smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

Some years ago there was good man,
living in the city of Philadelphia, whose
name was Isaac Hopper. He was a MEM
ber of the Society of Friends. One day
he met colored man, named Cain, in the
street. He was very wicked man. and
al that time he was swearing dreadfully.
This grieved Friend Hopper greatly. So
he stopped, and, as it is against the law
to swear, he had hun taken before mag
istrate and fined He d;i this, not be-
cause ho was angry with the colored man,
but because he hoped it would make him
stop swearing. But he was mistaken in
this


4 good while after this, Friend Hop
per met Cain again on the street. Tie
poor fellows looks showed that he had
been growing worse instead of better.
This made the kind-hearted Friend feel
sorry. He stepped up to Cam, spoke
kindly to him, and shook hands with him.


"DoSt thou remember, Cam, SAID
Friend Hopper, how had thee ti.sed
some years ago for swearing


Indeed | do : | remember what paid
as well as if it were only yesterday.


"Well, did it do thee any good =


''No, never a bit 1t only made me
mad to have my money taken from me !;
and | swore more after it than before.


Friend Hopper then paid the man back
the amount of the fine, together with the
interest due omit saying, as he did so:


Il meant it for thy good, friend Cam,
and | am sorry did thee an harm


Cams comtenance changed. His Voice
choked SO that he could not speak but
the big tears rolling down his checks
showed how deeply he felt the power of
this unexpected kindness. He took the
money very thankfully, became quiet,
civil man, and WAS never known to swear
aciiU
Year: 1878

How TO HARDEN BUTTER.-A method
of the best butter-makers in England for
making butter during the hot weather
is as follows Carbonate OF soda and alum
are used for the purpose, made INTO
powder. For twenty pounds OF butter,
one teaspoonful of powdered alum are
mingled together at the time OF churnlns
and put into the cream The effect OF
this powder makes the butter come out
firm and solid, and gives it clean, sweet
flavor. 1t does not enter into the butter,
but its action is upon the cream, and 1t
passes of with the buttermilk- re m
gradients of the powder should DC ..lngled
together until required to he used, or az
the time the cream is In tae churn ready
for churning.
Year: 1878

THE DEAREST WOMAN To LOVE-
Some one has written beautifully - the
boys in the followin. manner Here is !.
whole sermon in few sentences ''Of
all the love affairs III the world, nothing
can surpass the true love Of Il big boy for
his mother. 1t is true love and noble
honorable tn both do not mean merely
dutiful affection. | Mean love which
makes boy gallent and courteous to his
mother, saying to everybody plainly that
he is III love with her Next TO the love
Of 4 husband nothing so crownsa womans
life with honor to this second love, and
this devotion Of d son to her. And | never
yet knew 4 boy to turn out bad who be-
gan by falling in love with his mother.
Any man may fal! in love with fresh
faced girI, and the man who is gallant
with the girl may cruelty neglect the worn
and weary wife. But the boy who is a
lover of his mother in middle-age is true
knight, who viii love his wife as much in
the sere-l -leaved Autumn rs he did III the
daisied spring time.
Year: 1878

CUCUMBER CATsUP-Peel the eucum-
bers and crate them in large dish ;
squeeze the pulp through a strong cloth
until every particle of the juice is ex-
tracted add to the squeezed pulp strong
cider vinegar, salt, black pepper and
chopped onions TO your taste No cook
ing is required.
Year: 1878

