smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

York Stock Exchange and spent part OF a
day in a boiler factory, and have been on
one or two Sunday school excursions for
children, but never knew what noise was
till heard a lot of army mules bray.


One of the dead certainties about a mule
is that he is sure.footed, especially with his
hind feet. He never misplaces them. If
he advertises that his feet will be at a GER
tain spot at a certain time, with sample Of
mule shoes, to which he would call your at
tention, you will always find them there at
the appointed time. lie is as reliable as
the day of judgment, and he never cancels
an engagement. Every man now living
who drove a mule team during the war
draws a pension.


| never owned mule. l came near
buying one once. He was fne-looking
animal; his ears stood up like the side
spires on an Episcopal church. His tail
was trimmed down SO that it looked like a
tar brush leaning up against him. He was
striped off like the American flag, and
Raphael's cherubs never looked more an
gelic than did that mule. He looked all
innocence, though he was so in no sense.
The owner sat in the wagon, with his chin
resting on his hand and his elbow resting
on his knee. In the other hand he held a
stick with brad on the end of it. | eX-
amined the mule and asked the man few
question, and, out of mere form, inquired
if the mule was kind, or if he kicked.
Kind? kick p said the man, and these
were the last words he ever uttered. He
reached his stick over the front Of the
wagon, and struck the brad into the mule
1t was awful to see man snuffed out as
he was. 1t almost took my breath he
went so suddenly. l never saw the thread
Of life snap so abruptly as it did on that oc
casion. He didn't have time to leave
message for his family. That mule simply
ducked his head, and then pair of heel
few out behind there was crash, fyin;
Of splinters, and that was all and the mex
moment that mule and myself stood alone
my face covered with astonshment tw,
feet deep, and his covered with part of al
old bride. The next day read an ac


count in the telegraphic news Of Shove
of flesh in Kentucky. l was the only ma,
that could explain that phenomena, ard
did not dare to lest should be ;mplicate
in the affair with the other mule.


have seen death in many form
but don't recollect of ever seeing funeri


gotten up with less pomp and display tha
> on that occasion. If had my choice t


either work in nitro-glycerine factory {
: take care of mule, should 60 for tn


factory, as in case Of an explosion thel
would be more possibility Of my frienC


finding some mementoes of me with whic


to assuage their grief. A very small piet
" Of me would tighten a very big sorrow.
| will hunt around and if find Al
: other facts that belong to the mule, l vi


send them to you by express, G. 0. D.


Bait. .S,o,.
Year: 1879

Great solicitude is felt for the safety
of the Swedish Arctic expedition under
command of Professor Nordenskjold,
which was frozen up last October forty
miles from East Cape. northeastward Of
of Behring's Straits. Nordenskjold's
vessel, the Vega, had made successful
voyage and discovered practical route
from the Atlantic to the mouth Of the
Lena river. The crowning exploit of
the expedition remained to be completed
in a successful passage through the
straits into the Pacific ocean. In at
tempting this feat the Vega was caught
in the ice-foes and held fast, where she
now lies imbedded in the ice. She is
far away from any human settlement,
the Siberian being the nearest. 1t is
feared her stores were much exhausted
when caught by the ice, and that the
commander and his gallant crew will
sorely suffer for food before summer
breaks the ice and sets her free, or ena-
bles relief to reach her IN case of her
being disabled. The news of the Vega
being frozen up was received through
the natives, and sledge parties will be
organized through the same agency to
send relief, if possible, to the ice bound
men. A ship also belonging to the
Pacific fotilla has been sent forward to
Behring's Straits with the same object.
A wealthy Russian merchant, Sibriapoff.
has sent on relief expedition overland,
and will follow it up by new steamer
expressly fitted out for the purpose.
which will be dispatched through the
Suez Canal as early as is practicable for
service in the northern waters. No
pains nor expense will be spared to res.
cue the Professor and his followers, and
strong hopes are entertained that his
skill and experience in the Arctic re.
gions will carry them safely through h
Not only humanity. but the prospect o1
largely increasing our knowledge of fal
frozen regions, will keep America al
we'll as Europe keenly on the watch fol
further intelligence, and alive to th'
hope that all may be we'll and that re
lief may reach East Cape in time.
Year: 1879

