smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

A Young man in leather store used
to feel very impatient with his employer
for keeping him, year after year, for three
years, "handling hides" But he saw the
use of it in after years, when in an estab-
lishment of his own he was able to tell
by a touch the exact quality of the goods.
1t was only by those thousands of repeti-
tions that the lesson was learned, and so
it is with everything in which we acquire
skill The great army of "incapabes'
is large enough; we would none of us
willingly join its ranks. The half.in-
formed, half.skilled in every business
Outnumber the others, dozens to one. 1t
was good suggestion, worthy of being
remembered, which Daniel Webster made
TO young man who asked him if there
was any ''room in the legal profession"
'There is always room," said the great
statesman.


The better yos know your business the
better your chances to rise. If you drone
through your allotted tasks without keep
ing wide awake lookout on all that
goes on about you, your progress will be
needlessly slow. You can gather much
information by making wise use Of
your eyes and ears, and perhaps be able
to surprise your employer in an emer-
gency by stepping into the "next mans"
place and discharging his duties salts
factorily.


A fine little lad, some twelve years old,
was employed in telegraph Office in
Southern town last year when the yellow
fever ragged so fearfully in that section.
All the operatives were down with it and
Others sent on by the company were at
tackled. No one knew that the lad un-
deHstood the business, but he had picked
it&p and kept up communication between
the town and the outer world all the time
the fever lasted.


Ex-Governor Morgan WAS once clerk
in store in Waterford. A trip to New
York was an event in those days, but the
young man had proved so faithful that
he was intrusted with several commits
sions, among them being one to buy corn.
He came back in due time in the old
stage coach, and inquiries were made
about the corn. The price was very sat
isfactory, but the old gentleman was
afraid it could not be good at so low
price. A handful which the young man
pulled from his pocket convinced him,
but what was his amazemeDt to find that
he had bought two cargoes!


"Why, Edwin, what shall we do with
it% he asked, in CONSERVATION.


81 have disposed of all you don't
want" said Edwin, "at an advance. |
stopped in stores as came along.
could have disposed of three cargoes if
had had them"


The profits were clear, and his en-
ployer said the next morning: 1--WE will
let some one else do the sweeping" and
Edwin was made partner under twenty
one.
Year: 1878

Peter Lamb was convinced some time
ago that he could invent good-lookipg
high hat, the crown of which would shut
together with spring, so that when the
owner went to church or to concert, he
could mash it fiat and sit ON it, and then
straighten it out as good as ever when
he wanted to go home. So Lamb had a
hat constructed on this principle, and
the crown was kept erect by strong
spring, the action of which was reversed
by moving a small lever whenever Lamb
desired to shut the hat up. The theory
seemed to be good enough, but somehow
it wouldn't work exactly right in prac-
tice. While walking along the streets
with his thoughts, perhaps, upon better
world, the hat would shut together with
such force AS nearly to brain him. He
would take it off and open it, and half All
hour later, while talking with friend,
it would jam down on his head with ter
rible force. Then he would prop it open
with a stick, and after bit it would
come to again with slam, and poke the
stick down past his ear ond into his
shoulder in an exceedingly painful man
ner. Then he would conclude that per-
haps it would be safer TO let it stay shut,
and he would walk around looking as il
he had black bombazine pie-plate on
his head. But in an hour or two that
spring would get twisted around some
how, and while Lamb would be purchas-
ing peanuts from an apple-woman, for
instance, the crown would suddenly open
with bang, which would induce the
woman to believe that he had gunpowder
in his hat. Then he would shut it up
again, for fear it would shut itself, and
10 few moments the spring would fly
up with jerk and whirl Lambs hat into
the gutter.


On warm days the spring seemed 10
have unusual strength, and at last one
morning, the crown jumped up with such
force that it went about fifteen feet into
the air, where the trade.wind struck il
one hundred and eighteen feet farther, So
that it lit on the lightning-rod on the
Baptist church steeple, where it stayed
and there it is yet. And one of the most
interesting things that we show visitors
to our town is Peter Lambs hat opening
and shutting, and throbbing like thing
Of life, on the top Of that steepIe, when
ever it is agitaed by breeze. Peter
has now made up his mind that a soft
felt hat is the only hat that combines
comfort with safety.-Mdr Adeyer.
Year: 1878

