smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879




In the good old days of Michigan
there wasn't any money to speak of
floating from hand to hand. When
a householder wanted meal he
scraped half dozen coon skins to
gether and made trade. If he
wanted meat he k He'd 1t, and if
there was use of whisky, it was a
very poor man who couldn't find a
wildcat bill nr bogus half dollar
down in his pocket. One day a
circuit preacher, hunting for a
place in which to speak to the doz-
en- or twenty settlers in Oakland
county, halted at forlorn looking
cabin beside the trail and asked for
dinner. The squatter' s wife extend
ed a very cordial welcome, and
said:


"It's lucky you come along to-
day, as / have got new bag of
meal, lots of sassafrass for coffee,
and some of the best coon mutton
you ever tasted. Go down to the
ditch and wash up, and I'll have
dinner ready in ten minutes"


When the preacher returned he
lamented the hard times and the
fact that he hadn't seen the sight of
money for several weeks. He was
cheerfully trying to do good, but
he frankly confessed that he could
do much better if he could now and
then hear the jingle of money in his
trousers pocket. The woman look
ed wise, but made no reply, and by
and the by good man resumed his
journey. His horse was picking
his way along the trail, about three
miles from the cabin, when a natiAe
six feet high, attired in a coon skin
cap, hickory shirt, and Indian leg
gings, came after him on the run,
yelling out:


"You, thar! who! hold on, you p


When he came up he asked:


"Are you the travelling Bible who
halted back there for dinner and
eat up whole coonW


81 am a circuit rider, and halted
back there and eat up more or less
of a big hunk of delicious meat" "
answered the good man."


"And didn't you tell my wife you
were dead broke for cashf"


"I intimated, as l now recollect,
that l was not burdened with any
great amount of cash."


"Well, my wife is the most infer
nal hard blow in the Territory, and
I'm the meanest liar in the diggins,
but yet we must keep religion bill
ing. l got home just as you left,
and when she told me about you
being hard up l went to work and
moulded you these SIX half-dollar
pieces. There's leetle too much
led in 'em, but if you are careful to
wipe 'em on your coat tail now and
then they viii pass on anybody ex-
cept a land broker"


Some legends say that the
preacher didn't take them, but leg
ends are not alsO0ys reliable.
Year: 1879

Prof. Chandler of the New York
Health Board says scarlet fever
caused more deaths in that State
last year than yellow fever did in the
South, and yet failed to excite pub
lie apprehension or to make people
ordinarily careful to prevent infec
tiOn
Year: 1879

The farmers of Montgomery
County, Chic, in Club assembled,
recently .'resolved that one of the
causes of the failure of seed corn Is
that it was not thoroughly dried on
the cob" and therefore it was the
sense of the meeting that corn for
seed should be selected and put
aside early in the fall.
Year: 1879

Rural Sun: The excellent quality
of wheat grown in Tennessee this
year should commend it to the far
mers for seed purposes in prefer
ence TO any that can be brought
from abroad. Those who have not
sold should bear this in mind and
reserve, not only enough for them
selves with seed, but sufficient to
supply the neighborhood demand ;
and to those who have sold all of
their crop, we would advise pur
chasing seed of their neighbors. IL
is safe to say that those who have
to buy seed wheat of the best quail
ty, will have to pay from $l.l5 to
$l.25 for it.
Year: 1879

Tulare Lake, California, is still
said to be receding. Should it
continue to fall as rapidly as it has
during the last two years, it will be
but a few years till the bottom of
the large lake is dry land. Crops
are being raised this year on land
over which a steamer sailed three
years ago.
Year: 1879

In Jacksonville, Fla. during re
cent lecture, an old Arctic whaler,
Capt. Tuttle, stated that he had
discovered in latitude S3.17 the
channel leading into the open Polar
Sea, and had also encountered a
race of people far superior in every
respect to the Esquimaux. He is
convinced that at the Pole itself
will be found a tropical climate.
Year: 1879

The pencil marks you sec around this
paragraph (thus) mean that your sub {"
scription is out or unpaid, and that You
are requested to pay up at once. Wo
would take great pleasure in extending
credit TO our friends and patrons, but
cash alone win yay our expenses, and
we are forced to adhere to a strict cash
rule. We hope you will comprehend
and appreciate the necessity Of such .
course, and renew your gu scription
without delay. We solicit your favor.


