smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

~ The following are the circumstances OF
a murder recently committed in Litchfield
Montgomery county, Ill.:-A bound girl of the
age OF - or IL was one morning a week or so
ago seolded pretty severely for some misde-
meaner, and finally was whipped with a small
rod. Everything passed or in the morning
Wen enough without any further difficulty
The girls special duty was 10 take care of three
htue chlldren; and going out TO the barn. as
was her usual custom, 10 swing that had
been prepared for the children's use, she took
the youngest child "a boy) and hung him in
the swing un:il dead, then ran TO the house au d
told the mother OF the child that a man came
into the barn, took the child and hung it, But
as there could be trace of a mans track found
In or about the barn, the girl was arrested,
after which she confessed, and said that she
took this method Of redress for the punish
ment she had received in the morning She
now awaits trial in iail.
Year: 1866

HS-A genuine case of trance is reported from
Guildford, England. An old lady, after being
for a long time in a low state OF health sank
down suddenly, and was pronounced by a sur.
geon to be dead. The coffin was purchased
and the body put into il, but it is said that lu ST
as the undertakers Were about TO screw down
the lid, the supposed corpse started bolt up-
righf, 10 the great terror of the bystanders, and
getting out of its coffin walked across the room
IL is added that ''the old lady is now hale and
strong"
Year: 1866

81 There is girl in Troy whose lips are so
sweet that they stick together every morning
by the honey they distill, and she cannot open
her mouth until she has parted her lips with
silver knife. She will be a treasure TO her
husband, not only on account of her sweet
ness, but because she can occasionally keep her
month shnf
Year: 1866

gMaohAlicsvilles, -sr.- Iowa,


Have come to the conclusion that the best way
to get nliying iS to work for 1t and wonld there
fore give notice to al mnnkind that they have
prepared with the very best OF stock to do your
SADDLE AND HARNESS WORK,
in the best style of the art. Repairing done in
good style and on short notice
die Whip Haifer or set of Plain Fancy
Harness, CIfE.l p don't fail to call on


l2n50fn6 PARSONS & SHROPSHIRE. p
Year: 1866

THE SiAMEsE TWINS EcLIPsED.-Two
negro children are now on exhibition at


Raleigh, n G., that excite much curios-
ity. They are l4years of age, and were
born of slave parents in Anson county.


The Standard speaks Of them as follows:


1.-THE connection between these girls
is closer than in the Siamese twins,
there being more of the physical and
mental organs common to each. The
connection begins below the neck and
terminates at the extremity Of the spine.
To touch one at any point Of her body
below the connection sends a sensation
to the brain of each; while q touch of
either above the connection is felt by
that one only. They can talk to differ
ent persons at the same time on different
subjects; and one can engage in game of
whist while the other reads or sings
The lady who has them In charge was
Year: 1866

A few short months ago, a large party
lin the North made the welkin ring with
the argument that the Administration is


the Government. -
Times have changed
A short period ago the same party con-
tended that the President was the Gov
Iernment.
Times have changed.
A brief spell in the past they said that
to denounce the President was as great a
crime as treason.
Times have changed


b. "A short period ago Andrew johnson


was proclaimed by these men one Of the


greatest statesmen that ever lived
Times have changed.
A brief spell in the past we were told


that the Union was made to be perpetual,


and that to preserve it was worth any


sacrifice that could be made.
Times have changed.
A short period ago it was proclaimed


that the war was waged solely for the
lperpetuation of the Union, and when that


was accomplished the States were to have
| all their rights unim paired
Times have changed.
A brief spell in the past the negro was


looked upon as an inferior race, unfit for
equal social and political rights with the
white man.
Times have changed.
A short period ago the Republican par
| ty denied that its object was to force me-


gro suffrage upon the people.
Times have changed.
A few years in the past we had no
enormous debt the people were compar-


atiVely free from taxation, and every


body was prosperous.
Times have changed.
A few years ago the Constitution was
respected, our rulars were honest men and
patriots, the laws were obeyed, gold and
silver was the currency of the nation, our
expenses were light, North and South re-
garded one another as brothern, we did
not require the services of mighty army
and navy, and all the people lived in hap
piness together.
Times have changed.
A few years ago the abolition leaders


were regarded as mischievous men, whose


doctrines were entitled to the disappro-


baton of every good citizen.
| Times have changed.
| A few years ago statesmen like Clay


and Webster, on the Whig side, and Ben


ton, Cass, Douglas and Wright, on the
democratic, were in Congress, and d.


rected the law making power of the ma
ton.