EaoTIsM OF YOUTH. - All healthy
youth Is necessarily egotistical; vet moi
all egotistical youth is selfish. The new.
ness OF life and the physical force of sen.
satlon; the want of an outside register by
which to measure the relative depth OF
feeling between itself and Others; the uni.
versal belief when We are young that
never since the world began has anyone
suffered, loved, enjoyed as have, because
am to myself the whole world, the CEN
ter of all e,and know nothing superior to
or different from my own state; the very
need OF aliment demanded by this strong
vitality, this almost aggressive and pre-.
dominating individuality; all this make.
young people intensely egotiStical, Just
as it makes them easily amused and as
easily depressed, Aud even when be-
longing to that class known as simpatica
which, by the way, is not sympathetic
go much as magnetic, and does not give
so much as it attracts-even then we find
the same egotism, the same self. center.
ing individualism, though by no mean.
necessarily either selfishness or want Of
generosity.
Year: 1878

ONE of the new financial fancies of
Paris is company for INSURANCE
Against Female Celibacy." Holders OF
policies begin to derive benefit from the
insurance in the shape of annuity if they
remain unmarried after the age of thirty
In other words, on the receipt Of an an
nual premium the company guarantees
to insure ladies against celibacy, by
placing them in communication with
eligible parts, and, if they do not succeed
in securing husband before the age of
thirty, undertakes to pay them an annui-
ty or lump sum down. Widows are
excluded from insurance.
Year: 1878

Yet another terrible institution of be-
deviled Western Africa is the sassa- wood
ordeal. If any one is sick or in great
trouble in native town, then it is clear
that some one has bewitched him. And
now, to find out who has done the dread
full deed the devil-man is summoned.
AS soon as his approach is heralded, the
women flee for their lives to cover. The
Satanic representative begins his howl
ings, goes through his incantations, and
at length fixes the dread odium on some
doomed fellow. If he denies the crime
and protests his innocence, almost the
only way in which he can clear himself
is by passing through the poisonous or
deal. The devil.doctor prepares the cal
abash or gourd of sdssa wood decoct!on,
whose poisonous intensity will be gradua.
ted according to the intensity of the doc
tors feelings. All things being ready, the
accuser and thcaccused, and pretty much
the whole town, repair to some cleared
spot of the neighb0rhood. AT the center
of the ring the victim confesses his gen.
eral sins, but protests his innocence in
this particular matter; and having in
voked the demons to destroy him if he
is guilty, to deliver him if he is innocent,
takes the bowl and drinks the draught
A short time of intense interest now en-.
sues. Every eye is fixed on the accused
If he becomes only sick, and throws off
the contents but does not fall PROSTATE,
then his innocence is established. His
friends burst forth around him and bear
him of in triumph; while woe be to the
devi-man that accused the unfortunate !;
for he must now pay heavy fine to the
intended victim, or pass through the or.
deal himself. But on the other hand,
should the poison take deadly effect, and
the accused reel and fall, then the guilt
is made patent, and the whole infurated
crowd, running, rushing, and bowling,
seize hold upon the friendless wretch and
drag him over field and fence, rock and
river, until he is torn, limb by limb, to
death.-Ndti0ndI Repository.
Year: 1878

Before cutting up corn the seed corn
should be selected, taking ears from stalks
that have borne two or more good ones.
The tops of the selected stalks may be
broken down, to mark them, and when the
crop is cut, left standing until the ears are
perfectly ripe, then they should be gathered
tiops of seed will tell in the next crop.
Year: 1878

OF course we carry big line of the
best makes of Calicoes, prettier lot
is not in town. We sell them at 3
cents a yard. Or if any of our custo,
mers prefer it, on each s15 worth of
other goods they buy of US, we will
give them Is yards of the prettiest
calico we have. So if you want your
calicoes free of charge, buy goods of us.
Year: 1878

In Clothing fo- men ard boys, We
are prepared to show more extern
sive iae than we ever did before.
Prices on these goods are much lower
than ever before. We claim the larg-
est stock in town. You cen decide
yourself when you come and see. Its
strictly for sale and we will sell it low.
Year: 1878

Harry Wilson was born on the seaside
at fishing village near the mouth Of =
large river. He grew up almost As much
on the water as on the land. He conld
swim almost as soon as he could walk and
could use an oar almost before he was
strong enough to lift one from the ground.
This was fine As play, but one day
there was gloom in the little fisherman's
cabin. All were weeping. Harry's good
brave f4thsr was dead. and he was left
alone with his poor mother.


