smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

family where you call it home. Don
you feel guilty? Why did Mt you builc
your house back from that ugly road
fence it in nicely, set out trees and try t,
make your home tasteful and enjoyable
1t you undertook to do this why did n
you keep at it and keep things in order
Where do you expect to find happiness il
not by your own freside, and how can you
expect to find it there if you do not try
all iu your power to make your home a
charming spot, an attractive centre ? If
you take proper care Of the beautiful the
useful will take care of itself.


"a thing of beauty is iov forever
And where ought we to expect that
beauty and that joy if not in and around
our homes Your house may be plain,
very plain and small, but you can make
it tasty, pleasant and even beautiful by
its surroundings. All the cost there is
in the adornment Of flowers, shrubbery
and trees is in the labor to plant them,
and fencing, painting, and the like i'm
provements, will add to the value Of your
property, as we'll as to its beauty and your
comfort Strangers, of Intelligence, al
ways judge by the outside adornment the
hight of civilization and happiness with
in. Each home We pass, by the wayside,
is an index Of the character of the man
and the wife who there live to beautify
and enjoy or neglect and destroy.


In conclusion I will give you little
song which 1 hope will be sung again
and again in every household where my
Lectures visit. May it be sung until the
sentiment it teaches is adopted and prac-
ticed by every member Of those homes.
MAKE your homes both neat and tasteful,


Bright and pleasant, always fair,
Where each heart shall rest contented,


Grateful for each beauty there.
See that home is made attractive,


By surroundings pure and bright,
Trees, arranged with taste and order,


Flowers, wi tn all their sweet delight
Seek to make your home more lovely,


Let it be a smiling spot,


Where in sweet contentment resting


Care and sorrow are forgot


Where the flowers and trees are waving,


Birds will sing their sweetest song,
Where the purest thoughts Will linger,


Confidence and love be strong.
There each heart viii rest contented,


Seldom wishing far TO roam,
Or, if roaming still will cherish


Memories of that pleasant home.
Such a home makes man the better;


Pure and lasting its control;
Home with pure and bright surroundings,


Leaves its impress on the SOUL


ICHABOD WHACKHAMMER.
Somewhere, March l9, 1866.
Year: 1866

The citizens of Easton lost over FIVE
hundred thousand dollars in oil stock
Quite a nice pile of money 1t would
have been better for the town, better for
the laboring classes, and better for all
hands, if that amount had been invested
in manufactures. The worst Of it is, that
50 many poor men put into the worth
less stock the little piles they had accum-
hted by being careful! and economical.-
Oil stock does not sell very readily in
Easton tpresent. What amount has been
lost by our citizensis not known, but the a
mount is quite large, as quite number
were waiting, and are still waiting for
the third sandstruck. Carbon Demo
crdt.
Year: 1866

The Savannah Herald tells the follow
ing story about some very sharp shooting
which was done by an old acquaintance
Of ours


"Capt. Travis, of the Pistol Gallery,
states that one of the most remarkable
feats in pistol shooting that has come un-
der his observation in his peregrinatious
through the South since the close of the
war, was achieved at his gallery last week
by Mr.. Samuel K. Head, an attachc OF
the Savannah Herald Mr.. Head first
shot ten shots at the target at deliberate
aim, ringing the bell seven times out of
the ten. He then placed bottle on the
floor, at distance of twelve PAGES, setting
a cork on the mouth of the bottle and a
bullet on the top of the cork. He was to
hit the cork without breaking the bottle.
and drop the bullet into the bottle Mr..
Head dropped the bullet into the bottle
five times out of the ten trials, and did
not break the bottle Mr.. Head is one
of Capt Travis pupils, having taken
lessons from him fifteen years ago, and
the Captain is justly proud of his perfOr,
nance.
Year: 1866

