smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

VITAL FoRCE.-Iet us consider few Of
the many ways in which we waste the
stuff that life is made of. 1t has Been well
said that the habit of looking on the
bright side of things is worth far more
than a thousand pounds year," and GER
tainly it is habit that must add many
years to the lives of those who acquire it.
Really every fit of dependency and every
rage take so much out of us that any one
who indulges in either without a great
struggle to prevent himself doing so should
be characterized us little less than-to use
an American eXpression-" fearful fool. "
How silly it seems even to ourselves, after
cooling, to have acquired nervous head
ache and to have become generally done
up, standing ronnd the room, and showing
other signs of foolish anger, because the
dinner was five minutes late, or because
some ones respect for us did not qnite rise
to the high standard measured by our
egotism AS if it were not far more i'm
portant that we should save our vital en-
ergy, and not get into rage, than that
the dinner should be served exactly to the
moment. One days friend of Lord Pal
merston asked him when he considered u
man to he in the prime of life; his i'm
mediate reply was 80. But" he added
with a playful smile, as / have just en-
tered my eightieth year, perhaps l am
myself II little past i'll" How is it that
such men work on vigorously 10 the end
Because they treasure their ever-dimniSh-
ing vital force. They studiedly refrain
from making a pull on the constitution
Recalling the borders of 70 years of age
| they us good rs say to themselves: d" We
must now take care what we are about
Of course, they make sacrifices, avoid n
number of treacherous gaieties. and living
simply, they perhaps give some cause o.
otfense, for the world does not approve Of
singularity. But let those laugh who win
They hold the ccnsorious observations oi
critics in dersion, and maintain the even
tenor of their way. In other words they
conserve their vital force, and try to keer
above ground as long as possible. Blus.
tering natures, forgetful to the great truth
that "power itself hath not one-half the
might of genteness," miss the ends for
which they strive just because the force
that is in them is not properly economical
Then as regards temper: any man who
allows that to master him wastes as much
energy as would enable him to remove the
cause of anger or overcome an opponent
The little hoy of eight years old who in
the country is often seen driving team Of
four immense dray-horses, is one of the
innumerable instances of the power Of
reason over mere brute force, which should
induce violent tempers to become calm
from policy, if from no higher MOTIVE
Chambers Journal.
Year: 1877

DRESSING A LoBsTER.-A young house.
keeper up town was much surprised the
other day, upon answering ring at the
door bell, to receive from a small boy u
package, which proved to be large red
lobster Gt having been cooked), with n
note pinned around one leg, stating, Your
husband would like to have this brolled
for his dinner"


She knew her husband was partial to
broied meats, but not having seen u lob
ster before, she really couldn't conceive
how such hard, horrid-looking thing
could be cooked in any way, much less
brolled; but he must be pleased if it was
possible to do it, and SO all the cook-books
(she had small library of them) were
taken down and examined, but no recipe
could be found for broiling any thing like
this.


Finally. being at her wits end she dress.
ed it up in dolls clothes. and set it on her
husband chair at the dnnor-table, where
hat man found it when he came home, the
joke being completely turned upon him
self though the woman was seemingly un-
conscious of it, only saying, as she pointed
to the ridiculous object, " You wished me
to dress it for dinner, and that is the only
way knew of doing it."-KIngston Free
mans Journal.
Year: 1877

EP.-Sleep, DR.. A. W. Hammond
says, may be defined as general repose.
Almost all the organs rest during sleep.
The heart, popularly supposed TO be in
perpetual motion, is at rest hours out Of
the "a, respiratory organs 8, and the other
organs more or less. The brain alone is
constantly employed during wakefulness
and for it sleep was formed and made
needful to its preservation. 1t is true
that sleep does not give the brain total
recess from labor; imagination and men,
orry are often wildly active during sleep
and unconcious cerebration likewise takes
place, but enough rest is obtained for the
renovation of the brain, and that which
has been torn down during wakefulness i;
to certain extent rebuilt. Sleep is d
most wonderful power-often stronger
than the will, as in the case of the Sleep
ing soldier-and more mighty than pain
as when sick persons and tortured prison
ers sleep in the midst Of their suffering
No torture, it is said, has been found equal
to the prevention of sleep. The amour
of sleep needed differs according to the
constitution and habits. Big brains an(
persons who perform much labor need {
large amount of sleep. Children neeC
more sleep than grown people because
construction is more active than decay il
their brains.
Year: 1877

