smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

A private letter lately received from a gentleman on the Little Colorado expresses surprise at the number of settlements and number of people in each settlement along that stream. He says they are making hundreds of streams and producing about all they need to live comfortably. They most lv live in towns, but each has his own land to cultivate on the outside, as was the case in the early settlements of Utah. The writer says that but for the generally known fact that these peo- ple are Mormons there is nothing in their conduct that would lead the or dinary observer to suppose they were other than settlers of the promiscuous character usually found on the iron tier, except their common industry and thrift would excite such suppo- sition.
Year: 1879

MEssRs. C. T. CUTLER, Judge Lynch and Dave Allen came in this morning from little trip to the Patagonia country. Mir Cutler thinks the great mines iu that section will soon build up and support n very large town there. The Washington camp has some excellent mines and will some day yield 8 great amount Of silver bullion. The Ella and Grssshopper are mines that prospect immense. and will sooner or later command high market VaIua
Year: 1879




Do birds have a language of
their own, and have they any of
the emotions Of humans?


A lady who lives on Olive


street relates. the following: A
few days ago there fell in front
of her window from a tree a
"chippy" or ground bird, such as


chatter about in parks or streets.
1T seemed wearied and crippled.


She picked it up, carried it in


the house, fed it from her own


mouth, and at night placed it in


the cage with her canary. The


canary at once bestowed upon


the newcomer all of the atten-
ton of a mother, and nestled be-
side the little stranger during
the night. In the morning the la
dy placed the chippy in the win
dow, so that it might have the
privilege of regaining its free
dom. 1t plumed its tiny wings
and went away. The canary
mourned during the day as if he
had lost his mate. In the eve
ming the chippy came back and
perched upon the window. The
sash was raised, and it flew in
and nestled upon the cage. The
canary at once struck up his
liyeliest notes, and seemed graf
flied. This was repeated two or
three days, the chippy going
each morning and returning in
the evening.


One day it went away and
did not come back. The cana
ry, dropped, and the next day
fell dead from his perch in the
sunshine that played over his
gildedl cage in the window. That
night the chippy returned, and
during the evening it mourned
over its dead companion. In
the morning it clung to the cage
until it was turned out. For a
few days the empty cage was
hung in the window, and ON
each succeeding evening the
chippy returned, and chirped as
if it was grief-stricken. One
day it brought a petal of a tube
rose in its bill, dropped it in the
cage, flew away, and never came
back.
Year: 1879

t e Allentown Chronicle
Us: A certain gentleman
purchased pair of pants a few


days ago, which, upon being
tried on at home, he found to


be too long. That night he re-
marked to his wife that he wish
ed her to take off about an inch
from each leg, which would
make them the desired length.
Being fond of teasing her hus-
band, she told him that she
shouldn't do anything of the
kind, and he retired without
having obtained a promise from
her that she would attend to the
matter.


Soon after he had left for his
room, however, she, as a matter
of course, clipped off the super
Ifluous inch, as she had been ask
ed to do. The family is COM


posed Of six female members,
and each one of the five, who


were in adjoining rooms, heard
the dispute between man and
wife, and after the latter had ta-
ken off the required inch and re-
tired, the old lady, desiring to.
"keep peace in the family" and
not knowing what her daugh-
ter-in-law had done, cautiously
slipped into the room and cut
off another inch.


In this way did each of the
five ladies, unknown to the 9TH
er, and all with the praisewor-|
thy object of preventing any
misunderstanding between the
couple, clip an inch from the
legs of the gentleman's trousers.


The following morning, all
unconscious of what had taken
place during the night, he roll
ed up his pants in piece Of
paper, and took them to the tai
lor to be shortened to the desir-
ed length. Uupon a hasty
glance the latter ventured the
opinion that they were already
short enough; but the owner in
sisted that they were fully an
inch too long. The tailor had
no more to say, and our friend



On the following Saturday
he called for the pants and took
them home, and was supremely
disgusted at finding that the
legs reached only a trifie below
the knee. He straightway ac-
cused the tailor, but his wife
heard him, and came to the res
cue, explaining that she had ta-
ken an inch from each of the
legs, and her acknowledgment
was followed by that of each of
the other five ladies, when it
was discovered that altogether
the legs had been shortened to
The extent of seven inches.
Year: 1879