y carpenter in Virginia City, Nevada,
newly raised to the dig nifty of prophet
in the Improved Order of Red Men,
came near burning up his shop short
time ago. A friend and brother in the
Order was lying very ill-at the point
of death, it was thought. In case of
his death there were certain ceremonies
TO be performed over the body while
lying in 'wigwam' by the Prophet.
Now our Prophet had never undertaken
the performance of these ceremonies,
AMI he was not sure that he would be
able to acquit himself creditably when
he came 10 undertake them with the
whole lodge standing about looking
solemnly on He thought he should
like little previous practice. With
this in his mind he persuaded his part
ner, also Red Man, TO join him in a
rehearsal, and take the part of the
corpse The partner saw no harm in
having such a rehearsal, and thought it
would really be good thing for his
friend, the Prophet. Accordingly a
broad board was placed on two trestles,
and the partner who was TO be the
corpse stretched upon it full length,
and told the Prophet to proceed with
the funeral ceremonies. The Prophet,
in full war paint and cows tail stuck
behind his ear, then began prancing
about the remains. With some prompt
ing from the corpse he got through
with his mummeries in very fair shape.
He then caught up torch made of fat
splinte-s, and began a solemn dance
around the decorous and appreciative
corpse. When in the midst of the dance
and a dOlOrous chant, he suddenly dis
covered that in waving his torch he had
left a trail of fire behind him in the
shavings covering the floor, which COM
pletely encircled the sedate remains.
The corpse took in the situation at the
same moment as did the Prophet, and
the two wound up the rehearsal with
very lively little fight to save their
premises. Both had their hands aud
clothes badly scorched, and the partner
swears that it is the last time he will
ever train for corpse
Year: 1878

An exciting mill" took place at the
National Museum the other day. The
live snakes, of which there are quite a
number, are kept in four glass cases, tine
bottoms of which are corered with sand.
Recently water snake was put in the
case which the king snake occupies.
His kingship resented the intrusion and
attacked the visitor, and the two went
tumbling around the case together in
approved pugilistic style. Three rounds
were fought. In the first two the
king snake forced the fighting, and the
water snake confined himself mainly to
getting out of tRe awkward and danger
Gus positions in which the strength and
skill of his adversary placed him. But
as the ''dodo will turn when trodden
upon" so will the water snake when
bitten too hard, and when rubbed down
with a sponge after the second round he
seemed TO get his second wind and was
eager for the fray. Meanwhile the
king snake had opened his mouth to its
full capacity, and was sharpening his
teeth against the side Of the case. Then
came the fierce encounter, and both
snakes fought nobly. Finally the king
snake took his adversary's head en-
tirely in his mouth and began to chew
on it, which seemed to discourage the
water snake, and caused his hacker to
throw up the sponge The victor OF
the match is an old hand at contests of
this kind, and recently bit an offending
neighbor completely in two.
Year: 1878

The evening had been passed in social
games and occasional dances, but all
the fun was evidently regarded as
merely preliminary or Introductory to
something better in store' Occasionally,
| caught a phrase, which pointed TO
something which every body looked for
ward to, but was entirely ignorant of
its nature, and presumed it to be tab
leaux or theatricals. Finally, at about
10 O'Clock, a general call for furs and
wrappings arose, and in few minutes
the whole company had passed into the
garden. The moon had just risen, and
its pale beams revealed the unshapely
forms of snow covered trees and shrubs
the tops only of the latter protruding
over the thick bed Of snow. with Its
glittering crust. In the center OF the
garden soon discovered the attraction


which had caused US to forsake the
warm and lighted rooms-two katoks OF
moderate height loOmed up before us,
and a number of sleds were strewn
about, ready for use. A general pair
ing took place Immediately, and in a
few moments the sport was in full blast.
The two platforms faced each other,
and the tracks ran side by side, so that
the parties would dash past each other
amid laughidg, screaming and shout
ing. looked around for vacant sled
in order to try my hand at the game,
but just as l was climbing the steps TO
one of the platforms l was informed
that no gentleman could be permitted
to ride alone on such an occasion, and |
was quickly provided with passenger
"a young lady from the country en-
dowed with considerable embonpoint.
Without possessing the least confidence
in my skill as a steersman L was some
what conforted by the thought that
the well-rounded form of my passenger,
made still rounder by an ample fox
skin robe, would not be liable to suffer
any serious damage in case of mishaps.
With the utmost nonchallance L adj
justed my sled at the very edge of the
dazzling, shining and glittering g incline.
Ii is necessary that the steersman
should seat himself first etiquette
being entirely waived on the katok, but
when the fair Anna Ivanovna dropped
down in front of me with the grace and
ease of snowflake, though trifle
heavier, and, to use a slang phrase,
"cuddle up" to my manly breast with a
glance full of charming confidence, my
innate modesty and diffidence caused
me to recede little, and as L was
already seated on the extreme edge,
there was a fall. a scream and a laugh,
and the whole delightful performance
had to be gone through with again. At
last we were both seated, and the sled
adjusted, as l imagined, with the utmost
mathematical precision, so as to run a
straight course TO the end OF the track.
Full of confidence, gave the start, and
with an impetus that almost took my
breath away, we dash ahead-to land in
the snow bank on one side, only half
Year: 1878