Times have changed.
In fact, look in what direction we may,


the studious man cannot fail to be inn


pressed with the astonishing manner in


which times have changed. What was


once thought evil and dangerous, is now


considered the perfection Of wisdom and


public virtue. Whether the change has


been for the advantage or disadvantage Of


the people, we leave for the future to dis


close.-Augzaize Democrat,
Year: 1866

a@-A mining company in Northern
Louisiana, struck solid block of pure
lead weighing thirty three tons. Other
large blocks were found at distance of
eleven feet below the surface of the earth.
Year: 1866

New ORLEANS Jan. 26-The Price Current says
that the financial arrangements of the Government
will be seriously affected should the crop be cut short
by the failure of the Freedmens Bureau to protect
the agricultural interests of the South this year.
through the proper enforcement of the labor con-
tracts.


Should the cotton supply be small, 4 material rise
in the price of the staple will result which will press
severely the northern manufacturing districts and
leave so small quantity for export as to diminish
the supply of foreign exchange cause Il consequent
demand for gold extnguish foreign Indebtedness
and materially obstruct the Federal Treasury opera
tions
Year: 1866

New METHOD OF RoBBERY.-Cultvating the ac-
quaintance of mOneyed stranger and familiary
IS the latest mode preparing him be quietly rob-
bed; Some robbers handled a returned Californian
IN this way night or two ago at Wellsville Ohio
on the Cleveland and Pittsburg Railroad In a short
time the strychnne, previously placed in the apple
began to take effect causing the gentleman to fall in
helpless condition on the pavement, where he was
discovered at late hour, in great agony robbed of
all his money and everything of value about his per
son. Apples tamiliary dealt out by strangers should
hereafter be considered unhealthy.
Year: 1866

CouNTERFEIT.-The Comptroller of the Currency,
national currency, Of the denomination Of so on
the First National Bank of Indianapolis. Indiana
The general appearance f the bill is calculated 10
deceive, but it will not bear close scrutiny The
engrav rg is coarse and poorly executed hut the let
tering is considered well done: the United States
the original. The mbering is the same the figures
being thin and poorly defined The back of the BILL
with the picture Of the Baptism Of Pocahontas" IS
poorly engraved The paper is inferior to the paper
upon which the genuine is printed
Year: 1866

debtor is legally robbed of over ten thou sand dollars, and debt of two hundred dollars and some one hundred dollars cost left unpaid Such is very usual method of proceeding under our laws. But it may be said such laws are defective, and can be improved. That is true. Still, the whole system is wrong

 If no forcble collection was allowed, the credit of nearly every man in the commu- nity would be quite as good as at present. It would make people more careful in their word, and much hard feeling and difficulty would be avoided. There could then be no custom of credit to compel the trusting man against the real desire and better judgment of the seller, for the fear of giv- ing offense to customer. Even if credit were given unless payment was prompt, no more credit would be the result, and Tn that way not half as much loss as now. Now man owes a merchant bill, and desires further credit. The merchant ex- tends the credit many times, for fear of offending the debtor and losing what is already due.

 But we have pursued the subject quite as far as we intended at first. It is too hot to sit down and write elaborate articles on any subject, much less one that will require statistics in support of positions. We throw out these suggestions tor the reaec- tion ot the reader, and will recur to the subject hereafter.
Year: 1866

We take the following sensible article from the St. Louis Press, of August lst, and recommend its careful pcrusal to all our readers:

 We are of those who believe all laws providing for the forcible collection of debts should be abolished. The interests of all classes of the community would be promoted by such measure. It would cheapen the necessaries of life, and more equally distribute the wealth of a commu- nlty. The consumer of goods pays nearly or quite one hundred per cent. more than he would If there was no legalized credit system he importer of goods adds twenty per cent to his prices in order to cover losses by bad debts, and the next purchaser the same until one hundred per cent. is added by the time it reaches the country merchant. Thus it is plain to be seen that one hundred per cent on the value of all articles purchased ls-paid to keep upa legal credit system.