4 bashful and rather green young fel-
low Of our acquaintance invited young
lady to attend a ball with him one night
last summer The invitation was accept
ed, and the couple appeared at the bail.
After dancing for some time, "greeny"
saw his partner sitting in one corner Of
the room all alone. Now was his chance
So he walked up to where the LADY was
sitting, and sat down beside her. Al
well so far; but the bashful fellow was
at loss for something to say. He fdse-
ted about considerable, and was sweating
profusely. Finally, taking hold Of his
wilted collar, he commenced the CONVEX
sation thus dts powerful warm in
this room-ny shirts 1eet, amt yours ~
His partner blushed, said nothing, but
took his arm for the next dance
Year: 1866

We have tried very hard to persuade our
selves that the people of the South were
earnestly endeavoring to adopt themselves
to the new order ofthings which was brought
about by the collapse of the rebellion
but when information like The following,
which comes from authentic sources, is daily
received, we are compelled to doubt wheth-
er any Of the ex-rebel States are in a fit con-
dition to manage their own affairs, much
less to send representatives TO Congress to
help manage the affairs of the nation.


Our first quotation is a paragraph descri-
bing the state of things in a large and i'm
portant section of the State of
Year: 1866

The observance of this brief injunction has
made the fortune of many man, and, what is
better than fortune, it has made reputation
which is inestimable in the business world
Every mechanic, every merchant, and every
professional man who is of any note whatever
in his calling, is aware of the great importance
of punctuality in meeting all their engagements,
whether they be for profit, pleasure or charity.


But there are many people, regular attend
ants at church, who seem to believe that it is Of
little importance if they enter the holy place
fifteen or twenty minutes after the services have
commenced. "What difference does il maker
Do they not own pew, aud who dare sit there
In unless invited? People only 60 to church
any way to see the fashions and be fashionable.
What do they care?" Nevertheless, there are
those who seek the Lords house on His holy
day for the purpose of thanksgiving and prayer.
So remember, tardy ones, that your want Of
punctuality seriously interteres with their devo.
tlons. .-.


Again Some fellow being has been called
from time to eternty-friends have been iavi-
ted to attend tho funeral obsequies-the lady
friends are slow in dressing--the assemblage in
the house of mourning is awaiting the coming
of these tardy ''friends of the famly"-bye and
bye they come, and from their gaudy attire one
might suppose that they had mistaken the inW-
taton to a funeral for that of wedding. We
know that it must be great sacrifice for young
lady to don an unbecoming dress; but then, if
she would only reflect for moment upon the
fitness of things, she would see the impropriety
OF arrayng herself in brilliant colors, and radi-
ent with sparkling jewels, rush into the presence
of death at an hour when bereaved friends are
only waiting her coming that they may begin
the last sad services over the lost, ere they bury
their dead from their sight. ~


Be punctual, then, fair friends, and while
punctual, be prudent. Eater not the house of
mourning wreathed with smiles and gala day
attire, but let both body and mind be clothed
with thoughts and habiliments that become the
occasion ~+.
Year: 1866

The signature of the Gross is confined in our
day to those unable to write their own names,
and it is inferred, very naturally, that when il
was almost universal centuries ago, it indicated
a deplorable ignorance among all classes of pee
pie. But an exchange takes exception to this
opinion, and says: "How many of those who
daily see X appended to document Of those
who are unable to write ever take the trouble to
discover it's Specification The mark that per-
sons unable to write are required to make 10,
stead of their signature is the sign of the cross
and this practice, having formerly been followed
by kings and mobiles, is constantly referred TO %
an instance of the deplorable ignorance of an
cient times. This signature is not, however, in-
variable proof of such ignorance anciently. The
use Of this mark was not co6fned to illiterats
persons, for among the Saxons the mark of the
cross, an attestation of the good faith of the
person signing, was required to be attached to
the signature of those who could write, as we'll
as to stand in the place of the signature of those
who could not write,


"In those times, if a man could write, or even
read, his knowledge was considered proof posi-
tive or presumptive that be was in holy orders.
The word 'clericus,' or clerk, was synonymous
with penman; and the laity or people, who were
not clerks, did not feel any necessity for the use
of letters" The ancient use of the cross was,
therefore, universal, aliks by those who could
and by those who could not write; it was, in.
deed, the symbol of an oath from its holy ssso-
citation, and generally its mark. On this %.
count Mr. Cbas. knight, in his notes to the Pic.
torial Shakespeare, explains the expression qf
"God save the mark, as form of ejaculation
approaching the character of an oath.