A young man i'm a leather store used
to feel very impatient with his employ
er for keeping him, year after year, for
three years, ''handling hides" But he
saw the use of it i'm after years, when
in an establishment of his own he was
able to tell by a touch the exact quality
of the goods. 1t was only by those
thousands of repetitions that the lesson
was learned, and so it is with every
thing in which we acquire skill. The
great army of ''incapables" is large
enough; we would none of us willing
ly join its ranks. The half-informed,
half-skilled in every business outnum-
Der the other, dozens to one. 1t was a
good suggestion, worthy of being re-
membered, which Daniel Webster made
to young man who asked him if there
was any Groom in the legal profession. 7"
''There is always room, said the great
statesman


The better you know your business
the better your chance to rise. If you
drone through your allotted tasks with
out keeping a wide awake lookout on
all that goes on about you, your pro-
grcss will be needlessly slow. You can
gather much information b. making a
wise use of your eyes and ears, and per-
haps be able to surprise your employer
in an emergency by stepping into the
''next mans" place and discharging
his duties satisfactorily.


A fine little lad, some twelve years
old, was employed in a telegraph office
in Southern town last year when the
yellow fever ragged so fearfullv in that
section. All the operatives were down
with it and others sent on by the COM
pany were attacked. No one knew that
the lad understood the business, but he
had picked it up and kept up commui-
cation between the town and the outer
world all the time the fever lasted.


Ex-Governor Morgan, of New York,
was once clerk in a store in Water
ford. A trip to New York was an
event in those days, but the young man
had proved so faithful that he was en-
trusted with several commissions,
among them being one to buy corn.
He came back in due time in the old
stage coach, and inquiries were made
about the corn. The price was very
satisfactory, but the old gentlemen
thought it could not be good at so low a
price. A handful which the young
man pulled from his pocket convinced
him, but what was his amazement to
find that he had bought two cargoes


"Why, Edwin, what shall we dc
with it?" he asked in CONSERVATION.


Il have disposed of all you don't
want" said Edwin, ''at an advance.
| stopped in the stores as came along.
could have disposed of three cargoes
if had had them"


The profits were clear, and his en-
Dloyer said the next morning, "We will
let some one else do the sweeping"
and Edwin was made a partner under
twynty-one.
Year: 1878

him over as dead as door nail. His
companions started as they saw him
fall, and taking advantage of the pause.
l dashed forward over his dead body
towards the tank.


My flight was the signal for pursuit.


Scarcely had i cleared the dead tiger.
when four simultaneous roars of anger
greeted my ears, and l could hear the
crash of the falling bodies as all four
sprang for the spot | had just vacated.
So eager were they that they fell one
against the other. But they were dis
appointed in their leaps, and, like all
felines, looked ashamed. and hesitated
about taking another.


saw that boldness was my only SAL
vation. L was only six feet from the
foremost tiger, and pointing my gun at
his broad forehead, had the satisfac-
ton of seeing him bite the dust. What
L should have done with the other
three l cannot tell. for they were taken
off my hands very unexpectedly. a
sudden kissing and sputtering arose
close by, and fiery-tailed monster
shot through the air into the midst of
the three tigers, blowing up with a
loud report Immediately between the
two rearmost.


You ought to have seen those Great
ures get. The rocket took all the fight
out of them in a moment, scared them
almost to death. All three galloped
off, with their tails swelled out to three
times their natural size with terror,
while l stood laughing unrestrainedly
at the iudicrous figure cut by my lately
formidable opponents.