 But that is not all An amount equal in value to all the property of the nation is paid to lawyers, sheritfs judges, jurors, witnesses, and others connected with the law, every eighteen years. Thus not only does 1t cost one hundred per cent. on every artlcle purchased, but all the property of the land every eighteen years to keep up legalized credit system.

 Mercantile credit is never given on the chances of collecting it by law. No mer- chant would sell dollars worth of goods did he suppose he would have to resort to law to enforce collection. The credit is given upon the individuals character for integrity and business. A man may be worth one million of dollars in lands and property, yet ii he has no character for promptness in meeting his obligations he could not obtain one dollars credit from any merchant in good standing. Honor being the foundation of credit, to honor and not force the creditor should look for settlement.

 Again, the laws as now enforced oper- ate as lcgalized robbery. A man owes one thousand dollars, and has fifteen thousand dollars worth of real estate; misfortune renders it impossible to meet the debt, and judgment is obtained; the execution ls- sues, and is placed in the hands Of the sheriff; the land is situated twenty-five miles from the oonrt house; it IS adver- tised and sold at the court house for per bape eight hundred dollars, Thus, the
Year: 1866

Pour four gallons of boiling water
over six pounds of washing soda (sal
soda) and three pounds Of unslacksd
lime. Stir the mixture well, and let il
settle until it is perfectly clear. tits
better to let it stand all night, as it takes
some time for the sediment TO settle,
When clear, strain the water, put six
pounds of fat with it, and boil for two
hours, stirring it most of the time. If
it does not seem thin enough, put an
other gallon of water on the grounds,
stir andtrain of, and add as is wanted
to the boiling mixture. Its thickness
can be tried by occasionally putting q
little on plate to cool. Stir in hand
full of salt Just before taking it off the
fire. Have tub ready soaked, to pre-
vent the soap from sticking, pour it in,
and let it settle until solid, when you will
have from the above quantity of ingre-
dieuts about 40 lbs: Of nice white soap.
Year: 1866

"A reporter, in describing meeting
Of a total abstinence society, said that
s'they had a most harmonious and prof
table session, and retired from the hall
iull Of the best of.spirits.
Year: 1866

Take the finest liver or lake sand and
wash it perfectly clean. Heat it very
hot, and while hot mix it thoroughly
with stearic acid in the proportion of
one pound of acid to 100 lbs. OF land
Let 1t cool. Take a small sieve and
fasten boards to the bottom to keep the
sand from falling through Place
enough sandlin the sieve to hold the
flowers in position, not covering them;
then with sheet of paper twisted in
the form of cone or funnel, carefully
let the sand pass between, around and
over the flowers, covering them all
about half AN inch. Set in a place
where the sand will remain at a tenn
perature Of about 70 degrees. The
length of time in which they must re-
main in the sand depends uponRthe
thickness of the leaves and petals, vary,
ing from seven to twelve ormore hours.
This must be determined by experience.
When they have remained sufficiently
long, remove the boards carefully from
the bottom of the sieve and let the
sand run out. The flowers should be
picked when dry. 'N ,'i '''AN'''


By this process the color and shape
of the flowers are perfectly preserved,
and they will remain SO an infinite time.
Year: 1866

We have preached so often from the text
which heads this notice that we are almost
ashamed to refer to 1t again. The lmpor-
tance of the subject, however, and the un-
accountable Indifference which SO many of
our people manifest in regard to it, Will
excuse US, we trust, for preaching from 1t
once more.


