smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

A "REMINISCENCES OF Mr.. LINCOLN
HIS REPLY TO VIRGTNIA.-Mr. IL. Chris
man, of Abingdon, ILL.,, contributes the
following to the Chicago Tribune;


president Lincoln became fully
aware that we were engaged in war
with the dissatisfied States, by the
slow process of his reasoning powers,
before he left Springfield, and before
the Virginia convention had even met
to consider the position that State would
take, and it came round in this wise
Mr.. Lincoln's chief point OF anxiety, be-
tween the election aud Inauguration,
was to have the border States stay,
and he kept up negotiations with the
Uuion men of Virginia to secure that
end until the result of that election was
known. Along with the news OF their
triumphant success came letter from
Col. John G. Baldwin, since dead, stat
ing that the danger was immense, and
refusing to be responsible for the result
10 convention at all without an implicit
declaration from Mr. Lincoln of q policy
on which he could safely intrench, Civ
ing him carte blanche. without so
much as hint of what it should be, but
so ably and succinctly setting forth the
situation he should have to meet as TO
make US at once and fully sensible
crisis had come. Mr. Lincoln took the
letter in the evening, for n night to re-
fleet and promised to return IT with his
answer next morning at s o'clock. Pre-
cisely, almost TO the moment, he came
with the letter to my room, and his an
swer made up, and it was this: Tell
them | will execute the fugitive slave
law better than it ever has been. | can
do that Tell them / will protect sla-
very in the States where II exists. l
can do that. Tell them they shall have
all the offices south OF Mason and Dix
on's line if they will take them. will
send nobody down there as long as they
will execute the offices themselves.
This much he intended for them. But,
said he, with a mournful sadness It was
impossible TO hear without deep sympa-
thy at once, 'all this will do no good.
They are in a position where they must
have the right to carry slavery into the
territory of the United States. | have
lived my whole life and fought this
thing through on the idea that slavery
is sin, and ought rot to be extended,
and | cant 60 back on myself. With
out saluta,ion or other word he unfolded
himself, and stalked out with look of
unutterable grief.
Year: 1879

Empress of France is said to be one of
the richest widows in England. In ad-
dition to her Hungarian estate she has
castle in Spain and nice place in Switz-
erland But hard cash is what comes
most useful to dethroned sovereigns who
hope to return, and OF this the Empress
has long had abundance. 1t is estimated
in Paris that she is worth at least mil
lion sterling. Only recently she sold
large block of house property in the Rue
d'Alba, in Paris, and M Rouhers house.
wel-known political center at the
corner OF the Rue de PElysee, was hers.
in her own right, and was sold last year
for e15,000. The death OF the Prince
adds to her property, since be left to her
a considerable amount of landed prop
erty in Italy, as we'll as the Toulouse
property, bequeathed to him by the
grizzly General who had been equerry to
the Prince when he toddled about the
corridors OF the Tulleries nearly three
feet high weighted with the miniature
uniform of colonel in the Gent Garde.
This vast property was no encumbranoe
to the Empress whilst yet she had son
to live and scheme for. It was drained
pretty freely by the Bonapartist organs
of the press in France. The Orde and
the Pays were lavishly supported by the
Empress, and she also drew handsome
checks in favor of the reduction of the
Gaulois The need for keeping these
fires warm ia now dead. The Empress
is not likely to keep newspapers alive to
work for her good cousin Jerome


Howard Paul's London Letter.
Year: 1879

When Governor Seymour of New York
entered upon his duties at Albany he was
very anxious that his first pardon should
be right beyond question. While think
ing an the subject he received letter
from the officers of one of the prisons
stating that a negro convict bad been
confined in their institution for more
than twenty years, that his conduct had
been good in all respects, and that they
placed full confidence in him. His time
would soon expire and they asked q
pardon and certificate of good conduct,
which would help him when he was
again out in the world. ~ knew of
none." said the Governor, "who could
show better record, and granted the
pardon. At the end of week what was
my surprise to receive letter from the
convict in which he said that more than
twenty years he had lived in the State
prison and had tried to do his duty.
Such beng the case. he wanted 10 know
why the Governor had turned him out
at the beginning of Winter to starve and
freeze. when if he had been let alone
until Summer be could take care of him
sslf?"
Year: 1879

*.* We shall feel greatly obliged to any of our friends in the county, or elsewhere. who will send us particulars of any occurrence of interest which may come under their notice.

