smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

We all want to know how good and
strong men have made their ways in the
world. They were once boys like you
What steps did they take to become true
men? An eminent merchant in New
York, MIR. Jonathan Sturgis, tells us q
little of his experience, which 1 am sure
every boy will be glad to hear about.


"One of my first lessons, said Mr.. Stur.
gis, ''was in 1913, when I was eleven
years old. My grandfather had fine
flock of sheep, which were carefully tend
ed during the war ofthat day. 1 was the
shepherd boy, and my business was to
watch the sheep in the fields. 4 boy who
was more fond of his book than the sheep
was sent with me, but left the work to
me, while he lay under the trees and
read. did not like that, and finally
went to my grandfather and complained of
1T. l shall never forget the kind smile
of the old gentleman as he said:


"'Never mind. Jonathan, nv boy; if
you watch the sheep, you WI have the
sheep"


What docs grandfather mean by that ?
l said to myself. l don't expect to have
sheep. My desires were moderate, and a
fine buck was worth thousand dollars.
l could not exactly make out in my mind
what it was, but had great confidence in
him, for he was judge, and he had been
TO Congress in Washington's time so 1
concluded it was all right, and went
back contentedly to the sheep. After 1
got into the field, I could not keep his
words out of my head. Then l thought
of Sundays lesson-'Thou hast been faiths
full over few things, l will make thee
ruler over many things l began to see
through it. Never you mind who neg
lects his duty; be you faithful, and you
will have your reward


Il received a second lesson soon after.
came to this city as a cleIk to the late
Lyman Reed. A merchant from Ohio
who knew me, came to buy goods, and
said: Make yourself SO needful that
they cannot do without you I took his
meaning quicker than did that of my
grandfather.


well, worked upon these two ideas
until Mr. Reed offered me partnership
in the business. The first morning after
the partnership was made known, Mr..
James Geery, the old tea-merchant, called
to congratulate me, and he said: ''You
are all right now 1 have only one word
of advice TO give you-be careful who
you walk the streets with That was
lesson number three"


And what valuable lessons they are
Fidelity in little things; do your best
for your employer; carefulness about
your associates" Let every boy take
these lessons home, and study them well.
They are the foundation stones of charac-
ter and of honorable Success.
Year: 1872

AFFLIcTIoN.-Strangely do some peo-
pie talk of "getting over" great sorrow /;
over-leaping it, passing it by, thrusting it
into oblivion. Not SO. Not one ever
does that-at least no nature which can
be touched by the feeling Of grief at all.
The only way is to pass through the ocean
of affiction solemnly, slowly, with humil-
ity and faith, ass the Israelites passed
through the sea- Then its very waves of
misery will divide and become to US wall
on the right side and on the left, until the
gulf narrows before our eyes.
Year: 1872

1t is not they alone who are trying
purposely to convert an influence. The
doors of your soul are open on others. and
theirs on you, you inhabit house that is
well nigh transparent, and what you are
within, you are ever showing yourself to
be without, by signs that you have no
ambiguous expression, IF you have the
seeds of pestilence in your body, you
woald not have more active contagion
than you have in your tempers. tastes and
principles. Simply to be in this world
whatever you are, is to exert an influence
an influence compared to which mere
language and persuasion are feeble. Is
your example harmless? Is it ever on
the side of God and duty? You cannot
doubt that you must answer for these i'm
pressions. If the influence you exert is
unconsciously exerted, then it is only the
most sincere, the truest expression of your
character. Do not deceive yourself in
the thought that you are, at least doing
no injury, and therefore living without
responsibility. BY mere look or glance.
not unlikely, you are conveying the infu-
ence that shall turn the scale of some
ones Immortality. Dismiss, therefore the
thought that you are living without res
possibility; that is impossible. The true
philosophy of doing good is, first of all
and principally to be good-to have a
character that will of itself communicate
goJd. There must and will be active ef-
fort where there is goodness of principle /;
but the latter we should hold to be the
principal thing, the root and life of all.
Horace Bushnell.
Year: 1872

MENTAL SYsTEM.-The faculty OF
concentrating the mind on the matter in
hand, to the exclusion of all other things,
is one. of the rarest and most valuable
gifts with which a man can be endowed.
To commence with theory, to think it
out to its legitimate results, to reduce
those results to concrete form, and, If it
be in material science, to proceed to ex-
pertinent and practice. without diverging G
in any direction from the purpose. is pos
sible to very few men,
Year: 1872

