smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

PASCAL Merrill of Reading, w., came To
his death in a singular manner In fall
ing, a small tree near the roadside lodged
against the tops of some other trees. In
order to bring it down-the tree being
comparatively small sized mt Mr.. Merrill
placed his shoulder underneath to dis
lodge it from the stump, and in doing so
the butt Immediately shot backwards,
carrying Mr.. Merrils head on to the
stump, where it was caught between the
body of the tree and the stump, and there
held until life became extinct.
Year: 1877

When at home bed bugs and flies put
up together at the cheapest boarding
houses and show an equal disposition to
live within their means. But when it
comes to travelling, you will always see
the bug, with IA seeming disregard for eX-
pense, shin over the country in sleeping
car. Oil City Derrick.
Year: 1877

ShuNkED. quite i panic was created
at the Academy Of Music, Fan River, by
the advent Of Il lively skunk among the
audience. The Boston Theatre Company
with +. ;. thanlrau were playing Kit"
before :: large and select audience. In
fact, the orchestra chairs and those Of
the paruuet circle were crowded with the
elite of the city.


4 about the end Of The fifth lcl, when
Kit and Manuel Bond We're engaged in
the bowie knife duel, some of the audi
enct in the front part Of the theatre arose
and Immediately the cry of "d0Wn front"
WAS raised by those in the rear. The an
SWtr WAS soon returned that there was 4
skunk in the building, and Il panic en-
sued almost equal 10 what Il fire would
cause. In the ruS! that enSued his skunk
ship became enrAged, and before he could
be killed he made his presence known in
a manner not pleasant to those in his i'm
mediate Vicinity. Many ladies had their
dresses ruined, and considerable damage
was done to the chairs and carpets in the
theatre. NJ tlrSt II was supposed that
his introduction was the work of some
scoundrel, who thought to have some
amusement not in the bills, but subsc-
quent inquiry shows that this is wrong
Officer McAdam states that about twenty
minutes to half an hour before the panic
he was passing along Second street, near
the theatre, and saw what he supposed
to be Il cat running along the sidewalk
but on discovering that it was a skunk he
gave it a wide berth. Another gentle
man stated that he was standing at the
entrance Of the theatre, when the Great
ure ran in front Of him, and SO near that
it went under his legs in passing ana dis
appeared up the staircase The theatre
has been tumigatcd like a ship infected
with the plague but Il faint perfume not
exactly that Of Araby the Blest still hints
to visitors Of the unwelcome guest with
shaggy hide and hushy tail.
Year: 1877

A plaster of Paris image man is in town,
and all the married men in Burlington
wear their winter clothes and ulster over
coats to the store and go to bed in them
night. Its the only safe plan. Burling-
ton Hawkeye.
Year: 1877

1t seems hard, but the beautiful moon
that smiles down u soft encouragement
to the lovers leaning over the garden gate
is the same old reprobate that provides
illumination for the midnight eat soiree,
and smiles the same smile as the sounds
OF woe are waited to his ears from the
hapless deniZens below
Year: 1877

"Stick" is the word now. When the
President asks an office-holder to resign
he respectfully decline after the exam
Pile of Marshal Pitkin. Thereupon the
President removes him, and the office
holder hoDcs that the Senate will not
confirm his successor, and that thi, will
reinstate him. We doubt if this little
device proves very successful. The Presl-
dent is nominating good men to office;
and there are enough sensible Senators
to confirm this kind of nominations Do
the ottice-holders imagine that they will
have the sympathy of the country in
their ridiculous efforts to faslen a quarrel
on the President? We advise these re-
publican ''soreheads" to. come on in a
body and assist at the Tammany materi-
alization on the Fourth of July.-Near
York Herald.
Year: 1877

a little boy only four years old recent


ly shot his playmate and killed hi IN. 1t
seems almost Incredible that child OF


that age should be able to discharge a


plsto! or that the weapon should prove


effective in his hands. OF course he did


not know how life went when the blood
was split, nor understand what death
meant; but it is plain enough from the
evidence that he had already learned
what IL was to seek revenge, for he threa-
tened to kill bis companion, and delib-
erately searched for the weapon with
which he accomplished the deed.