A KNOWING DoG.-A despatch from
Port Jervis states that on Wednesday of
last week, as train of cars was passing
through Ridgewood, on the Eastern Div
ision of the Erie Railway, and when
rounding a sharp curve, three children
we're discovered playing upon the track
a short distance in advance of the ap-
preaching train. The whistle was
blown, and every effort was made to les
sen the momentum of the train. Two of
the children succeeded in getting off the
track, but the third remained in its per-
ilous position apparently dazed. The
mother stood in the door of her house
near by, bewildered beyond the power
of rendering assistance. At the instant
the pilot of the engine was about to
strike the child, large Newfoundland
dog sprang upon the track. and seizing
the child by its clothing dragged it out
of the course of the train as it rushed
past.
Year: 1879

put IN their place.


However some may think it, family
is not an evil: God has not made it
such.-It is the most beautiful thing
that he has given on the earth. A we'll
ordered Christian family is the most
precious thing that the world possesses.
Children are jeaoels, and the word is too
poor and mean to express the hundredth
part of the thought. What more lovely
sight is there, what more full of deepest
tenderest interest than a numerous fam
lily, one of those large families which
you and have seen, of which perhaps
we have been privileged members (? And
what sight, l add, is more desolate and
sad than that of lonely couple grow
ing old in lonely home, with neither
son nor daughter to support their steps.
with no hand to be laid upon their gray
heads, going to the grave with the con-
sciousness that their very name perishes
with them Happy they, if they shall
be able to say that it was Gods appoint
ment, not their own.


The family has its cares and its sor-
rows, but the cares are discipline and
the sorrows may be sanctifed. Like
any other good in this fallen world, it
carries with it anxieties and burdens
which will make traces on the brow and
scars upon the heart but the joys and
the comforts are immeasurably above the
cares. A Christian family who shall
tell of its beauty and blessedness That
home where the family altar is, and
where God abides, how sweet and hol-
lowed The family where an affection
ate and honored father, a lovely and be-
loved mother sits with children that
sing and laugh around them Is there
a scene in all this world like that? Ii
is the nearest to heaven of anything ]
know. Indeed, the Bible takes it as the
very symbol of heaven and of the Church
of Christ, and can give the saints no bet.
ter name than-''The Family of God. :
= William Aikmaaa. d. d.
Year: 1879

CARELESS WIvEs.-lt is very common
to hear the remark made of a young man
that he is SO industrious and so econom-
ical that he is sure to be thrifty and
prosperous. And this may be very true
of him so long as he remains single.
But what will his habitual prudence
avail him against the careless waste and
extravaganza of uncalculating, unthink-
ing wife? He might as well be doomed
to spend his strength and life in attempt
ing to catch water in seive. The ef-
fort would be hardly less certainly In
vain. Habits of economy, the ways to
turn everything in the household al
fairs to the best account-these are
among the things which every mother
should teach her daughters. Without
such instructions those who are now
rich may become poor.
Year: 1879

There is land beyond the shades


or sunset beauty in the west,
A fairy land OF graceful scenes,


Where weary ones find endless rest.
The crimson light in sparkling rays


Clean on the iow'ry pathways there.
And all is bright with heavenly light
In that angelic world SO fair.
The gentle breeze in that weird land


Makes music 'mong the trees and flowers.
While wanderers there rove in the groves,
And sweetly fee the heavenly hours.
There re graceful hills in that bright world
Where seraphim go to watch and wait.
And beckon to the pilgrim here,


To enter through the pearly gate.
They're gazing now toward the earth,
Some gentle one that's young and fair
Has passed DER life's fair shining way.
And now they bid her enter there.
Perchance the fair ones Of that land


Ere long will beckon us away,
To wander 'mong the flowers that bloom
In that bright world of endless day.
Year: 1879