Mohammed, the shikkaree, had proved
my salvation. He had been hunting
for me when he heard my first shot
close by, and fastened to the spot to be
of assistance if possible. He had just
arrived in the nick of time. His rockets
proved even more eflicacious than my
bullets, and | learnt a lesson, not to go
too far into the jungle alone again. for
fear | might fall unawares into another
nest of tigers
Year: 1878

Improper drinking has killed thou
sands. There have been instances
where thirsty armies, after long march
es, have come to some river, when the
men would lie down on their faces and
quaff an inOrdinate quantity of water,
with these results; some died almost
instantly, others became crazy and
staggered like drunken men. Avoid
drinking water as much as possible
while walking. When you feel thirsty,
rinse the mouth with water, but do not
swallow it. Drink only when resting.
Men, when heated, should not drink
anything cold. Drink slowly; half a
tumbler of water will suffice the thirs-
test man in the world, if he drinks T


by sips. In fact it is almost impossible
10 get down full glass of water taken
in this way.
Year: 1878

|


The Italians live very simply. The
country people are content with a diet
which most American farmers would
despise. They have four necessaries of
life, the supply of which is always first
considered-bread, maccaroni, oil and
wine. The ordinary bread is coarse
and rather dark, but decidedly more
nutritious than that made from our
finely -bolted American flour. We i'm
aglne that bread is good in proportion
as it is uhite, and thus lose much of its
best property. The Italians sometimes
cook maccaroni in salt and water, from
necessity; but, whenever possible, in
meat and broth, with the addition of
cheese and tomatoes. The olive oil,
which each farmer makes for himself,
is far better and wholesomer than lard;
in fact, it is almost equal to fresh but
ter. Whatever is fried in it is sweet,
palatable and easily digested. A great
many Americans, knowing olive oil
only As medicine, shudder when they
hear il spoken of as an article of food.
Yet have often seen them, in Italy,
heartily relishing their chops, and
omeletts, and fried fish, without the
least suspicion of the fact that much of
the flavor was due TO the oil. Wine
onions and oil, to great extent, sup
ply the place of meat; but eggs and fish
are also plentiful, and usually cheap
The flesh OF pigs and goats-the raising
of both animals being little expense to
even the smallest land-owners-is much
more common than veal or beef. Old
or disabled horses are fattened and
slaughtered, and many an unconscious
visitor to Rome, Naples or Florence,
takes his share of roasted horse in the
restaurants. After little experience
| learned TO distinguish the flesh, and
having no prejudice against the use of
it, frequently ordered it for dinner.
1t has coarser grain than beef and
slightly paler color the flavor is similar,
but with a suggestion of sweetness. If
the horse be not too old, he furnishes a
really palatable roast.


The people work steadily, but not
with haste or energy; and they take
their full share of the many holidays
which their Church allows them. Their
houses are always solidly built of stone,
and last for centuries; but only those
who are in exceptionally good circum-
stances have separate rooms for guests.
Ordinarily, the neighbors come and go
almost like members of the family. sit
ting beside the fire of fagots in the
winter, or under the vine trellis in the
simmer. There are always few ap-
pie and fig-trees near the house. The
latter bear fruit twice year lin June
and October) and contribute good
deal to the daily food of the people.
Year: 1878

Gentlemen in the street ear should
always put one leg upon the other,
sticking the foot in the way of passen-
gers, and rub their clothes against it.
Gentlemen may be recognized by this.
1t shows that regard for the rights and
comfort of others which is the princi-
pie OF true politeness, and the sign of
home breeding.


Gentlemen ut the theatre, while the
orchestra is playing, should talk loud,
forcing their rasping voices (these gem
tlemen always have rasping voices so
as to overcome the music. This makes
all in the vicinity comfortable, particu-
larly those that have musical sensa-
tiOns. And in general what this style
of gentlemen have to say is far more
interesting TO those thereabOut than
any music.


