smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

Can anything be more discouraging
than the atmosphere of house whose
mistress or whose master is persistently
doubtful, respondent, fearful? How
certain it is that they will give to 9TH
ers of their own spirit, and that cares
and anxieties will continually oppress
their children, trained by example as
we'll AS preccpt to look ont for worriesi


We must give of what we possess,
and how can others gain cheer and com
fort from us if we are dolefui on the
smallest occasion?


Let us watch ourselves us cul
tivate our cheerfulness. our courage,
our hopefulness- all, let US not
belle our trnst in God by weak com
plaipings whenever the sun IL over
clouded for moment.


To those who believe that "all things
work together for good to them that
love God, cheerfulness ought not to be
Gifficult virtue, certainly not an i'm
possible one. For our children sakes
for our souls sakes. let us be patient
and hopeful and brave, rising above al
the petty aunoyances of everyday life
into serenity undisturbed and unos-
sailable.
Year: 1877

The ''eel.skin" dress is how the great
rage both in London and Paris In the
widest days of the tie back or pin back
mania, there never WAS seen such a
tightness of skirt as now prevails.
Whatever the paucity of folds Ill the
pin back in its frontier part, in the
enormous exuberance of the pannier or
hustle the balance was. struck. Bnt
now, not only is the hustle thing Of
horror, but even the necessary uuder>
clothiug is considered de h'op, To
lengthen the waist far beyond its natu-
raj proportions, stiff webbing of elias
tic is fastened to the stays to the depth
of half foot; and to this, at first, mar
row skirts were buttoned. But even
this is now abandoned for another
scheme to acquire sleuderness. Mrs.
Swisshelm's much ridiculed chemiloon
is in demand, and garments made in
this way are sold at the furnishing
shops, and pat terms of it pass eagerly
from hand to hand among lady friends.
Some ladies have had regular stage
tights made in thick webbing, and over
these they wear nothing but the outer
dress, underskirts being simulated by
plcated ruffles of white muslin, sewn to
the edge of the dress, which is then
tied back till the woman within is
shackled almost like a convict in a
chain gang. No more uncomfortable
fashion ever was devised; for not only
are the limbs confined by the binding
dress, but the wearer must constantly
concern herself about the condition of
the bodice, that portion being in inces>
SAINT danger of turning itself up be-
hind, wrong side out, like nn umbrella
in q windstorm. The desired effect Of
youthful slenderness is generally OBJ.
tanned by the "eel -skin," but at great
deal of sacrifice of personal ease.
Year: 1877

There is something beautiful and
sublime in the hush of midnight. The
myriad quiet sleepers, laying down
each their life-burden, insensible alike
to Joy or sorrow; helpless alike-the
strong man as the infant-and over all
the sleopless Eye, which since the
world began, has never lost sight OF
ore pillowed head. Thoughts like
these come to us in our wakeful hours
with an almost-painful intensity. Then
eternity only seems real. and everyday
life fable. But morning comes, and
the stir and hum of life chase them
away, as the warm sun dries up the
dew-drops, which like these thoughts
performed their reviving mission ere
they departed.
Year: 1877

CaPrEE grounds are found TO have g
singularly powerful effect as manure
and are well adapted to the limited
space OF small vegetable gardens, owing
to the large percentage Of nitrogenous
material they contain. The Analysis of
tae coffee bean shows that ii contains
large percentage Of potash, soda,
nrGnesia and rhosphoric acid.
Year: 1877

There is no law in this country to pre-


vent the consumption of hot bread but


the law of common sense, and unfortu-


nately that is dead letter as govern


ing principle in the lives of a great


many people. That hot bread in nine


cases out of ten will produce dyspepsia


is no newly discovered fact, and espec-


tally is this terrible result sure to follow


a persistent indulgence on the part of
those whose pursuits are quiet, in doors
and sedentary. And yet the reformers,
or those who call themselves such-the
men and women who work themselves
into white heat over the sale of glass
of cider-will go on year after year, not
only making no outcry against This per-
niciOus indulgence, but actually filling
themselves up day by day with the hot
and poisonous gases of the oven. This
servant of the housewife can be made as
terrible stomach destroyer as the dis
tillery, and the sworn foes of the latter
are apt to be its best patrons. Dyspep-
sia paints the nose and sours the temper
as surely as dram drinking, and many
sufferers from the former, though by
their own willful acts, inveigh the most
loudly against the latter. A well-defn-
ed case of jim jams is the climax to a
course of intemperance and warns the
victim that his alternative is death or
immediate reformation. But the dys-
pepsia that hot bread, mince pie and
kindred denominations cause has no sud-
len warnings. The man who uses them
goes on making both himself and those
around him wretched, and refuses to ac-
that he is a sinner above
hose whose lighter faults he fiereely
1ondamns - RasfOu Past
Year: 1877