This phrase occurs three or four times in the
plays of Shakespeare; but hitherto it has been
left by the commentators in its original obscu-
rity. With these associations clustering around
it, the sign of the cross should not be made
subject for ridicule, but rather be treated 40
having important meaning when appended to
document, being at once signature and afirmar
tion to the truth Of what is there written.
Year: 1866

The Convention of so called southern loyalists
has turned out pretty much as was expected by
all discerning men. 1t was simply spasmodic
effort on the part of miscellaneous lot of polit.
ical adventurers to gain political power; and now
that the spasm is over, the public look with
amszement upon the nangled remains of the
body which threatened at one time to rise like
Goliath of Gath and 90 forth to battle. What
sort of sling it was that killed this pretentious
giant cannot say, but it is certain that he lies
PROSTATE, while the true Union men walk around
the PROSTATE form, looking with wonder and
pity upon SO much pretended loyalty thrown
away and wasted.


According to thetheory of that Convention, the
black man was as much entitled to prominent
seat as anybody else, but the black man was
thrown overheard. Fred. Douglass is a negro
who possesses infinitely greater ability than
Jack Hamilton, Parson Browplow, and other
demorazed whites who took leading parts in
the Convention, and yet Douglass was snubbed
and ignored, while the vulgarites and blasphe-
mics of the white men were applauded to the
echo. The speeches of Brownow and Hamil-
ton will not bear comparison with those of
Douglass in tone, temper, ability, clearness, and
force, and yet Douglass received the cold
shoulder, and the trump card of the radicals was
thrown away. The truth is that this radical
Convention, which was gotten up to offset the
National Union Convention, is a miserable fail
ure. .-


1t was made up, for the most part, Of men
who have no hold upon the people either at the
North or the South. They were, for the most
part, set of political adventures, whose only
right to egislate upon national affairs consists of
their hatred of the President and their. hanker-
ing after the fesh-pots of Government patron
age. 1t will be an interesting sight to witness
tae figuring up the profits and losses of the flesh
pot Convention by the radical leaders next week.
RepaLlican.
Year: 1866

GooD SENsE.-We think it shows great
deal of good sense, on the part of SOME OF our
young married people, to begin keeping house
in SMALL houses Too many are unsatished un-
less they can start out as their parents left of,
instead Of practising, for few years, at least,
the rigid economy which is necessary to insure
success and happiuess.
Year: 1866




Some fellow who seems to think well
of the institution dscourses Of mar
rying Hear him;


Get married, young man, and be quick
about it, too Don't wait for the Millen-
ium, hoping that the girls may turn to
angels, before you trust yourself with
one of them.


A pretty thing you'd be alongside an
angel, wouldu't you-you brute Don
wait another day, but right now--thls
very night ask some nice, industrious
girl to go into partnership with you, to
help clear your pathway OF thorns, and
plant it with flowers. Suppose she
kicks you, don't you know you block
head, that there is such thing as trying
again, and that the minnows having
bitten at the hook and run away there is
now a chance to catch a better hsh
Marrying won't hurt you--it won't. It'll
sew the buttons on your shirt, and mend
your breeches and yonr manners too-it
will


Going to get out of this subjugated
country, and try your fortune in Mexico
or Brazil, are you2 Well, if you will
90, take somebody with you that will
love and care for you, where all others
will be Indifferent to your welfare. But
don't 90 at least for time. Get mar
ried There never was a better time,
for we are all subjugated rebels together,
and no one will make remarks about
the scantiness of your wardrobe, or the
coarseness of your furniture: You can
cut the wood, and she can do the cook
ing, with o nice little stove that won't
cost much.


Plenty of freedwomen to wash and
iron, and clean up generally. Stop your
whining about being poor, and get mar
ried


Stop drinking whiskey, chewing and
smoking tobacco, and playing cards, and
save the money thus foollshly-worse
than foolishly-spent Your wife-that
is to be-will take care of your savings,
and furnish you in return with woman's
affection, and pure coffee to warm your
frozen nature.


