smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

A remarkable incident occurred at Brown
& HALLS saw mill, in Acton, while pine
log was being sawed into lumber. The out
side slab and one board had been cut off,
and while the workmen were turning over
the log they were surprised to see large
toad poke his head out Of a hole in which he
was imbeded, and where he had barely es-
capped being cut up by the saw. How the
stranger got there was mystery, as he was
completely incased in the wood, with no
possible means of ingress or egress. AS
the log was the fourth or fifth from the
butt of the tree, his position must have
been at least fifty or sixty feet from the
ground, and he had no doubt grown up
with it from infancy, being probably hun
dreds of years old. The animal was quite
fiat, and nearly as large as MANS hand.
He was perfectly blind, but when taken
from his bed he made use of his limbs to
crawl away. The tree was perfectly sound,
with the exception of decayed spot about
a foot in length below the hollow place in
which he was imbeded. How did he get
there, and what did he live on?-Toroaato
Globe.
Year: 1876

A DELUsIoN.-A young man who thinks
that he can lead a reckless and profgate
life until he becomes middle-aged man,
and then repent and make good and stea-
dy citizen, is deluded by the devil. He
thinks that people are fools, destitute of
memory. He concludes that when he re-
pents everybody will forget that he was a
dissipated wretch. This is not the case,
people remember your bad deeds and forget
your good ones. Besides it is no easy
thing to break up in middle age, bad hab-
its that have been formed in youth. When
horse contracts the habit of banking, he
generally retains it through life. He will
often perform we'll enough until the wheels
get into deep hole, and then he stops and
holds back. Just SO it is with the boys
who contract bad habits. They will some
times leave off their bad tricks, and do well
enough until they get into tight place,
and then they return to the old habit. Of
those boys who contract the bad habit Of
drunkenness, not one in every hundred dies
a sober man. The only way to break up
bad habit is never to contract it. The only
way to prevent drunkenness is never to
drink.
Year: 1876

Let the person whose name A B D Fl @
you wish to know tell you in G E | R
which of the upright columns F F ] S
the first letter of his name is G G G. K S
found. If it be found in but J L L t
one column tits the top letter; K K M NJ I
if it occurs in more than one NJ n INV
column it is found by adding 0 o 0 OW
the alphabetical numbers of @ R T X X
the top letters of the columns, S S O. Y
and the sum will be the mum U V Wy z
ber of the letter sought. WWW


By taking one letter at a Y z.


time in this way the whole number can be
ascertained. Eor example, take the word
Jane. is found in two columns commenc-
ing with b and II, which are the second
and eighth letters down the alphabet; their
sum is ten, and the tenth letter down the
alphabet is J, the letter sought. The next
letter A, appears in but one column, where
it stands at the top. N is seen in the col
umns headed B, D and II; these are the
second, fourth and eighth letters in the
alphabet, which added give the fourteenth
or N, and so on. The use of this table
will excite no little curiosity among those
unacquainted with the foregoing explana-
tiOn
Year: 1876

SQUIRE WIS MIsTAKE.-Old Squire W.
is an honest jovial soul, with few religious
scruples-fond of hearty laugh or a good
joke at any time. He relates the following
on himself as an actual occurrence


Gone night, boys, l had very strange
dream. thought was about to get to
heaven A long ladder like Jacobs reach
ed from the ground towards the good place
and it was ON that ladder that I went up.
When 1 reached the top found a space of
seven or eight feet intervening between the
last round and the celestial gate. l could
see within and catch glimpse of the fine
things inside. Peter stood at the entrance
he leaned over, reached out his hand and
told me to make a big jump. I did jump
boys, and got one of the cussedest falls you
ever heard of-for l found myself sprawl
ing on the floor, having jumped out of bed,
while was trying to jump into heaven.
Year: 1876

The winter fashions have now assumed a
fixed and decisive type. The hopes of the
lovers of modesty and easy movements that
the tie-back was about to disappear have
all been blighted. Dresses, both for street
and evening wear, are still fastened tightly
back, though Partisan good taste never
suffers fashion to be pushed to the extre-
me, and SO belle in full dress can still
walk and sit down without any apparent
difficulty, though to pick up her handker-
chief from the floor would be manifest
impossibility for her to accomplish.