There are, we are afraid, many wellmean-
ing people in our county who have persuaded
themselves that it is a matter of little or
TO moment whether they register at this
time or not Though opposed to radical
ism and unjust registry laws, they appear
to thiuk that these nuisanees will abatc
themselves or be abatcd by some sort OF
magical hocas-pocp$ and without any per
sonal agency of theirs. Never was there
grosser deluson. In the first place
those who would be free themselves must
strike the blow. 1t is not by magic or by
miracles that the burthcns that afthct us
are to DC removed or the dangers that
threaten us avoided. Providence only
helps those who cndoavor to help them
selves. To DO nothing, like Micawbcr and
to wait for something to turn up in our
favor when we have the means of redress
and dcliverancc IN our own hands is couS-
in-gcrman to the baldest fatuity. In
the second place, the nuiSanccs complained
of will not abate themselves. 1t should
not be forgotten, that, though these are
death to the frggs, they are fan for the
boys, and it is not to be expected that
these misch;cyous little urchius will be N
duced to suspend their pranks at our cX-
pcnsc until they have been taught that
throwing stones is game at which two
can play. Not 10 register is not to vote
and not to vote IS to Let our little enelncs
continue their innocent pastlne OF thump-
ing us at pleasure. We repeat, not to re-
eist9.r i not t. vote. and not to vote at
this time is not to vote, perhaps, for twcn-
IL wears to come or until the ballot-boX
shall be opened to the negro. We have
already exposed the game Of radicalisn IN
this State in this reglri, and We refer to
the subject again only 10 warn our readers
that it is stiil IN full feather. and to re-
mind them that 1t depends in some meas
ure upon themselves whether it shall be
rN,-sl 3at T. II er:l With success. Bat
Year: 1866

There is living on Martha's Vinevard An
old man who has never been off the Island
and the extent of his knowledge is bounded
by the confines of his home. He has been
told of a war between the North and South
but as he has never heard the din of battle.
nor seen any soldiers, he considered it a
hoax. lie is utterly unable to read, and is
ignorant to the last degree. An excellent
story Is told of his first and only day at
school He was quite lad when a lady
came to the district where his father resid-
ed, to teach school. He was sent, and as
the teacher was classifying the school he
was called up in turn and interrogated as to
his former studies.


OF course he had to say that he hadneyer
been to school, and knew none of his letters.
The schoolmistress gave him seat on one
side until she had finished the preliminary
examination of the rest of the scholars.
She then called him to her and drew on the
black board the letter A, told him what il
was and wished him to remember how it
looked. He looked at it a moment and
then inquired Che stuttered:)
H how do you know it's AZ"
The teacher replied that when she was
girl, she had been to school to an old gentle
man who told her so.


The boy eyed the A for a moment and
then asked, ''H-h-how did he know"


This was almost a sumner, but the teach
er suddenly recOllected that he had told her
that when boy he had been to a school to
a lady, who taught him that it was A.
The boy eyed the letter a little longer.
when he burst out with, 'H-h-how did he
know but she l-l-lied?''


The teacher could not get over this obsta-
Gle, and the poor boy was sent home as in
cOrrigible.
Year: 1866

Some time ago boy was discovered m
Clairborn street, evidently bright and intel
ligent, but sick. A man who has the feel
ing Of Kindness strongly developed went to
him, shook him by the shoulder, and asked
him what he was doing there


Waiting for God to come for me-" he
replied.


What do you mean." sid the gentleman,
touched by the phathetic tone of the answer
ard the condition of the boy, in whose eye
| and flushed face he saw evidences of fever.


God sent for mother and father and lit
tie brother, said he. ''and took them away
to His home up in the sky, and mother told
me when she was sick that God would take
care of me. [ have no home, nobody to
give me anything, and SO came out here,
and have been looking so long up in the sky
for God to come and take care of me, as
mother said He would. He will come, won't
he? Mother never told me lie''


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


You should have seen his eyes flash and
the smile of triumph break over his face az
he said: Mother never told me a lie, nr
but you have been SO long On the way"


What lesson of trust, and how this incl
dent shows the effect of never deceiving
children with tales.
Year: 1866

The memorial services at Washington on
Monday, February 18th, were suitable to
the occasion and impressive. The ten
months which have elapsed since the assas-
slnation do not make the feeling which that
event called out seem less fresh or genuine,
and the interst in the solemnites of Congress
Is perhaps greater than if they had been
earlier. The demand of no other occasion,
the fame OF no orator, could have assembled
such an audience as gatherd in the House to
listen to Mr.. Bancroft saddress. We think
it fortunate that the ordinary run of public
men were passed by in order to choose as or
ator man of letters, a historian of more
than national fame, and not Il politician.
Not much time was allowed for the compo-
sItlon OF the address yet it bears few marks
OF haste. The style is that which every read
er of American history is grown familiar
elaborate, stately, full of vigor, often rising
to eloquence, always thoughtful, and always
abounding in interest


