete with the loveest OF
white camelias nestled in the soft lace at the
throat. and cluster of the same beautiful flowers
were twined in the shower of curls that fell from
the back of the hair. To say that the groom
never looked so well would be but repeating the
comments of oil who were present. Can It be
all owing to broadcloth and white kids that
man appears to a better advantage at his wedding
than at any other time in his life,or is it because
the occasion is one that we see more clearly the
dignity Of character, that assumes the greater
responsibility of new life May their life be
as bright as the day of their wedding. and may


they realize the fulfment of all the good wishes
shovored upon them by their numerous friends.