When the funeral was over and affairs
were settled up, the share in the fishiag
smack was sold and everything that the
widow could not use for her support.
They were going to sell good boat,
bat when this was talked Of, Harry step.
ped up.


Nov, here,,' says he; Il am little
chap, l know, and am not very strong,
bat l must do something to help mother.
and l want that boat"
"What can you do with it!'


"Why, there is no one here 10 carry
people across, aud lots Of people come
and have to wait an hour or more till
some one has time to carry them over"


"But you couldn't row them."


Cant l, indeed! Why, this week I
have run at least ten miles trying to hunt
up old Jake to row folks over; 50 yester-
day, instead Of wasting my time, pulled
Of my cap mighty polite to gentleman,
and asked him to step into our bost."


"Why, yoa didn't undertake to row
him across, did you :" A..,


"Certainly, and rowed him spleudidly.
ae asked me lot Of questions, and I
told him all about Us. He saw I was
able 10 manage the boat, and gave me
dollar, as he said, to encourage me. |
took Carlo along, for / thought If squall
did come on, and couldn't manage, his
bark would 60 further than my hail, and
if l tumbled over he'd pick me up"


All agreed Harry had the courage and
energy to get ahead, and every one knew
hs could manage boat /; so all summer
long he was at bis post. BE fixed white
flag to pole At each side, and when he
was wanted on the side on which he did
not happen to be, they raised the flag and
he was over like rocket.
He made his mother'e burden lighter
BY his work and her heart lighter BY his
happy cheerful disposition and his uni
form good conduct.
Year: 1878

A heavy storm of rain, accompanied
by thunder and lightning prevailed in
this city, between one and two o'clock.
The lightning was very sharp and the
thunder at times quite heavy. The
rain fell in torrents, and the gut
tsrs were cleaned out as completely
rs Captain Gallagher was cleaned out
out yesterday, and without the aid of the
Captains gallant street brigade"
Year: 1878

The Lynchburg News speaks
derogatively of one of the South
western delegates, who has spent
his life in an isolated mountain re-
gion, because he mistook oysters
for hash while breakfasting at the
Piedmont House. 1t is but just
to the delegate, as well as the
Piedmont House, for US to say that
it would require the services of an
expert to distinguish from hash
such oysters as the hotels of Lynch
burg serve TO their guests.
Year: 1878

All over the world DR.. Bulls Cough
Syrup is making its way, and every
place it reaches cOnsumptive people
are more seldom met It Is truly a
blessing to humanity, and only costa
25 cents.
Year: 1878

We advise all young people to acquire in
early life the habit of using good language,
both in speaking and writing, and also to
abandon the use of slang words and phrases.
The longer they live the more difficult the
acquisition of good language will be; and
if the golden age of youth, the proper
time of the acquisition of language, bo
passed in its abnse, the unfortunate victim
of neglected education is very probably
doomed to talk slang for life Money is
not necessary to procure this education.
Every man has it in his power. He las
merely to use the language which he reads,
instead of the slang which he hears; to
form bis taste from the best speakers and
poets of the country; to treasure up choice
phrases in his memory, and habituate him
self to their use, avoiding at the same time
that pedantic precision and bombast, which
show rather the weakness of vain ambition
than the polish of an educated mind.
Year: 1878

A series of frightful MURDERS have been
committed at st. Jean du Gard by man
named Emile Dumas. The assassin is
twenty-eight years of age, and has only


been married ten months. He bad been
in the habit of quareling with his wife and


her relations, and the crime was the result


of dispute which he had with the latter.


Going to the house where his father and
mother, two very old people, lived, he at
tackled them with hatchst. Taking ad-
vantage of moment when his mother
was bent over the fire attending to her
cooking, he struck her blow in the neck
with his deadly instrument, which almost
severed the head from the shoulders Turn
ing to the old man, he treated him in a
similar manner, snd then disfgured the
bodies with knife. Proceeding to his
own house, after having taken precautions
to prevent the crime from being discovered
for the moment, Dumas concealed himself
and awaited the arrival of his brother-in-
law, whom he stabbed in the groin, but
fortunately without fatal result. His
next victim was his wife. She had run up
to him when he engaged in struggle with
her brother, and was struck down by a
series of blows from the same knife which
had wounded her relative, The poor wo-
man did not survive the murderous attack
above few minutes After accomplishing
these crimes, Dumas took refuge in barn,
where he was discovered by the police.
On being confronted with the corpses, he
expressed no repentance or regret for
what he had done. Dumar has since sue
ceeded in hanging himself in the prison of
Alais. .--..
Year: 1878