Mr. Bancroft address, like his paper pre-
viously published on the same subject, is
more historical than biographical. 1t is a
rapid yet coplOus survey of the period in
which Mr.. Lincoln career was passed, and it
deals with him as one who was nodded by
events and acted as their agent, rather than
as one whose force Of character made the
tllIicS tdhc III NiJll HIS VIII.
1t is well known that Mr. Lincoln had the
same view of his own relation to affairs; he
thought himself put at the head of the Re
public in order to execute the will of the
people as from time to time indicated-not
to take the lead in public business, not to
announce policy, not In aslngle instance to
transcend the popular expectation, nor ever
to show himself guided and uplifted by a
prophetic inspiration. His character seem
ed to be the net result Of forty years of Amer
can history-mixed with weakness, falling far
short OF ,herolsm, rising to greatness by very
slow steps. We were in such condition
that a hero would have ruined us; would
have ended the war in three emonths-before
1t was possible the object of the war could be
attained-and left another war inevitable.
The defects of the man whom we choose for
leader were our salvation. His eulogy is
written in the cOnsummation of the four
years struggle, the progress Of which expo
ses almost every step to criticism. Mr.. Ban
croft, therefore, properly and necessarily has
traced the course of events out of which the
war grew, and through which it was protrac-
ted, in order to give just view of Mr.. Lin
coins character and influence His summa-
ry Is mastery one, and though, as we re-
marked, it must have been the work of
few weeks, will add not little to his popular
reputat ion. The address will not be deemed
unworthy to take a permanent place among
the works of the historian of America
Tribune
Year: 1866

The recent maltreatment of Captain John
son in Florida, by ex-rebels, seems to have
been maturely organized affair." The mob
also called upon the United States District
Attorney and ordered him to leave the State
forthwith, or forfeit his life 1t is stated
that the civil authorities lend their coun-
tenance to these outrages, and the military
is at present inadequate to protect Union
men from these assaults The determina-
ton is to drive out all Yankees from the
State
Year: 1866

SHARP Practice time ago, a
burglar was arrested at Turbotsville Some
thirteen hundred dollars were found on him.
This money was taken from him and he
was sent to jail. But the parties who re-
tanned the money gave him note stating
that they had retained that amount Soon
the rogue broke out of jail, went to Phila
delphia, had the note cashed and left for
parts unknown. In the meantime the par
ties who arrested him, divided the money
among those who had aided in the arrest !;
but taken aback when the note came for
collection. Of course they had to pay it,
and the rascal lost only the discount
Year: 1866

The New York World, which exerted all
its powers of fascination in tempting the
President to betray the party by which he
was elected, and the principles he is hon
orably bound to support, now turns sharply
about, and admonishes democrats not to
make any entangling alliances, not to accept
offices from the present administration, but
to wait patiently for that full restoration
when all the States again participate in a
Presidential election.
Year: 1866

Would you wish to live without trial ?
Then you wish to die but half man.
Without trial you cannot guess at your own
strength. Men do not learn to swim on a
table; they must go into deep water, and
buffet the surges. If you wish to under,
stand their true character,-if you would
know their whole strength-of what they
are capable, throw them overheard Over
with them and if they are worth saving,
they all swim ashore of themselves.
Year: 1866

To be a woman of fashion is one of the
easiest things in the world. A late writer
thus describes it: Buy everything you
don't want, and pay for nothing you get;
smile on all mankind but your husband; be
happy everywhere but at home neglect
your children and nurse lap-dogs; 90 to
church everytime you get new dress"
Year: 1866

Genuine neighborly love knows no dis.
tinction of persons 1t is like the sun,
which does not ask on what it shall shine,
or what it shall warm; but shines and
warns by the very law of its own being.
So there is nothing hidden from its light
and heat