The story should make every mother
pause and think, and ask herself whether
| In her little family the peaceful doctrines


that Christ taught, are carefully inculca-
| ted, or whether they have not been for
gotten, and the old vengeful law of an
eye for an eye, and tooth, for tooth, ,
| impressed on the young minds in their
place. 1t is so natural to teach the boy
to punish his 'enemies:" to "take his
own part; to "have his rights" yet all
this, though it seldom bears fruit so early
| as in the case of the baby murderer so ws


the seed that grows into wild and wicked
weeds in after life. hate a coward; but
no mother need fear to make her boy
cowardly by teaching him self-control.


The slave of his passions is more likely


to be without bravery than one who never


strikes blow until 1t becomes absolute


ly necessary. And there is often great
couEage shown in calmly refusing to fight
at all.


Teach your boys to be peaceable, and


keep from them that obsolete code of


honor which makes the man dependent
on his fist or his pistol for his position
amongst men; and do not be afraid that
in this way you will make them towards


for the undoubtedly brave man is seldom
called upon to strik a blow.
Year: 1877

WASHING TGN, June 29.-Secretary
Schurz is evidently not to be hoodwink-
ed by those to whom he has instrusted
the carrying out of his civil service
schemes. He has discovered very appar-
ent evidences of favoritism on the part
of his civil service examining board, per-
sons hot up to standard of merit, but per-
sonal friends of members of the board,
having been recommended for appoint
ment.


The Secretary got wind of this few
days before he started North, and he
quite, unexpectedly deposed one of the
board and put new man on with in
structions not known to the other m em-
bers. There Is also prospect of some
rough handling of those who are thus
pervertng the efforts of the Secretary.


The old Ring in the department are
making great efforts to run matters in
their own interests, but the Secretary
stated to-day that he is cognizant of
their operations, and will surprise the
parties if they persist In their attempts to
embarrass the honest administration of
every branch of the department.
Year: 1877

The German chancellor and his
family have been for the last month
and are still at the famous watering
place at Kissihgen, where the veteran
diplomatist was ordered by his medical
advisers. to undergo treatment of
six weeks. On his arrival there Prince
Bismarck was much annoyed by the
atteL tous paid to him by the public.
He accordingly published a notice in
the K.sslngen Auzeiger as follows:


II beg the public not to congregate
for the purpose OF looking at me when
[ am going to take bath. | beg also
that l may not be saluted in The street
because if am saluted one of two
things will happen. Either / do not
respond to such solutions, and then 1
pass for impolite, or else l take off nay
hat every moment and then take cold
in the head and lose all the benefit
of the treatment"
Year: 1877

At this point of crossing the Russian
loss was probably one thousand men
killed and wounded, but the Turkish loss
must have been nearly as great, as they
held their ground until fairly overpower-
ed by numbers.
Year: 1877

The United States Minister to the
Hague reports that there has not been a
bank failure in Holland during the last
forty years, and that the paper money of
the banks during that time has been
equal to gold. There is no case on record
of the failure of q fire insurance COM
pany, and while the rate Of insurance
docs not average more than one-half of
one per cent, the companies are in the
most fourishing condition, realizing
twelve to sixteen per cent. per annum.
First-class railroad travel is only one
cent per mile, and yet the roads pay
good dividends. Pilfering officials are
scarce, and when one is detected he is
severely punished and forever disgraced.
No free passes are granted, and managers
and directors have no power to pass any
body over the roads free. All must pay
the public rates. Dishonesty of any
kind or failure in business means public
dishonor, and utterly bars the guilty
ones from any future public consider
atien. Four millions of people live with
in an area of 10000 square miles, a fact
unprecedented in any other country, and
all appear to be happy, prosperous, and
contented. The secret of this prosperity
lies in the fact that all live within their
income, and that industry and honesty
are principles SO firmly established that
their violation is looked upon as an out
rage on the national characteristics.
Year: 1877

Kate Heath in Sacramento Union.