The Indianapolis Journal says:-" It is now estimated that the wheat crop of Indiana for this year will be from 4O,- 100000 to 5O,OOO,OOO bushels, and will bring into the State and add to it's in- vested wealth from $35, ,OOO, GOO to $4O,- 100000. No such sum has ever been added to the wealth of State with as little risk or as great profit upon the capital and labor invested. It is not an unusual or exceptional thing for the product to be equal to one-half the value of the soil that produced it. Thou sands of acres of land in the State have, in two years, produced wheat equal in value to the land producing it. The product of corn has been very little behind that of wheat in point of profit. This, of course, is not common or even an average result, taking one year with another. The past three have been favored years with the farmers, and the farmer who has not done we'll during this period may reasonably conclude that there is something wrong in his case demanding investigation. We make no reference here to indebtedness and embarrassment from that cause, under which thousands of farmers are laboring in common with all other classes. Such indebtedness in nine cases out of ten is the result of some other cause than fol- lowing their agricultural pursuit. Con- sidering, therefore, the profit of the business as it is pursued by the average Western farmer, what may it be made when, by diligent research and e1peri once, it is brought to that degree of perfection which has been attained in England and in some of the New Eng land States?
Year: 1879

There is an ugly suggestion in the story told by Dutch witness who met the Prince Imperial and his party as they rode out on that fatal reconnois- sance. lie states that the party were accompanied by Zulu of whom no trace was found when the English sent out to recover the Princes remains. It ap- pears, too, from this mans story that the Princes saddle turned when he vaulted into it, as if the girth had been either loosened or cut, and that the Zu- Jus must have been upon him before his comrades took to their heels, leaving him, as the evidence of his revolver cartridges shows, to fight desperately and alone for his life with his savage assailants. If the Prince used his revolver it is clear that Lieutenant Carey and the rest of the fugitives must have known that he was thus fighting, and in that case the reported verdict of the court-martial dis missing Carey from the British army is not to be wondered at,
Year: 1879

A correspondent of the Pittsburg Post writing from Bradford, Pa., says that so much oil is produced in that neighbor. hood that it cannot be stored to await it's sale, and therefore some 10000 bar rels are daily running to waste. Since the destruction of the refining works al Philadelphia the refining capacity has been entirely inadequate to the supply of crude oil, and consequently the crude article has depreciated in price. Neal Bradford the wasted oil has so saturated the ground near the wells that great danger is apprehended from general confagration. To prevent such danger, as far as possible, the oil is damned in the hollows and ravines through which it flows and get on fire. Bonfires made in this way may be commonly noticed which at times give the entire regions { grand appearance. AS tho overproduc tion is generally depressing to the trade in the oil regions tho people there "no in oil" express the hope that this lacl of prosperity may induce many of tho country people to resume their legiti mate occupation of making butter arc gathering eggs.
Year: 1879

The recent earthquake at Virginia City was not noticed at all in the mining depths, but only by people on the sur face. Their famous earthquake of some years ago, which shook down chimneys. firewalls, cracked brick buildings, and did other damage, was merely noticed by the miners working in the upper levels, but it did no damage, not even shaking down loose stones and earth. The station men in the various shafts felt it the strongest, and the deepest point where it was noticed was by the station-tender at 900-foot level of the Imperial Empire shaft-900 feet below the surface. He said it felt like sud- den faint throb or pulsation of the air, as though a blast had been let off some where at distance above, or below or in some indefinite direction. In some of the mines the shock was not noticed at all, even by the station men. Com menting on this particular fact at the time, the Gold Hill Neaos remarked that the earthquake seemed to be an electrical disturbance, proceeding from the atmosphere and not from the depths of the earth. .-Sacranlento paper.
Year: 1879

sis its own excuse for being" Agassiz


went beyond this tolerant maxim to the
extent Of affirming that Deformisy has Its
own excuse for being. The fact that any
animal existed was with him Justification
OF its existence; an after conversing with
II, and penetrating to Its interior pature,he
treated It as Shakespeare treated Dogberry,
or Ancient Pistol, or Mrs. Quickly, or any
OF the other queer blood-relstlons con-
nected with him through common de-
scent from Adam.