A lady who has recently returned from
England tells me that the tie-back mania
has ragged there in fashionable society to a
most absurd and exaggerated extent. Not
only we're dress-skirts made so narrow and
fastened SO tightly that a lady in full dress
could get into carriage with difficulty,
and that only at one specified side but not
content with suppressing, like the French
bellies, all under petticoats save one of
elastic woollen webbing, the English danes
suppressed the petticoat altogether, confn-
ing their underwear to what l, for modesty's
sake, must style calecons of glove fitting
buckskin. No wonder that certain fash
ionable Duchess, having carelessly thrown
herself down on the green sward at garden
party, found herself unable to rise, and was
forced to be assisted into perpendicular
position by two of her gentlemen friends.


My informant attended very elegant
wedding, at which the bridesmaids were
attired in white satin dresses, trimmed with
scarlet, and ICED up the back with scarlet
cords, the toilet being completed by broad
brimmed Reuben's hats, shaded with
profusion of white and scarlet plumes, and
by shoes of red morocco. So much for the
Anglicizing of Paris fashions. AS to Paris
itself, the most noticeable change is in the
increased length of outer wraps, sacques
and cloaks being worn much longer than
during past seasons. In costumes, the outer
jacket is usually half tight and comes well
over the hips, being cut straight all round,
and with multiplicity of seams up the
back that aid to give an appearance of
slenderness to stout figure. Scarf draperies
are worn more than ever. Passementeric
trimmings of great richness are much in
vogue, and are extremely handsome as well
as costly.-Phi1adelphia Telegraph.
Year: 1876

There are flowers that never wither,
There are skies that never fade,
There are trees that cast forever


Cooling bowers of leafy shade,
There are silver wavelets flowing


With a lulling sound of rest,
Where the west wind, softly blowing,
Fans the far lands of the blest.
Thitherward our steps are tending,
Oft through dim oppressive fears,
More of grief than pleasure blending
In the darkening wool of years.
Often would our footsteps weary,


Sink upon the winding way,
But that when all looks most dreary,
Ger us beams cheering ray.
Thus the Father who hath made us
Tenants of this world of care
Knoweth how to kindly aid us


With the burdens we must bear;
Knoweth how to cause the spirit


Hopefully to raise its eyes
Toward the home it doth inherit


Far beyond the azure skies.
There is voice that whispers lowly,
Down within this heart of mine,
Where emotions the most holy


Ever make their sacred shrine,
And it tells thrilling story
OF the great Redeemer's love,
And the Acknowledging glory


OF the better land above.
Oh, this life, with all its sorrows,


HaSteth onward TO a close!
In few more brief to-morrows


Will have ended all our woes.
Then DER death the part immortal
Shall sublimely rise and soar,
Ger the star-resplendent portal,


There to dwell forever more.
Year: 1876

The Press intimates the possibility that
the great Exhibition may be kept open till
the first Of December, the Director General
having discretionary power in the premises.
There are doubtless many thousands Of
people who would be glad to avail them
selves Of the opportunity to visit the Expo
sition if the proposed extension of time
were made, Notwithstanding the fact that
they would be likely to encounter weather
that would not be very agreeable.
Year: 1876

SHE HAD THEM THERE.-A lady in town
chances to be unfortunate in the opinion of
some of her neighbors. A physician has of
late been necessitate ted to visit her family
rather frequently. There being no hitch.
ing. post before the lady's own door, the
doctor several times fastened his horse to a
post in front of a neighbor's residence
This he was shortly warned not to doagain.
So, when next the Esculapius made his ap-
pearence, he asked the lady, who was at
the windows of the house, where he should
cite up"


''Let the horse stand" was the prompt
reply; ''the neighbors will watch him for
youp'
Year: 1876

In an article on the habits of the fly, the
New York Tribune ably says: "Great care
has to be takenin eating huckleberries, be.
cause nothing pleases fly SO much as to
be mistaken for one; and if he can be
baked in cake and pass himself off on the
unwary as curran., he dies without any
regret
Year: 1876

A Missourian who attended prayer-meet-
ing with his daughter felt compelled to rise
and remark: 81 want to be good and 60 to
heaven, but if those fellers don't stop wink
ing at Mary there will be good deal of
prancing about here the fust thing they
know"
Year: 1876