 @ CORRESPONDENTS are requested to send in their communications 90 as to reach us on insertion of any correspondence received after that time,
Year: 1879

II is remarkable how soft our hearts grow
at the approach of the Christmas season. We
get very near to the sweet, innocent realm of
childhood. Insensibly our thoughts go back
to the old, country homestead, where we had
real fire places for Santa Claus to come down
and where we stood at the first faint streak OF
dawn, on the cold hearth-stone, on one bare,
red, little foot-the other drawn up bird-hke
to keep it warm-struggling with the first
big bundle in our stocking, which always
stuck fast, and was SO hard to be gotten out


We look on the golden heads we see in the
street with a pleased, thoughtful glance, re-
membering the silken floss which once swept
over the shoulders of our sisters when they
were little creatures,-so many years ago.
The rosy cheeks of a boy recall the times
when our brothers went with US skating, or
sat in front on our best sled to steer. Dear
little fellows-you are big boys now-gray-
headed vy-hearted, many of youi but the
sunlight of the old, dear Christmas times
shall fill your souls with happy remembrances
when it comes round again. How the world
wags on Out in the fresh, blown, country
roads are just the same coasting places that
we knew The same old elms shudder and
creak with the cold. The little brook muir
murs Just as contentedly to itself as when we
wondered il it were not unhappy, imprisoned
so by the ice. Up in the woods are winter
greens and mosses sturdy and bright as in
the days when we children went to gather
them. Cattle are in the barn, and under
neath the lordly cock crows Justify O. morn
ings. What is changed in all these weary
years We are-strangely changed Let us
never say bitterly, changed for the worse.
Across the spaces of the rolling months, that
so steadily swept us onward from childhood
to youth from youth to man and woman
hood Gods goodness like a star has guided
us, and every Christmas time has proved His
love. That we have lost the light gay heart
of childhood, is not loss. That we miss the
tender faces of our companions is but tenn
porary bereavement. Bewildered, perpleTed
and harassed by a thousand cares. we know
each one is but gaining, Love denied will
but be the sweeter when granted. Ambitions
crossed are not forever TO be withheld. To
stand outside the luxuries and pleasures Of
the world, can never make the true, fine soul
grow dark. Life cannot fail 10 bring its rec
ompense for all that we have suffered. II
life does not, death will for from the towers
of all the world rings out the perfect answer
TO all complaint tho glorious promise of a
better future the sure, true joy which the
dear Christ gave freely to us all, of ''peace
on earth, goodwill 10 men" We have had
moments of deepest feeling and highest ele-
walton. We have had joys that are too sweet
10 be uttered. Life has brought to us a
thousand happy hours 10 oounterbalance the
Year: 1879

The CUsToM OF GIVING EXPENSIVE PMS.
ENTs al Christmas az matter of form or hab-
it, or from fancied obligation to do so, is
productive Of little good, and often Of much
harm. But the interchange of simple gifts
in the family circle strengthens the bond of
Rye and ss sS Sm6NSng the sG5d6 Ghil
Is OF real value IN their training Inere Is no
need for them to lament over limited sup
ply Of pocket money! infnitesimal gifts are
endeared 10y the loving heart that conceived
and the skillful fingers that execute them.
Then the great mystery preserved as TO the
presents makes a most delightful excitement
among the little ones for weeks before the
festal day. A Christmas tree is always IA
vorite method of distribution, but this often
involves more expense, both as to gifts and
decorations, than is desirable. When there
is Il large family, another method is to have
each gift wrapped in paper and properly ad-
dressed, and arranged ON table in the par
lor Chrstmas-eve, and distributed by the one
who eau make the merriest time in so doing /;
or the presents may be deposited in large
basket, or packed in bundle, which, when
all are assembled, is brought in as if it had
just come by express. Another plan, which
small people appreciate, is to enclose every
thing in bag, or TO deposit them in tub of
bran or sawdust, of course enyeloped in pa
per and addressed or on Christmas morn
ing the packets may be arranged by the side
of each recipients plate at the breakfast table
Stockings hung by the chimney or at the
head of the bed are easily filed, and in Hol-
land the children place their shoes in row
in the kitchen or parlor, with the name of
the owner above each. However limited the
pecuniary resources may be, every family
may have happy time at Christmas provid-
ed there be an abundant supply of kindly
sympathy and genuine love.
Year: 1879