It seemed as though all the female
music teachers who have their names
hung out on the signs in the city have
glided quietly into the Music Convention
here, thin enough and pale enough, good
ness knows, and looking as delicate a.
though they were nothing but soul, and
that they had been fed and nutured from
earliest infancy on the tones and semi
quavers and flats and sharps. A small
old lady sat in front of me who had =
double row eff false teeth, even and white
in contrast to her sallow skin, but she
had good, kind sort of smile that made
her face fall into benevolent wrinkles,
and she was always bobbing her head to
the music, and l watched her in aston
ishment to see if she really would sing.
Singa Bless me, yes. She tuned up by
and by in = faint high-pitched voice,
that seemed to wander in and out the
others in odd and somewhat pitiful
tremulo that seemed like the far-away
and wavering echo Of fresh young bub-
bling voice at her right that was clear
and firm and musical as chime Of bells.
Alas the old voice was cracked and out
of tune, worn out with laughter in the
old ladys g;rlish days, and broken, may
hap, with crying and grief in these her
last years. :. But there she sat and sung,
wrinkled yellow cheeks, false teeth,
pointed chin, scanned and criss-crossed
forehead and poor old, shigh-up voice,
benevolent smile and nerveless, trem.
bling hands and all. Shall ever you and
I get to be 60 old, do you thinke
Year: 1877

We do not know if it be possible for a
man to understand q sensitive, high-spir-
tied woman's reluctance to ask for money,
because he can't put himself in the place.
It would require an impossible stretch of
the imagination for him to conceive what
his feelings would be, if he were COM
PEELED to ask somebody when he wanted
q new hat or coat, or palr. of shoes.
Perhaps he might be able to ap-
proximate to something near her state Of
mind, if he could recall his subject terror,
when, a boy, he approached his father to
crave boon Of few extra dollars. A
lady said to US: II have lain awake half
the night. dreading the stern necessity of
asking my husband for money next day"
Another said: g. If was absolute mistress
of the even the paltry sum Of one hundred
dollars . year, 50 that I could spend it
Year: 1877

Off the coast of one of the Orkney
Islands, and right opposite the harbor,
stood lonely rock, against which, in
stormy nights, the boats of returning
fishermen often struck and were lost.


Fifty years ago there lived on this
island young girl in cottage with her
father; and they loved each other tender
ly. One stormy night the father was
away on the sea in his fsherman's boat,
and though his daughter watched for
him in much fear and trouble, he did not
come home. Sad to tell, in the morning
his dead body was found washed upon
the beach. His boat, as he sought the
harbor, had struck against the "Lonely
Rock" and gone down.


In her deep sorrow, this fisherman's
orphan did not think of herself alone.
She was scarcely more than q child,
humble, poor and weak but she said in
her heart, that while she lived, no more
boats should be lost on "Lonely Rock"
if light shining through her window
would guide them safely into the harbor.
And so, after watching by the body of
her father, according to the custom of
her people, until it was buried, she laid
down and slept through the day; but
when night fell, she arose, and light
ing candle, placed it in the window
of her cottage, so that it might be seen
by any fisherman coming in from sea,
and guide him safely into the harbor.
She sat by the candle oil night, and
trimmed it, and spun; but when the day
dawned, abe went to bed and slept.


As many hanks as she had spun before
for her daily bread she spun still, and
one over, to buy her nightly candle; and
from that time to this, for fifty years,
through youth, maturity and old age,
she has turned night into day, and in the
snow-storms of winter, through driving
mists, deceptive moonlight and solemn
darkness, that northern harbor has never
once been without the light of her can
die.


How many lives she saved by this
candle, and how many meals she won by
it for the starving families of the boat
men, i. is impossible to say. How many
dark nights the fishermen, depending on
it, have gone forth, cannot now be told
There it stood, regular as lighthouse,
steadily as constant care could make it.
always OAASuGCA "uCA u0y AASsAt "0ACNs1
the fishermen had only to keep it con-
stantly in view and were safe; there was
but one thing to intercept it, and that
was the rock. However far they might
have gone out to sea, they bad only to
bear down for that lighted window, and


hey were sure of safe entrance to the
harbor.


But what do the boatmen and boat
mems wives think of this2 Do they pay
the poor woman7 No; they are very
poor; but poor or rich, they know better
than that. Do they thank hers No.
Perhaps they think that thanks of theirs
would be inadequate to express their
gratitude; or perhaps long years have
made the lighted easement 80 familiar,
that they look upon it as matter Of
course, and forget for the time the pa
tient watcher within.-Jean IngeloD.
Year: 1877

by the Pres1aent Of the United States


A Proclamation.