A devil on country newspaper lately
gave the following as rule for punctua-
tion: ''Set up as long as can hold my
breath, then put in comma; when cape
I insert semicolon; and when want a
chew of tobacco, I make paragraph.
Year: 1876

The subject is too interesting to be intro
duced by any sage remarks. And yet it is
important. Sometimes, many times, a
mans happiness has depended on his man
ner of 'spopping the question" Many a
time the girl has said "No" because the
question was so worded that the affirmative
did not come from the mouth naturally,
and two lives that gravitated to each other
with all their inward force have been
thrown suddenly apart because the electric
keys were not properly touched. Another
writer corroborates the statement. GOTTEN
times" says he, "a girl says mo- to an offer,
when it is as plain as the nose on her face
she means yes The best way to judge
whether she is in earnest or not, is to look
straight into her eyes, and never mind her
noes" There are some people that never
'spop the question" but once. They are
cautious; they love with their whole hearts
before they ask that all important question,
and they never love again. Others go
through life popping" to every girl they
are fortunate enough to be introduced to,
and to be treated civilly by, and are never
answered eyes" He that says bluntly:
"Will you marry me ?'' has no music in his
soul, and his love is to be doubted. Once
in New York church, the young man who
carried the collecting plate, before starting
to collect, put his hand in his pocket, as
usual, and put shilling, as he supposed,
on the plate, and then passed it round among
the congregation, which numbered many
young and pretty girls. The girls, as they
looked at the plate, all seemed astonished
and amused, and the young man, taking a
glance at the plate, found that, in place of
shilling, he had put a conversation lozenge
on the plate, with the words "Will you
marry me? ?" in red letters, staring every
body in the face. None of the young ladies,
however, closed with the offer.


A young gentleman, familiar with the
Scriptures, happening to sit in pew ad-
joining young lady for whom he conceived
a violent attachment, made his proposal in
this way: He politely handed her Bible
open, with pin stuck in the following text:
II. John, v. 5: "And beseech thee, lady,
not as though wrote new commandment
unto thee, but that which we had from the
beginning, that we love one another. p
She returned it, pointing to the second
chapter of Ruth, verse 10: "Then she fell
on her face and bowed herself to the ground,
and said unto him, why have found grace
in thine eyes, that thou shouldst take
knowledge of me, seeing that am stran-
ger" He returned the book, pointing to
the thirteenth verse of III. John: s'Having
many things to write unto you would not
write with paper and ink, but I trust to
come unto you and speak face to face, that
our joy may be full" From the above in
terview marriage took place in the ensu-
ing month in the same church. We cannot
but doubt it's sanctity, Notwithstanding the
pious place and method of the courting.
Year: 1876

In 1889, when George Washington retired
from the Presidency, Dana, the editor Of
the Aurora, malignant maligner of ''the
Father Of his country called upon the
people to s'thank God that the man who
had caused all the evils which had been in
duced to the condition of private citizen. !"
In 1876, Dana, editor of the Sun, is equally
malignant in his abuse of President Grant
and his administration, and could not refrain
from venting his spite in his publication of
the Thanksgiving Proclamation of President
Grant, by heading it with the sneering re-
marked, "One cause for thankfulness
Year: 1876

It appears from articles in one OF our
Richmond, and in a Petersburg contempo-
rary, that there is still misunderstanding
at least on their part, in respect OF tue
position taken by the consolidated bond
holders with regard to the affairs OF the
Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad
Company and the attitude they occupy to-
wards its president.


We are authorized by the agent OF the
London committee Of these bondholders III
this country, of which Captain Tyler,
OF the ROYAL Engineers, is chairman,
to state that they are the largest credit
ors of the company; that they have lost
all confidence in the official statements OF
its president, and that they ask to have the
property taken out Of his management ana
control There is no feeling OF resentment OF
unkindness towards General Malone IN TINS.
They feel that. with the knowledge they
have Of its affairs, all the other creators
1.-THE divisional bondholders and the state OF
Virginia) should Join them in this request;
for II the president has unwisely and lncom-
petently managed its affairs, they certainly
should be interested in knowing it.