Quite sensation has been created in the
Amity Church neighborhood, Clark county,
Ala, by pine tree which groans like q
human being in distress or dying. A
number of persons of both colors visited the
place recently to hear the doleful sound.
With the colored people the interest in the
mysterious sound is enhanced by the fact
that the tree stands hard by large grave.
yard, and is also near the place where a
man of their color was killed by lightning a
year or two ago.
Year: 1878

IT is still too early to form a def
mite opinion Of the result of We'd
nesday's election In the State at
large. AS we shall be able 10 speak
with much more clearness to-mor-
row than to-day, we withhold our
comments. The Workingmen have
unquestionably developed much
strength and they may have won
In the State. They have unques-
tionably elected the thirty dele
gates of San Francisco and the
three delegates from Los Angeles
county, and if the thirty-two dele
gates at large are added to these
the party will have an overwhelm-
ing majority. Should this prove to
be the case the responsibilities OF
the Workingmen's party will be-
gin. We can support, with the
utmost equanimity, any issue oil
the election. The real Issue of the
Constitutional G question will arise


when the work of the Convention
comes before the people for adop-
ton or rejection.
Year: 1878

THE experience of the Demo.
cratic party Wednesday will be
found wholesome for discipline.
It is quite within our ability to
pluck the flower safety from the
nettle danger. The party needs re-
modelling and should be brought in
line with the popular demands and
aspirations. AS for an occasional
defeat, it has most admirable tonic
qualities.
Year: 1878

Mother, the grass upon Tonr grave


Has grown and waved for many year;
While, out on times triumphant wave,
The flowers smile which heaven gave


To deck with cherished love your bier.
At first my eyes we're wet with grief,


Which flowed through sorrows tount way
But soon my soul found glad relief,
And glistened like the forest leaf
When the sun lights up rainy day.
But now the pang that once was glooln


Beams bright as sunshine on the sky;
look with mildness on thy TOMB,
Which once thought was horrors DOOM


"That death was death alone to die"
But looking down tie yale of time,


Through wi.dom's brighter ripening shade
see from off this sphere of crime
Unto the angels sunny cline,


The happier transfer God has made.
see the years of mortal care


Melt in Eterlnity's bright gleam;
That some are 100 good and fair
For this wide valley Of despair,
; Or even mortal's failest dream.
sec the wisdom of God
Is greater far than any other;
: The dream is real that you have dreamed,
; The harvest rich that you have cleaned
Patient, waiting, angel mother.
Year: 1878

HINTS FOR LovERs.-In the first
place, it is an imposition on any
we'll bred girl to keep her up
later than ha' past 10 O'Clock,
when you have the opportunity Of
seeing her often. If you always
leave her with the wish in her
heart that you bad staid longer,
you gain so mnch. Never run the
risk Of wearying her with your
presence. Be just as earnest and
straightforward as in your hon.
orable dealing with men. In
press your friends with the worth
mess and seriousness Of your
love, SO that vulgar and senseless
bantering will appear to them as
such. Love is ,eligion-the su-
premest happiness; wear it man
fully and proudly, but holly.
Woo a woman bravely. If there
is anything humiIiating to a wo-
man, it is TO have a lover whom
she wishes to honor, weak and
yapid, ever yielding and half
afraid of her. She longs to tell
him TO tact like q man !" The
man who conceals or denies Lis
love for fear Of being laughed
at, is a coward. A love that has
no divinity in it is not love, but
passion, which, Of itself has moth
ing ennobling. That was a beauti-
full inscription on an engagement
ring. "Each for the other and
both for God"
Year: 1878

There are lonely hearts to cherish


While the days are going by;
There are weary souls who perish


While the days are going by;
If a smile we can renew,
AS our journey we pursue,
Oh! the good we may all do,


While the days are going by
There's no time for idle scorning


While the days are going by;
Let our face be like tho morning


While the days are going by;
Oh the world IS full of sigh,
Full OF sad and weeping eyes;
Help your fallen brother rise


While the days are going by.
All the loving links that bind us


While the davs are going by.
One by one we leave behind us


While the days are going by;
But the seed of good we SOW,
Both in shade and shine will grow,
And will keep our hearts aglow