Get married--you especially who are
in the "sear and yellow leaf of bachel-
orism, and if you don't, may you freeze
to death some OF these cool nights. You
ought to freeze, you good-for-nothing
buttoness creature
Year: 1866

A captain of volunteers, in California,
has Just been tried by court-martial and
sentenced to be dismissed from the army,
for killing an Indian infant found lying
on its dead mothers breast uninjured,
after battle The defense was, that as
there was no mother to take care of it
could not have lived many hours; and
further, that this was the custom in all
Indian wars, derived from the Indians
themselves The officer has published
statement that one of the chief members
of the court-martial that condemned him
had done the same thing on former oc-
casion, and had actually had four balls
shot into an infant found in such cir
cums:ances IL seems to have been a
frequent custom.


Perhaps a case like this, and the
recognition of such a horrid custom of
war, may illustrate how little civilization
alone does to inspire men with regard for
the sacredness of human life. 1t is.
Christianity that has ever done this most
adequately. Apart from it, Herod
murder of the Innocents would often be
repeated in history without exciting unu-
sual horror Civilization alone seems
readily enough TO give way before the
customs of war, especially with savages
British officers in India, Jamaica and
China have proved most brutal some
times.


1t is related that a case of the same
kind as the foregoing came before Gen
jackson during his Indian wars An
Indian infant, found under similar cir
cumstances, was brought to him, and he
endeavored to induce one of the Indian
women whom he had captured TO bring
up the little stranger They all abso-
lutely refused, saying that as its mother
was dead, it had better be killed too. Old
Hickory, however, instead. had 1t brought
up BY hand and fed out of the sugar of
his own stores 1t survived, was taught
a trade, and became subsequently a good
and useful citizen.


A more general lesson Of the whole Of
this is, that any system which does not
recognize the value Of life must die out
before one that does The Indians are
prodigal of life, and freely shed innocent
blood in their revenges, and are careless
oft themselves. They inspire thus even
civilized foes with the same horrid spirit
in retaliation. and thus kill each other
and are killed out without care or mercy.
Year: 1866

The Fon Du Lac (Wis.) Press claims
to be, and, we suppose, is, leading
conservative" paper. The following
is an extract from its editorial columns.
We call the article highly conserva-
tive'':


eve .have always regarded it as a
fixed fact, that sooner or later Jefferson
Davis would be released without being
brought to trial, unless, indeed, his cap
tors succeeded in their evident design
to murder him, by the slow torture OF
rigorous confinement to which he has
been subjected.


1t would be impossible to convict
him as traitor before any court, ex-
cept, indeed, u military commission,
composed of such creatures as the man
who pronounced the death sentence
upon Mrs. Surratt, whose memories
will be eXecrated through all coming
time.


Not only did Jefferson Davis commit
no act of treason, but we believe that
first, last and always his acts were gov
erned byImotives ofthe purest and most
disinterested patriotism. He betrayed
no sacred trust. lie made no effort to
elevate himself to positions of honor
and power, like selfish aspiring poll
ticinn; but of all the brilliant array of
Southern talent, eloquence and genius,
assembled in the Senate chamber at
Washington, he was the acknowledged
leader and superior of all. When the
people of the State he represented call
ed upon him as their representative, to
withdraw from Congress he promptly
responded and of all the SoutheI n
members who bowed their naughty
farewell to the Senate, he made the
most polished and courtly adieu.


At the time the government of the
Confederacy was formed, his vast ex-
perience and unequalled abilities as a
statesman, made him emphatically the
political leader of the South, while his
pleasing address and his intellectual
superiority over all the other disting-
uished men of the South, made him the
idol of the Southern people. He ac-
cepted the position of President, not
with any design of building up for
himself splendid fortune and endur-
ing fame, but because he was chosen to
fill that position by the unanimous
voice of eight millions of people, and
because he deemed it his sacred duty as
patriot to remain true to the South in
her hour of peril.
Year: 1866

