smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1877

There is in every house in China a
place dedicated to the honor and wor-
ship of ancestors. The invisible OBJ
jects of worship are ancestral tablets
and painted portraits Of the deceased.


The tablets are made Of wood, are about
foot high, and contains the name and


title of the deceased, with the precise
hour of their birth and death and the
names of their sons. They believe that
one Of the three spirits Of the deceased
resides in this tablet, and as they enter
the ancestral halls they prostrate
themselves, offer cooked food, burn in
cense, candles and paper money, and
sometimes they have theatrical plays. -
Year: 1877

twice before he spends it. He wants to
invest it so as to get the full value of
days work for it. 1t is great wrong
to society and to a boy to bring him up
to mans estate without this knowledge.
A fortune at twenty-one without it is
almost inevitably thrown away. With
it and little capital to start on, he will
make his own fortune better than any
one can make it for him. Hunts Mer-
chants Magazine.
Year: 1877

dear to my heart and l shall most
earnestly strive for their attainment.
The cordial cooperation of all classes, of
all sections of the country and of both
races is required for this purpose, and
with their blessing assured, and not
otherwise, we may safely hope to hand
down our free institutions of government
unimpaired to the generations that will
succeed us.
Year: 1877

A
song to the Press, the Printing Press
on the good old-fashioned kind,
Ere the giant machine, With its pnlse Of steam
Elbows it out Of mind.
In the days Of yore
Our fathers hoar


By his sturdy limbs have wrought
OF iron or oak,


4fs teachings spoke.


The language Of burning thought.
song 10 the Press, the Printing Press
As the carriage rolls merrily along,
His stout sides groan, as the bar pulls home,
Keeping time 10 the pressman's song;
And the crisp, wet sheet
On its errand feet
By anxious hands is sped,
Though oft elsewhere
It may sorrow bear


It brings to the printer bread.
Then here's to the Press-the old Printing Press!
Though his days be numbered now,
A fond heart weayes Of the laurel leaves
A garland 10 deck his brow;
Though the giant machine
With its pulse Of steam


Has doomed his form to decay,
His stout old frame
From our hearts shall claim


Remembrance for many day.
Year: 1877

FooD FOR Fowls. s.-The London Lire
Stcck Journal says " As to food, and to
several queries for the best we repeat
once more, there is no best. The great
exhibitors do not owe success toany par
ticular food. All good meal and all
good grain are good in their place. The
only general rules we would lay down
are, that on the whole it is better to mix
with raw meal some portion of one or
another Of the excellent cooked meals
now so largely advertised, which are
both liked, and prevents the food
becoming clogged and, secondly, that
much grain should not be used for
young ones, but pretty much reserved
for the last feed at night, when it viii
tempt hearty meal, which viii remain
in the crop, and give support through
the night. Especially should care be
taken not to give wheat or other tempt
ing grain just after soft food, which Of
ten causes gorging that sometimes
causes death.
Year: 1877

CoMPLIMENTARY.-Nothing could be
more beautiful or complimentary than
this instance of bird "love at first
sight. There can be no suspicion Of
insincerity in such homage to lady's
attractions.


A few months since, o handsome
mocking-bird few into the residence of
lady in this city, and alighted at her
feet, exhibiting little or no fear or sus-
picion Of her, and permitting her to
catch it in her hand. She placed it in
a cage, and it seemed happy and con-
tented, and proved to be one of the
finest singers of its species, filing the
house with its varied and melodious
strains, until after some four months Of
captivity it was taken sick and died.
much to the sorrow and regret of its
mistress. A short time after the de-
cease, the same lady was sitting in her
room, when another beautiful bird of
the same family came in and took its
position near her, apparently inviting
her to capture it, which she did with
out difficulty. She placed it in the same
cage, and it seemed as contented as the
other had done, as if il knew and covet-
ed a life with so gentle Mistress
Jacksonville, Fla.
Year: 1877