Susan did her share of the household work
with feverish haste then, leaving Lydia
Maria to prepare the "stuffng" for the tur-
key, she slipped into the parlor kindled fire
in the stove, and opened the shutters What
she next did would have excited n suspicion of
insanity had it been observed by any Of the
family. But she was certain that her father
and brother had gone again to the barn, and,
as she peered forth from the window of the
upper gable.room, there was nothing in sight
except covered vehicle on the road, half a
mile away.


Susan hung q large towel (or it may have
been sheeD from the window. and let it
slowly wave back and forth against the brick
wall. In few minutes her keen eyes detect
ed something like an answering signal from
the approaching vehicle. Thereupon she
hastened to her room, slipped on her best
dark silk dress, gave the last light quick
touches 10 her hair and ribbons, and went
down stairs.


jeremiah had harnessed the horse, and was
about to drive to the village with his father
but Susan called them both into the house,
and summoned Lydia Maria from the kitchen.
Her appearance, the suppressed excitement
in her face, and something strange in the
tone of her voice, aroused their keenest curl
osity, but, as neither knew what TO say, they
all waited for her TO speak.


"Come into the parlor, please" !" sho STAN
mered leading the way.


The room was warm and sunny the fire
Year: 1879

The REAL MEANING OF THE DAY.-We
shall go far amiss of the real meaning Of
Christmas day if we forget that all this joy
and merry making, all this exchange of gifts
and display of affection are only symbols
through which shines, with brightness un-
diminished by the centuries, the Star which
arose over Bethlehem. We show our love for
one another because upon the day whose fes-
tival we keep there was shown the matchless
love of God for us. We give gifts to each
other in devout remembrance of the best
Christmas Gift which the world has ever
known. For thousands of years the Jewish
people have held in jubilant eommemoration
the Feast of the Passover, by which they eel
citrate their deliverance from Egyptian bond
age. To the Christian world the advent of
the Christ-child stands for II deliyerance from
a bondage worse than that among the brick
makers of Egypt, and the assurance of an en-
trance into better than the Promised Land.
Let us not drop out of our Christmas oelebra-
tions the highest and holiest element but in
all the Joy of our homes and the innocent
merry making of the children, let us remem-
ber with gratitude Him whose life and love
aud sacrifice have made Christmas the one
day of all the year most joyous aud sacred
Year: 1879

THE ONE INDISPENSABLE PERsoNAGE.-
can get along without William Tell, we can
spare Pocahontas, we will not complain il II
is proven that George Washington never had
a Ratchet, but we cannot dispense with Santa
Claus, or Kris Kringle, or any other shape in
which the Christmas spirit is embodied in the
legends of different nations. Always the fan
cy of the children will hear the pntter OF his
reindeer hoofs upon the roof as they lie wait
ing for Christmas dawn. Always will pater-
nal and maternal love take delight in conceal
ing its own plans and gifts under the fur
trimmed mantle of the merry and waggish
Christmas sprite. Always will the warning
of his wise discrimination between good chill
dren and bad children have wholesome ef-
feet in making boys and girls more gentle
and less selfish And yet it is surprising that
the little child philosophers in our homes, SO
curious about other things, do not ask more
puzzing questions about this. Why do they
not want to know how Santa Claus makes his
way down the narrow chimneys of our mod
ern houses or what his feelings are when he
finds an air-tight stove at the bottom, or what
becomes of him when there is no opening to
the chimney short of the furnace? 1t is well
that such questions are not agitated. The
Santa Claus legend, to be sure, was meant
for the broad chimneys and big freplaces Of
the old time, but let the little people, none
the less, go on pinning up their stockings
wherever they can find the most convenient
place, and trust that they will be found and
filed
Year: 1879