The completed circle of summer and
winter, seed time and harvest, has brought
us to the accustomed season at which re-
ligious people celebrate with praise and
thanksgiving the enduring mercy Of AL
mighty God. This devout and public con-
fession of constant dependence of man
upon the Divine Father for all good gifts
Of life and health and peace and happi-
ness, so early in our history made habit
of our people, finds in the survey of the
past year grounds for its joyful and CRATE
full manifestations. In all blessings which
depend upon benignant seasons, this has
been a memorable year. Over wide ter
ritory, IN our country, with all its diver
7ity Of soil and climate and products, the
earth has yielded q bountitul return to
the labor of the husbandman. The
health Of the people has been blighted
by no prevalent and widespread disease.
No great disasters of shipwreck upon
our coasts or to our commerce on the seas
have brought loss and hardships to mer.
chants or mariners and clouded the hap
piness of the community with sympathet-
ic sorrow. In all that concerns our
strength and peace and greatness as a
nation, in all that touches the perman
ence and security of our government,
and the benefcent institutions on
which it rests, in all that affects the
character and dispositions Of our people
and tests our capacity to enjoy and
uphold the equal and free condition of
enci atv now nermanent fhronoh0ut the
land, the experience Of the last yea,
is conspicuously marked by the
protecting Providence of God and
is full Of promise and hope fol
coming generations. Under a sense o1
these infinite obligations to the Great
Ruler of times and seasons and events, lei
US humbly ascribe it to our own fault:
and frailties if in any degree that perfec
concord and happiness, peace and jus
tice which such great mercies should diff
fuse through the hearts and lives of oul
people do not altogether, always and
Year: 1877

AT meeting of the chamber Of CON-
mercc OF New York on the LIST, the executive
committee presented report on the advisa-
bility of repeating the bankrupt law. The re-
port Is adverse to repeal, but iavors a mod;fi-
cation OF the present law. A memorial had
been prepared requesting congress to appoint
commission to enquire into the workings Of
the present law with authority to recommend
amendments and also request that the COM
mission be in part merchants. The report was
adOpted,
Year: 1877

A p 'senger train on the Utah Central
railway, coming south on the forenoon of the
Both, whcp near Pennington was lifted from
the track and turned upside down by the
wind Two passenger cars and a baggage car
were turned over. Goals from the stoves
was scatter . through the cars, but the fire
was put o >fore damage was done. Sever
al persons were badly hurt but ore expected
to recover
Year: 1877

The case of Senator Patterson has been
further postponed by agreement Of counsel at
the request of Attorney general OF South Car
oin", who was unable to get to Washington
on the 3lst, on account of official business
The case will not again be heard until some
time after the the 10th Of November, the exact
time to he agreed upon hereafter, with the ex
press understanding that no further requisi
ton be made or charge pressed during the
pcndency Of the prcs"qt proceedings before
Judge Humphreys.
Year: 1877

THE EARL OF DUDLEY's


Among the Earl of Dudleys presents to
Miss Moncrieffe befo11 she became his
bride were diamond diadem which had
been the admiration and envy of all Par
is, said to be worth $4,000; bracelet of
fifty precious stones of singular purity,
which Prince Albert had TIED to bar
gain for in vain; another bracelet, with a
Year: 1877

the factory, and beneath it stood heavy
truck upon which it was about to be lower.
ed. A silence fell upon the group of work.
men as the pale face and feeble form of
inventor" appeared, borne in on a small
reclining chair. lie had recovered lis
reason, and was fast getting back his
strength. Ills large gray eyes instantly
fastened themselves on the bell, that
splendid masterpiece, whose making meant
50 much to him. They had told him the
whole story OF the casting and the disaster
IN the foundry, but it sounded like n wild
romance to him.


:" remember nothing that happened"
said he, shaking his head with a smile.
" It's all new to me, all new and strange
so stranger


Yes" said the master deyoutly. alt
was Gods hand"


Every eye turned upon the invalid.
Some Of the men felt almost afraid. il was
SO much like a resurrection to have him
there among them, the boy thew had
known so long as witlcss. now Young man
Keen and intelligent as if changed into
another being.


should like to strike the bell once"
Two men lifted him up and put small
hammer in his hand.


lie stflck one gentle blow, deep, sweet.
mourntul tone, solemn as the sound of
distant waterfalls, rolled from the great
bell and echoed through the foundry.
Fears filled the eyes of the rough men as
they heard it,


"Ah,' said the master, "there is hal
leluJah IN that, and it may well begin here.
Long may this bell praise God. lie saved
1t in the ruins Of the furnace by one wise
thought in the ruins of human brain.
Our furnace is rebuilt, and behold. this
dear boy has his reason again! The bell
and the boy shall glorify God together"


Amen = murmured the listeners.