If a calico dress is washed care
lessly, starched stiff, summed day
or two, and half ironed, 1t is not a
very comely sight. But if quickly
dried in the shade, very thinly and
evenly starched, and ironed on the
wrong side so that it will not shine,
it will look like a new dress for a
long time. Many pretty blue prints
and cambrics fade when washed in
the usual way. If they are washed
the first time in strong salt and wa.
ter, or water to which little beef's
gall is added, the colors will be set
SO that they will always be as hand
some as at first, and can be washed
ever after like other colored goods.
Year: 1877

the following day, and the presence
of the trap told the awful story.


David Thrall's widowed mother
soon followed him to the grave.


The little smithy still stands in
Middleton, and the superstitious say
that at night David Thrall can be
heard beating steel with steel be-
fore his forge.


Julion Wingfold is a happy hus-
band and father now, but he never
thinks of that one nights walk with
out feeling OF thankfulness as well
as of horror.
Year: 1877

t4eE CFrom the st. Louis Times.l


Strikes are quite propsr, only strike right
Strike to some purp5se, but not for fight;
Strike for your manhood, for honor and fame
Strike right and left, tin you win good name
Strike for your freedom from all that is vile;
Strike OF companions who often beguile;
Strike with the hammer, the sledge and the AZ
Strike OF bad habits with burdensome tax;
Strike out unaided, depend ON no other;
Strike without glOves-your foolishness smother
Strike OF the fetters Of fashion and pride;
Strike where tits best, but let Wisdom decide;
Strike good blow while Theron In hot;
Strike, keep striking, till you hit the right spot
Year: 1877




II is remarkable how some young
couples viii rush into matrimony with
out once giving a thought to the NOR
row as to what they shall eat and where
withal they shall be clothed. OF course
if they are economical and have a fair
income the matrimonial venture may
not be so rash as it would be otherwise;
but, alas how often do impetuolls peo-
pie assume the welded state without
giving sufficient thought to the unro-
mantle but necessary subject of dollars
and cents. If they have a little money
laid by they think everything is all
right, and straightway some parson has
a job A sad instance of this kind is
the case of Edmond Rothschild, of
Paris, who is shortly TO marry Mile
Adele Rothschild, of the Frankfort
branch, of the family. This deluded
couple will begin housekeeping on the
picayune capital of but little over one
hundred million dollars.
Year: 1877

TaE soda and mead fountains are lair.
ly at work Tor the season, and are seem.
ingly well patronized already. The
abundance and low price OF ice promises
to make the business profitable during
the coming summer.
Year: 1877

Messrs. Kemple and Trnemam held a
temperance meeting tonight and also one
last night Both were a grand success.
Many are signing the pledge. There is
no doubt Of success. We are expecting
aid from Wheeling. d.
Year: 1877

Among the passengers in a Sleep
ing car of the Eric the other night
were a couple Of sisters occupying
a berth together. During the night
one of them had occasion TO ge: mp.
and in getting back made mistake
and got into the next berth with q
man. Ste supposing il was her sis,
ter who had rolled to the front, bes
gan to nudge the sleeper to lie over.
The fellow woke rp and seized the
girl bv the neck, supposing he had
caught theft. The scene which
ensned was Notifying as well as
amusing g.-[Newburgh Journal.
Year: 1877

A farmer oil York recently set n
trap TO catch a cunning fox which
had been annoying him considera>
bly, by its midnight visits among the
poultry. At fourteen successive
visits to it he found the trap sprung,
a stick OF wood between its jaws,
and the bait eaten up. The cir
cumstance, so often repeated, ,suppris-
ed him. There were no other tracks
to be seen but his own and those of
the roX, and who sprung the trap
was a question that puzzled him
sorely. By continuing to rebait his
trap he hoped to catch the author of
the mischief. On the fifteenth night
he found fine old fox hung to it by
the nose, and in his mouth was a
stick of woodl
Year: 1877