HOME BEAUTY.-A tasteful woman can
make garret beautiful and homelike al
little cost; for the beauty of home depends
more on education and refined taste than
upon mere wealth. If there is no artist
In house it matters little that there is =
large balance at the bank. There is usual.
ly no better excuse for barren home thar
ignorance or carelessness. A little mecban.
ioAl skill can make brackets and shelves
for the walls. A thoughtful walk in the
woods can gather leaves and lnchens ant
ferns for adorning the unpictured rooms
A trife saved from daily expenses can now
and then put new book upon the table Oh
shelf. The expenditure of few shilling.
can convert the plain window into con
servatory. In these and fifty other wsy,
can plain, bare room be converted into ,
scene Of beauty.
Year: 1877

A lot Of 10000 sheep were recently sold
in southern county Of California for five
cents head, the results Of the unusual
drought in that state, and number of
similar cases are also reported.
Year: 1877

FRED DOUGLASS TO THE FREEDMEN
A dispatch from St. Michaels, Talbot
county, Maryland, says that Fred Doug
lass had just paid visit, for the first time
since he left there, forty-one years ago, to
his former master. Capt. Thomas Aud.
Douglass learned his age from Captain
Auld who has the record of his BIRTH
showing that Fred Bailey was born in
February 1878. While there, Mr.. Doug
lass addressed a large audience of white
and colored people He said to the color
ed people that they were in contact with
the most indomitable, and the most en-
lightened race in the world. and he would
be false to his own race if he did not tell
them what an immense distance they were
behind the white people. He did hot be-
lieve the colored people were fundamen-
tally inferior to the whites, but they are
nevertheless practically inferior. We
must not talk about equality until we can
do what white people Can do. So long,
said he, as they can build vessels and we
cannot, we are their interiors; so long us
they can build railroads and we cannot we
are their interiors; so long as they can
found governments and we cannot we are
their interiors. If in twenty years from
now the colorcd race rs u race has not adj
vanced beyond point where it was when
emancipated, it is doomed. The question
is, will the black men do us much now for
his master (himself) as he used to do for
his old master.


Mr.. Douglass was quite severe upon
Prof. Langston for maintaining that the
mulatto is the superior of the black man,
intellectually. Poor people, he said, are
always despiseG people To be respect
ed they must get money and property,
Without money there is no leisure. With
out leisure no thought. Without thought
no progress. The preachers should tell
them more what to do and less what TO
feel. The should cultivate their brains
more, their lungs less. They should not
depend upon being helped, but should do
for themselves. The Lord is good and
kind, but is of the most use to those who
do for themselves. No man has right to
live unless he lives honestly, and no man
lives honestly who lives upon another.


He added that the Southerners could
control the vote of the negroes in the
Southern States far more completely than
the Northerners. The colored men turned
instinctively for advice and assistance to
those who have been raised with him.
Year: 1877

The death of the famous cavalryman
produced deep and painful sensation,
in some degree akin to that produced by
the death of Jackson. The Southern
people, indeed, had become accustomed
to couple together the three great names,
Lee, Jackson and Stuart, valuing each
for his peculiar qualities. No compari-
son was intended to be made between
these three distinguished soldiers, but it
is interesting to notice how sharply con-
trasted they were in character and how
peculiarly each was fitted for the sphere
in which he moved and his special func-
tions. Lee, the head and front of the
struggle, was the born commander-in-
chief, fitted for the conception of great
campaigns, ever wide awake, man of
august dignity by nature, calm, suave,
grave, taking good and evil fortune with
the same imposing serenity; in person,
one of the most noble and graceful men
of his epoch, and the finest rider in the
Southern army; in character, simple,
pure, patient, binding to himself both
the love and respect of men. Jackson
was the infantry leader, the ''right arm''
to execute what Lee conceived: in per-
son not graceful, in manner silent,
reserved and often abrupt; cautious