A party of Irishmen went to a
clothing store to buy a suit of
clothing in which to bury a dead
comrade. All Varieties of gar
ments were examined and dis
cussed by the mourning friends
but none could be decided upon
until one of the party held up a
light thin suit, saying, "Be gorra,
let's take this, b'ys, it's thin and
cool, and poor Pat viii find it
mighty comfortable"
Year: 1879




The Postmaster laid the card
gently down and lounged to the
other end of the house, softly
whistling "Nancy Lee" In
due time the clerk came upon
the card, perused it and made
the neighborhood hideous with
the howls of his pet dog, which
he kicked in the ribs. How
the card Jared with the various
route agents through whom it
passed it is impossible to say,
nor do we know whether it was
read by the woman whois Post
mistress of the Office where the
Rev. John Penobscot is suppos-
cd to get his mail; but the re-
port is that the day if reach
cd there she smashed a bottle
of ink on. her husbands head,
spanked the children all round
and chewcd up nincty-iye cents
worth Of wax. We cannot be
too careful never to write ON
postal-cardsanythingi the least
calculated to wound the sensi-
tive delicacy of the Post-office
peoples feelings.
Year: 1879

Same Lady.


Troy Press.


The following very romantic
story is but the substance of


what happened in our own city
many years ago. The eharac-
ters that appear as principals
have passed away, but their
descendants yet live among us
and occupy honorable positions.
in society. Two young men
who had passed through college
and graduated with honor were
studying medicine. They were
fast friends and were almost in.
separable. They entered socie-
ty together, and were well re-
ceiyed in the best houses. They


were together one evening at a
reception in one of the wealth.
est mansions OF the city, when
a new star appeared in the per-
son Of a niece Of the hostess,


who had come from Massachu-
setts. She was handsome, and


reports agree in saying she was
as good as she was pretty.


Both of the medical students
were smitten, and for the first
time in their lives a feeling Of
estrangement came between
them. The natures of the two
young men were essentially diff
ferent. One was frank and o.


pen as the day, while the other
tactiturn and reserved. Both


paid court to the lady, but she
soon manifested a choice for the
more frank character and they


became engaged. The defeated
suitor seemed to bear his disap-
pointment resigncdly. In time
the lady went home, and the
successful suitor went abroad
to complete lis studies. While
absent letters were received by
the girl concerning her lover
which created the feeling that
he was false to her, and finally
one came in his own hand wri-
ting bidding her farewell, and
stating that he was to be mar
ried to a lady of rank. This
proved almost a dealh-blow 10
the girl, but she soon rallied and
sought in every way to conceal
the traces of grief. The defea-
ted suitor was at hand and a.
gain proffered his homage, and
finally, in a fit Of pique, she
married him. Had this heen
the finale of the story there
would be no romance. 1t was
not long after the wedding be-
fore the lover returned. He
could not be made TO believe
that the one he loved was false by |
nature. lie reasoned that there
was cause for her change, and,
like sensible man, he COM
menced the task of unraveling
the mystery. A ftcr much
trouble, he obtained an inter-
view with the wife in the alb
sencc of her husband, and as
answer to his upbraidings she
handed him his letter Of renun-
citation. She was happier than
she had been in many days
when she learned that The let
ter was a forgery, and that the
lover had always been true to
her. She at once rcnounced
her husband, and soon oppor-
tunity offered and she procured
a divorce, and was united TO her
first and only love. The hus-
band and wife settled down in,k
this city, and here he enjoyed a
long and successful career, and
when he died, full of years and
honors, he was surrounded by
his wife and family. The false
friend who, by his wicked
Vaccinations, had wrought SO
much sorrow, removed to Lam
where he became a
physician of note. lie after
ward remarked, and his poster
ity to-day occupy honorcd po-
sitions in the State. In two
family Bibles in this city the
marriages are recorded among
the family archives fsn
Year: 1879

The Owego Record says the
young man who resolved to
commit suicide because his
sweetheart married an underta-
ker, owes bis life to the sober
second thought that he might
be furnishing his rival q job.
Year: 1879

