smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

On stormy night of February, 174j,
Scott, was sitting in her dressing
room. in an old castle in Perthshire,
Scotland. She had been occupied all
day tending her cousin, Miss Hay, who
was i'll of fever; and now, ere retiring
to rest, she thought of the contest in
which many of her relatives were en-
gagged. The army of Prince Charles
having retreated towards the High
lands, several detachments of the Kings
troops were on the march to that cam
paigu which ended in the battle of Gull
loden.


Amidst the roar of the storm Miss
Scott fancied she heard the bell of the
castle ring; and presently a servant ap-
peared. saying that an officer wished TO
see her alone. On descending to the
dintng-room she found her cousin,
Captain Hay, who eagerly asked for
his sister. When he found that she
was too i'll to be disturbed. he said that
in vault below the castle, unknown
except to his parents and himself. were
concealed the family plate, and some
papers which it was of the utmost i'm
portance he should now possess As
he had only obtained leave from his
commanding officer to gallop before
his troop, he had not time to select the
papers, but he would open the trap
door, and Miss Scott must 90 alone
next night to take them out, and he
would send a trusty messenger to re-
ceive them He took a shovel from the
hearth, and a small dark lantern.


Miss Scott followed him to the lowest
story of the castle, through chambers
and long dark passages. At length
they reached small vaulted apartment,
the only furniture of which was a
strong wooden press. fixed to the wall
i'm one corner of the room. In front of
this Captain Hay scraped away the
sand, and Miss Scott saw the ring of an
iron trap-door. By united strength
they raised it, and, descending stair,
they reached the lowest vault, where

the chest stood. Captain Hay gave his
cousin a list of the required papers.
and the key of the chest; then he left
the trap-door so that she could raise it
without assistance.


Next night, when all mad retired TO
rest, Miss Scott took small lamp, and,
easily raising the trap-dOor, descended
to the chest, and took out the papers;
but, oh, horrible the heavy irOn-bound
lid of the chest slid from her trembling
hands. The violent conclusion closed
the trap-door, and threw open the door
of the strong wooden press above, so
that it remained immovable across the
trap-door. She became aware that she
must die of starvation in that dreadful
vault! In fainting, she must have ex-
tinguished her lamp, for she revived
in the awful darkness. After praying,
Year: 1879

One evening while was stationed at


Lexington, n.y., rode out to see the


great crow roost. 1t was one of the


most remarkable sights l ever witnes-


sed. The place was about seven miles


from the city. on the Danville. pike.


The roost was so ancient that the oldest


inhabitant could not tell when the


crows first commenced coming there.


Many years ago the roost was nearer


Lexington, but as the trees were cut


away the crows moved southwark, al


ways seeking the next piece of timber.


Ii Las been a subject of conjecture


whether the crows will ever abandon


their ancient roost, but judging by the


fact that hundreds, not to say thousands.


have already given up the trees, and


roost on the ground, am inclined to


believe that when there are no more


trees in the section all will content


themselves with bed on mother earth.


1t was about four o'clock p. m. when


/ arrived on the ground, and already


the crows began to pour in. At sun
down they were coming from all direc-
tions, and long lines continued entering


the woods from every point of the COM


pass until dark. Each flock had its


leader or high-flyer. who flew over the


tree-tops until he found his roost, when


the head of the column alighted, the


rest circling around and around, and


winding themselves about their chief.
Only few crows would alight on the
same tree where the leader alighted,
from which fact judged he was sort
of aristocratic p@rsonage, who did not
associate with the common herd OF
crows, and that the birds who slept on


