smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1866

l. Never use an ak or hatchet IN
pruning. The blows struck jar the fbres
and the whole work with such tools is too
violent and harsh.


2. Take off the limbs as nearly as pos
sible on a level with the branches which
you cut from 1t will heal much quicker
and smother


B. Never leave a stub-that is, do not
leave part of the branch between the
place where spurs come out, but close to
the spur itself, and then the wound will
heal over. The reason for this is that no
action exists in a portion Of the branch
left, unless there is a joint, place where
a spur comes out, and where leaves will
grow beyond it. In pruning a grape,
it is customary to leave half an inch TO an
inch, under the suppOsItiOn that it will
prevent bleeding.


f. Never prune a tree when the sap
will keep the saw wet, as 1t will IN March,
April and May, and even in February, if
there is a succession Of four or five days
of moderate weather and bright sun.


3. From the 18th to the Both of June
and after the leaves have fallen, and un-
till the tree freezes, are the proper times
to prune. Never prune during the spring
months, notwithstanding the practice is
so common


6. Cover ali large wounds with gum
shellac dissolved in alcohol, or with some
paint about the color Of the bark. If
paint is used carefully, on the wound on
ly, it will do 20 harm.


z. Trees are usually grated in April
or May, but they should not be pruned
at that time. There are two or three
reasons for this.


1. The sap is thin, and will run out
which Injuries the tree.


2 After cutting off several gOOd-sized
limbs to set scions into, the tree needs all
the remaining branches to keep up its
usual action and vitality


3. In November succeeding the graft
ing, any limbs that are in the way Of the
scions, and others belonging to the orig
al tree, may be taken away. If there are
many, however, it would be better to
leave portion of them until the follow
ing June. We have seen trees that stood
IN a favored spot and were beautiful when
ten years old. Having a plentiful sup
ply of Baldwius. these trees were grated
with Williams Early and the River At
the time of grating, the operator took
the liberty to prune them, aud they now
stand as monuments of his folly, the seven
.meanest trees out of several hundred
that stand around Northeastern
Farmer
Year: 1866

How commonplace is this expression,
and yet what volumes it may speak for
all future time! we never listen to its pas
sage that this thought does not force itseH
upon us, be the tone in which it is uttered
never so gay. The lapse of few fatal
hours or minutes may surround and hedge
it with horrors, that all the million words
which a lifetime has recorded these two
little words alone shall seem to be remem-
bered. Good night! the little child has
lisped as it passed to a brighter morn than
ours the lover with his gay dream of the
nuptial morrow; the wife and mother all
fragile threads Of household cares still in
her fingers; the father with appealing eyes
of childhood all unanswered. Good
mighty that seal upon days past and days
to come-what hand so rash as to rend
aside the vail that hides its tomorrow.
Year: 1866

Enthusiasm is magnetic. Like the mag
netic fiddle Of little Fritz in the German
legend, it fascinates and draws after it
the crowd. No eloquent enthusiast ever
lacked followers, whether his creed were
right or wrong. The earnest man of ac-
ton, even though a very bungIer in his
rhetoric, is sure to have plenty of friends.
His deeds speak for him. CromweII's
speeches were generally Ineligible, but
he was terribly in earnest both as fanatic
and a soldier. Twas impossible to doubt
the sincerity of his prayers, or to misun-
derstand the logic of his victories Ma
homet was man of vast capacity, a great
orator, a furious sectarian, and an honest
hearted hero. Such a composition was
irresistible, and he founded at once a new
empire and new creed. Had the intellect
of Luther been more passive type, his
conquests over error would never have
been achieved. It was the war-IiIze ardor
with which he challenged and defied his
antagonists, his enthusiasm as a contro-
yersialist, that enlisted sympathetic spirits
under his banner, and made the reforlna-
ton a success. To come down to later
times-cOnfdence in his own destiny was
the inspiration of Napoleon, and it was
because he believed in himself that his
army believed in him. He thought him
self irresistible, and so thought every man
inhis hosts from the marshals Of the empire
down to the meanest follower of the can1uis
To this deIusion, as much as to his genius,
may be ascribed the gIOries Of his career.
Stonewal Jackson, a man of not verysex-
traordinary talent, was an enthusiast whose
zeal and fervor We're worthy of a better
fate. No red-crOss knight ever shouted
the crusaders shibboIeth Good wills it -
with more passionate devotion than the
war cry of treason. The fiery zeal that
possessed him communicated to those he
lead, and they performed prodigies fvalon.


