smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

THE MAN WHOSE YOKE WAS NOT


EASY.


He was u spare man, and, physically, an
ill-condtioned man, but at first glance
scarcely a seedy man. The indications oi
reduced circumstances in the male Of the
better class are, fancy, first visible in the
boots and shirt, the boots oifensively ex-
hiblting a degree of polish inconsistent
with their dilapidated condition, and the
shirt showing an extent of ostentalious sur
face that Is invariably fatal to the thread
bare W aistcoat that it partially covers. He
was pale man, and fancied still paler
from his black clothes.


He handed me a note.


1t was from a certain physician; a man
of broad culture and broader experience; !;
a man who had devoted the greater part OF
his active life to the slleviaton of sorrow
and suffering; a man who had lived up to
the noble VOWS Of noble profession a man
who locke ed in his honorable breast the Sc
crets of a hundred families, whose face was
as kindly, whose touch was as gentle In the
wards of the great public hospitals as it
was beside the laced curtains of the dying
Narcissa a man who, through long con-
tact with suffering, had acquired univer-
sal tenderness and breadth of kindly phil
osophy a man who, day aud night, was at
the beck and call of Anguish; a man who
never asked the creed, belief, moral or
worldly standing of the sufferer, or even
his ability TO pay the few coins that enabled
him Qhe physician) to exist and practice
his calling in brief, man who so nearly
| lived up to the example of the Great Mas
| Ter that it seems strange l am writing OF
| him as doctor of medicine and not Of di-
vinity.


The note was in pencil, Enthusiastically
brief, and ran thus:


"Here is the man 1 speak OF. He ought
to be good material for you."


For a moment sat, looking from the
note TO the man, and sounding the "dim
perilous depths" of my memory for the
meaning of this mysterious communica'
tion. The "good MATERIAL" however, soon
relieved my embarrassment by putting his
hand ON his waistcoat, coming toward me
and saying, "Irs just here; you can fee
| it,"


1t was not necessary for me to do so. III
flash l remembered that my medica
friend had told me of certain poor pa
tlent, once a soldier, who among his othel
trials and uncertainties, was afflicted will
an aneurlsm caused by the buckle of hii
knapsack pressing upon the arch of the
aorta. 1t was liable TO burst at any shocl
or any moment. The poor fellows, ,yok'
had indeed been too heavy.


In the presence Of such tremendous
possibility think for an instant felt anx
ious only about myself. What 1 shoulC
do; how dispose of the body; how explain
the circumstances of his taking off how
evade the ubiquitous reporter and the cor
oner's inquest; how suspicion nigh
arise that had in some way, through neg
ligence, or for some dark purpose un
known to the jury, precipitated the catas
trophe, all flashed before me. Even tn
note-with its darkly suggestive offer
"good material" for me-looked diabolic
ally significant. What might not an intel
ligent lawyer make Of itr'


tore 1t up Instantly, and with feVerisl
courtesy begged him to be seated.
Year: 1877

Trouble In the Choir.
There was something so unusual in the singing Of the


choir
That the Elder looked up mildly from the tenth Of


jeremiah,
And with readJusted eyeglsss looked along the fore


most row,
While hundred necks were twisted in a stare from


AL below.
As before the rolling thunder comes distant wailing
There was presage Of disturbance in the very organs


tone;
JuO the popping of the pickets the battles awful


din,
Or the tuning OF the ddles the orchestra begin.
An unprejudiced observer might have seen with half


an eye
There was waiting an explosion that would blow them


all sky-high,
Or spontaneous combustion TO accept modern name,
That was waiting just motion to burst forth into


flame.
The Soprano sat in grandeur, with her book before


her face,


the Bass;
While the tenor stood beside her with an elevated


nose,
$50


toes.
How could any one but angels sing when they were


feeling so2
Though the hymn was Songs Of GAdness," they


would make II sounds Of Woe"
when we slug about devotion, some devotion we must


feel,


what Of squeal
But the Alto sung her solo, and then left 1t to the


Bass,
Who was gnawing at his moustache and was looking


for the place
While the organist in anger sung the leading part


alone,
Aud the Tncr tried to follow Tut it onGtd in groar
As the horrorsricken people heard the dscord rising