On good authority it is promulgated
abroad that two drops of turpentine oil
in little milk is complete antidOte to
phosphorus poison. Children not unfre-
quently bite off the charged end of phos.
phoric matches and swallow them. 1t is
stated that girl was recently saved in
England who had actually eight of them
in her stomach 10y this newly discovered
remedy.
Year: 1872

How TO PIANT-Tho modern style OF
planting flower beds is to have masses
or entire beds of one sort or color-rather
than a mixture, A little experience and
study will teach any one how to do this
with good effect. Of course care must
be taken TO have the taller growing
plants in the rear or centre Of the beds,
and low ones in front.


RIBBON PLANTISG IL the name given
TO a new style Of arranging flower beds
in vogue among fashionable tiorist, It
requires some skill and knowledge cf
plants, but this can easily he learned,
and is very pleasing study. The plan
is to set plants of the same height and
color in row, several rows forming the
bed. In making these ribbon beds, be
careful to set plants of the proper height,
and those that will keep in flower long
time, because when one kind is done
Towering .he effect is spoiled A very
pretty ribbon bed is made by taking dit
ferent colors Of the same flower, like
Phlox Drummondli,. Purtulaca, Stocks
or Asters. Those who make the trial
for the first time will do well TO com.
mence with the different coloFs of the
Phlox Drummondi.
Year: 1872

WoMAN's PowER.-Those disasters
which break down the spirit of man,
PROSTATE him in the dust, seem TO call
forth all the energies of the softer sex,
and give such intepidity and elevation
10 their character, that at times it ap-
proaches to sublmity. Nothing can be-
more touching than to behold soft and
tender female, who had been all weak
ness and dependence, and alive TO every
trivial roughness, while treading the
prosperous paths of life, suddenly rising
in mental force to be the comforter and
supporter of her husband under misfor-
tune, and abiding with unshrinking firm
ness the hitteress blasts of adversely. As
the vine has long twined lis graceful foli-
age about the oak, and been lifted by it
in sunshine, will, when the hardy plant is
ritted by the thunderbolt, cling round it
with its caressing tendriis, and bind up
its shattered boughs SO it is beautifully
ordered by Providence that woman, who
is the mere dependent and ornament of
man in his happier hours, should be his
stay and solace when smitten with sud
den calamity; winding herself into the
rugged recesses of his nature, tenderly
supporting his drooping head, and bind,
ing up the broken heart.
Year: 1872

There are periods in lie (says the Pal
MaA Gazette) when blood relations seem
born to harass and bewider each other.
Where is the son who, on arriving OF
age, has not gone in the very opposite
direction to his fathers wishes, either
with regard to calling, opinions, or mar
riage ? Where is the father who has
not walked up some morning to the con-
viciion that with the best Intentions in
the world the parental relation is fail
ure ? If he is philosopher, he will sub
nit to the inevitable with a good grace,
and argue thus: "Yes, it was all very


well to dream When my son lay in his
cradle, how happy should be ii hs ever
grew to be mau. TO have him as friend,
companion and adviser, Ali life would
Year: 1872

ordinance placed beneath their windows aud
fired of, would have but little or no effect up
on the majority of them. We do not feel 50
tired perhaps as some others, but human ma.
ture requires some sheep, therefore If you will!
excuse us from writing more this time, we will
put us in our little bed and dream las the gen
tleman from Dacotah ssd), of what lots Of fun
we had.


You will hear from us again after the dance
at the Mcpherson House.


Respectfully yours, S. Z. DATE.
Year: 1872

ARoUT ToYs-A we'll known student
of human nature once said that simple
ball OF twine would afford boy more
pleasure than an elaborate toy which
could he made to do only one thing
There is no doubt OF the truth of this
statement. A child wants something to
do his Gown self" The toy that sup
plants the spontaneous planning and ac-
livity of "a wideawake boy is poor
one. We question whether the old-tash-
ioned broOmstick was not more enjoy
able steed for smart little fellow than
the elegantly capaiIsoned hobby-horses
of to-day. We do not mean to intimate
that pretty toys are not desirable tOr
Children. 1t is one of the pleasantest
feature OF the holidays that So large a
proportion Of the sales go 10 brighten
the lives of children. But let the Sc
lection OF toys be wise and judicious.-
Give your boy and girl as much as pos
sible 10 do for themselves in their play