As there was no form of human exist
ence which was too low to be beneath the
humane sympathies OF Shakespeare, so
there was no kind Of animal existence which
was too low to engage the sympathies OF
Agassiz. And the most evil members of
the animal kingdom had no malignant feel
Ing toward him; indeed, they cheerfully
consented to let him kill them, knowing
that by such . submission to his will they
were practically elected as representatives
OF their species In the grand legislative as-
sembly OF the Animal Kingdom gathered
In the great hall Of the Museum of Compar-
alive Zoology, under the literal "Spesker-
ship" of Agassix; that Is, under the man
who was alone capable of being the inter-
prefer Of their language, so that Its signs
could be clearly understood by the human
race. from which they were divided BY pc
culiarities of organization and OF soul. One
can almost conceive OF these martyrs Of
the animal kingdom as rejoicing while Ell
during the death which insured to the spe-
cies to which they belonged an Intelligent
recognition Of their merits from the meU-
bsrs Of the superior race. to whom they
were thus introduced through his friendly
agency. Whenever / look at them, pre-
served so carefully In their glass lars filled
with alcohol, for one am delighted to find
them in such excellent spirits II +. Z.
Whipple, in Harper's Magazine for June.
Year: 1879

In order that the thirsty pedestrian
may slake his or her thirst, the Will
mington Coal and Ice Company have
just completed arrangements at their Of
flee on East Second street, near Market,
whereby each and every one may get a
glass of ice water. In the window is a
large cooler that is kept continually fill
ed with ice water, and from the cooler
there is spigot running out through the
window.
Year: 1879

Last evening number of the meme
bers of the Water Witch fire company
procured few sections of hose from the
engine house and washed the insects r
from off the trees in front of the City
Hall. There were a great number of the
insects and they were soon washed in the
gutter Fae Ytr .+.. VI 10 t4.ii tt1
Year: 1879

The proposed establishment Of an
independent Steamship line between
Canton and the Sandwich Islands, by
Chinese merchants exclusively, has been
heralded to the world as an evidence OF
Chinese enterprise and intelligence as
we'll as advancement towards . speriOr
civilization. The San Flancisco Bulletin
says: THE real purpose of the pro>
posed Chinese steam lire from Canton to
the Sandwich Islands pnd this port is
being gradually uufolded. 1t is very
much OF the nature indicated by the
Bulletin some time ago. 1t appears that
Governor Hennessey of Hongkong has
at length become satisfied that slave
trade, pretty nearly as atrecious as that
which was once prosecuted ON the west
coast OF Africa, is being carried on under
his nose by the Chinese. The Tekio
Times of a recent date says that bands OF
pirates descend on the interior villages
and capture girls and boys, whe are con-
veyed to Hongkong and there sold. This
is only branch Of the large trade which
deals in men, who, for advances made to
their families, are transported to this
country, South America, Cuba. and the
Sandwich Islands, where they are dis
posed of in accordance with the prevails
ing customs, remaining nominally tree
where freedom is upheld, and becoming
slaves for fixed periods where the stand
arl Of morality is low.


In this latter branch of the business
many of our officials in China have been
badly compromised. The fees that have
fallen to their share have been quite suf-
ficient to gain them over General Grant
is the last witness who has testified to
this state of facts. In an interview with
a reporter of the Chicago Tribune he
declared the corruption in the Hong
kong Consulate was responsible for much
of the Chinese immigration, because the
Consuls were SO greedy for the fees that
they did not carefully administer the
cath regarding voluntary emigration
required by law If Governor Hennes-
sey has begun to direct his attention to
one branch of this new form of the slave
trade he will in time be forced to take in
the whole field. The English Govern
ment, when it becomes aware OF the true
facts in the case, viii! force him to act if
he were indisposed to 90 SO. 1t will
never subject itself to the charge OF
keeping up an expensive watch to pre-
vent the slave trade in Africa while it
allowed it to 60 on unmolested in anoth-
er form in its own dependencies in Asia.


The way for the Chinese dealers in
human beings to escape complications at
Hongkong would be to set up line OF
their ownibetween Canton and ports in
the Pacific. The Chinese Vice Consul IN
this city admitted that Governor Hen
nessey was in some way the cause OF the
proposition Of that nature some time
ago under discussion. The reasons are
now beginning to come out.
Year: 1879

Western Rural.