Tt has been ever thus, and over viii be
without energy and earnestness nothing
that the world will think worth remem-
bering can be accomplished. They often
save a bad cause from defeat, and almost
invariably secure the ultimate triumph of
a good one. In the field, the forum and
pulpit, in art, science. literature, and love,
they are alike Indispensable to success
An intellect, however caprieiOus, has no
potency without them. 1t is like a shell
without fuse-a ball without charge of
powder, between the right and wrong all
the vehemence is sometimes on the evil
side, and hence right now and then gets
the worst of it. whatever thy hand
findeth to do, do it with thy might" is a
glorious precept.
Year: 1866

When sincere and unaffected, modesty
conveys a graceful tribute of Difference
and respect to the merits of others, which
charms the eye and wins the heart even OF
the bold and proud. True modesty is true
humility put into practice. We find that
modesty is not the virtue of persons who
are unrehecting and who are easily driv-
Ell hither and thither by the untutored
instincts and hasty impulses of their ma
ture. On the contrary, the man Of solid
merit and ripe thought is much more like
Iy to be modest and retiring, than the man
of triding pursuits, of imperfect education,
and unmistakable mediocrity. This does
not happen because the great man is igno-
rant Of his great powers; or the good man
of his good qualities.
Year: 1866




BY MRS. RUTH HARDING.
The first soft winds of Autumn
Were signing sweet and low.
Over the wide prairie,
Where the beautiful flowers grow;
More beautiful and bright
Than all the flowers there,
Was the bud you watched so fpndly,
Unfolding It's petals fair.
Awhile its perfumed sweetness
Was shed upon the air,
Revealing all its beauty
Beneath your tender care;
And promising TO blossom
SOOh to a lovely flower,
And with eagerness you waited
For the coming of that hour.
Over the wide prairie
There swept a poisonous breath.
Whene'er it touched a blossom
1t chilled it into death.
And alas your bud of promise,
So delicate and fraiI,
Was dropping meath that icy touch,
To save, naught could avail.
But why weep you longer now.
Your tears are all in vain,
You shall regain that treasure, mother.
When you leave this world of pain.
Your bud was but transplanted
To the gardens bright above;
Twill live in endless beauty
In those fair realms of love.
Year: 1866




A COW of beautiful symmetry is emf
nently desirable, as physical beauty of
any animal always enhances their cash
/ value. Yet beauty and superior milking
qualities are seldom found in one COW.
4 There are certain signs which can usual
I ~ be relied on as indicative of a superior
animal for milk in large quantities, yet of
an inferior quality, either for butter or
+ cheese, providing the COW has been prop
(zerly reared. and her milking qualities not
impaired IN any way by improper manage
ment which often misleads or deceives
q purchaser, when he is confident he is
selecting a good mixer.


The trst and always infallible Indication
OF superior mixer Is an udder and teats
OF medium size and of fair proportions
Let us sec no part Of a cow but these, and
we will select the best mixers and reject
the gRferiCr ones with almost uuerring
certainty. A poor mixer may be detect
ed at a glance, not by a hOmely form, but
by a small udder, and teats too short and
diminufive to be grasped by a hand Of or
dinary size. If a COW be deficient In these
points, set it down at once against her
that she never Will be superior animal
for either butter or milk, except in
small quantity. "A COW having a long dis
proportional udder, with teats as large
as man wrist, and longer than the width
of his hand, mag possess the qualities Of
a n1ediUlH mixer, but will never be found
10 yield as much rich milk as a COW hav-
ing a square udder about as large
as a ten-quart milk-pail, and four teats
only, good distance apart, and nearly as
long as the width Of a mans hand.