higher,
1t was patent to the simplest there trouble in thu


choir,
And the orgAnlst, in fury, closed the orPan with


crash,
And the Alto sobbed in anguish, and the choir hai


gone TO smash.
when the Elder We ut among them with view to rec


oncile,
The Soprano told her story with sangunary smile;
1t appeared the wretched Chorister had introduced


girl
Wit bran style Ct singing and most distract


ing curl.
But, to cap the bitter climax this usurper wore hat
Just a duck, gem, beauty, and it made the res


look fat
And the straw that broke the camels back and mAd'


the wreck complete
She came early Sunday morning and usurped th


leading seat.
When the Elder asked the Tenor why he left, he said
because
The Soprano said his chest-tones sounded just lik
filing saws;
And he overheard the Alto one night whisper to tn
Bass,
That man with such moustaehe was pAlpable dis
grace"
And the Bass informed the Elder that he saerineo'
his views
When he came and Joined the Elders choir TO help fl
up his pews;
He was an Episcopalian, and IL people thought hs'
take
Any norsense from Baptist they had made a grea
mistake.
Then the orsAnist and Alto both put on an injure'
look,
Saying something in undertone about = change o
book;
nd the Elder overheard them, as he gently close
| the door,
Use the words, "A poor old fogy," and "a sentimen
tai bore"
Year: 1877

free from serious objections, yet paatabe, nvit
ing to the sensitive palate which will create NOR
bid appetite for itself, and operate assistant to
Digestion as well perform the functions Of stimu-
liant. Such we confidently believe is to be found in
Year: 1877

A pot OF musk in room will keep
it free from flies.


Best way to remove wood lice is 10
sprinkle with chloride of lime.


A piece of dipped candle rolled in a
paper will keep moths out of goods.


When color of a fabric has been de-
stroyed, by acid, apply ammonia to
neutralize the acid, after which chlor.
oform will. in most cases, restore the
original color.
Year: 1877

Some proposals have been entertain
al Cor the consolidation of teas by pres
snre so as to diminish the expense of
frpight-making in fact, kind of brick
zoo 7tbe universal medium of barter in
Mongolia and Tartary). 1t is doubtful
whether the necessary pressure would
NOT be destructive of some of the finer
nnalities of the leaf by bruising and
forcing out the essential oils on which
delicacv of flavor so much depends. But
tbe chief feature in favor of this treat
ment. apart from the diminution of
freight and cost of transport, is the
breaking up of the fibre of the leaf, and
tbe openiDg of the small cells, closed in
the process of firing, or drying, in
China: and which it is asserted are not
thoroughly opened even by the action
of boiling water, by the ordinary modes
of tea-making. The practical result is
said to be that "the consolidated or
compressed tea will give, after ordinary
infusion, a liquor from 40 to 80 per
cent. stronger than looser or uncom-
pressed tea" Higher class tea will
show even higher per centage, though
a longer time is required for the extrac-
ton of the soluble matter. The result
of compression may be even tested with
ont any elaborate machinery, and if it
be found, as was alleged, that a com
pressed tea will yield after five minutes
infusion as strong liquor as the same
weight of tine same tea after boiling for
five hours, we may safely prophesy such
a result will soon overcome all preju


dice. There is, however, one question
to be settled about the theme, or essen
tial principle of the tea leaf, an extra
quantity of which might neither be de-
sirable in point of flavor, nor otherwise
thsn injurious to health, it is suggested
that excess of theme, or any other
stimulant principle of the leaf, may
easily be corrected by more plentiful
dilution of hot water, and thus water
ing it down, with great saving in the
primary cost. Finally it is contended
that, SO far from facilitating adultera-
ton, the enormous pressure brings ''fa-
cings" and other spurious or coloring
matter to the surface, and reveals to the
eve in the fractures, any iron filings,
grit, or other foreign substances.
And as last recommendation it is said


that the compressed tea retains its pro-
perties much longer than uncompressed
tea. This seems to have been tested by
the state in which some of the consoh-
dated tea served in the Ashantee cam
paign came back, although only wrap
ped in paper. There is no doubt that
the best tea kept in chests loses much
Of its excellence by keeping even a
couple of years, and at the end of three
years is generally assumed to have lost
one-half its strength. Consolidated tea
was supplied to the last Arctic expedi-
ton, and it is understood to have given
great satisfaction.-PaH Mall Gazette.
Year: 1877