Sedalia, No., is delighted o.
yer a mule colt with five legs.
By St. George, this thing has
got to stop right here. a five
legged mule, when he grows up,
will be worse than an eight-bar-
relied revolver; a sort of a Cat
ling gun among mules. just
think Of the havoc that may be
wrought by mule that has four
legs to amble along on, and one
untrammeled leg to circulate a
round and attend strictly to bus
mess on both sides of the road!
Let the colt be shot while it is
yet possible to get near enough
to it to shoot it, in safety.
Year: 1879

\ small boy yesterday stepped upon a
bit fplank and had the bottom OF his
foot punctured BY nail projecting
thercfrom. lie had heard that nail
wound ii the foot would cause lockjaw
and lockjaw would cause death. He
theretote sat down on the edge Of the
sidewalk and considered himself goner.
SAMMY said he to a companion, i've
got ter die III be took with the lock
jawr in about mint, then II die. I'd
like to see mother first, but I've got to
die and 60 to Heaven and l can't help
t."
Year: 1879

4 city laborcr, just discharged from
one Of the yards, came into the city treas
urer's office for bis pay. lie was just Il
little sprung" as he would describe it
himself, and staggering up to the cashier,
demanded what was due him but he was
told that he could not be paid then be-
cause the payroll had been taken away
few minutes before. Having taken in
and digested the idea, he again demand
ed his money, and to prove his identity
and the fact of his service, exhibited his
time card This having no effect, he
steadied himself against. the counter, and
said, with great severity, s'Perhaps W
don't believe the card is NINE. maybe v
think I'm wan O thin Fall River glnte-
min This appeal was unanswerable,
and the cashier stretched point to let
him have the money.
Year: 1879

Some two years ago a physician in
Secretary Evarts' tavorite village OF
Windsor, VT, was called to visit Il pa
tient living some miles out OF the village.
He drove out. and as he was hitchIng
his horse tho door opened and a young
woman with 4 child in her arms came
out. They greeted each other. and she
said, "Oh, you are the doctor; come to
see grandmother. She's pretty sick.
You'll find her in the house, He went
in and found Il woman about forty, who
said. "Oh, you are the doctor. You will
find grandmother in that way In the
room to which he was directed he found
an aged. white-haired lady lying on the
bed, with her face the other way. She
was quite deaf. and did not notice his
approach until he sat down and began
to feel her pulse. She turned and said,
"Oh. you are the doctor. I'm not sick


1t is mother you want to see. You will
find her in that ROOM SO into the
next room he passed. and at last was in
the presence OF his patient. whose daugh-
ter, granddaughter, great granddaugh-
ter and great-great- granddaughter he
had encountered. He found her so re-
duccd by disease and old age (she was
ninety-seven) that he saw no chance OF
her living more than week. He TOLD
the family so, but at their request left
medicines and directions. Some three
weeks after he was driving by and saw
an old lady picking mp chips. He pulled


up his horse, intending to ask when his
patient had died, when she looked up
and said, "Oh. you are the doctor who
came to see me when l was so sick. -
She is still living, as 'chipper" an old


lady of ninety nine as you will often see.
Year: 1879

From the Nashville American,


We are glad to be able to Eote
the unanimity with which the peo-
Pile of the State have received the
proposition to settle the State debt.
One unfailipg sign is the absence Of
opposition. If a strong popular
feeling had existed against the set
Element, those who opposed 1t would
have been found on every stump be-
fore this. AS matter of fact, we
have accurately judged the popular
ravulsion on this subject. Members
who were confident of a strong back
ing at home enly returned to find a
change in public sentiment which
did not warrant opposition to meas
ure the people intend TO approve if
they have the opportunity. We
call attention to this for a double
reason. II shows the strength of
the proposition and the determine
tion of the people to settle this
question, shoulder their burdens and
seek in live action, consistent with
the method Of civilized people, new
progress. 1t shows to The public
creditors that this settlement will
be final and conclusive, and have
such popular verdict as will rem.
der it impossible for any member of
the Legislature TO oppose carrying
out It's provisions in good faith.
They rest at last upon the good faith
and credit of the State, and these
alone. This settlement will be
overwhelmingly decisive, and in
proof of it but few members Of the
opposition have made speeches to
their constituents in opposition 10
the settlement, and it shows the
good sense Of the opposition That
they have recognized defeat and ac.
cepted it. 1t would be a good thing
now if all hands could be joined. as
we think will possibly be the case,
in carrying out q settlement made,
if the creditors accept it. All ought
to be, and, no doubt, as they an
derstand it, all were equally inter.
ested in the prosperity and progress
of the State. 1t has been our opin-
ion that the opposite view meant
progress backward, and the people
evidently coincided in this view,
and now that shey have determined
that the settlement of this question
is essential TO progress and growth,
why cannot all join to make il full,
final and complete?
Year: 1879

Cincinnati Enquirer.