In addition to these signs ofa mixer,
the color o the skin is one Of the most
Important Indications of superior COW
for rich milk. A COW having btach or
a lghite skin, may give large quantity Of
milk, but it viii be thin and white, often
requiring one-third to one half more to
make a pound Of butter, than the milk of
a COW having a yelL0l1 skin. If COW
have a yellow skin, whether she be of
red, white, brindle, roam, brown, or any
other color, and her hair feels like velvet
and she has an udder and teats of the
size aud form just alluded to as in
dicative Of a superior mixer, if she be
as homely as the old COW with ''crumpled
horn that we read of In the STORY of
the house that Jack built" we may feel
assured that she Will give rich milk


Another sign In connection with the
other good one is a striped hoof al
though striped hoOfs may be seen on poor
COWS. But if "a COW have a yellow and
soft skin. and yellow or striped hoOf, it
shows that she will always give milk of an
excellent quality, though she may yield
but little OF it. A COW having black hOofs
will seldom give rich milk.
Year: 1866

Few fruit trees, comparatively, have
any roots to part with. For this reason
the fork should BE- employed, instead Of
the shade. for pulveriZinC the ground
where there are roots, as the spade viii
cut off all the small rOOtlets, to the inju-
rv of the growth of the tree. The tines
of fork will crowd them aside, seldom
breaking even the small ones. Then, as
the hard soil is broken up with the fork
tines, and removed from the roots and
returned to them thoroughly pulverized


all the little fbres are r1Ught in contact
with different portions of soil that has
not been exhausted Of its fertility. Thus
comparatively new earth settles around
the roots So that in short time the
sponpioles begin to absorb plant-food, and
tbus promote the growth of the branches
and the frnit. Now if a spade be used,
such larla proportion Of the roots will
be severed that the sources of plant-tOOd
are all cut of, except small proportion
of the rooHets beneath the large roots, far
down in the soil, beneath the reach of the
shade, where they can absorb onlya lin
tied SUNNY of uourishment. Great care
should be exercised whether tho soil is
nulveriZed with fork or spade to multi
ne the roots as little as possible. When
the soil is only few inches deep and the
subsoil so compact that but few roots eau
enter "a. a carless man with a spade will
cut off more than half of all the roots
which are the main sources of nourish-


oept. and the growth of the tree will be
retarded suite as much as if it had been
transDlanted When a spadeful of soil is
flled with small rootlets and tibers, the
spader had better be spending his time
ib idleness than mutilating the roots Of
either ornamental or fruit trees.
Year: 1866

went under the water three times before he
got out Miss Sessions went under twice and
when taken out was almost insensible. Her
clothes were frozen stiff and she was unable to
walk Her father, who was the last Of all
out of the water, having forgotten his own
safety in the peril of others, was still active,
and carried her to the omnibus on shore,
which drove rapidly to the Julian House
Here Miss Sessions was kindly cared for by
Mrs, Ross, the landlady, and was soon quite
comfortable.


The Colonel took the Western train Of that
day for home to inform his family and allay
any fears they might have from the circula-
ton of fales reports. He received two dis
patches from his daughter yesterday, and she
was quite well, not even having taken cold.


The Colonel came home in the same clothes
he had on when he went into the river; and
we can only account for the man being alive
and well in consideration of the excitement
which must have attended one of his disposi-
ton. Tho other passengers all got out safely,
The baggage was also saved. The horse and
sleigh did not get into tue river. The space
Of open water made by the break was about
twenty feet square.
Year: 1866

a SSeigh-1oad Of Passengers Break Through


tie Ice into the Mississippi Ri0cr-Narro,o


Escape From Dro,oniMg and Freezing.