council, but rapid and terrible
in execution, going to battle with NUT
tered prayers on his lips, leaving all to
Providence, but striking with all the
power of his arm to do his own part, and
in many ways resembling the Tonsides
of Cromwell. Stuart, on the contrary,
was the cavalier, essentially belonging
to the class of men who followed the for
tunes of Charles I.-ardent, impetuous,
brimming over with the wine of life and
youth, with the headlong courage of a
high-spirited boy, fond of bright colors,
of rippling flags, of martial music, and
the clash of sabers-in all the warp and
woof his character an embodiment of
the best traits of English cavaliers mot
Of their bad traits, Although his utter
carelessness as to the impression he pro-
duced subjected him to many calumnies,
it is here placed on record by one who
knew his private life thoroughly and
was with him day and night for years,
that he was in morals among the purest
of men--a faithful husband, absolutely
without vices of any description, and if
not demonstrative in his religious views,
an earnest and exemplary Christian. His
| love for his wife was deep and devoted,
and on the death of his little daughter,
Flora, he said to me, with tears IN his
eyes, 81 shall never get over it" u.
Estea Cooke, IN the Philadelphia Times.
Year: 1877


As young man was looking over u
barrel of eggs received at a grocery OH
Newark Avenue, Jersey City, about II
month ago, he found the following in
scription upon one of the eggs:


If this you see, young man,


Write just as soon as you can,


And let me hear from my favorite egg;a


This great boon humbly beg.


JULIA BRIERsoN, Westfield, Ohio.


The youth Immediately wrote to the
address, inclosing his photograph, and
received reply and picture from the
writer of the lines. The correspondence
was continued to the satisfaction of both
persons, who are to be married next
month. 1t is said the young lady is the
daughter of a wealthy farmer, and wrote
the lines in jest, never expecting to hear
from them.
Year: 1877

PRESIDENT MacMahon declares that
there can be no question of compro-
mise or Cancellation. Gambetta is
firm and persistent in the interests Of
the people, is very brilliant man,
and MacMahon may have trouble if
he persists in his present course.
Year: 1877

A good story on NJ. Saint-Saens Is current.
He is not only near sighted, he is near
sightedness itself He knocked a lady down
the other day by running against her, and
gave her kick when she was on the
ground saying, az he lifted his boot, "You
coniounded old wheelbarrow, you came near
making me fall % Some time before this
adventure he stumbled over a barrel lying
on the sidewalk, and jumped up (for it laid
him low took off his hat and bowed as fast
as he could, saying, "Ten thousand pardons
madam | really did not see YOU" His Ia.
test adventure was at a party. He had at
last consented to play, bu. the host had had
hard work to get him to the piano stool. He
was no sooner seated than he became all e1-
element. He with one hand threw his hair
back, and would alternately hug the piano
and lift his head as if he tried to pierce the
ceiling. You hpve seen these frenzied musi.
clans. He for an hour kept the company
under the charm of his brilliant execution
and extemporization, but after an hour at
ention begrn to tire, When sixty minutes
of music had been enjoyed, the company be.
gan to take French leave, exchanging, as
they retreated, significant smile with the
host and hostess. Presently the hostess her
self, gave out, and went to bed. M. Saint
Saens was more brilliant than ever his
eyes shot flames his body swayed to and
| fro ; he beat time with his head. The
clock struck two IA. M. The host feeling
drowsiness mastering him completely, went
to NJ Saint-Saens, and laying his hand ON
the musicians shoulder, asked, "My dear
sir, how can / ever sufficiently express my
gratitude Tor the delightful evening you have
made all of us spend, but am afraid you
must be little tired, aren't you % NJ.
Saint-Saens replied, without looking up or
stopping his play, ''Tired?" I am just begin
ming to get in the humor to play" To con-
firm speech by deed NJ. Saint-Saens dashed
off with fire, vehemence, and vigor whose
like he had not shown during the whole eve.
ming. The host despaired. He Joined his
sleeping wife, and LETT drowsy servants to
show the musician TO the door when at last
he did end his performance. This was not
till daybteak. Then NJ. Saint-Saens Quilted
the piano stool, and, bowinfi very low to
right and left as he retired to the door, he
weht home delighted with himself, for he
thought even the absence of applause showed
the company were enraptured beyond ex-
preston. He was far from imagined that
the ladies and gentlemen to whom he had
bowed so low as he withdrew were only
chairs and lounges Paris correspondent
Boston Gazette.
Year: 1877