KIND. TREATMENT PAYs.-Mr. Will
lard, in his new Butter Book, says. It
is really astonishing what large differ
enee in the yield Of milk it makes by
attending properly to a number of small
things in the management of stock
and things which to many would seem
quite too insignificant to be worth OBJ
serving. The dairyman should have
genuine, hearty love for the animals
under his control, providing wholesome,
nutritious food, pure water and pure
air-everything of this kind in abund-
ance; keeping the animals properly
sheltered from storms feeding always
with great regularity paying the most
marked attention to the manner and
time of milking, and withal, preserving
uniform kindness and gentleness Of
treatment throughout every operation
gentleness extended even to the tones
of the voice. Generally speaking the
COW will do her best that is loved the
best and petted the most by those who
have her in charge. If you wish COW
to do her best, you must cultivate her
acquaintance intimately, and be unspar-
ing in little acts Of kindness.
Year: 1877

rWAsHrNaToN, Oct. 1.-THE Secretary of the
Navy has commenced the preparation Of his
during the past year. After showing the avail
able resources of the government in ships.
material Material and md men. he will urge ir upon
HoI AS will establish q general policy
of the building of new ships, 50 that from year
to year the efficiency of the navy may not only
be maintained, but its strength gradually ad-
vanced.


He will urge liberal appropriations for the
further prosecution of experiments with torpe-
does, the experiences in the pending war in the
East demonstrating the utility of this modern
appliance In naval warfare.


He will also urge liberal appropriations for
the benefit OF the navy yards so that their ca
pacity Tor the construction Of ships may be in
creased to meet all the exigences of first class
navy.
Year: 1877

New YoKK Oct. 17.-It ia stated by the presi-
dents OF the trunk lines that the difficulties be-
tween the New York Central and the Grand
that the advance In eastern and western
bound freight has been agreed upon. and will
shortly be given in detail.
Year: 1877

New YORK Oct. Commenting on the Presi-
dents message the HeJald says: The message


sent affords little scope for comment. 1t is brief
and busins ss-lke, and so strictly confined to
the few subjects which made the extra session
, necessary, as 70 raise no questions on which


there can be a reasonable difference Of opinion.
The Tribune


says the message is brief, business-like and
sensible. asking no Legislation which is not OF


present importance, making no recommends
tions Of which any portion can be attacked. 1t
is hoped that Congress will act promptly on the
suggestion of immediate legislation with re-
spect to the Paris Exposition. There ought to


be no further delay in this matter the interests


Of exhibitors have surely suffered enough al
ready.


The World


says the prompt, almost undisputed election OF


Mr.. Randall was proof that the majority Of the


members of the House meant to transact busi-


ness and not to talk Of politics. The message


of President Hayes gives little political talk
and plenty of work to do. 1t is as business
like paper as any President ever sent TO any
Congress.


The Times


recites the points in the message. and says the


only point Of interest, excslt the deficiencies,


brought to the attention of Congress by the


President. Is the necessity for an appropriation


TO enable this country TO take part in the Paris
Exposition next year. We trust there will be no


hesitation on this subject.
Year: 1877

National Associated Press to the star.


JERSEY CITY, Jan. 3.-Thomas Dris-
coll, while working with gang Of labor
ers on the Pennsylvania Railroad, clear
ing snow off the track, this morning,
was knocked down and run over by an
engine, the wheels passing over his neck
and completely severing the head from
the body.
Year: 1877

AMERICAN WOMEN GROWING PLUMP
1t is frequently observed that American
ladies are losing that thnness of pbySique
which was a national characteristic some
twenty-five years ago, and one reason sug-
gested is that they neither work nor worry
us they used to do, anxiety in any form of
mental disturbance insures meagreness rs
nothing else does. The republic is more
developed, things are settled, somewhat
of the European feeling is creeping into
the national mind, and less thinness is the