On Wednesday morning, about halfpast
four, load Of passengers, consisting of eight
or ten gentlemen and two ladies, attempted
to cross the river at Dubuque to take the
carly Eastern train. The sleigh was drawn
by one horse, attached some distance from the
vehicle, which also contained the baggage of
the passengers. 1t was the public convey
ancc running from Dubuque to Dunlieth, and
the agent accompanying it carried lantern,
it was dark. The sleigh had gone but short
distance when the ice gave q lurch to the
north and the passengers were precipitatcd
into the river. Col. w. 81. Sessions and his
daughter Mary, of this city, were among the
passengers. The Colonel vent over backward,
and passengers and trunks came on the top
OF hm. The agent had jumped from the
sleigh as he saw it going down, and in seek
ing to rescue those in the water, had broken
IN anu lost his light. 1t was SO dark now
that nothing could be distinguished, and the
situation was terrible. The Colonel was per-
tectly seH;posessed, and repeatedly cautioned
those about him not to be frightened and they
would all get out. He knew his daughter
was IN the water, but where she was he could
not tell. He got hold of lady whom he
supposed to be her, but, soon discovered it
was not. He held her up however, and final
y got her out. His daughter had gone en-
6rcly under, and came up without her bonnet.
She vas finally helped out by stranger, who
told the Colonel that it did't matter what his
name was. A ladder was brought and put
down into the water. This the Colonel Crap
pied, and he says it seemed to him he could
hold on to it forever But his muscles relaxed
iii spite Of him. and he went down. He came
up and ran his arm through the rounds of
the ladder aid hold on by his forearm. He
Year: 1866

THE New ENGINE HOUSE BUILDISG.-ln the
DisDatch of Tuesday last, Il full description
was published of the building proposed to be
erected on Broad street for the accommoda-
ton of the Fire Brigade and some of the city
officers. 1t is now suggested that the building
shall be only one story in height, instead OF
three stories, as originally proposed; and it's
difficult, with the information before us, TO
see any sound or practical reason for thus
marring the completeness of the plan. The
building will be erected without the imposi-
ton of any additional tax, for, as has been
lucdly explained to the Council by the CHAIR
man of the Finance Committee. the city owns
property which cap be readily sold for more
than sufficient 10 pay the entire cost OF the
new building. In addition to the Increased
power and facilities that Will be given
to the Fire Brigade by their location
in central position, 1T must be re.
membered that the present Chief OF Police
headquarters are particularly nconVenlent
and i'll arranged, and the second story OF the
new building might be used 10 advantage as
the central Office of Major Claiborne, the Chlet
of Police. The present plan of having police
headquarters at the Old Market station house
is open to many objections, and now that there
is fair opportunity Oh HlahlnS IL ciahSe, 1he
occasion should not be neglected. As already
stated, the third story will be used by the
! Masonic fraternity, and the rent which they
will pay will go towards cancelling the inte-
rest on the cost of the building. All that the
city can lose is the rental of the lots now


vacant, and which they will have TO dispose
of and against this may be set the rent OF the
offices and buildings now used by the Com
missioners of Water Works and the Fire Bri-
gade and the rent which will be received from
the Order of Free Masons.


1t is unnecessary TO follow argument by ar
gument to prove n self-evident conclusion
There are but two plans TO be adopted-either
10 erect the new engine house three stories
high, according TO the plans and specifications
of the architect, Mr.. Gill, or else to give up
the whole scheme la toto. Compromises In
politics may be productive Of beneficial effects,


but compromise between one story and three In


the erection of a public building IS only an
other word for incompleteness and failure.
The City Council know the necessity OF the
proposed work, and SO soon as the committee
make their report we trust that orders will be
given to commence 1T once the construction OF
the whole building, with its three stories,
handsome tower, and much needed city clock
Year: 1866

The reported cases Of cholera in Murder
Bay are believed by the medical faculty Of
the city not to have been the Asatic chol-
era. Two of the natives who died were
negro children who lived in filth and had
been eating horse chestnuts, and the other
was an old colored man. None Of them had
the cramps and the collapsed state attendant
upon genuine cholera. We are assured by
our best physicians that no alarm is felt by
the members of their profession in view Of
cholera in this city.
Year: 1866