EE- We enter no new names on our
hooks without the money In advance.
Year: 1879

ital which they will weld with fear
full effect in the North and West
next year, and have enhanced ten
fold their chances of success in that
contest. We might extend the cat
alogue almost indefinitely: but we
have no appetite for the work, and
the foregoing IS sufficient for our
purpose at present, which is, il pos
sible, to set our friends Of the rank
and file to thinking and to arouse
them to the true significance of the
great mistake (almost a crime lthey
committed last week, when, in their
ill-grounded ire and prejudice TO the
railroads and the bOnd-owner, they
secuted their best friends and in
fiicted fatal wound upon their
party. Whatever may have been
their intentions, In other sections
and in other lands their action will
be regarded rs a premeditated and
deliberate attempt at repudiation,
and we cant controyert it. Tennos-
see has been regarded as the most
conservative OF the Southern States,
and if she can disavow and dis0wn
obligations incurred in the construc-
tion and equipment of enterprises
and improvements of which she is
now enjoying the advantages and
benefits, should the Democratic
party obtain entire control of the
government how long viii! it be be-
fore the whole South will be clamor-
ing for the population Of the
national debt created by war the
scars and wounds of which are still
fresh and bleeding? This is not
our question. But it is question
that will be asked with force on
every stump in the populous North
and teeming West next year. 1t is
question being asked to-day in the
great State of Ohio, where a bitter
canvass is commencing, the result
of which will have no little bearing
on the ensuing Presidential contest


We have done, and respectfully
take leave of the subject. We urged
the acceptance of the compromise
because we believed, felt and knew
that it would be best for all parties.
The result has not changed our
opinion, although it has largely dis
appointed our expectations. What
the next step will be we have no
means of knowing. The action on
the 7th precludes any more efforts
at compromise and destroys all
faith in an equitable adjustment.
When the question comes up again,
as of course it must, it will be sim
ply, pay the entire debt or whole
sale reputation. When reduced 20
this alternative, and judging from
the vote which we publish on the
next page, it is not difficult TO fore
tell on which side McMinn counsy
will be found arrayed. "God save
the Commonwealth T'-Athens Post.
Year: 1879

San Francisco News Letter,


Rumors are ahoat that Gen. Grant
shows signs of malady that is hereditary
in his family. 1t is said that his father,
Jesse Grant, was afflicted with softening of
the brain before he was fifty years of age,
and that during the last years of his life he
was little more than an imbecile. Orville
Grant, whose eccentric conduct in Caiifor-
MIA, only last year, will be rem bered,
has since been an inmate in the New Jer-
sey insane asylum. 1t is also said that
one of the Generals sisters has been
afflicted in the same way. Many people
who have met Gen. Grant since his arrival
in San Francisco. have noticed an occa-
slonal wild, strange look in his eye. Often
when conyersing with gentlemen, and
even with old friends, he has stopped
short IN the middle of sentence and hesi-
tated, sometimes fer full moment, before
com pleting it. At San Jose he was intro
duced TO number of soldiers who fought
with him at Fort Donelson. Instead of
greeting them cordially, he turned half
round and simply stared at them over his
shoulder, and never said word. Again, at
Stockton and at Madeira he was presented
to number of his old comrades in the
Mexican war, but the general treated them
ID the coolest manner, and IN way that
iCiI the Ou every one present
that he was displeased at meeting them
These. and many other instances of his
peculiar conduct, go to show that it is
sad probability that his mind is commenc-
ing to weaken While in the presidential
chair, Gen Grant was noted tor his affable
greeting to all his visitors, and on go
other hypothesis can the great change 10
his manners be placed than that there is
something wrong in his mental faculties
Perhaps the great strain upon him for the
fifteen years of his eminent, public career,
has had something to do with the change
in him that is now SO painfully observable.
Another evidence of Lis approaching
athiction is the uneVenness of his CONVEX
sations. At times he will talk with flu |
ency and ease. and then in few minutes
relapse into an attitude of perfect silence, |
and only answer questions by Yes" or
mo" We most sincerely hope that the |
great calamity of "a mind o'erthrown"
may never be visited upon the illustrious
general and statesman whom San Fran
cisco and all the world has delighted to |
honor. 1t would be a national aff1lction. |
were he to become incapacitated for future
usefulness.
Year: 1879