Halls Journal Of Health gives a chap
ter on sprains, which may contain use
ful hints to sufferers from them:


Sprains or strains of the Joints are
very painful, and more tedious of recov-
cry than broken bone. What we call
flesh is muscle; every muscle tapers
down to a kind of string, which we call
cord or sinew. The muscle is above the
Joint, and the sinewy part is below it,
or vice versa, and the action is much
like that of string over a pulley.
When the ankle, for example, is
"sprained," the cord, tendon, or liga-
ment (all mean the same thing, if torn
in parts or whole, either in its body, or
from its attachment to the bone, and
infammation-that is, rush of blood
to the spot-takes place as instantly as in
case of cut on the finger. Why? For
two reasons. Some blood-vessels are
ruptured, and very naturally pour out
their contents; and second, by an infal-
lible physiological law, an additional
supply of blood is sent to the part to
repair the damages, to glue, to make
grow together, the torn parts. From
this double supply of blood, the parts
are overhown, as it were, and push out,
causing what we call Swelling ac-
emulation of dead blood, so to speak
But dead blood cannotrepair an injury
Two things, then, are to be done: to
get rid of it, and to allow the parts to
grow together. But if the finger be
cut, it will never heal as long as the
wound is pressed apart every half hour,
nor will torn tendon grow together if
it is stretched upon by the ceaseless
movement of a joint; therefore, the first
and indispensable step in every case of
sprain, is perfect quietude of the part;
single bend of the joint will retard
what nature has been hours in mending.
1t is in this way that persons with
sprained ankles are many months in
getting we'll. In cases of sprain, then,
children who cannot be kept still should
be kept in bed, and so with many grown
persons.


The swelling can be got rid Of in
several ways; by bandage, which in all
cases of sprain should be applied by a
skillful physician-otherwise mortifca-
ton and loss of limb may result. A
bandage thus applied keeps the Joint
still, keeps an excess of blood from
coming to the part, and by its pressure
causes an absorption of extra blood or
other extraneous matter.


Another mode of getting rid Of the
swelling is, to let cold water run on the
part injured for hours. Z
Year: 1877

In France so great is the dread of
military service that conscripts employ
various devices to escape it. A story
is told of a conscript who recently
feigned paralysis of the right arm. AZ
ter many attempts to expose the fraud
had failed, it was proposed to ampu-
tate the arm, in the expectation that the
man would confess that he was sham
ming, rather than lose it. All arrange
ments were made, and the knife was in
the hand of the surgeon, but the con-
script did not finch, and some excuse
was invented for not proceeding with
the amputation. He was ordered to the
hospital, to reach which q river must
be crossed. 1t was planned that the
conscript should be suddenly tossed
into the water. When the unfortunate
man found himself compelled to sink
or swim, he kept himself afoat some
time with the left arm; but finally, to
save his life, struck out manfully with
his right arm.
Year: 1877

WHAT REGISTERED LETTERS ARE
An exchange says: ''The question is
very often asked: What is the differ
ence between a registered letter and any
other? The difference is that regis
tered letter does not go in the mail
proper. 1t passes from hand to hand
outside of the mail pouches, every per-
son through whose hands it passes be-
ing required to sign a receipt for it on
receiving it, and secure a receipt for it
on passing it over to the next transit.
The person holding the last receipt is
thus always able to show who is ac-
countable for its loss. The response
bility rests upon the man who has signed
a receipt for the registered package,
and who is not able to produce the
package or a receipt from somebody
else for it. The safest way to send
money is by money order. Where it
does not go to a money-order Office it
should always be sent in a registered
package. Money ought not be sent in
an ordinary letter under any circum-
stance. There is no possible way of
tracking such letter"
Year: 1877

A DRUeGIsT's MIsTAKE.-A story is
circulating which tells how fair young
lady went to a chemist and told him to
make up one dose of castor-oil, and to
mix it with something to take the taste
away. The man told her to wait. In q
few minutes he asked her if she would
like to take glass of soda water. She
accepted the invitation and drank the
beverage. Presently she asked the roll
er of pills why he didn't give Ter the
castor oil. The man smiled a triumph
ant smile, and said: Madam, you have
taken it. mixed a fearful dose with
the soda" She turned pale; she sank
into chair; she gasped, "Great heaven
I wanted it for my motherp
Year: 1877