Not a drum was heard because the
drummer was not feeling very well
and asked to be excused, nor a fu-
neral note of any kind. as his corpse
to the rampant we hurried; not q
single, solitary son-of.a-gun of q
soldier discharged his farewell shot
o'er the grave where the late Mr..
Moore were deposited. The fare
well.shot business was omitted en-
account Of the great scarcity Of am
muniLion. We buried him darllly
at the dead of night, and did the
best job we could for him under the
circumstances. We could not Dor.
row, beg or steal pick or shovel in
the entire neighborhood. and we're
obliged to turn the sods with our
bayonets since we had been drafted.
We did this by the struggling moon
beams misty light, and the lantern
dimily burning, with just about half
enough oil in it, and strip Of an old
flannel undershirt for a wick. Few
and short were the prayers we said,
the chaplain being home on a fur.
lough, and no one within forty miles
to take his place. We spoke not a
word Of sorrow, our time being some
what limited, as the enemy was not
far distant, advancing with gigantic
strides. We thought, as we hollow.
ed his narrow bed aud smooJhed
down his lonely pillow with a cam
teen, that The foe and the stranger
would tread Ger his head, and we
far away on the billow; but not TOO
far, however, as the enemy outnum-
bered -us about seven to one. Light
ly they'll talk Of the spirit that's
gone, and wonder where they can
get another flask filed whith the
same, and DER his cold ashes up
braid him, knowing, Of course, that
he is in no condition to defend him
self; but little they'll reck if they
let him sleep on ia a grave
where a Briton has laid him,
and not bother hun to get up and
take out burial permit or ask him
to pay ground rent. We wish here
TO correct the impression that slow
ly and sadly we laid him down from
the field of his fame fresh aad gory.
We did no such thing. The corpse
was washed and put in good shape,
and we defy any man to show that
there was drop Of gore about him.
1t is true we carved not a line and
we raised not stone, because there
was no stone-mason handy who
would do the job at reasonable fig
ures. About this time we heard the
distant random gun that the foe was
sulleuly firing, SO we adjourned the
funeral, left the deceased alone in
his glory, and made ourselves scarce
in that vicinity.
Year: 1879

Boston Letter to Chicago Tribune.


went to the silent city of Mount Au'
burn, where, only mile from the classic
shades of Harvard, slumber $1,000 souls
| sought the resting place of Charlotte
Cushman. 1t iss delightfully."- situated in
the back part of the cemetery, at the base
Of q hill, with grand view Of Boston and
the Charles river in the far distance. The
keeper told me that, when Miss Cushmar
selected the place, she said, nodding hel
approval OF it: Here shall lie in sight
of dear old Boston" The lot is a very
large one, and in excellent order; but not
q flower, tree or shrub ornaments it. A
little plain marble tablet, three inches
thick and about four feet high, resting on
a fiat freestone socket, bearing simply hel
name, and valued at about $40, is oil
there is to mark the resting place of the
tragic queen who left half a million to hei
next OF kin. All mel when dead how
soon we are forgottenl The profession OF
which she shea lustre would have pait
better homage to their dead queen''
lmemory.
Year: 1879




A farmer once had flock of pigeons
which throve finely in a new house he had
made for them. Never did he want a pig
con pic when friend came to see him.


Foryou see the pigeons had a fine range
over his stubble fields, and picket up plen-
ty OF grain and were plump and fat when
he wanted them.


But all at once he found that the devil
had got among the pigeons. Some Of
them were bloated and unsound of flesh,
with disease on their limbs answering
to the gout in an anstocrat. But the
great bulk of the flock were emaciated,
their feathers dropping, and not pick on
their bones,


And behold, the farmer was greatly puz-
zled and perplexed to find out how the
devil got in among the pigeons.


And he took a ladder and climbed up
into the pigeon-housc and concealed him
self, to see what he might find out.