It was nearly dark when Aaron came
to Dulcets house. The ladies had re-
turned and were playing and chatting in
the yard in very picturesque groups.
Some neighbors, ladies and gentlemen,
had come, and the three young ladies of
the house were doing the honors. Amere
glanced furtively at the company as he
passed through the yard. He was cor
daily met by the two young men, who
nshered him into the house. His con-
ference with the old gentleman lasted
for about an hour, and terminated in sat-
isfactory results. When they were
through with business, Mr.. Benjamin
Dulcet said:


I'VE are not in the habit of talking
business at home, but [ have made an
exception in your case because we owe
you some hospitality, and [ want to in
troduce you to my family"


II thank you," rejoined Aaron, and
would rather be excused. You see am
not dressed for company"


I'VE have no company" said Mr.. Dull
Get; "only our neighbors from across the
street. who are here as little prepared
for company as you are. Just come
down into the parlor You need not be
afraid our ladies are sociable and uncere-
monious"


The whole company was by that time
in the parlor. Marcus Dulcet was play
ing waltz on the piano and the ladies
were dancing. Aaron was introduced to
the old Mrs Dulcet first, and she took
him around to introduce him to the la
dies. The ladies knew him by name from
the notices of his accident which had
been published in the papers. His fine,
gentlemanly appearance made good
impression. Beside this, there had been
a predisposition in his favor even before
he was seen in person.


If our newspapers mean the large,
daily sheets, which are weighed by the
ton and measured by the yard have any
object in the world, it is the object of
arousing the reciprocal interest of the
male and female portion of humanity in
each other People sometimes complain:
"'There are no children in the world"
Before child reaches mature age it
knows more of the world than our pa
Year: 1879

AARON S NOVEL REFLECTIONS.


The evening was cool and bright, and
Aaron on his way to the hotel was pre-
occupied with thoughts of quite novel
character to him. He had never before
been in a well regulated household. He
had often spent evenings in the houses
of wealthy friends; elegance in furniture,
luxurious carpets; costly ornaments were
no novelty to him. But sense of do
mestic repose and satisfaction; a COM
pany of friends spending an evening
lively but without noise and hustle;
family in which every member knows
his duty and his place, and which can
spend an evening in pleasant entertain
ment and without "sociable game" for
the gentlemen, and without extravagant,
nonsensical talk for the ladies, was un-
known to him. In Dulcet's house every
thing had it's fixed place, and yet there
was no stiff or pedantical constraint; you
might not be afraid to remove chair
from it's place, to take up an album to
view the pictures, to open q book, OF to 9.
turn the Kaleidoscope, or to examine the
stereoscope pictures. The things were
put there for use and not for display
only. Every one of the family spoke
freely, but every one also knew his place
and his time to speak as though by in
stinct. 1t was for the first time in his
life that Aaron had spent an evening
pleasantly and without missing a game
of cards. Yes, he had spent an evening
without talking of business, and without
even thinking of it; he had got a glimpse
of home and of domestic repose and
happiness. This was charming novelty
which stirred new thoughts in him.


One picture impressed itself deeply in
his Imagination, and that was the pic
ture of Miss Lille Dulcet. Mr.. Benja
min Dulcet, taking him through the
rooms, showed him several paintings in
water colors and oil very neatly executed
by her. Aaron noticed also some French
and Geaman books with her name
marked on them. She played and sang
few tunes very tastefully Thus he
had occasion to notice that she was we'll
educated young lady; and yet there was
nothing Of the snappishness and forward
ness in her demeanor which makes most
of our half educated ladies so obnoxious.
Her dress was simple, of good material
and of excellent fit, but without any use
less trinkets and appendages. Her rich
black hairwas also arranged in simple Golf
fure, without the articles which make
pleasant face look like wood-block
with artificial appendages and super
structures. There was not on her the
loose and ostentations focks of hair stu
diously prepared by the shears and
crimping iron to hang down over the fore
head and ta hide the mirror of thought
and intelligence beneath the devices Of
foolish fashion. Her movements were
easy, but not bold; her conversation
pleasant and to the purpose: her smile
sincere and heartfelt, and her look clear
and deep. Her large black Dyes were
lustrous, and their glance was deep and
penetrating indeed; but that lustre and
depth betrayed rather a hopeful and con-
fding nature than passionate and
searching disposition.