result. American women take vastly bet
ter care of themselves than formerly.
They have more acquaintance with hy-
gienic laws, and hold them in far higher
esteem. The days when they exposed
themselves to dampness and wintry cold
in thin slippers and silk stockings; when
they abstained from fannels next to the
skin; when they pnched their waists to
standardization; when they sacrificed
comfort and health to what the conceived
to be appearanccs-tho foolish and un-
happy days have gone forever, have bare
ly been known TO the rising generation.
Our women now have few mawkish and
morbid notions us to themselves; they no
longer think that to he unhealthy is to be
attractive, that invalidism and Interesting
ness are synonymous; that pale faces and
contracted lungs are tokens of beauty.
They dress seasonably: they wear thick
boots and warm clothes in bad and cold
weather; the allow themselves to breath
freely, and they find their looks improved,
not injured, by the wholesome change.
There are exceptions, many of them,
doubtless, but the rule is us we have de-
scribed, and the exceptions are constantly
diminishing. 1t may be safely said that
all sensible women are becoming, if they
have not become, converts to nature, and
that they heed her behests. recognizing
the great principle that what is not natural
can not be beautiful Golden Rule.
Year: 1877

When man goes round the house sigh
ing and wishing himself dead you needn't
trouble to put the bottle Of opium away.
He wouldn't touch it for worlds. If he
should be suddenly attacked with the collie,
you would hear him screaming out for
doctor ut the top of his voice. One day
Pompey said he wanted to die and 60 to
glory. He wrought himself into an ecstat-
ic state, and told the people at the pray
er meeting that he positively couldn't
wait much longer, That night, at twelve,
some one knocked at his cabin door.
" What do you want?" said the colored
man tremblingly. II want Pompey to
take him to glory" replied grutf voice.
The darkey thought moment and then
said, {" Mister Angel, Pompey done moved
up Norf three months ago, and don't never
expect to come back again. Now 90 wayr
White or black, we are all the same.
Year: 1877

A western paper has the following
Zone of the young men at Wilton sat
down the other day and wrote on the back
of a couple of postal cards Then he
turned them over and directed them, but by
some mischance placed the address on the
wrong cards. The result was, the shirt
factory in Chicago got very polite invi'
taton to go carriage riding, while the
Young mans girl was made frantic by re
ceiving the following Please send me Il
sample of the stuff your shirts are made
&C y
Year: 1877

Sclf.evident truths, axioms-they will
not go out of date in mathematics They
will not 90 out of date in theology. We
must teach all men to believe in religious
axioms, us we have taught some TO believe
in mathematical We must gaze on the
stars and the moon, if we do not wait for
the sun, or knowledge of mans whole
nature to rise. But he who waiteth for
the sun will not be disappointed. The
Koran says tn when Abraham set ont on
his travels he was insuficiently acquainted
with religious truth He saw the star Of
evening, and said; "This is my Cod
Year: 1877

The Scientific american contains the
first announcement of what may be the
most wonderful invention of the day.
Nothing could be more Incredible than the
likelihood of once more hearing the voice
Of the dead, yet the invention of the new
instrument is said to render this possible
hereafter. 1t is true that the voices are
slilled, hut whoever has spoken or who
ever may speak into the mouthpiece of the
Phonograph, has the assurance that his
speech may be produced audibly in his own
tones, long after he himself had turned in
to dust. An orator in Boston, tor exam
pie, speaks. An indented strip of paper is
the tangible result; but this travels under
u second machine which may connect with
the telephone. No only is the speaker
heard now in San Francisco, perhaps, but
by passing the strip again under the re-
producer, he may be heard tomorrow, or
next year, or next century. His speech in
the first instance is recorded and transmit
ted simultaneously, and indefinite repeti.
ton is possible. The invention is purely
mechanical-no electricity is involved. 1t
is simple affair of vibrating plates,
thrown into vibration by the human voice
1t is crude yet, but the principle has been
found, and notifications and improve
mcnts are only II matter of time.
Year: 1877

Ponca Indians have received their Ulster
overcoats. They put them on immediate
". They stuck their legs through the
sleeves all right, but what in the name of
goodness to DO with the rest of the coat
they didn't know and they never will find
out.
Year: 1877

trae story is told of how, in old times,
when Albany was bat small settlement
and fnery great rarity II young lady
secured a new bonnet from New York
Shortly afterwards the Indians made Il
raid into the town, and this girl was com
PEELED to fly for her life pursued across
the field by Il Young redskin and bearing
in her hand the precious bonnet, whose
gaudy ribbons had attracted the savage
eye. As she ran headlcng, her friends
cried out to her:


drop the bonnet Sally, or he'll kill
you!' No" she screamed. I'd us lief
lose my life us my bonnet and doubtless
she stated the exact fact. We are glad to
say that the imprudent mink escaped with
both her bonnet and her life, and lived to
be the mother of II large and hourishing
family.
Year: 1877

There is more fatigue in laziness than
in labor.