Let invention and imagination have am
Pile scope, these faculties will work fast
enough 1t only they are not himdered.
One almost fears, while examining the
comprehensive catalogues of toys which
wholesale dealers issue, that the wonder
full inventions will all start off and play
among themselves, ard leave the chill
dren nothing to do but stand and look
on. When you choose your Christmas
gifts bear in mind the universal desire
of childhood to bring into active exer-
else all the unfolding faculties, to do
somelhing.-Harer's Weekly.
Year: 1872

Domestic HAPPINESS great end
of prudence is to give cheerfulness to
those hours which splendor cannot gid,
and acclammation cannot exhilarate.-
Those soft intervals of unbended amuse-
ment, in which man shrinks to his nat
ural dimensions, aud throws aside the
ornaments and disguises which he feels
in privacy to be useless encumbrances.
and to lose all effect when they become
familiar. To be happy at home, is the
ultimate results of al ambition, the end
to which every enterprise and labor
tends, aud of which every desire prompts
the execution. 1t is indeed, at home
that every man must be known by those
who would have just estimate of his
virtue or felicity; tor smiles and EN-
broidery are alike occasional, and the
mind is often dressed for show in paint
ed honor and fictitious benevolence.
Year: 1872

The above plans will aid materially in
obtaining an understanding of the sub
ject. Il is circular he'd of any size
that may be desired, set with rings of
plants of five different colors; those in
The outer ring should be quite low, be-
coming higher toward the center. This
arrangement of height must be dispensed
with in cases where flowers of ons spe-
cies, but separate colors, alone are used,
like Phlox Drummondii. B is a very
pretty, star-shaped bed, planted in some
what the same manner, with four colors.
G is square bed with three colors. a
bed or border of considerable length and
three OF four fact in width, by the side
of walk or tenees may be planted in
this way, with three or four colors.
Year: 1872

Material INFLUENCE Examples OF
maternal influence are countless. Solo
mon himself records the words of wis.
dom that fell from mothers lips, and
Timothy was taught the scriptures from
child by his grandmother and his moth
er. Sir Francis Phillips used to say 81
should have been an intidel were it not
for the recollection when my departed
mother used TO take my little hand in
hers, aud make me say my prayers on
my bended kuees." IL have found out
what made you the man you are" said
a gentleman one morning to President
Adams have been reading your moth
er's letters to her son." What could be
more expressive? Washington's moth
er trained her boy TO truthtullnesS and
virtue aud when her messenger called
to- tell her that her son was raised TO the
highest station in the Eation'S gift, she
could say, "George always was good
boy."
Year: 1872

THE True THEORY OF PLEASURE
Those enjOymeuts which neither injure
ourselves, interfere with the happiness
of others, or violate the laws and deco
rum of society, are in fact themselves
most efftctual barriers against the in
dulgence of those criminal propensities
which at one aud the same time under
mine our happiness and destroy that of
others. Give to mankind innocent
amusements, and they will he far less
likely to seek for guilty pleasures. But
it will generally be found that those
who VII t Il er Appetite by vigorously
ab>taining from one enjoyment, are tho
most ,oracious in the qualification OF
others.
Year: 1872

One of the greatest post office
boons was the permission to send
/ seeds, gratis, plants and cuttings by
mail at the rate of two cents for
every four ounces, in quantities OF
not less than four pounds. 1t was
thankfully accepted, and by this
means innum cradle varieties of
valuable vegetable articles have been
introduced into paris of the coun-
try where railroads and express
companies failed TO reach. No one
ever complained Of the law that we
have heard of. II was thought that
it might operate to the disadvantage
of the express companies hut, III
the main, the parties who have
availed themselv to this accommo-
dation would not have used the ex-
press. Besides, the matter is so
small an item in the express bust
ness that it is unlikely it would
seriously interfere with them. AT
any rate, this good step in progress
is virtually repealed by the new
postal code, and the horticultural
and agricultural community feel
very indignant thereat the more
so, as no one can see any particular
reason why this retrograde step
should have been taken.