his tree were the royal family and
crows of high degree. Certain it was
that on one tree only two or three old
crows sat, who kept up an incessant
cawing; and now and then one would
quit the tree and fly TO an approaching
flock, which he would apparently con-
duet to its proper place in the wood,
and then return and report TO an old
chap who sat on the topmost branch of
the highest tree, and who never omitted
his station, but kept Tapping his wings
up and down, constantly grumbling
about something. He was stately and
crow, of evident great
resDectabilty, and may have been the
king of the crows. AT times he became
great excited, hopped about and spoke
in loud voice; at others he cawed
gutturally, and if might be allowed to
Judge from his motions and manners
was sOmewha. of tyrant in his ma
nagement of affairs. The rustic of
wings in flying was one of the most pc
culiar sounds | ever heard large flock
passing silently over our heads, we
paused to listen, and could liken the
uoise to nothing but the futter of a
million fans, or the rustling of vast
pieces of silk. Although the crows
would not abandon their roOst, it was a
most unnoying and unsafe one for
them; the boys from the city and adioi- |
ming farms frequently going out with
dogs and guns to kill them, and |
slaughtering hundreds of the poor crea-
lures.
Year: 1879

A New York walking club recently
made visit TO TappantOwn, which is
invested with a melancholy historical
interest, from having been the scene of
the imprisonment. trial and execution
of Major Andre. They paused long be-
fore the old house, built of the red
sandstone of that region, facing the
main street in which Andre was con-
| fined. 1t is now unoccupied and dilap-
idated, and its wood work is sadly de-
caved. but then 1t was a bustling tav-
ern, well patronized and doing flour
ishing business. The present inscrip-
| ton above its door is sold Stone House,
70" \ little further on is brick
church, with white wooden tower,
from which sweei-toned bell was
ringing for morning service. This
church Is comparatively modern, hav-
ing been built in 1885, but is interest
ing as standing on the site of the old
stone church i'm which Andre was
tried ahd condemned. In the little ne
elected burying ground behind il are
old sandstone slabs, bearing dates as
early as 1854, and queer old Dutch
names long since forgotten. After
walking nearly half mile furthur up
a gentle ipcline they reached the sum
nit of what is interchangeably known
as "Gallows," Washington" and
"Andre" hill, where the gallant young
officer was hanged. All that now
marks the spot is an old cedar tree ,des
tined to stand but short time longer,
the trunk of which is protected by
boards from the ravages of relic hunt
ers-said to be one OF the two that sup
ported the cross-pieces from which de-
pended the fatal moose. According to
the traditions of the place, the con-
demned man stood in a cart that was
driven between the two trees, the rope
adjusted about his neck, and the cart
driven away from beneath him. a
wooden post driven in the ground a
short distance from the spot marks the
place where he was buried, and from
which the body was afterward removed
and taken to England to be buried with
honor in Westminster Abbey. Far
down at the foot of the hill can be seen
the old headquarters, and the windows
from which Washington witnessed the
preparations for the execution, but
which he ordered to be closed and
darkened before the event took place.
As long as the memory of the Ameri-
can Revolution lasts, its most tragic
Year: 1879

The value of this species to Nevada


is not easily overestimated. Ii fur


nishes fuel, charcoal, and timber for


the mines, and together with the endur-


ing juniper, SO generally associated


with it, supplies the ranches with abun-


dance of tirewood and fencing. Many


a square mile has already been denuded


in supplying these demands, but so


great is the area covered by them, that


no appreciable loss has as yet been sus-


tanned. IL is pretty generally known


that this tree yields edible nuts, but
their importance and excellence as


human food is infinitely greater than


is supposed. In fruitful seasons like


this one, the pine-nut crop of Nevada
is.perhaps greater than the entire wheat
crop of California, concerning which.
SO much is said and felt throughout
the food markets of this world. The
Indians alone appreciate this portion of
natures bounty, and celebrate the har-
vest home with dancing and feasting.
The cones, which are a bright grass
green in color and about two inches
long by one and half in diameter, are
beaten off with poles, just before the
scales open, gathered IN heaps of sew
eral bushels, and lightly scOrched by
burning thin covering of brushwOod
over thsm. The resin with which the
cones are bedraggled is thus burned
off, the nuts slightly roasted, and the
scales made to open. Then they are
allowed to dry in the sun. after which
the nuts are easily threshed out and are
ready to be stored away. They are
about half an inch long by quarter of
an inch in diameter, pointed at the up
per end, rounded at the base. light
brown in general color. and handsome
ly dotted with purple, like birds eggs.
The shells are thin, and may be crushed
between the thumb and finger. The
kernels are white and waxy-loOking,
becoming brown by roasting, sweet
and delicious to every palate, and are
eaten by birds, squirrels, dogs, horses
and men. When the crop is abundant
the Indians bring in large quantities
for sale; then they are eaten around
every fireside in the State, and often
times fed to the horses instead of
barley.
Year: 1879