The following good rules for the
care of sheep we find floating round
without credit. The writer, evident
Iy, understands how to take care OF
sheep, and every farmer who keeps
sheep-as most farmers should. at
least few-ought to paste these Sim
pie rules upon his stable door, that
himself and hands may see them Of
ten, and adhere to them strictly:


Keep the sheep dry under foot with
litter-is even more necessary than
roofing them. Never let them stand
or lie in mud or snow.


Take up lamb bucks early in the
Summer, and keep them up until De-
cember, when they may be turned
out.


Remove the lower bars as the sheep
enter or leave the yard, thus avoid
ing broken limbs. Count them every
day.


Begin gaining with the greatest
care. and use the smallest quantity
first.


Ifs eve loses a lamb, milk daily a
few days and mix little alum with
her salt.


Let no hogs eat with sheep.


In weaning lambs, use a little mill
feed.


Never frighten sheep If you can
avoid it.


Sow rye for weak ones in cold wealth
er.


In the Fall separate the weak, thin
or sick from the strong, and give ex-
ira care.


If one is hurt, catch at once; wash
the wound if in fly time apply spir-
its of turpentine daily; always wash
with something healing. Splinter
broken limbs tightly, loosening as the
limb swells.


Keep a number of good bells on
them.


Don't let them spoil wool with
burrs.


Cut tag looks in early Spring.


For scours give pulverized alum in
wheat bran. Prevent by taking great
care in changing from dry to green
food.


If lame, examine feet, clean out
hoofs pare hoofs. If unsound, and
apply tobacco boiled with vitrol, in a
little water.


If the weather is not too cold, shear
at once sheep beginning to shed, and
carefully save peIts of those that die.


Have some good book on sheep to
refer to. 1t will put money in thy
purse.
Year: 1879

A correspondent of the Hartford


Times relates that as Mrs. Isadore


Middleton, of Mobile, Ala, was ia


her bedroom, in the absence of her


husband, putting away some jew"lry
she noticed that a lamp in the back
part of the room had thrown the
shadow of a man, who was crouch
ing under the eenter>table; on the
floor at her feet. Instead of fainting
with fear or shrieking for help, the
brave woman seated herself at the
very table under which the misore-
ant was concealed, and rang for the
servant. Bridget said she, with
calmness, I want you to take a note
to Mr.. Forfar, the jeweler, and have
him send you back with my diamond
necklace and ear drops, which left
there for repairs. 1 do not wish to
pass another night without having
Them The note was written, but,
instead of being in the tenor that she
had sigDified, it was a hasty note to
the jeweler, an intimate friend, in
which she stated her position, and
urged him to hasten to her relief with
police assistance. At last came the
ring at the doorbell, and she strobe
carelessly into the hall and down
stairs and opened Ii. The ruse had
been a success. She not only admit
ted Bridget, but also Mr.. Forfar and
three policemen. The latter passed
stealthiIy up stairs and into the cham
ber, where they pounced upon the
concealed burglar so unexpectedly as
to secure him with hardly struggle.
The prisoner proved to be a negro
criminal named Chapman, but mostly
known as 'Two-fingered jeff He
was in great request about that time
for several rOberies, and is now serv-
ing a twenty years sentence in the
Alabama State Prison.
Year: 1879

IDIIUh AND I


without a doubt The Northern Indianian
is the best weekly paper published within
the borders of Indiana, It is large forty
column foliO-the largest In the country
and each number is filed to repletion with
Indiana News, Editorials on every subject
Choice Fragments of History, Select Sketch
eS, and Letters from Its own Correspondents
in the East and West. The great size of The
Northern Indianian enables il to furnish its
readers with a splendid Continued Story, in
addition to its large amount OF MiScellane-
Gus Reading Matter, and it is conceded by
every one to be the best paper published IN
the old HOosier State. In the first number
of the year 1879 will be commenced a new
story, entitled
Year: 1879

My friend thought that his cabin was
something like what is said of the bot
tomless pit-if not @paved with good
Intentions" it was-for any traveller
driven to it-"tophet" all the same.
However, I consoled both him and my
self finally with the suggestion that if
the mountaineer could stand such the
whole time, surely we should put up
with it once without grumbling.


CHICAGO, Ill.