BY the present law packages of
only twelve ounces can be mailed.
Some of the smaller kind of seeds
and roots can yet go in this way,
but of larger varieties not enough
can be sent to be of any service to
any one except TO faise a half-dozeE
specimens for a bonnie garden J;
and as for living vegetation, where
so much of packing material has to
be employed to preserve them fresh
and from injury by the pressure of
other mail matter, the postal limit
will be reached before the plant is
enclosed.


Tie great topic of conversation in
rural circles just now is what inter
est, public or private, is to be served
by this anasked and unexpected
change. But it is probably 10 more
than a piece of hasty legislation,
adopted without rejecting much on
the consequences, and which, if
brought to the notice of their Re-
representatives. by those interested,
will no doubt be remedied next
session.-The Gardeners Monthly.
Year: 1872

SELF-AcTINo fans we're introduced
in England last summer. with great
success. The fan, which is of extra
size, is attached to stand which can
be placed on table, or clasped on
the back of chair. BY most simple
mechanism, not in the least likely to
get out of order, the fan is moved
backwards and forwards, producing
gentle current of air. II can be
removed at viii, and another substi-
tuted. 80 that the lady may consult
her own taste. and attach fan OF
such color as will best harmonize
with her dress and surroundings
Year: 1872

The mind of man utterly fails to
realize the immensity of space, and
no one unaccustomed to the teles-
cope can have any adequate idea of
the difference presented by the
heavens when viewed by the naked
eye, even upon q clear night, and
the scene which is disclosed to the
eye and mind of the astronomer.
How difficult it is to realize that
each star in the solemn depths of
the universe is sun like our own
sun, but separated one from each
other and our own by distances al
most beyond the power of man to
compute!


Only about three thousand stars
can be distinctly seen and counted
by the naked eye, while an ordinary
telescope reveals the presence of
something like three hundred and
fifty thousand. HerscheIs great
eighteen-inch instrument, it is esti-
mated, shows one hundred and eigh-
ty million, while the Ross telescope,
by its vast penetrating power, is
supposed to open up to our vision
not less than seven hundred million.
And yet, when the whole heavens
is swept by this telescope, we have
only penetrated a distance into
space from our standpoint on this
globe, which, when compared to the
immensity beyond, is no moro than
the space occupied by the room
where we write or read is to the
immensity of depth penetrated by
the aforementioned instrument.
Year: 1872

The fire has broken out on both
sides of Pearl street, corner of High,
and threatens the destruction OF
this great centre of the shoe and
leather business


2:30 A. M.-BUILDIEGs BLOWN UP.


Two buildings have just been
blown up at the south corner oi
Devonshire and Milk streets, which,
it is hoped, will stay the progress Of
the fire towards State street and save
the new unfinished post Office build
ing. The streets leading to the fire
are fenced in with ropes. and are in
care of strong detachments of police
who have strict instructions to per
NIT no one to pass the barriers on
any pretence. Thus it is impossible
! to obtain more than general ac
Year: 1872

The FIRE is progressing towards
Broad street, having swept both
sides of Summer street to High street
and Purchase street Goods are be-
ing removed from stores in every
direction in the vicinity of the fire.
Fire engines have been telegraphed
for from Providence, Worcester and
other places.
Year: 1872

dream of beautiful time


When the world shall happy be-
When elephants and hyenas


Shall blossom on every tree.
When tamarinds and potatoes
Shall cease their dreadful roar,
When turnip trees shall blossom


In the garden forevermore.
/ dream of a great Republic


Whose people shall all go West,
Sow plums and reap tomatoes


In the land they love the best
Where pig iron and molasses


Shall bloom on every hill,
And chickens low in the barnyard,
While gOoseberries toll at the mill.
Pm weary of seeing the cabbage
Handle the rake and hoe
I'm weary of watching and waiting
For the grasshopper bush to grow
l long for the time when the spinach
Shall cope with bread and milk;
When hens shall lay tomatoes


And horses spin raw silk.
Oh, sweet where the vanished hours
~ When L wandered down the glen,
And wreathed my brow with tomatoes
Or plucked the ripened hen;
When the donkey twined up the trellis.
And the cucumber chirped in the grass,
And the sweet potato whistled


To its mate in the mountain raSs.
But gone are the days of childhood
And manhood dreams are mine,
Yet | long fer the bygone hours
As sit meath the turkey vinc
Oh, wreatbe your blossoms about me,
And soothe my aching breast,
While the gooseberry plaintively warbIes
And lulls me into rest.
Year: 1872