''Sixty years ago, when / was a teach
er IN Kilmalcum parish" says John
Fraser, 81 was using whisky bItters for
my stomach's sake. One day i dipped
a piece of cake in it and gave it to the
dog. He grudgingly ate it, curling up
his lip to avoid the taste. Ere long he
became tipsy, he howled most piteously
ami unnaturally looked up in my face
as if for help. He began to stagger and
fall like drunken man. The appear
ance of his face and eyes were extraor-
binary. He lay on the floor and howled
until the effects of the drink wore of.
This was supreme folly; it was wick
ed. The dog never forgot the trick.
Whenever afterwards | went to the
press for the bottle he fastened to the
outside of the house. One day the door
being shut, he sprang, at one bolt, clear
through pane of glass to get outside.
So much for the wisdom of the dog
infinitely surprising foolish drinking
men,"
Year: 1879

one hundred million shoes last year.


The cause of the ex-Empress Eu-
genie and her son against the State is
Just now being tried in Paris They
claim certain property of Napoleon Ill
as belonging to them, particularly the
Fontainebleau Chicago Museum, the
collection of armor at Compeigne and a
great many pictures. In 1873 a COM
promise was signed between NJ. Rouher
and the liquidator of the civil list but
difficulties of construction havs given
rise to the present suit.
Year: 1879

There is one thing no family prctends
to be without. This is a hammer. And
yet there is nothing that goes to make
up the equipment Of domestic estab-
lishment that causes one-half rs much
agony and profanity rs hammer. 1t is
always IN old hammer with q handle
that is inclined to silver, and always
bound to s!:u. The face is rs round as
full moon, and rs smooth rs glass
When it strikes nail full and square,
which it has been known to do, the act
will be found to result from n combina-
tion of pure accidents.


The family hammer is one of those
rare articles we never profit by. When
it glides off o. nail head, and mashcs down
couple of fingers, we unhesitatingly de-
posit it in the yard, and observe that we
will never use it again. But the blood
has hardly dried on the rag before we
are out Of doors in search of that ham,
rnPr, and ready to make another trial.
| The result rarely varies, but we never
profit by it. The awful weapon goes on
knocking of our nails and mashing of
joints and slipping off the handle, to the
confusion Of the mantel ornaments and
breaking the commandments and cutting
up an assortment of astounding and un-
fortunate antics without let or him
dcrance. And yet we put up with it,
and put the handle on again, and lay it
where it won't get lost, and do up our
mutilated and smarting fingers, and il
the outrageous thing should happen to
get lost we kick up a regular hullabaloo
until it is found again. Talk about the
tyrannizing influence ofa bad habit! II
is not to be compared to the family ham,
mer.- Young Scientist.
Year: 1879

When we cease to sympathize with,
and to be personally related to men, and
begin to be universally. related, then we
are capable of inspiring Others with the
sentiment of love for us.


What is peculiar in the life of a man
consists not in his obedience, but his op-
position to his instincts; in one direction
or another he strives to. live super
natural life.


DO you know on what bushes 4 little
peace, faith and contentmcnt grow? Go
:l-berrying early and late after them.


Woe to him who wants a companion,
for he is unfit to be the companion even
Of himself.


What does education often do? 1t
makes a straight-cut ditch out Of q
free meandering brook.


Cheap persons will stand upon cere-
m0ny, because there is no other ground;
but to the great of the earth we need no
introduction, nor do they need any
to us.


That virtue we appreciate is as much
rs we possess.


Make the most of your regrets; never
smother your sorrow, but tend and
cherish it till it come to have separate
and integral interest. To regret deeply
is to live fast. By so doing you will
be astonished to find yourself restored
once more to ell your emoluments.