Then the great bell was lowered and rs
the truck was rolled away with its melodi.
Gus burden, the boy was lifted and carried
after it, and both went out into the sunny
day together, the rough mon standing in
the doorways waverng their hands.


F." Little Inventor" afterward we'll proved
his claim to the title so lightly given him
IN his unfortunate boyhood. Ills name is
now read on many bell whose matchless
richness Of tone his genius and skin in
metal alone created.
Year: 1877

Because God, in His goodness, designed
to give us four distinct views of the char.
acter of Christ


In Matthew our blessed Saviour is nor.
trayed to the Jews as "the Messiah that
should come" Here we have more quo
tations from the Old Testament than in
any of the other gospels, and the fulfil
ment of prophecy is constantly referred
to.


In Mark, Jesus is presented as "the
faithful servant" We find here no gen.
ealogy, and never hear him laying down in
form the principles of His kingdom. His
disciples never address Him as Lord, and
only once do we hear Him appeal to God as
His Father, and that is when He is in the
garden of Gethsemane, and His day of
service is ended.


In Luke, our Lord is shown as "the Son
of man." We have His genealogy even
beyond Abraham to Adam. While He is
first presented to the Jews, He also illus.
trates the setting aside of the Jewish
system, and the arrival of the time when
"all flesh shall see the salvation of God"


In John, Jesus the Christ is presented as
the Son of God. We have no genealogy,
but are carried back to the beginning,
when he was with God. lie is represented
as God manifested in the flesh. In this
gospel especially we are made aware of the
personal presence of the Holy Ghost.


In these four distinct portraitures of our
blessed Lord, we witness the beautiful
wisdom and loving condescension of our
merciful God, who, though clothed in the
majesty of heaven, yet stoops to explain
and adapt himself to the finite comprehen-
sion and limited faculties of His creature
man.
Year: 1877

SOME OTHER RIGHTS OF WoMEN.-I believe


woman Is the equal of man and has all the


rights OF man, and one more, that of pro.


lection. believe the institution of mar.


rage to be the holiest and most sacred in.


stltutlon among men. Yet it took thou


sands OF years to advance from slavery m


to the marriage institution. hate man


who thinks he is the head of the family.


90. despise him. | hate one of those
dlSnltied galoots. Roars of laughter.) |


never saw a dignitied man who was not a
Ounce. Solemnity is breastworll which
medlocrIty throws up to defend itself from


the eyes Of the world. hate man who
Is an aristOcratin his family and whose wife
Is obliged to be beggar. She SAYS, al
want dollar and asks for it as if she were
standing on bombshell, and he replies.
" w hat did you do with the last fifty cents
/ gave your How many women are
obliged to be continual beggars? ? How can
you raise children in such an atmosphere? {?
It's terrible thing; it's wfetched and in.
famous. | believe in the democracx of the
family. Every homo should be n little
republic in itself. Love is the only thing
that Will pay ten per cent to both borrower
and lender. Love is the only thing where
the last possible extravaganza is the height
OF economy. What right has man to be
the head of the family? A man should be
cheerful and pleasant on coming into a
house. When you enslave anybody, you
make him dishonest. A hut with love is a
palace fit for king. A little while ago |
stood at the tomb of the dead Napoleon,
and when | thought of his past life,
thought | would rather have been French
peasant and worn wooden shoes, living in
a hut with little wife loved, with chill
dren upon my knee and their arms about
my neck, and die unnoticed and unknown,
loved by those who knew me, than to have
been that king. 1t is not necessary to be
great, or rich, or powerful to be happy
From Col. LgcrSoNs nc,o lecture. q
Year: 1877

The idea of passing a bill making 90
cents worth of silver legal-tender for 100
cents, or of 10 per cent Reputation, is
nota wholesome one to contemplate. Such
a possible contingency ought to stir up
the people to insist upon the preservation
OF the public faith. If we mean repudia-
ton let us say so frankly, and not attempt
to add to its dishonor an attempt to accom-
plish it by indirection.-BostonP Post Dem.)