The consolidated bondholders' committee
are quite prepared, through their agents, 10
substantiate all that they have asserted re-
ohIt eAA~ Nl'N'N
by the president of the agreement recently
made with them, under the full and plenary
authority Of the Board of Directors. II the
president is quite sure that his record
is entirely clear he should rather court
than retard inquiries that could only
result favorably to him. But until he does
SO, it appears to be unwise and unjust that
attacks should be made upon the motives and
character OF those who are honestly acting
in the interests of their clients. We feel quite
certain that these attacks will not influence
the opinions of thoughtful businessmen as
to the perfect right Of the creditors OF
bankrupt company to ask for explanations
and full statement of facts regarding their
property.


MIR. John Collinson is the "attorney in
fact" of the bondholders, and comes to Ame-
rica to look especially and particularly after
their interests. He will be in Richmond on
Monday next, and we are confident will be
willing to communicate freely with his fel-
low-creditors regarding this unfortunate
business. BoNDHOLDER.
Year: 1876

DISPATCH PRISTING-HoUsE.-In order to meet
the constantly increasing demands Of our trade we
have added n weil-selected assortment of NEW
TYPE, which, together With our improved MA
CHINERY and sKILPUL MECHANICAL TALENT,
warrant us in guaranteeing the VERY BEST CLASS
OF WORK at moderate figures and IN the most expe-
6itiOuS manner.
Year: 1876

SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE FIRE DE-
PARTMEST.-Captain G.. A. Ainslie, chief
Of the Richmond Fire Department, in his
annual report. which has Just been printed,
alludes to the imperfect fire-alarm bells, and
says:


There should be one large bell struck by
the electro-mcchanica bell-strikcr, which
would not only arouse them 1.-THE fire.
mcnl, but indicate ut once the location OF
the fire This matter has been suggested
before, but as it is OF very great Importance
in the daytime or night that all should know
where the fire is we hope yet to receive re-
lief in this respect.


In referring to some Of the disadvantages
under which the department labors the
Chief says:


Some OF the other companies, regret to
say, operate under less favorable circum-
stances. Company 3D." on Brooke ave-
nue., should have new house, the present
one being entirely too small for their ac-
commodation, nor is it properly located.
1t should be moved to the vicinity OF Mon
roe Park and house built for them similar
to the one just finished for Company co.
The house OF Company "B,' on Third
street, could he easily rcmodelled so as to
give better accommodation than 1t does.
Many OF the difficulties these companies en-
counter would be removed had they proper
houses to hitch up in, and not have to push
their apparatus into the street and depend
on catching their horses at the front door to
hitch them.


The increased pressure on the water
mains since it has been turned on from the
new reservoir has been used to great ad-
vantage in rapidly applying plug-streams on
fires in their incipiency. This is source OF
great qualification to the tiremen, and must
be witnessed with pleasure by the public.
One gentleman largely interested in our
success, upon recent occasion, manifested
his appreciation of our services in man.
ncr that will make his name long remem-
bcrcd by the tiremen OF this department.


Another hose company is needed in the
business part of the city, and would re-
commend that one be established somewhere
| between the lFhig office and the Exchange
Hotel. Their services would be very valu-
able to the heavy business part Of the city
lying below these points, where the water
pressure is very strong. They would do as
good service as steamer company, and ut
an expense so much less.
Year: 1876

FATE OF THE BENDER FAMILY
1t will be remembered that the ipfa
nous Bender family, of Kansas, after
numbering nine persons, disappeared
mysterlously just before their crimes
were made public, and since then no
trace OF them has beer discovered. Il
was thought strange that they could
hide themselves so sffectuaily, but it is
now clalmed that the mystery is cleared
up by the statement that the whole
family OF assassins were dealt With by
a local vigilance committee, and their
bodies sunk in pond near the place
VII ere their cabin stood. It is also
stated that the State authorities wera
cognlzant of the facts, but for obvious
reasons forbore to make them public
Year: 1876

HEWIrT's LErTERs.-Mr. Hewitt
asserted on Wednesday on the floor
of the House that some of his private
letters of had been taken from the
mails. The Post Master General will
cause a rigorous examination to be
made of the matter, although it is the
general belief that the story was con
cocted for political effect.
Year: 1876

towns, counties and states we be-
lieve, from the present indications,
there will be more concert of action
next year than ever before.