As Joseph was a-wslking he heard an angel sing;
This night shall be the birthtime Of Christ the Hea-


venly King;
He neither shall be born in housen or in hall,
Nor in the place Of Paradise, but in an or's stall
He neither shall be clothed in purple nor in pail,
But In the linen white aud fair, that babies all
He neither shall be rocked in silver nor in gold,
But in wooden mauger rude, that resteth on the


mould.
He neither shall be wsshen with white wine nor wit


red


be shed.
As Joseph was a walking thus did the augel sing,
Aud MArys son, at midnight hour, was born to be


our King.
Then be ye glad, good people, this night Of all the


year,
And light ye up your candles, for his star It shineh


clear;
Aud all in earth and heaven joyous carol sing,
For O to us child is born, aud Sll the bells do ring
Year: 1879

Christmas stories have the right of way.


The best kind of Christmas slipper-sliP
FIVE dollar bill in your needy neighbor's
hand.


Tonight is stocking night. 1t is the only
night in the year when girl takes any satis-
faction in big feet.


The wise man now takes a piece Of chalk
and marks out q map of his foot on the piano
cover, wnketh, and goes his way.


This is the time for the young man with a
girl. The papers are filed with advertise
ments of genuine diamond rings for one dol
lar.


If man only possessed the unlimited
wealth accredited TO him by his children, in
their wishes for Christmas presents, he could
bid defiance TO a Rothschild


"Charity begins at home" Young man,
before you think of giving your girl a TWEEN
ty-fve cent ring for Christmas present,
think how many paper collars can be bought
for the same amount


About this time the young lady Of the cOun-
try learns through a series of deep, dark plot
tings that her young man wears number four
boots. The same young man will be sorry
that he prevaricated, when he tries to thrust
his number seven feet into a beautifully work
cd pair Of number four Christmas clippers.
Year: 1879

May the dear Lord bless and pity those
children to whom Christmas means nothing
and brings nothing. Can any one fathOm the
disappointment of those hapless little folks
who pin up their stockings in a fAltering
hope that Santa Claus may see them, and
crawl out of bed in the cold gray morning
only to find them empty? The joy of this
glad Christmas -tide-the gladdest time of all
the year-is tinged with sadness and pathOs
as we think of these. Good people all, let
us do our utmost to diminish their numbers.
If we can give but little, let us give to the
little ones. And let us pray and believe that
the Christ-child will come with some special
benediction to those of His little brothers and
sisters who have been forgotten and passed
by in the giving of gifts.
Year: 1879

The Washington correspondent Of the Chi
cago Times furnishes that paper with the fol-
lowing pen and ink sketch Of Senator M. G.
Butler, of South Carolina:


If any one in the North were to be asked
who is the most fierce and barbarous man
among the unreconstructed people in the
South, the prompt reply, in the majority OF
cases, would be Gen. M. G. Butler, Of South
Carolina. But what astonishes the people
who make his acquaintance is to learn how
he could have acquired any such bad repu.
tation through the North. Possibly, Gen.
Butler shares this astonishment, for milder
hammered gentleman and one more agreeable
in social converse it would be hard to find
among the public men in Washington. In
the first place there is nothing about the
personal appearance of Butler to indicate
the typical idea of the Southern man as is
entertained by the people of the North. He
does not wear his hair long. 1t is an iron
gray, cropped close after the style of the
French officer. He has no blowing mustache
or bushy whiskers His face is smooth sha-
ven, except medium gray mustache that
slightly shades his upper lip. Instead OF the
angular bony face Of the Southern type, his
face is round and full. His eyes, instead Of
flashing with cold emotion, are dead cold
gray, whose expression rarely changes in
intense excitement. Senator Butler does not
wear shiny broadcloth clothes made into
baggy shapelessness; neither does he wear
the traditional huge soft black hat. He dress
es in the English style; generally wearing
close fitting black coats made by the best Of
tailors. A stiff felt hat or silk hat covers his
head. His boots also fit him, which fact
also distinguishes him from the typical South
ern statesman. If yon were to see M. G..
Butler in New York, London or Paris, you
would say, in all probability, that he was a
citizen of the place where you saw him, 80
thoroughly at home does he appear wherever
he may happen to be.