The following is an extract from the address
of Charles O'Conor to the Historical Society of
New York on the hundredth anniversary of the
adoption of the State constitution. Mr.. O'Conor
said of the presidency:


If We may judge the future BY much of the
past, no man inspired by laudab BILE ambition
should regret the removal of this glittering
bauble from his sight. Save in the rarely re-
curing cases in which military renown has
captivated the public mind, those to whom
natural gifts and laborious effort attracted lust
admiration have not been permitted to attain
this exalted office. Witness the fortune of our
great popular idols, Clay and Webster. The
msnipulators of the convention or the ballot
box invariably set them aside and aw arded
the seat to persons comparatively little distin-
guished.


Though an efficient bulwark of peace and
union, and the foremost champion of his party
and admired throughout the civilized world,
Webster never could obtain even a nomlna-
tion ia the chair of state. His betrayers found
their precedent in an ancient legend. 1t was in
the beginning of time that the feathered tribes
assembled,to choose ruler; and he was to re-
ceve the diadem who could attain the greatest
height The majestic eagle when his wing had
tired beheld far beneath him exhausted and de-
scending to earth the host of his vanquished
rivals. He was about to pour forth his tri-
umphant clarion, but 10! the little wren who
until that moment had sat quietly and unfelt
upon his bosom, now sprang aloft and with
tiny cry announced himself the victor. Thus
was elected the king of all birds. BY some
crafty device of this sort the politicians will
ever set aside the magnates. Those who from
their shining talents and their public services
might justly claim a preference, and who, if
the people controlled, would receive it, will be
apt to fail in future contests. If this regal emf
nence, the quadrennial presidency with its vast
power and patronage must remain elective, the
paltry little wrens of faction, not the lordly
eagles of the land, will almost invariably win
and wear the purple
Year: 1877

Two Important bands of Indians, the
Northern Cheyennes and the Poncas, are
about to be transferred to the Indian Terri
tory, where it is to be hoped they will find
peaceable and permanent homes. The period
is apparently near at hand when the entire
Indian problem will be solved to such an ex-
tent that it will be impossible for any of the
aborignes to excite serious uneasiness or to
interpose dangerous obstacles to American
progress. The Indian Territory furnishes an
ample area for the. maintenance of all the
surviving savages east of the Rocky Noun
tans, and eventually the Sioux will proba-
bly, bs induced to seek an asylum in the last
refuge of the remnants of many tribes.
Year: 1877

IRON ties, said to be more durable than
wooden ties, and to afford better support to
the rails, have been tried with satisfaction on
the Pacific Railroad. They are rather expen-
sive, however, and their general adoption is
not very probable until the tests have been
made more thorough. The old objection to
the use of iron ties has been overcome in this
case by the introduction of an elastic SUBJ
stance beneath the rails and in the joint of
cross-bar which unites the bed-plates.
Year: 1877

GENERAL CRTTTENDEN, whose son fell in
the Custer fight, objects to the proposed re-
moving of the remains of the gallant band,
and has written letter asking that they be
permitted to rest where they are now in
tered. In this letter he says: "There can
be no filter resting place for the true soldier
than the spot which his blood has hallowed.
1t would be vandalism to dig up and scatter
widely the bones of those men who have been
buried, as they died, shoulder to shoulder.
They all perished together, fighting without
hope, and the comradeship thus cemented
should never be sundered.''
Year: 1877

THE best comment on the work of the last
session of Congress will be found in the pay
vouchers after July !, which will bear the
following Endorsement from the Paymaster: {:
"The within amount is believed to be cor
rect, and would be paid by me if had Gov
ernment funds available for the purpose.''
Year: 1877

TODAY local elections will be held in Vir-
ginia under the new election law, which pro-
vides that no voter shall cast ballot who
has not ''paid to the state before the day of
election the capitation tax required by law
for the preceding year." This is a measure
which is likely to reduce the colored vote of
the State
Year: 1877

Is it not about time to hear something
from those economists who confidently fore
told that this war in Europe would bring our
currency to par, and also from those who
prophesied that it would send up the price of
gold? 1t is true that thus far there has not
been much of a war; but at least the war has
been more perceptible than the influence on
the gold quotations.
Year: 1877