(TO BE CONTINUED
Year: 1879

der various headings. There was not an
inch of his body, not circumstance of
his life which remained undepicted. The
ladies learned from these reports that he
was stately young man of pleasant ap-
pearance, good address and strong nerves:
that his father was very wealthy, him
self in good circumstances; that such
and-such an Accident Insurance Com
pany will pay him such an amount of
money-and they followed up the ac-
counts of his sickness and convalescence
with the greatest interest. Aaron was
an object of sensation at first, an object
of curiosity next, and at last an object of
great interest with the ladies. And we
need not wonder that the ladies at Dull
Gets house made him the hero of the
occasion when he was introduced to
them that evening.


Mrs. Helen Dulcet showed more inter
est in Aaron Amere than the rest. She
was New Orleans lady with great pre-
tensions to bon ton, and he was an East
ern man of the world. A conversation
ensued. on a variety Of topics. Aaron
knew something about everything, and
could entertain the ladies with informa-
ton on Eastern society, New York pla-
ces or resort, etc. He was perhaps a
little too brief for good conversationist'
but as he was an object of such great
interest, his curtness in conversation
only brought out the manliness of his
character and the clearness of his in
formation.


II understand" said Mr.. Benjamin
Dulcet, that your father is great He
brew scholar"


"Yes, sir" said Aaron, he has good
knowledge of Hebrew"


He must have given you a good reli-
gious education, then?"


He tried to, indeed; but l went into
business at an early age, and could not
much profit by it.


Your younger brother, they say, is
quite scholar" said Benedict Dulcet.


He is student of Yale College, and
will graduate next year"


He seems to be bright young man,
said Mrs. Helen Dulcet. Il believe it
was he who handed us the ball the other
day, when we were playing in the front
yard. Was not he the young man who
passed here in your company?'


1T was my brother" Aaron replied;
and believe [ have to apologize for
his forwardness, too"


20, not in the least, reioined the lady;
''on the contrary it was very courteous
of him to pick up the ball for us. You
must bring him along with you when you
call again"


The conversation was in this wise car
ried on until Aaron had to 60 home. But
before he was dismissed he had to prom
ise that he would call again and bring
his brother with him.
Year: 1879

A gentleman who has just arrived
at Washington from Caddo Parish, La,
and who owns and works large plan
tation there, reports that the departure
of negroes has almost ceased. In speak
ing of the exodus, this gentleman said
that the colored people are thoroughly
demoralized, and fear that the purpose
of the Louisiana Constitutional ConVen-
ton il to subject them to still greater
prosecutions than those to which they
have borne. The cOlored men OF the
bull-dozpd parishes of Louisiana have
been made to feel that they nave no
rights which white men are bound 10
respect and they are determined to EN-
igrate to a section where they can
receive the protection of the laws, ana
enjoy the fruits of their labor. Lie SAID
the exodus has been temporarily check
ed, not because of any change OF feelln n
on the part of the black men, but be
cause they will he in better condition
to emigrate when the coming crop is
gathered and disposed Of Should the
Constitutional Convention so act as tt
guarantee those people all their lega
rights, and .hus remove their presen
cause of alarm, the exodus might be
etfectually stopped; but unless this il
done, and unless the whites make ar
honest effort to convince the negroes
that they will hereafter receive fail
treatment, the entire laboring popula
ton will seek homes in Kansas ant
other States as soon as the coming crol
is disposed Of.
Year: 1879

Miss Warner, of CHARTERS township,
Allegheny county, lay dreaming, at tue
hour of midnight, when her beau, hls
knee in suppliance bent, should ask
her hand. She awoke and found man
standing at the foot of her bed. She
made no outcry, but, with the determi'
nation Of a woman thoroughly in earn
est, took 34-eaIibre horse pistol from
under the PILLOW and commenced to
blaze away. The INTRUDER went out OF
the window, taking u part Of the sash
with him, and Miss Warner turned on
her side and finished her nap.
Year: 1879

The board walk that leads from Nc
Dowpllville to No. II school is in very
bad condition, so mucn so that on rainy
days the school children are obliged to
travel in the mud over their shoe tops.
The people residing in that section OF
the city would like very much to have
the old board walk taken up and new
one put in its place.
Year: 1879

The committee from the different
lodges of Odd Fellows of this city to
consider the time and place of holding
the grand re union of the Order, beld
a meeting at the Odd Fellows Hall
last evening. There was full atten
dance. The time decided upon was on
Monday the 2Sth of July, and the place
where the reunion is to be held, at
Rehoboth. Judge Geary of Maryland
and Grand Secretary Ridgley of the
Grand Lodge of the United. States are
expected to be among the speakers
An excursion train will be run from
this city upon the day Of the re-un-
ion.
Year: 1879