Indeed, he is the reverse Of almosts every
idea that the Northern mind would natural
ly conceive concerning Southern statesman.
There is nothing of the emotional in NJ. G.
Butler. He is not man to act on impulse,
but always upon cool judgment. He is one
of the best men in the South, so far as keen
political judgment is concerned. A large
percentage of the success Of Hampton, Of
South Carolina, has been through the ccunsels
of his friend Butler, and yet one unfortu-
nate circumstance-the fact of his being
in the neighborhood Of the Hamburg massa-
cre-has been sufficient to create for him an
evil reputation that has existed for so long
time in the North, but which is now begin
ming to be slowly corrected. He has been
thoroughly vindicated by both parties. After
thorough investigation, it has been shown
that he acted the part of a peacemaker, rather
than as a disturber of the peace, and had his
counsels been followed, there would have been
no trouble whatever. 1t is an old proverb
that lie can never be overtaken by the
truth, and it is for that reason that Gen.
Butler never expects that the people of the
North will ever know him as he really is a
Year: 1879

quiet, gentlemanly student, who has studied
both the old world and the new, and repre-
sents in Congress to-day the very best type
of Southern culture.


Senator Butler doubtless thinks about all
the ISLANDERS that have been published con-
cerning him, as does a certain noted senator,
who, in discussing statement made against
his character in the newspapers, said: IL
never pay any attention to any lie that is
published concerning me. 1t is when the
papers get to telling the truth about me that
I shall have anything to say. The moment
the truth is published concerning me, you will
see me rising to a personal explanation at
once"


was talking with Senator Butler the other
day about the popular impression concerning
him in the North, when he said that he did
not think that the people of the North had
ever read his real record, and thatit was to be
found in the proceedings of the South Caroli-
ma Legislature since the war. As long ago
as 1866, he saw the folly of contesting any of
the reconstruction acts of legislation proposed
by Congress He proposed, in 1866, that
South Carolina should herself pass laws Sc
curing to the negroes political rights equal to
those of the whites. He thought then, that
such policy upon the part Of the South, hon
estly carried out, would have had the effect
to have softened the hostile feelings in the
North and made it absolutely impossible for
the corrupt gangs who so long plundered the
South after the war to have secured control
of the state governments that they did. By
blind strange fatality that showed that the
South was not yet to be released from punish
ment, counter policy was pursued. The
black code that was passed by the State
of South Carolina, was one of the first fatal
blunders of policy. Senator Butler was one
of the fifteen wiser heads in the Legislature
who voted against this black code. For a
long time, on account of that vote and the
stand he took with it, Butler was one Of the
most unpopular men in South Carolina but
he was content to wait his time. He felt that
to be the true policy, and when the more pro-
gressive men came to the front, he had his re-
ward by q return to popularity.
Year: 1879

The Sort OF GIRL TO GEr.-The true
girl has to be sought for. She does not pa
rade herself as show goods. She is not fash
ionable. Generally, she is not rich. But,
oh! what heart she has when you find her !
so large and pure and womanly. When you
see it you wonder if those snowy things out
side were women. If you gain her love your
two thousand are millions. She'll not ask
you for a carriage or frst-class house.
She'll wear simple dresses, and turn them
when necessary, with no vulgar magni6cat to
frown upon her economy. She'll keep every.
thing neat and nice in your sky parlor, and
give you such welcome when you come
home that you'll think your parlor higher
than ever. She'll entertain true friends on
dollar, and astonish you with the new thought
how little happiness depends on money. She'll
make you love home (if you don't you're
brute, and teach you how to pity, while you
scorn poor, fashionable society that thinks
itself rich, and vainly tries to think itself
happy.


Now, do not, pray you, say any more, IL
can't afford to marry" Go, find the true
woman, and you can. Throw away that cigar,
burn up that switch cane, be sensible your
self, and seek your wife in sensible way
Oliver WendeW Holmes.