We incline to the opinion that more
can be done this fall b. dragging the
lanh than BY any qFall other methods
combi1lsd: With the red parasite eat-
ing up halfor three-fourtlls of the eggs;
with the certainty that many of them
will hatch this fall, as they always do;
with a pretty general dragging and sur
face plowing this fall, and with the
birds and the burning to dispose of
those that do hatch next spring, we
ought not to fear for next years crops,
unless invaded again,
Year: 1876

Tur editor is favored with the mumPs IN
q small way, One OF our hands has been down
with the same complaint for the past Two


.Ls and now that he has recovered ne
"ee - r. turned his pet over to US. We
srr,ose we are big enough to stand IT,
Year: 1876

Mr.. Sotbern has been prostrated by the heat in
Philadelphia and unable to play Tuesday night
at the Walnut Street Theatre where he has per-
forming successful engagement. His physician au-
nounces that few days and quiet will bring him
out all right


The coolest and consequently, just the pleas
antes,, place of amusement the Centennial City
the Kiralfys' Ahambra, the theatre and garden.
The whole of one wall of the the theatre auditorium
opens into the garden, and between tho acts of the
play they have twenty minutes ntermission, during
which the audience go into the beautifully lighted gar
den TO listen to the cool spashng of the waterfall
the music in the pavilion Before and after the drama
tic performances there also garden concerts which
are always crowded 'The Trip to the Noon" is still
the dramatic attraction, but is in its last week.
Year: 1876

Last week, while New York stats.
ticians were spreading broadcast over
the land the statement that that city
during the past year had spent an as
tonishing number of millions. in char:
ity, an old man was found in wretched
tenement house starved to death and
four young children but just alive.
Year: 1876

The Chicago suicide who first took a
cup of cold poison, then stabbed and
shot himself in the body, after which
he cut his throat and swung himself
off a butter tub to strangle his last
breath, was determined to endure the
horrors of five kinds of death, al
though he had but one death to die.
Year: 1876

The joker who some years ago Offer
cda life annuity to the collector of
100000 old postage stamps, has been
brought to time by the young girl in
New York who has been frequently
mentioned in the newspapers as being
after the prize. The old curmudgeon
was as good as his word and the girl
is correspondingly happy.
Year: 1876

There is a very general demand that
the government shall not now pause
to discuss the peace policy; in dealing
with the hostile Sioux, but go on with
out a days delay and give them final
punishment. Let the punishment be
such that no fears need ever again be
entertained that these 'sswards Of the
nation'' will leave their reservation to
forage from the public domain.
Year: 1876

From the BALTIC. Evening News nth inst


About three o'clock this morning a
tragedy occurred which may perhaps
result in the death Of a young and in
teresting daughter Of Mrs. Wkelan, a
widow lady residing at the northeast
corner of Bolton and Biddle streets,
at the hands of a blood thirsty negro
named Brown, who Drained her with
an ak.


Whelan's cook has been for some
time past receiving attentions from a
colored man named John Brown,
whose visits were SO frequent as to
become obnoxious to the family, and
Mrs. Whelan and Miss Emma Whe-
Ian, her daughter, the subject Of this
tragedy, had on several occasions
spoken to Brown about it.


The surmise is, that sometime du-
ring the night, the desperate made
his usual call upon the cook. He
went into the cellar and got the ak
one of the ordinary size, but quite
blunt. He placed the weapon where
it would be convenient to take, when
in the prosecution of his hellish work,
but it is not known whether he re-
mained secreted in the house up to
the hour Of 3 a. m, or whether he
was admitted by some one. .


The villain after removing his shoes
stealthily proceeded up the stairway
leading to the young ladys room.
He approached the bed upon which
the young lady was reposing, raised
the ak and struck her a fearful blow.
A second blov was given directly
upon the frontal bone, inAicting a
terrible cash Of about three and a
half inches in length.


The victl n was but barely able to
articulate her statement, which is as
follows: Upon coming to conscious
ness after the blows, she says that she
saw (by the light Of the gas that was
burning) colored man standing in
the doorway of her chamber. The
theory is that the wretch was DELHI
Grating whether to return and inhict
the wounds upon Miss Whelan, think
ing perhaps that he had not fully ac-
pllsheu the murder which he had