A little five year old child OF new
Haven, Conn. whose father was dea y
received ticket of reward from her
teacher few days ago. AS soon as
school was out she ran home to sho"
the ticket to her mother, and when she
showed it the child said: " Mother
have held the ticket up to the SKY
all the way home, 50 that my tather
might see how good have been.
Year: 1879

The 1st thing to do to make good
quire singer is to gigle little. Put up
your hair in curl papers every Friday
mite, so as to have it in good shape Sun
day morning. If'your daddy is rich you
can buy some store hair; if he is very rich
buy some more and build it high upon
your head; then git high priced bonnet
that runs up very high, at the high part
OF it, and git the milliner to plant some
high artafshels into the highest part of
1T. This will help you sing high, as So
prano is the highest part.


When the tune is give out, don't paw
attention to it, and then giglc. Giglc a a
good decl.


Whisper to the girl next you that En-
Jones, which sets on the second sect from
the front on the left-hand side, has her
bunnit trimmed with the same color cx-
act she had last year. and then put your
book to your face and gigle.


Object to every tune unless there is a
solow into it for the sophrano. Coff and
ham good dccl before you begin to sing.


When you sing shake the artafshels off
your bunnit, and when you come to a
high tone brace you rself back a little
twist your head to one side and open
your mouth the widest on that side, shct
the eye on the same side Jest a triphle.
and then put in for dear life. .''


When the preacher gifts under hed-way
with his preachin', write note onto the
blank leaf into the fourth part of your
note book. That's what the blank was
made tor: Git sumbody to pass the
note to sumbody else, and you watch
them while they read it and then gigle.


Ii anybody talks or lafs in the con-
gregashun, and the preacher takes notis
OF It, that's good chance for you to gig
gle, and you ought to gigle great deal.


The preacher darsent say anything to
you bekaus you are in the quire.: If you
had bow before you went into the quire.
give. him the mitten-you ought to have
somebody better now.


Don't forget to CYCLE.
Year: 1879

TuR PANAMA CANAL.-1t is stated
that on account of the many obstacles
encountered in organizing a company
and procuring capital to construct a
canal across the Isthmus of Panama,
Mr.. De Lesseps has abandoned his Ell
fort to accomplish said object. The
trouble appears to be that the men who
possessed the necessary enthusiasm
had no money, while the men who held
the purse strings and possessed the
capital, had no enthusiasm. The canal
should b. constructed at no distant day
and what is more it should be under
control OF our g,vernment. We there
fore hope that Congress will hno
time at its next session to devote som'
attention to the matter and taka thu
necessary steps to ascertain the cost o
tho work aud insure its early construc
ton. BY the building of the canal en-
terprise and wealth will be developed
labor.employsd, and trade and civiliza
ten promoted.
Year: 1879

How VERY foolish 1t is for the proprie-
tors Of newspapers when vanquished in
a hand 10 hand skirmish, to get their
backs up and threaten their rivals with
suits for libel. This seems to be fav-
orite psstime for little organ in this
city that were it not for the patronage
the Sheriff sees proper to give ii, would
have been dead and forgotten long ago.
By the way a ventilation Of the pat
ronage referred to would be interesting
reading. Such q paper had better
cease its personalities, learn some
manners, and confne itself to publish
ing local news, and not venture out
amongst the pillows where it would
be sure to be drowned in an ele-
ment to which 1t is not total stran-
ger. Keep near shore and quit fool
ish talk about libel suits is our ad-
vice.
Year: 1879

WHEN jeff Davis steps into the Uni
ted States Senate, as he, 40 doubt, will I,
as the successor of Bruce, the colored
Senator, ,someRepublican paper will very
likely intimate that he was once a
rebel, Then the "Gazette of this
city will study awhile about it and
when hard pushed to say something,
will declare that the report that JEFF
was ever disloyal, was a pack Of wilful
black Republican lies ; that he was al
ways a loyal man that he was never
engaged in rebellion ; that he never
was President of the Southern COnfed
eracy, in short that there never wss
any Southern Confederacy. This
would be in strict keeping with IT.
course in defending the Mississippi
bulldozers.