Actions that express good will to man.
kind in the highest degree, have the
highest merit. ~


1t is the heart that makes the home,
whether the eye rests on potato patch
or flower garden.


The vain abhor the vain, but the
gentle and unassuming love one another.
1t is the effect of sympathy in the latter,
the want. of il by the former.


Honest and courageous people have
very little to say about courage OF
honesty. The sun has no reason to
boast OF his brightness, aor the moon o.
her effulgence. t


Men often appear to lie when most
truthful, and often seem to tell the truth
when most false; the most terrible o.
lies is not that which is uttered, but
that which is believed.


Coerced innocence is like an i'm
prisoned lark-open the door and it il
off forever. The bird that roamf
through the sky and the groves unre.
strained knows how to dodge the hawl
and to protect itself; but the Gagged one,
the moment it leaves its bars and bolt'
behind, is pouncea upon by the fowle'
OF vulture.
Year: 1877

The manner Of saying or doing any
thing goes a great way in the value Of
the thing itself. 1t was well said Of him
that called good Office that was done
harshly and with an i'll will a stony
piece OF bread, II is necessary for him
that is hungry to receive it, but it almost
chokes man in the going down.
Year: 1877

Tho Northern people complain that
we carry politics and business into our
social relations. 1t is to be hoped that
they will not complain of the action
taken by the Western Texas Stock AS
sociation at Cuero the other day. The
members of the association have been
suffering for years from cattle thieves,
until they can endure it no longer, so
that when the convention met every
member pledged his sacred honor to dis
countenance cattle thieves, and the
branding of cattle unlawfully, and prom
ised to suspend all business and social re
lations with those who committed these
otfenses. If q citizen of Western Texas,
therefore, makes u mistake in cattle or
brands the wrong ones, he is a social out
cast, Pariah from that time forth; no
one will speak to him, no one even take
a friendly drink with him; he is lost,
outcast, and will have to leave
for some more favorable cline.
Year: 1877

the necessary mills, ETC., for the mans
uiaclure of the machine, during which
time the price Of it may be kept up
by the present monopoly. The cost
OF manufacturing a $40 sewing mas
chine is little over SIS when it is
landed in the companies warehouse.
The companies say, however, their
profits have been greatly exaggerated,
and while admitting the above cost
for the manufacture, claim that the
cost of selling the machine only
leaves them a margin of about $lI
profits, This cost is in the distti5u>
tion Of them, the commission an agents
and cost of collecting the monthly
and quarterly payments, most ma,
chimes being sold upon time


The downfall of the Wheeler Grover
Singer combination is hailed with de>
light by all other companies, one of
which says that in the last ten years
it has paid the sum ofSS0, 900 to it in
royalty for the use of the Batcheler
patent, The time will come when
one can 60 to hardware store and
order a machine the same as a plow
or hoe.
Year: 1877

Men may pooh>pooh at advertis-
ing our schools, but if Roanoke
has net made it pay, then we are
mistaken. The fact Is, a first>class
advertiser is a man OF life and en-
crgy and enterprise, and the public
have found out that a man who
does not advertise has not nerve
and force enough TO engineer and
run an institution. Roanoake
College is getting the lead of all
the institutions Of learning in this
portion of tho country.
Year: 1877

regard it as n sacred duty to make the
Ilttie ones unhappy who SyStemaH-
cduY try to render life as bare, ugly
and wretched a thing as possible
Ihey never praise their children when
they do right, but punish them severe :
y when they do wrong. They seem
to hate to see their children lively or
cheerful or happy in their presence
They repel sympathy or confidence on
the part of their children, and then
urge as proof that their children are
possessed with the devil because they
always love to get away from them.
They take pleasure IN cutting off any
little.eujOyment. They rigidly carrv
out the fundamental principles of
their creed, which is that nobody
should ever please himself : neither
anybody ever please any body else, be-
cause, in either case, he is sure to dis
please God,


To DO oVertasked with lessons brings
sorrow to many little mind. Here
and there you still see idiotic parents
striving to make infant phenomena
of their children, and recording with
a great deal of pride how their chill
dren could read and write at an un-
naturally early age. Such parents
are fools not malicious fools, but
fools nevertheless.