And behold, in the middle of the pigeon
floor was mass of grain that would gil
sacks. And he noticed a sly old king pig
con perched upon the top Of the heap, sur.
rounded by body-guOrd of lctor pigeons,
whose use he soon saw.


For those lictor pigeons were busy div
ing in the emaciated birds that had been
ont all day gathering in grains of wheat,
and rye, and corn, and whatever they
could pick up into their crops, and the
lictors drove them in with their sharp
beaks and made them disgorge on the
Capital" heap all that they had gath
cred together. On this heap the king pig
con and the lictor pigeons sat, and they
befouled it and made the grain which
composed it impure and unwholesome,
and around the bottom Of it they scraped
little of the tainted grains and gave to
the gathering pigeons, that they might
be able to live, and 90 out again and
gather their cropfuls next day to deposite
on the heap as usual. Those cropfuls were
called Production" and the modicum of
dirty grains given to the gatherers ii
pleased the king pigeons and tie lictor
pigeons to call distribution" ="


And so the farmer saw what was the
matter, and cut the heads off the king
pigeons and all the lictor pigeons for act
ing so wickcdly, and went near to Danish
the whole brood of gatherers for their
meanness in submitting to such state Of
existence.


But as they had suffered 50 much, and
as he delighted in a good flock of pigeons,
he said unto them-for this farmer spoke
a language that bird beast, and body
could understandable said unto them,
go forth and gather up your Production,
and make no bother about the thing called
Distribution but just distribute it into
your own gizzards and carry home enough
tomake the eyoungpigcons fat and hearty"


A ragged old rooster then spoke ont and
said that King ScoIndrel told us that all
the farm was his, and that we must re-
turn all the production" to him and take
his rule of what he called "Distribution. >"
He called Political Economy a new artlf-
Gal science-a great improvement, he
said, on the cid, stupid, unscientifc way
of gathering and eating as you went
along.


Well, retorted their master, you would
deserve to have your necks wrung for be-
1iaviru sr,rh stuG nc that
Year: 1879

THE evil of a periodical glut of the
labor market calls for special attention,
because it is not temporary one. 1t is
likely to continue SO long as the present
Industrial system Lasts"
Year: 1879

lF the farmers and producers will con-
slider the true doctrines of the Greenback
party and recognize that their interests
are involved in its success, they will work
in perfect harmony for the relief Green
back representatives could afford them.
Year: 1879

If the government chooses to farm out
its control over the currency to private
parties, why not grant the privilege 10
those who need 1t in the production of
wealth, instead of giving 1t to an idle
monopoly to rob, blackmail and oppress
the producers of wealth?
Year: 1879

Men who would abandon the Green.
buck cause, or be prevented from espOus-
ing it, in consequence of a temporary
spurt of good growing out OF the provi-
deace of God on the one hand and the
misfortunes of their noighbors on the
other, would neglect to roof their houses
in dry weather, to SOW in seel time or
reap in harvest time, and like the slug
gard they would be doomed to starve and
freeze the winter when comes.
Year: 1879

"THE life of the farm laborer Of France,
who lays up money on $3.50 year, may
not seem to people addicted to thinking
to be life worth living but it certainly
illustrates the superiority, in any given
condition Of things, Of frugality over i'm.
providence, and shows that a tolerab!e
degree of happiness is not inconsistent
with poverty. The standard of comfort is
not high, but the result of living within
an income, however narrow, is comfort
rather than misery, which is the certain
consequence Of a restless desire to spend
more than one has. Its immediate lesson
to the laborers of this country ought to be
very cheering, for it shows what almost
endless opportunities for comfortable liv-
ing are presented in our vast domain oi
land yet unoccupied or cultivated to only
q fraction Of It's capacity"
Year: 1879

FROM the drift of our kilograms
there appears to be some doubt as
to whether the Miss Nancy who
officiates in the White House will
sign the Chinese restriction bill.
The Fatberhood Of God and
Brotherhood of Man" Republicans
are making it warm for Hayes.
Well; should he fail TO sign we
have the consolation of knowing


that, from and after Tuesday next,
Congress will be Democratic in
both branches. All we shall then


have to do is to inaugurate, aftel
electing, Democratic President
to give efficacy to the wishes of the
whole people of the Pacific Coast in
the matter of this Chinese curse.