There is nowhere any apology for de-
spondency. Always there is life while
life lasts. which, rightly lived, implies Il
divine satisfaction.


Whatever your sex or position, life is
battle in which you are to show your
pluck, and woe be to the coward.
Whether passed on bed of sickness or
in the tented field, it is ever the same
fair flag, and admits of no distinction.
Despair and postponement are cowardicc
and defeat. Men were born to succeed,
not to fail.


Nothing is more saddening than an in
eifectual and proud intercourse with
those of whom we expect sympathy and
encouragement. l repeatedly find my
self drawn toward certain persons but
to be disappointed. No concessions
which are not radical are the least sat
isfaction. BY myself I can live and
thrive, but in the society of incompati-
bic friends starve. To cultivate their
society is to cherish q sore which can
only be healed by abandoning them.
No fields are so barren to me us the
men from whom expect everything but
get nothing. In their neighborhood l
experience q painful yearning for society
which cannot be satisfied, for the hate is
greater than tine love.


The blue sky is distant reflection of
the azure serenity that looks out from
| under Il human brow.
Year: 1879

the nature of the influence which the
weird, pale face and strange presence had
had upon my friend.


The strong but subtle link, which no
time or absence can quite sunder, exist
ing between mother and son, had made
itself felt the instant those two sat face
to face, for the unhappy woman was in
deed none other than Jacks own mother.


He had never been told-in fact, it had
been carefully kept from him. Why
run the risk of clouding for life that
bright and happy temperament? He
was only four years old when the dread
full business happened, Hence he had
scarcely known mothers care; she was
lost to him and to the world rs COM
pletely rs if she had died. Nay, death
would have been mercy by compari-
son, and it was generally assumed that
she was dead; only q very few intimate
friends knew the truth.


The poor lady's mind had given way
suddenly after the birth Of a child, who
did not live. Within week, the homi-
cidal mania possessed her; by the
merest chance she had been prevented
from committing some frightful outrage
upon her little hoy, my poor friend Jack; {;
and restraint not having been put upon
her in time-for her malady had hardly
been suspected, so unlocked for was its
apprenticeship consummated her dead
ly propensity upon her eldest child, a
girl fifteen years Of age-killed her, in n
word, as she lay asleep.


And here, aftera lapse of twenty years,
was the climax and end Of the tragedy, as
dreadful as anything that had gone be-
fore. The order for release, when it came,
brought with it as much suffering (to all
but one) rs had the order for captivity.
No wonder that Jack was IN altered
man. l have never seen 4 smile on his
face since-though I trust that time, with
its healing influence, may at least soften
the blow.
Year: 1879

We dislike to have our personal bus mess affairs paraded before the public, and there is only one class of men that would be guilty of such attacks, but when you are in fight you must say something you know, hence, for want of anything worse, we are charged with carrying a mortgage of $500 att per cent, as though that was crime or altered the fact that John P. Cum is editor and proprietor of THE CITIZEN, We think not; at least we believe our success in journalism will depend upon what we put in our paper and not on what we owe for it, and there, too, we believe public in terest will end.
Year: 1879

VIZ congratulate the stockholders Of the
.Etna Iron X Nail Company on the an.
nouncement of per cent dividend this
morning. The Etna has been one Of the
busiest Of our local industries during the
last year, and ever since its starting has
given steady work TO Its employees. We
understand that its earnings for the last
year show handsome excess over the
amount declared. It's good property
and well managed. 1.
Year: 1879

TnE banks Of this city now hold in the
ncighborhood of $4,000 in gold, and yet
no body seems to want any Of It. Such is
life. When people find that they can get
what they have been wanting for long
time, they suddenly discover that they
donot care aboutit. 1t is not half rs con-
yenient to carry gold in ones pOcket.book
asgrccnbacks, and in times Of economy a
person does not want to wear out a purse
with metallic money.
Year: 1879

WASHINGTON, April 30.-Consiileration was
resumed of the House bill providing for GER
tain expenses of the present session of Congress
and for other purposes, the pending question
being whether it was in order to amend as pro.
posed by Senator Plumb, appropriating $780,
OOO to pay the mileage of the present session.
The amendment was decided in order, 35
against %, discussed and agreed to.