While the days arc going by.
Year: 1878

What can you do on farm p in
quired farmer Of man who wanted
work. DO you know how to build a
stone wall? oh, yes. Any fool
knows that. You just have to set
one stone on another. No, you
don t ! thundered the farmer You
have to set one stone on two. You
can 90.
Year: 1878

No SCARE A boy who WAS disap
pointed the other day in making a
sale Of tinware to a woman, mnttered
something which excited her indigna'
ton, and she gave him a great piece
of her mind. In "jawing back" he
said


Your husband ought to be arrested
for working on Sunday =


Working on Snnday-come here
Bub No", Bub, if you'll prove that
my husband ever worked on Sunday
or any other day in the week, III
give you a dollar 1--we lived with
him twenty years, and have always
had to buy even his liquor and tobac
co, and now if he's gone 10 work ]
want to find it out


The boy backed off without anoth'
er word.
Year: 1878

No BOOKS NEcEssARy.-'My son,
you should rise with the sun, said the
old gentleman, knocking at the door:


Governor, mu bled a youthful
voice from under the bed clothes, i
fear you never studied the Coperni-
can theory-the sun does not rise or
otherwise move.


Well, it don't need books to tell
me that of my son ! replied the
blunt paternal, turning away.


And the young colleglAn concluded
that possibly "the old man was nat
urellv Just about as smart as his boy.
Year: 1878

A University student broke through
the ice on Lake Montana, the other
day, where the water was on y four
feet deep. When he was hauled out
and laid upon the ice, he family y whis-
o red Boys, don't care for my
self, but I'm engaged.
Year: 1878

A resident fisherman fishing for
trout on another mans land, the 9TH
er day, completely silenced the own
er who demonstrated, with the ma es-
tic answer: Who wants to catch
your trout? am only trying to
drown this worm
Year: 1878




AN ELEPHANTS REvENGE.-Ele
plants have so much sympathy with
deprayed human nature as to think
with B, "Sweet is revenge" An
anecdote Of an elephants revenge
translated from the French, is as fol.
lows: Upon one of the plantation,
was an English overseer named Ben.
nett, an exceedingly cross and disa-
greeahle man, who was employed by
the master because OF his great capa,
bility in directing affairs. Upon the
plantation was an elephant named
Dourga, that Bennett greatly dis
liked, and upon whom lie often
played mean tricks. HIS employer
after reproying him several times tol
his unklndness to the animal warned
him that if be c4rriethis tricks too
far, Dourya would pay him back with
interest. Finally the time came
when Dourgas patience was tried be-
youd endurance. lie WAS in the hab-
it Of receiving every lnornlnS from
his driver a huge corn ca lie covered
with molasses, Of which he WAS very
fond. One morning, as this cake
was being carried to him on a BAN.
boo hurdle, Bennett, who was pass.
ing with u pot full of red pirnento,
threw it upon the cake, and then
stopped to watch and mimic the
grlnaces made by the elephant when
he swallowed it. The result was easy
to see. The poor animal, his mouth
on fire, passed the day in marsh
trying to calm the thirst that was de-
vourlng him, and to appease the in
Aammation produced by the fiery
dose he had swallowed. When even
ing came, the hour when Bennett
brought the coolies from work, the
elephant pounced upon him, picked
him up with his trunk and pitched
him headlong in large reservoir or
pond o. water, which was thirty or
forty feet deep. Bennett, who knew
how to swim, quickly swan to the
edge. Dourga allowed him to climb
up the bank, when he picked him up
again as if he had been wisp of
straw, and threw him back in the
water. This was repeated rs many
times as Bennett attempted to escape,
until he was compelled TO remain III
the water, keeping his head up as
well as he could. The affair would
have ended with sure drowning for
Bennett if one of the coolies had not
come to his rescue and forced Dourgl
away.


The elephant never forgot the lnjn-
ry done him, and rarely allowed All
to escape to still further
revenge himself upon the overseer.--
Sometimes he would throw paw full
Of sand slap in Benefits face again
it would be spout of water thrown
over him at another time he would
be pltcEed into a cactus bush, from
which he would get out scarcely alive
20 horribly scratched would he be-
1t was impossible to correct Donra
md make him behave. The upshot
of the whole affair was that Bennett
was obliged to leave the plantation,
which was not enough for him and
Doura together, and his employer val
led the elephant more than he dlo
ais oyerseer.