ALLIGAToRS KILLING TWO HOUNDS
AND A DEER.-A party of sportsmen who
were recently out on hunt for deer scared
up three in the vicinity of one of the bay
GUS of the Ogeechee, and succeeded in kill
ing two. The third made for the bayou as
the only means of escape. He had gone
into water but a short distance before he
was set up by two large alligators. The
water was not over three and half feet
deep, and the attack was in full view of the
sportsmen. The two hounds had followed
the deer, and were consequently drawn in
to the combat, which was most terrific and
bloody. The stag made a gallant defense
with his antlers and fore hOofs, but the fight
was unequal, and the water was soon
crimson with the blood of the noble animal
as he sank down in his death throes. The
dogs battled bravely in the contest with
the alligators, but they too had to yield to
the terrific onslaught of their enemy. The
spOrtsmen tried to get in some shots on the
alligators, but they could not and after
finishing their work the monsters glided
off. The sportsmen retured to the city
with the other deer, but the loss of their
valuable hounds marred all satisfaction in
contemplating the booty of their hunt
Sdr0nndh NelUS.
Year: 1872

II guess L won't write my composition
this evening, auntie. l don't feel bit like
writing"


Isn't it your regular evening for writ
ing it?'


"Yes, auntie, but then nobody can do
anything well when they don't feel like
Hn


81 am not so sure of that. There is no
Necessary connection between doing thing
and wishing to do it. If you live long in
the world you will have to take up many
an unpleasant duty at time when you
least wish to do it,"


81 should like to finish this book to-
night. 1t is borrowed one and l ought to
take it home as soon as / can"


AZ fancied the new book was in the way
of the composition more than anything
else. But, Grace, you should not let pleas
ure come before duty. You will not half
enjoy the book with the consciousness all
the time in your mind that you are neg
Letting your duty Besides, what is more
important, you will do yourself an injury
by confirming yourself in such neglect.
You will very EsOon find the habit fixed of
doing only what you have fancy for do
ing, so the greater part of duties will be
undOue. Now my counsel would
be to TeSOlutely set to work for
an hour over your composition
and after that take the time for reading. i
have no doubt that by that time you can
have it so well laid out that you will need
only to copy it afterward, which will he a
very easy matter. Depend upon it, the con-
sciousness tomorrow morning of know
ing that the work is done will be greater
pleasure than the hours reading will
bring you.n


George felt the truth of his aunts re-
mark, and applied himself well for the
next hour and quarter, when he was
able to fold up the sheet neatly, and feel
that he was all in readiness for his teacher.
The satisfaction he felt was sufficient re-
ward, and the lesson he learned was one
to which he often referred afterward, as
the turning over of a new leaf in his
history.
Year: 1872

The Democratic majority in North
Carolina in 1870 was 1885, The delegation
in the present Congress stands five Demo-
Gratis to two Republicans. The last legisla-
ture stood A Democratic majority on joint
ballot.


1t is evident from the returns we publish
this morning from the Associated Press
Agent, that the reports of Democratic VIC
tory have been greatly exaggerated. From
six to ten thousand majority claimed for
Merrimon, yesterday, the agent last night
admitted that it would take official returns
to determine the result. From a confident
claim of large majority, he now simply
believes the State Democratic. The Asso-
ciated Press returns, we believe,
give the most favorable news
at hand for the Democracy,
and we therefore believe there is yet good
grounds for believing the election of Cald-
we'll Even if the State is Democratic, 1t
is by a reduced majority over the election
of 1870. The vote upon the Constitutional
Convention last year was not party test.
The last claim for Congressman was six
out of eight which would leave the dele
CATION as it now stands. The last claim
for the legislature was forty majority.
Even if true, it would be loss of four.
All these indications, based upon the most
favorable returns for the Democracy, we
look upon as hopeful. The returns given
from Wilmington, when examined, show
the following In sixteen counties, twelve
of which are Democratic, the Republicans
gain 1876, and the Democrats gain SD,
making an excess of Republican gains in
sixteen counties of 757. Upon this basis
the State is Republican. For these rea-
SONS, we do not concede North Carolina to
the Democrats, but shall wait for the OFF,
cial vote, believing the contest will be
very close and the majority either way
small. -- ..-.-