A FEEBLE suggestion was made some time
ago in Mississippi in favor ofputting colored
man on the next Democratic state ticket, but
the roar which the Bourbon sent up when
he heard of it seems to have discouraged the
movers.
Year: 1877

We do not read anonymous letters and eommuni-
cations. The name and address of the writer are in
all eases indispensable, not necessarily for publication
but as guaranty of good faith


We cannot undertake to return or reserve commu-
nicatio Us that are not used.
Year: 1877

Some of these farmers who are advertising
summer board must have been in New York AT
the unveiling of the Halleck statue. The New
York papers in describing the statue say, sat
the back of the chair is a rustic lyre."
Year: 1877

This travelling with circus on the cars looks
70 boy like an under-handed attempt to get
the best OF him. There is no fun in walk
ing ten miles out of town at daylight ito
meet train of freight cars.
Year: 1877

ties in New York, Charles Francis Adams NOT
having been named for King of the Carnival.
This is about the time of year the ice men be-
gin to circulate reports that their crop of ice
was ruined by the late frosts,
This is good time to lean on the front oate
and talk European war, while your wife nova
the yard with her scissors.
Some of these farmers who are advertising
summer board must have been in New York AZ
the unveiling of the Halleck statue The New
YORK papers in describing the statue say, "at
the back of the chair is rustic lyre."


This travelling with circus on the cars looks
to boy like an under-handed attempt to get
the best of him. There is no fun in walk
ing ten miles out of town at daylight Ito


meet train of freight cars


The question now in the male juvenile mind
IS whether to wait around for his hair to dry. or
to walk boldly into the house and risk his
mother finding out that he has been in SWIM
ming


Not one of the war maps shows any trees for
the officers to crawl behind, and that makes
the anticipated battle ground look strange and
unnatural. Ask any old soldier if this isn't
80.


George Francis Train says he finds Boston
''corroded with the midnight livery of unuttera-
BILE gloom," condition we have ourselves
noted, but omitted to mention, having rela-
tives there.


Spring is here. Every morning the painter
who agreed to have your house all painted by
the tenth of May comes around and sits in the
front yard and holds paint pot between his
knees and stirs paint till oclock in the after
noon, and then says he believes he will 90
down to the shop and get brush and see IL
there is ladder there.


The other day one of the editors of the Hawk
eye cut out of an Eastern paper map of the
Russian war and hung it on a hook for refer
ence One of the compositors, prowling about
for copy, got hold OF it, thought it was an edi-
torial article, and set up column and half on
"a new plan for funding the national debt be-
fore theiforeman discovered what he was at and
killed him.


Brooklyn women seek divorce on a very
slight pretext. Mrs. Pratt of that city asks a
legal separation from her husband because he
flung pitcher at her, hit her with lighted
kerosene lamp, drew knife across her neck
and threatened to cut her throat, threw glass
bottles at her, stuck fork in her leg, poured
L. - SoN


bootjack, and refused to give her money to go
to circus. OF course Pratt evinced a very
niggardly and cruel disposition in refusing his
wife circus funds, but don't let us judge him
too hastily. Perhaps he was afraid the lions
would get loose and tear Mrs. Pratt to pieces,
or that she might elope with the man who
stands around pulling his moustache and
swearing at the men putting up the circus tent.
Year: 1877

The question now in the male juvenile mind
IS whether to wait around for his hair to dry, or
to walk boldly into the house and risk his
mothers finding out that he has been in SWIM
ming.
Year: 1877

S. N. Hyde, of Boothby Hill, in
digging we'll near his dwelling a
week or two ago, found at the depth
of oftwenty-eight feet from the surface
of the ground, two pine stumps of
what have been quite large trees, a
foot at least in diameter. They were
in fair state Of preservation, and
had apparently been cut off with some
dull edged instrument. Here is a nut
for geologists to crack. The location
is about three miles from the bay
shore and on quite high ground.
They evidently belong toa remote
historic age.-HaUre de Gruce( Mdl
RepudHcdH.
Year: 1877

We noticed IL new invention which
is decidedly neat thing thing one day
last week. 1t is combination of sew.
eral household articles in one. All OF
them useful and so arranged that they
are instantly "come-at able 1t is
simply tunnel, strainer, fruit can filler,
cake cutter and dredge box all in one,
and arranged in such a manner that q
lady can use one or the, other ut pleas
ure. 1t is the most convenient and use
full article that has been sold here for
some time, and is one that is destined
to find its way into every household in
this county. Mr.. S. G. Delano has the
agency for Goodhue county, and will
Year: 1877

Do not neglect to SOW peas on few
worn spots in your corn and cotton
fields this year, to plow under, just for
an experiment. A few hours work
may bring you to q determination,
when you see the result, that will start
you on the ro1d to fortuue.