The body is to die; so much is GER
tain. What lies beyond No one who
passes the charmed boundary comes
back to tell The imagination visits the
realm Of shadows--sent out from some
window in the soul over liRe's restless
waters, but wings its way YEARLY back,
with an olive leaf in its beak as a token
Of emerging life beyond the closely
bending horizon. The great sun comes
and goes in the heaven, yet breathes no
secret Of the ethereal wilderness; the
crescent moon cleayes her nightly pas
sage across the upper deep, but tosses
overheard no message and displays nc
signals. The sentinel stars challenge
each other as they walk their nightly
rounds, but we catch no syllable Of their
countersigu which gives passage to the.
heavenly camp. Between this and the
other life is great gulf fixed, across
which neither eye nor foot can travel.
The gentle friend, whose eyes we closed
in their last sleep long years ago, died
with rapture in her wonder-stricken
eyes, a smile Of inefable Joy upon her
lips, and hands folded over a triumphant
heart, but her lips were past speech,
and intimated nothing Of the vision that
enthralled her.-Pircaol0gcal Journal
Year: 1866

The present has been one of the most
favorable seasons we have ever had
The fore part Of the season was dry
enough to enable farmers to keep their
corn in the best condition, and yet not
so dry as to injure the crops. We new
er saw corn in better condition TO grow
than it is now. 1t is perfectly clear of
weeds or grass, and is dark green color,
and beginning to silk. Heavy rains
have fallen, and the weather has been
remarkably hot during the past few
weeks. All just right for corn. Pota-
toes are also doing finely, as are beans,
buckwheat, turnips, &c The hay crop
was perhaps less than an average, butit
was generally put up without rain,
which doubles its value. Oats aud
wheat were short, but a considerable
amount of both was cut.


1t is yet time TO SOW turnips, and we
hope farmers will improve the time, and
put in all the spare ground that they
may have, that is suitable. Turnips
formerly sold for ten and twelve cents
now they sell readily for fifty cents per
bushel. They are good to eat, if prop
erly cooked, and are excellent for milk
cows, although they have not been used
generally for feeding, in this county.


There is much important work that
farmers ought to DO in August. All the
briars, elders, stick-weeds, &c, ought
to be grubbed up Sin the dark OF the
moon in August" Whether the moon
ought to be consulted or not, we know
from personal experience that bushes
and briars cut in this month, and tim
Der gridled, will die out, and not sprout.
Briars and elders cut in any other part
of the year, will grow up more thrifty
than ever August is also a leisure
month, and more time can be spared In
this month to clean up the meadows,
pastures and fence corners than in al
most any other month in the year.
Year: 1866

Many persons who are in the habit of
freshening mackerel, or other salt fish,
never dream that there is right and
wrong way to doit Any person who
has seen the process of evaporating go-
ing on at the salt works knows that the
salt falls to the bottom. just so it is
where your mackerel or white fish lies
soaking, and as it lies with the skin side
down, the salt will fall to the skin and
remain there; when if placed with the
flesh side down, the salt falls to the bot.
tom of the pan, and the fish comes out
freshened as it should; in the other case
it is nearly as salt as when put in. IT
you do not believe this, test it for
yourself. ..
Year: 1866

Tilting Hoops and Pretty Ankles.


Tilting hoops are the acme of fashion
now. These hoops spread out behind,
to produce the effect Of long train on
the dress. The least obstacle to their
progress in front, therefore, tilts them
up behind to surprising height. This
compels every lady to wear the most
unimpeachably white under garments in
the street, and as it is vulgar to have the
lace bottomed drawers to come lower
down than the pink-rubber garters, the
clock stockings must be fine, and the
tactifcial veal" Gf the natural be de-
fective,) symmetrically attached thereto.
Then come the Polish boots, of black
morocco, which extend entirely above
the ankle, say to the commencement Of
the "veal," and have a little tassel in
front aud are scoloped out slightly in
the back. AS the ''tilting hoop" exhibits
all this studied arrangement to the most
careless eye, it cannot be indicate in
me to describe the points so minUtely,
though it might be under more old
fashioned circumstances. Women whose
prudery never allowed them to say
''legs'' a while ago, without blushing,
now show their own in the street with
the utmost etrontely, and it is quite i'm
possible for any man, ! should think, to
walk out without having forced upon
his observation an exact inventory Of
every passing lady's undercIothing; 1t
is positively disgraceful. Just add this
to the present abominable fashion of
frizzing the hair and piling it up high
in front until il drops over the forehead
like penthouse roof, long earrings;
short waists; gored dresses, and so on,
and you may have pretty good idea of
what a woman of fashion resembles in
New York at this current moment -
S, +. CALL.