A GENTLEMAN residing in neat, mod


est cottage in the suburbs, caught
tramp prowling about his back yard,
evidently trying to steal something.
" Why don't you come to the front door
if you wanG anything?" indignantly
roared the proprietor. "That's what I
was looking for" was the impudent re-
ply. Didn't You see it on the other
side of the house?" retorted the gem
tleman. "How was 1 to know that was
the front door2 No silver door-plate,
no bell, no telephone, no statuary, no
servant to take your hat and cane. Tell
your boss there is gentleman out here
who is waiting for his breakfast" When
the gentleman got back with his shot
gun the tramp was not there any more.
Year: 1877

The Presidents gallAntry led him to
say to the st. Louis lawyeress, when she
spoke of being at his Inauguration
my dear Miss Cozzens, in that case 1
should have kissed something beside
the book" Next morning Mrs. Hayes
was surprised on looking from the win
dow, to see twenty-seven tramps crawl
out of the straw back of the executive
barn and shake themselves. Then they
CAME to the door and asked what she
was going to do about it. They were
divorce lawyers.
Year: 1877

A COACH passing along a country road
had nearly run over a servant girl when
the coachman cried out, "Take care.
SallyP The girl without attempting to
escape the danger, looked up at the
coachmau with an air of offended pride
and said, ut isn't Sally, or any such
low. common aud vulgar stuff-it's
Amelia Ann"
Year: 1877




| NE are not disposed to place reliance on
the tumors of Republican detection in Ohio.
The people.of that State are thrifty. and the
Republican portion of them will do their best
in the first election since the Presidential con-
test to prove that they deserve some consider
alton at the hands af the Administration. In
all probability the election will b. decided
more by the personal character of the candi-
dates put in nomination than by the prinei-
pies advanced On their behalf Platforms
mean but little nowadays, and are getting
more and more into disrepute. Horace Gree
ley, when he expressed his willingness to spit
on the platform of his party, was only little
ahead of the rest of the world, as he was In
most matters. Few people would hesitate-to
commit such an act of indignity now, for the
time is rapidly approaching when the people
will despise all platforms OF principles that
are not written on the foreheads of the candi-
dates they are called aPen TO support.-TN.
Y.%Herald.' II ~ ~ fl-f
Year: 1877

TWEED has instructed his counsel to
confess judgment in all the cases
broughtagainst him by the city, county
I State. He says he has disclosed his
defence to the Attorney General on
several occasions on the promise that
1t should secure him his release. The
Attorney General now refuses to release
him, and he considers 1t would be
useless to interpose a defence. He
denounces what he terms the injustice
OF the compromise with Sweeney. and
declares thai the four criminal indict.
ments found against the latter would
have led to his conviction had he not
fed instead of remaining as Tweed did
to meet the issue. Tweed says Con
molly and Sweeney were as much 10
the ring frauds as himself. Sweeney's
statement is an admission OF such CON-
plicity, and Tweed thinks he has q
right to be leniently treated.
Year: 1877

Baltimore Suns Washington Correspondence


1t will be in the case of Pitkin and the 9TH
er removals in the South made by the Presi-
dent that the fight made against him and his
policy will be first initiated. The President,
by law, is required to send to the Senate
within thirty days of its meetings nomina-
tions in the place of all officers suspended by
him. The Senate will consider their cases in
executive session and in the privacy which
attaches thereto, Senators will at first speak
their minds much more plainly than in open
session. 1T is positively certain that, although
the people generally appear to approve Of the
policy of the President, and so far no Senator
or Representative has come out openly against
him, there win be q stand, and a decided
stand taken against him and against Ibis policy
by his party friends in both houses of Con-
gress As just said, it will be initiated in the
Senate in the executive sessions, but it will
soon spread to the open sessions. In the pres
ent very nearly equal political division of par
ties in the SeEate, the result WILL be that even
in the absence of any formal alliance or un-
derstanding with disaffected Republicans the
Democratic Senators will nine times out of
ten be able to control both legislation and the
approval or rejection of appointments.
Year: 1877