CONTAGIOUS DISEASES.


The bill then passed and the Senate consid-
cred the bill to prevent the introduction of
contagious or infectious diseases into the
United States.


to recommit with instructions to frame code
the act into effect. He could not support the
present measure because of its severity against
our commercial marine and because it made
the national board of health a legislative body
in the making of rules and regulations. This
was too grave duty to be entrusted to them.


Senator Sherman also opposed the bill.


Senator Garland OF the committee, called
attention to the fact that the bills required all
rnles and regulations framed by the national
board of health to be subject to approval of the
President. He said the committee did not
want the bill recommitted, they had already
done all they could to present the bill in an &C
ceptable shape.


Senators Hoar and Conkling opposed tn,
measure and without further proceedings Sen
ate went into executive session and soon ad
iourned.
Year: 1879

The concluding performance given by
Haverly's Georgia minstrels at the Opera
House last evening, was greeted with
large audience, and the novel and thorough
ly amusing character of the entertainment
ELECTED the most hearty and uproarous ap-
plause. The conventional and hackneyed
features of the ordinary minstrel perform
ancewere almost entirely eliminated from last
nights entertainment, in the place of which
was presented series of original and
laughter raising oddities, which for the
amusing and ludicrous were absolutely ire
sistible. The vocal performances in the in
troductory were at once artistic and pleasing,
while many of the numbers we're sung in q
manner that captlyated the entire audience
Year: 1879

Another Line of Railroad Promised by the


Government.


Special Telegram to the Globe.


WINNIPEG, April 30.-A dispatch from the
Winnipeg delegation, at Ottawa, state that the
government will build a railway from the
Winnipeg Northwestern to join the Canadian
Pacific, the city to build bridge over the
river here. Winnipeg will then have two rail-
roads, one northwest and one southwest. The
city is jubilant over the prospect. 1t is prob
able that the construction of the main road
of the Canadian Pacific to the proposed
junction with the Winnipeg branch will be left
in allegiance at present.


Immigrants still pouring into the city
every day, most of whom remain in the coun-
try
Year: 1879

Senator David Davis is just now the VIC
tim of wild Presidential boom. In the
West the Chicago Times is in for him head
over-heels; in New York the anti -Tilden pa
pers are about unanimous in the opinion that
the ponderous Senator is exactly the man to
oppose Grant with on the issue of the civil
law against the sword, while to the independ-
ent Boston Herald it appears to-day that
tsthe nomination of David Davis is the one
chance which the Democrats have for success
next year." In these times almost every
public man has his bo I'M.
Year: 1879

TIE necessity of full meeting of the
board this evening need not be enlarged
upon, in view of the above statement of sal
aries, which is needed by every individual
entitled to his or her monthly stipend, and
which each one cannot obtain unless quor-
um of the members of the board of educa-
ton can spare time from their private busl-
ness to attend to this public duty.
Year: 1879

PROCLAMATION OF THE CZAR.


ODESSA, April 30.-Adjutant General Obrut-
schoff passed through here to-day on his way
to Constantinople as bearer of letter from
the czar to the sultan and the proclamation of
the czar to the Bulgarians calling upon them
to abstain from disorders and conform to the
stlpulations of the treaty of Berlin.
Year: 1879

"A farmer can not work his farm
safely without knowing all about his
soil. Every field should be studied
as to the effects of certain methods
with fertilizers upon it. Then the
owner can act with reasonable Ger
tainty. The plan of experimenting
with fertilizers should be followed up
in successive years, until the charac-
ter of each field is known. This Is
the best season to experiment upon
fall crops and no time should be
lost if it is to be done; year will
thus be saved.
Year: 1879

List Of the Battles of the War of the Rebellion


We continue in this number the publication Of alpha
betica list of the Battles of the War of the Rebellion
from authentic sources, to continued hereafter will
be pleasant hope for the old soldiers again the
names and dates Of battles in which they their friends
took part.