The first six or seven years of life
ought TO be given to laying the foun-
dation of q healthy constitution in
body and mind, and the instilling of
those first p inciples of duty and re-
ligion which do not need to be taught
out of books. Even if you do not per-
manently injuIe the young brain and
mind hU n II ngly -,
them even if you do not permanent
ly blight the physical health and
break the minds cheerful spring, you
gain nothing. Your child at fourteen
il not one whit farther advanced in
his education than a child who began
his, years after him. The result of
your stupid driving, therefore, has
been to mar the beauty and sunshine
of those days that ought to have been
the happiest of his life.


l haven't a single doubt that real
depression Of spirits, usually the sad
heritage of after years, is often felt in
very early youth. 1t sometimes comes
of the child's belief that he must be
very bad, because he is SO often told
so. II sometimes comes of the Child's
early fears as to what is To become of
him. His parents, possibly, have ta-
ken pains to impress him with the
feeling that if his father should die he
will certainly StdrUe, or that in all
probability he will become wander
ing bcgger. And these sayings have
sunk down deep into the little heart.


A friend told me once that his con-
stant wonder at the age of twelve or
thirteen was this IF life was such
a burden already. and SO miserable to
iUok back upon, how could lie ever
bear it when lac had grown older ?"
Year: 1877

of these had raced their horses with
return the story of their behaviour
greatly scandalized their sober and
steadfast elders, who thought their con-
duct worthy of overhauling and reproof,
and what was the worst of all, the gay
daughter of the reverend preacher him
self was reputed to have been the ring
leader, and the most fearless in these
sacrilegious sports, and the grave sire
was moved to call the erring maiden to
account for her unseemly behavior in a
child of one of the pillars Of orthodoxy,
of whose training better things was, to
have been expected. But the grave,
stern, Scotch divine, nevertheless, had q
soft spot in his heart for the bonnie
lassie, as she appeared before him in her
youth and beauty, half shame-faced at
her misconduct, but half triumphing in,
her wild exploits, with the free, bold
spirit of her race Illuminating her coun-
tenance.


Well, Jeannet," said he, with
frown of censure on his brow, and with
Scottish accent in his words which we
cannot reproduce, is this story true
that hear of you racing your horse in
that Goddess fashion, and behaving so
badly as to bring scandal on the church
and the people of God ?"


But Jeannet knew the divine's weak
point, and after moments hesitation
replied, q" Yes, father, did, and ran
old Bob up hill and down dale, and
would not have been behind if should
have had to run the legs off him."


Her father was a man as well as a
minister, and had not subdged his weak
ness for horsemanship, but feeling of
pride and elation arose within him, both
in regard to his horse and the girls bold
riding. The narrative of her success
was too much for his equanimity. "And
did you beat, Jeannet ?"


g Yes, indeed,''


Instead of the expected reproof, he
bestowed on her look of triumph, and
replied, "Well done, Jeannet, well done,
and L give you credit for it.'
Year: 1877

Never despair, is a motto most true,
Tho never adopted, except by the few
Who fight bravely onward, 'midst trial and


care,


Trusting in God, they never despair.


Never despair, in sorrow or care,


Keep stout heart and never despair.
: Though i'll fortune meet you wherever you go,
Faint not nor falter; twill not always be so,
For he who strives nobly to do and to dare
Will sometime win victory; so never despair.
Never despair There are laurels to wear
For him who tolls onward, so never despair.
Subjects are we of oppression and wrong,
Heed not the hindrance, fight bravely along
There's One who will aid you in sorrow or


care,


Do the noblest you can and never despair.


Never despair There are triumphs to share,
And glory awaits you, so never despair.
All that we aim at in life may be done
If we strive at the task till the object be won;
For only to him who has courage to dare
VIII victory come 80 never despair.


Never despair For time will decl are


A triumph for those who never despair.