Gentlemen who take young ladies to
a theatre, opera or concert, should en-
tertain them with talk while the per-
formance is going on. Having paid Il
dollar or two, they have a right TO get
their moneys worth. To suppose that
any play or music can be as interesting
as their talk is preposterous. Love
making cannot stop for the rights of
audience; for the earth must be peo-
pied. And to the young woman these
are business opportunities in husbandry
which she must not neglect. Business
before pleasure is her motto.


Gentlemen should always spit. That
which distinguishes man from all other
beasts is that he spits. Splitting is al
ways in order. At the theatre, concert,
opera or lecture, the sound of its squir-
ting and the spat of its fall on the floor
give a wholesome sensation to all
round. a person of a scientific turn of
mind, who timed a splitting gentleman
behind him at the theatre, found that
the squirt and the dash occurred twice
a minute. And he was only moder-
ately accomplished gentlemen.


The splitting gentlemen should al
ways spit toward others, either the one
who sits next, or across the aisles, or
on the opposite side of the car. 1t is
fair to say that the splitting gentleman
rarely neglects this polite attention,
which prefers others to himself in his
elections. The elementary rule of po-
liteness is to have the same considera-
ton for the feelings of others as for
your own. The splitting gentlemen
carry out this by making every place
as nasty as their own mouths.
Year: 1878




The Tower of London is degraded
that is to say, made ordinary-by being
put to commonplace uses by being ex-
hibited in 4 commonplace manner.
They use the famous White Tower now
as a stOrehouse for arms. Ii contains
at this minute 10000 guns, all in good
order, besides a vast collection of old
armOr ard weapons. The arrangement
of the latter was made by Planche. the
dramatic author, who is famous as an
antiquarian and herald. Under his in
telligent and tasteful direction the eff
gies and gear of chivalry are displayed
in such a way that the observer may
trace the changes that war fashions have
undergone through the reign of sIcces-
sive sovereigns of England from the
earliest period until now. \ suit of
VIII. is shown, and also particularly
rich suit worn by Charles /. The sug-
gestiveness of both figures cannot be
missed. Nature has written brute upon
the one, and dissembler upon the other,
in characters that admit of no doubt.
In room on the second floor of the
White Tower they keep many very gor-
geOus oriental weapons, and they show
the cloak in which General Wolfe died
on the Plains of Abraham. 1t is gray
garment, and the active moth has given
it-a share of his personal attention. The
most impressive objects to be seen here,
however, are the block and axe that
were used in killing the traitor lords of
kilparnock, Lovet and Balmerino, after
the defeat of the Pretender in 1915. The
block is made of ash, and there are big
and cruel dents upon it which show
that it was made for use rather than or
nament. 1t is harmless, however, now
his head upon it in the manner pre-
scribed for the victims of decapitation.
The door of Raleigh's bedroom, is just
opposite these baleful relics, and it is
said his History of the World was writ
ten i'm the room in which these imple-
ments are now such conspicuous objects
of gloom.


The whole place is gloomy and cheer
less beyond expression, and very grea
must have been the fortitude of the
fortitude of the man who bore in this
grim solitude a captivity of thirteen
years-not failing TO turn il to the best
account by producing book so marvel
Gus for its learning, philosophy and
eloqueDce. a ridiculous ''beef eater y
arrayed in a dark tunic and trousers
trimmed with red, and a black velvet
hat trimmed with bows of blue and red
ribbon, precedes each squad of visitors.
and drops information and his from
point to point. ''The ard fate of the
Hnrl of Hessex," was found to be a
particularly fascinating topic with one
of these functionaries; and very hard il
was-for the listener as well as the earl
when standing on the spot where the
poor gentleman lost his life by the mad
spite of Queen Elizabeth, to hear his
name so often prosecuted. This spot is
in the centre of what was once the
Tower Green, and it is marked with a
brass plate, naming Anne Boleyn, and
giving the date when she was here be-
headed. They found her body in a
narrow box in the tower graveyard,
and it now rests with the ashes of noble
sufferers under the chapel of St. Peter,
about fifty feet from the place of execu-
ton.


The ghost of Anne Boleyn is said to