1t is related of the sanity George Her
bert, the quaint old English church poet,
that once in walk to Salisbury to join
q musical party, he saw poor man with
poorer horse that had fallen under its
load. They were both in distress, and
needed present help which Mr.. Herbert
perceiving, put off his canonical coat
and helped the poor man to unload his
horse. The poor man blessed him for
it, and he blessed the poor man; and at
his coming to his musical friends at Sal
isbury, they began to wonder that Mr.
George Herbert, who used to be so trim
and neat came into that company so
soiled and discomposed But he told
the occasion; and when one of the COM
pany told him ''he had disparaged him
self by so dirty an employment" his an
swer was, "that the thought of what he
had done would prove music to him at
midnight; and that the omission of it
would have upbraided him and made
discord in his conscience whenever he
should pass by that place; for if he be
bound to pray for all that are in distress,
am sure that am bound, so far as it
is in my power to practice what preach
and let me tell you, | would not willingly
pass one day of my life without comfort
ing sad soul or showing mercy; and |
praise God for this occasion" y, how
many might have the anxious thoughts
which often infest their midnight hour,
changed into sweet music, if they would
only be more frequently seen with full
hands and friendly words in the abodes
of poverty and suffering? These are the
places in which to attune ones consci,
ence to midnight harmoniesl
Year: 1866

Some time ago boy was discovered in
the street, evidently. bright and intelli-
gent, but sick. A man, who had the feel
ing OF kindness strongly developed, went
to ask him what he was doing there.


Waiting for God to come for me, he
said.


"What do you mean2 said the gentle
man, touched by the pathetic tone of the
answer and the condition of the boy, in
whose eye and flushed face he saw the
evidence of fever.


God sent for mother, and father, and
little brother" said he, and took them
away up to his home in the sky; and
mother told me when she was sick, that
God would take care of me. | have no
home, nobody to give me anything, and
so came out here, and have been look
ing so hard in the sky for God to come
and take care Of me, as mother said he
would. He will come, won't he? Mother
never told lie


"Yes, my lad, said the gentle man,
overcome with emotion, " He has sent
me to take care of you.


You should have seen his eye fash,
and the smile Of triumph break over his
face, as he said


Mother never told lie, sir but you
have been so long on the way"


What lesson of trust, and how this
incident shows the effect of never de-
ceiying children with tales.
Year: 1866

Fancy the thrilling effect Of the Scrip
lures, if read as Kean reads Shakespeare
or recites Macauleyl And why should
we not have it so Is it right and proper
that every book for public reading should
have justice done it except the Bible
And that while every other subject IS
allowed the advantage of a natural and
impressive delivery, religion, which is
the most important Of all, should be de-
MED by all7 The monstrous fahacy
with which we'll meaning but obtuse peo-
ple have been beguiled, OF have be-
guiled themselves, is, that such reading
and reciting would be theatrical y and
hat theatrical exhibitions are not be-
coming in the house Of God. To this
ridiculous fallsoy may be traced most of
the eKecrable pulpit reading and deliY-
cry that rob the scriptures OF half their
power, and have often made the dull
ness Of a sermon proyerbiaL


Set Kean 10 read the song OF Miriam,
or the fight between David and Goliath,
or the story Of the PrOdigal Son, or Of
Year: 1866

Christ denunciations Of the Scribes and
Pharisees, or to recite one Of Chalmer s
sermons, and you will see the people who
had begun to adjust themselves in the
corners of their seats for their accus-
toned snooze, sit up and listen to him
very close, with eager eyes and bated
breath. And all this simply because
Kean would do the piece justice, that is,
read it naturally, and as it ought to be
read. On what possible ground, either
of common sense or good taste, can OBJ
lection be taken to the natural delivery
of at least the sermon?


If Garrick could set even the grim sol
der who was on duty at the corner of the
street blubbering like a child; and if
Mrs. Siddons could so overpower the
eminent tragedian, Young, that he could
not refrain from sobbing aloud, though
he was himself on the stage acting the
villain of the piece at the time-and all
this while merely uttering the words of a
fictitious character-what overwhelming
effects in the way of awakening sinners
and pressing home the message of the
gospel, might not be introduced by men
who are given utterance, in their own
character, to the most sublime and soul
stirring truths Glasgow Herald,