REFRIGERAroRs AND HOW TO MAKE
oNE.-Take large, tight box Of the re.
qaired size, and put some blocks on each
corner for legs. Then take small box,
leaving space Of ut least six inches on
the sides and bottom. Place a layer Of
powdered charcoal, fine sawdust, or some
other good non-conduetor upon the bottom
and set the smaller box In. Then pack
the charcoal or sawdust all about in The
space between the two to the top. Make
a closely fitting cover for each box. The
ice should be placed in the box in some
TN vessel so arranged that the water will
run ra oil through the bottom Of both boxes
II such a refrigerator is tightly and wei
made and placed in cool place, 100 poundi
OF ice will last week in il.
Year: 1877

The CUSTOM OF SHAKING HANps.-
This, as well as most modern forms Of
salutation and civility, was derived from
war, and they all ketokeu some Difference


as from conquered person to the con.
queror. Shaking hands was token Of
truce, IN which each party took hold Of
the others .ceapoa-hand as security
against treachery. Each hand was de-
Prived Of its gauntlet, SO that they might
be alike unprotected, and to this day L i
uncivil to offer a gloved hand in salutatiou !"
Year: 1877

Winter has gone, spring has come.
All the grass about Laughing Brook was
green and fresh and tender. The young
leaves were on his trees at his window
The young minister, whose vision was vet
dim, could hear the lap and ripple of the
water over the stones. He did not shut il
out now 1t seemed to him as though the
the memories of his dead love hung SO
closely about Laughing Brook, that il
spirits could return to earth, hers would
revisit the spot Of all others.


At least those fond remembrances that
If they arc not the spirits of those we have
lost, have us in their stead, would find his
shady heart beside It's margin, and he
might beguile himself into fancy that
he was waiting, as he often waited, for her
coming step. At last he determined that
he would go thither.


"Ching Fo," he said TO his little Jana.
nese, "can you wheel me as Ear as the
brook yonder.


The servant replied by retreating be.
hind his masters invalid chair, and no
more was said until, by quiet paths, thew
had come to the side Of Laughing Brook
nay, to the very spot where he parted
from Ada, where he had thrown her trotb,
plight ring into the water.


Then she stood beside him living, young
and beautiful. Then he was strong ana
active, and full of vigor. To-day she lay
dead, ashes amidst the ashes of her ruined
home, and he a helpless, half.blind invalid
sat there alone. And all might have beer
SO different.


lie put his head down upon bis hand,
and the tears would not be crushed bach
from the weakened eyes. "If could opl,
have died with her," he said to himself
ut would have been so much BETTER


Meanwhile Ching Fo, who must have
nad some sorrow of his own, cried softly
behind his chair. But Ching Fos eve,
Year: 1877

stead Of investing it at home, some
thing of the old fashioned conteutment
might return to the land. The pas.
sion for pleasure and dissipation has
gone through all classes and driven
the people into wild and unwise ex-
traAgances, wherefore we should be-
glad to see the popular tendencies take
more wholesome direction, and earn.
estly recommend the rival plowing
among all such young Americans as
have leisure and opportunity TO in.
dulge in that noble pursuit.-N 7.


World.
Year: 1877

TILpEN will be President, and that the
decision will be accepted as an honorable
and legal solution ofthe contest. we are
confident that it will be in favor OF
Mr., TILDEN, but an adverse decision
will not satisfy Democrats ofthe honesty
of Returning Boards or the patriotism OF
the GRASr-CHASDLER conspirstors. 1t
decided against US we wi l submit to the
decision, but will 60 before the people on
the general issues and ask their Judg-
ment at the ballot box. This pacific sd-
iustment of great Lationsl danger is the
fullest vindlcation OF the capacity OF
forty millions OF people for self govern
ment, and viewing it IN this light We
have reason to be gratined for the pass
age of the compromise measure.
Year: 1877

1t is said that "the moon has gained
about an inch in rapidity of notion
within the last hundred years. This
is, no doubt, true, for young men will
tell you that when talking at the gate
with their sweethearts the moon goes
down much quicker now than it did
when they were boys waiting to rob
watermelon patch.
Year: 1877

"Mamma," said a little boy, "is
our old hen going to be sent away
for the summer2" II guess not my
son. she replied; ''hut why do you
ask the question: "Because l heard
pa tell our new hired girl that they
would have such sweet time when
he sent his old hen away for the sum
mer.n