The way to have fine valuable stock
is to take care Of it and treat ii with
humanity Farmers must become
more careful aud thorough in all their
work. 1t does not pay to neglect pro.
vision for the comfort of stock, because,
perchance it may live through such
treatment. Possibly it would improve
under q different treatment.


Among the avocations suitable for
young boys is the rearing and care of
poultry. The love of pets is universal
among children; and in the whole range
of our domestic animals there are no
pets so generally adapted to city, town
or country, as domestic fowls. Nor are
there any that furnish greater pleasure
to fortunate owners; for besides their
handsome appearance. there is the
daily gathering of the eggs source
of unfailing pleasure.


Among jobs to be performed at wet
times in the spring, that of getting out
summer wood is not the least impor-
tant. 1t is very essential to have plen-
ty of good seasoned wood for the kitch-
en- in summer. Farmers are apt to
leave the cook to prepare dinner with
such material as she can pick up, or else
she is put off with green wood to get along
as best she can. When summer ar
rives and work is pushing there win be
no time TO lose in getting wood. Do it
now, and you will save your own time,
and the time, fatigue, and patience of
the cook, and get better dinners into
the bargain.
Year: 1877

"Take no thought for the morrow"
that is, no anxious, fretful thought
Walk through to day as we'll as you can,
and God will undertake for your fu>
ture. When you go forward out of to-
day, to worry about to morrow, you are
over the fence, you are trespassing, and
God will scourge you back into yonr
own lot. When | have been fishing in
mountain strt am, ] have always
found that so long as kept a short line
I could manage my fishing very we'll;
but when I let my line run out the
stream took it down, and there l was,
at the mercy of every stick that stuck
up in the stream, and every rock that
iutted ont from the banks. | lost my
fish, and tangled my line; very likely /
lost my footing also, and got over head
and ears IN the stream. Now, most
men have cast out their line into life
forty gears long. when it ought to be
but one dag long. In consequence,
they are not able to manage their tackle
at all; but are pulled after it, stumbling
first into this hole and then into that;
slipping up here, and slipping down
there, struggling and splashing about
in far more distressed fashion than the
fish at the other end of the line-and.
as a general thing, there is no fish
thers. Haul in your line!
Year: 1877

Chateaubriand says that during the
time of the Revolution the peasants of
France were in the habit of saying:
"Our oxen know when Sunday comes,
and will not work on that day" The
OK cannot labor nine successive days, at
the end of the sixth his lowing seems
to demand tho hours marked by the
Creator for the general rest of nature.
BianconI, the Irish car proprietor, said
that he could work horse eight miles
a day six days in the week, better than
he could six miles day for seven days
in the week. BY not working on Sun
days he effected a saving of twelve per
cent. This is in unison with the very
remarkable testimony of DR.. Fare be-
fore committee of the House Of Com
mons. He said: "a physician is anx-
ious to preserve the balance Of circula
tion as necessary to the restorative
power CT the body. The ordinary ex-
ertioDs Of man run down the circulation
every day Of his life, and although the
night apparently equalizes the circula>
tion we'll, yet it does not sufficiently re-
store its balance for the attainment of a
long life. Hence, one day in seven by the
bounty of Providence is thrown in as q
day OF compensation TO perfect by its
repoco the animal system. You may
easily determine this question as a mat
ter of fact by trying it on beasts of bur
den." God has revealed Himself in
this Divine arrangement of time in the
same manner in which He has set the
night of rest against the day of toll,
rounding the day. by n sleep, myster-
iously adjusting strength and time; so
that we feel thankful and bless God
that the time of toll is not longer, feel
ing that strength would not be equal
for longer period-that we could not
endure it. So He has exactly adjusted
also this seventh portion of time to
rest. Robespierre and Danton thought
to diminish the resting days of man:
but the experiment failed, and society
broke down beneath the burden they
! IMPOSED.