New birth OF loveliness when sunbeams fleet
Color the drops OF every passing shower;
When all the air is warm with odors sweet,
And leaves peep out and tucken hour by hour;
When illmy, mystic clouds Of opal tint
Float leisurely beneath the dreamy sky,
And the world thrills with murmurngs that hint
At summer gloIles coming by-and-by;
II any weak despair or discomfort


Lurk like a subtle poison In your heart,
Through time and action wasted'or misspent,
so that in all this JOY 1t has no part,
Up! ont through light and perfume take your way
To where the solitude Is spell-bcset
with deep, deep peace, beneath whose hidden sway
Your heart may rest, and dreamily forget.
There lay yourself along the tender grass,
And let the scented breezes softly play
Ger barred brow, and watch the shadows pass,
And fall and llnger, and then dart away,
Chased by the sunlight. See how glorlhed
With golden klngcups is the endless green,
And pale, pate priinroses, and daisies pied,
And YlOlets, purple-eyed that peep between
So gazing, listen. Let the music rare


That underies all nature sweetly glide
Into your heart, and all It's aching care.
Borne up and ou: upon The joyous tide
OF perfect melody, VIII leave no trace,
And your refreshened heart will wake and sing,
And all the world viii wear another face,
And life will seem SO beautiful a thing
That you will tura and sigh with sweet surprise,
And whisper TO the gliding present, "Stay!
SO fair you show to my new-wakened eyes
That would have my life one long today


-Harpers Magazine.
Year: 1877

a daughter had been the hope of Mrs.
Hounslows life, Thinking, when Lawrence
was small, of the beauty of little girl, 100,
with her curls running out in rings under
the lace and ribbons Of her cap, she had
been obliged to change the thought to that
ofthe maiden who should become Lawrence's
bride, and give her all the comfort and none
Of the care of daughter.


She had always been lonesome body; an
orphan at first, and then so few years wife
before she was widow, with her unruly boy
at school and she had looked at mothers
with their little girls, and envied them the
companionship, the opportunity of making
charming dresses for the pretty darlings, the
power to live their lives over again in their
girls.


When Lawrence came home to stay she
had, of course, much comfort in him and if
the young man enjoyed his fling" she knew
nothing about it. Yet Lawrences fling
was not bad one, as filings 60 he drove a
fast horse, and he loved game dinner.
When the exuberance Of youth passed he
would settle into respectable citizen with a
bank account To her eyes, to-day, he was
a paragon.


Settle. But not alone. 1t followed as
the night the day that Lawrence would mar
ry-a very pretty girl or very rich one
Neither would be to Mrs. Hounslow's taste /;
the pretty girl hardly the companion she
sought for herself, the hjghty head turned
by yanty,the appetite insatinble for fattery;
and the rich one maste ring Lawrence, and
consequently herself. She had chosen her
self charming young girl with as sweet Il
nature as ever shown out of blue eye /;
she frequently had her there, although to no
effect except in her own dreams. In what
dreams Mrs. Hounslow INDUCED by the
evening fire apropOs of Louise Mandell
Somehow the young orphan girl always
seemed sitting on the other side of the fire,
its light dancing in her eyes, on her dimp-
ling smile and sometimes Mrs. Hounslow
saw that light glance on little golden we'd
ding ring, and sometimes on little golden
nesting head and Lawrence was always
standing on the rug between the two, look
ing, with equal tenderness in his dark eyes
at one side and at the other. That was her
evening dream. In the morning Louise
moved about the house with her, cutting
flowers, filling vases, concoctir,g choice dish
es-what a mother-in-law she would make
How happy she was going to be in this dear
daughter She had even gone so far as to
buy an open ph@ton in this dream for Louise
to drive her out in ON sunny evenings, and
was just settling on the color of the fringed
silken canopy, when she awoke to see thai
Louise was cipher beside that great luxur
ious, hazel-eyed and hateful blonde, Flori
Furlong.


Mrs Hounslow's son and Furlong
There was no worse blood in the land; none!
enough family enough and yet nothing
too INSCRIPTIONS of which TO suspect tn
men too selfish. silly, sloyenly, stupid
'sPitefal, of which to accuse the womenl
Year: 1877

The ground is bare in spots and cats may
be planted to advantage. You cannot plant
cats any too early, nor is it possible to get
too many of them in hill. You may not
raise anything where the cat is planted, but
the cat will not raise anything either and
that Is where enormous profit comes in.
Year: 1877

IMPORTANT TO PERSONS VISITING NEW
YoRK.-One of the best kept and most
convenient Hotels for Merchants and
others to stop at when in New York is the
Grand Union Hotel, nearly opposite the
Grand Central Depot, kept on the Euro
pean plan--you therefore only pay for
what you get. Everything is first class,
and prices moderate, adapted to the string
ency of the times, You save the expense
of carriage hire, and by leaving your bag
gage check on the counter of the Hotel
your baggage will be delivered in your
rooms, fitteens minutes after the arrival
OF the cars, free of expense. We advise
you to give The Grand Union a trial
Year: 1877

Joseph Cook, in the preliminary remarks
to one of his recent lectures in Boston said :
Prayer, it has commonly been taught, has
four Clements confession, thanks
giving, petition. hold that we must always
add a fifth part, namely, total self-surrender
All the four parts without the fifth are what
the Scriptures call vain repetition aud not
prayer. If man offers prayer in the full
sense he may be assured in the name of
natural law that he will obtain religious aid
of kind that he can receive from no other
source. Men who revere the scientific
method will admit that experiment is the
crucial test of truth. Who ddres try the er-
pertinent Of prayer in the sense Of total and
dfectiondte Seifsmrender 10 GOdY A Boston
scholar has lately told the public that
somewhat rough man of affairs in this city,
in tine presence of the American evangelist,
thought he would be manly enough to try
the experiment of offering prayer. But"
said the evangelist, "you must be sincere"
81 know very little of this thing" the man
replied, " but | am willing to be sincere in
one prayer at least" Z" Very well" said the
evangelist, " let us kneel down here and now
together, aud do you say from the depths OF
your heart God be merciful to me a sin
ner.'" The merchant did that and sup
pose from what followed that he did it i'll "a
genuine way. Certain it is that there struck
across the mans countenauce "A beam OF
light from the Sun behind the sun peace
and an illumination unknown to him before.
He rose up, saying This is singular ex-
perience. My partner, do you do as have
done, aud perhaps there will be similar re-
suits" The partner was a skeptic, but he
knelt and offered the prayer; Cpd be mer-
cful to Inc sinner" and he, too, rose up.
smitten across the forehead with the lignt
that falls out OF those ancestral spaces, from
which all souls come and into which all
men haste"
Year: 1877

A Presbyterian minister tells the follow
ing story: lie was at one time pastor of "A
church III a town where the richest aud il
every way most prominent man was uotori-
ously neglecter of religion and openly hos
tile TO the ministers. Seeing the old man il
his carriage before a store in the place one
day, he felt a strange impulse to go near and
Join himself to this chariot aud ask the
liberty of visiting him, that he might preach
the Saviour. Fearing Il scene he reirained,
aud was conscence-smitten. Six weeks
later he met The carriage on the street again,
and the impulse was renewed aud the same
words suggested. He immediately consulted
one of his judicious deacons, who advised
him not to visit him. He would be driven
from the door, there would be a scandal,
and he would become an object of derision.
But he could not rest. He felt it was God
calling him to go near and join the god
less old man, and, in disobedience to advice,
the next day he approached the stately
mansion, trembling. He saw the old man
and was seen by him. The door was opened.
He expected insult. Instead, two trembling
hands were extended in welcome, and the
strange words uttered, 81 have been looking
for visit from you for six weeks. | have
been longing to know more about the Lord
| have so long rejected" The wife and
daughter were called in. and there he
"preached unto them Jesus" and all three
soon afterwards believed, and "went OH
their way rejoicing" When one is prompted
by the Spirit to speak it is safe TO hope and
believe that the Spirit is prompting to hear
-Bdptist Weekly.
Year: 1877

Who is to attack the strong fortress of error
and evil Who is to visit the sick, and the
fatherless, and the widowed Who is to
plead with the tempted Who is to scatter
the seeds of life and light in all dead and
dark places A sin of omission is setting
aside some positive duty involving action,
fidelity, and the putting forth of beneficent
power. Repeat it, and it may leave one post
after another, and finally the whole field of
activity, unnamed and unoccupied. A
small sin Why, it vacates the central and
regnant purpose of the Christian calling
Rec. 4 L. Stone, u. ID.