smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

The following truthful incident, from re-
miniscence concerning a series of murders
committed many years since in France, de-
velopes rare instance of presence of mind
in women. The murderer was known by
the fact that in some brawl or scene of mur-
der he had lost three fingers from one Of his
hands


There lived on the outskirts Of Dieppe a
widow lady by the name of Beaumaurice.
She had no family, but with one servant
girl lived in very retired manner. The cot
tage in which she resided was situated about
half mile from the city, a little way of the
public road.


Madame Beaumaurice had been the wife of
an officer of the guards She was an extra
ordinary woman in every particular; but es-
pecially so in respect to a certain GOODNESS of
character she possessed in the presence of
danger, which, together, with large
amount of moral courage, made her very
notable person. The recent murders made,
perhaps, less impression ch her mind than
upon any one else in Dieppe, although it was
naturally supposed the retired position in
which she lived would have caused her to be
more fearful.


About ten o'clock on the night of the
30th of April just ten days after the mur-
ders in the Rue Grenard, Madame Beau
maurice went up into her bedroom She
was suffering from nervous headache. She
felt very sleepy, and seated herself. The
lamp was placed on chest of drawers be-
hind her Opposite to her was a toilet table,
with cloth on it reaching to the hoor She
had already commenced taking of her clothes,
when, happening to look aronnd, she saw
something that for moment chilled her
blood. 1t was the shadow cf mans hand
on the floor The hand Ea1 lost three fin
gers.


She OWNED the truth in moment-the
assassin was therein her house-under the
table. She made not the least motion or
sign, but reflected two or three moments as
to the the best course to be pursued.


She OWNED what to do, and advancing to
the door, called the servant maid


ooh, Nary exclaimed she, when the
girl entered the room, do you know where
Mons Bernard lives ?"


eyes, Madame"


nave 10 pay o,uoO francs away very
early in the morning. You will have to run
to his house and get money for me.


Every well, Madame. -"


81 will write note, which you will deliv-
er to him, and he will give you bank bills for
the amount.


She wrote as follows:


Ny DEAR MONSIEUR BERNARD. The as
sassin of the Rue de Armes and the Rue
Grenard is in my house. Come Immediately
with some gems darmes, and take him before
he escapes. HELENE BEAUMAURcE.


And, without entering into any explana-
ton with her servant, she dispatched her on
her errand. She then quietly reseated her.
self and waited.


Yes she sat in the room, with that man
under her table, for a whole hour. She sat
calm, ccol and collected. She saw the shad-
ow of the hand shift several times, but the
murderer did not make any attempt to es-
cape from his place of concealment


In due time the gen d'armes arrived, and
Jacques Reynaulds was arrested-not, how
ever, without violent struggle.


need scarcely add that the most convin-
cling proof as to his guilt was found, and in
due time he was guillotined
Year: 1871

The Boa Constructor j John, undo his
tall There, ladies and gentlemen, is the
wonderful boy constructor, so called because
he constructs many pleasing images with his
serpentine form. The constructor is a long
animal, as you perceive, and is very long


lived. He lives hundred years or more,
if he don't die beforehand lie is of the
worm species and worms himself along the
ground without legs. lie is capable of join
ing the largest trees, in which he is fond of
hiding himself in the leaves thereof, that he
may impose upon the benighted traveller or
other beast, whereby to satiate his hunger.
He mashes his vittals before he swallows
them and then swallows em head first.
The sea serpent is much larger. yet think
the boy constructor could lick him; for he is
full of pluck, you bet Prick him, John,
and make him hiss. When he misses he is
very angry, and cares very little what be-
comes of him. This is because he is very
weak minded, and has small head. He
has large belly and when it is full he is
good natured. He has a lovely skin, but is
very ugly tempered lie is very sulky and
lazy, and he is so spteful it is mercy he
cant talk. | have took care of this mighty
snake for three years, but he shows no graft
tude He is a glutton, and likes to stuff
himself, and then 60 to sleep. If John didn't
stir him (stir him again, JohnD, he never
would wake up except to his vittals. ! don't
know as ought to blame him, though, be-
cause nature is nature, in Boston as well as
in the rude valleys of Bengal. ] have an
uncle who has lived in Bengal, and brother
who's never been there. My uncle tells me
he has seen ten thousand boy constructors at
one time frolicing in the forests, and eating
each other up. My brother does not believe
it, but then he has never seen it. My un-
Gle may be depended upon. He was mis-
sionary once, and sold rum and sugar to the
savages. He is the only man in the world
that ever sold rum to the boy constructor.
This is the one he gave it to. He frat got
him tight and then boxed him up. The boy
will never forgive him.
Year: 1871

A SPRINGFIELD lady left her little boy at
home to amuse himself with matches; when
she returned he met her in the street crying.
He said he only just made little fire in the
bureau drawer and lot of red-shirt ID men
came with great big tea-kettle and squirt
ed water all over the house. They saved
the cellar door.
Year: 1871

AN old lady tolerably blind was engaged
in futile attempt to sew buttons on young
Gus new jacket: Old Lady-"Drat these
ere buttons. can't find the holes, and
they split all to pieces every time stick a
needle into en-" Young Augustus Now
look ere, Granny you just let my pepper
mint drops alone. You've split morn half
Of 'em already"
Year: 1871

HAvING LOCATED IN AUBURN, OF
i l. fers his services as Physician and Surgeon
to the people of town and surrounding country,
and hopes, by strict attention to his profession
to merit and receive liberal share of patronage.
For the present he can be found, when not alb
sent on professional business, day or night at
the American Hotel. fe1l-my.
Year: 1871

A VALUABLE HoRsE.-The POttstOwn (Pa.) Ledger
gives an account OF q mare which Is employed ut
the iron works at that place. Her business Is to
haul carts loaded with iron. Part OF the day she S
required to draw cart from the furnace to the pud
ding mil, ana the rest OF the time TO the plate mill,
which lies In another direction. The distance to
each place IS over two hundred yards. The mare
has been engaged III this business for over two
years. and after only few trips has made her
rounds without driver. one route leads over %
railway track, and such Is the sagacty Of the animal


that II she secs train approaching at some distance
she hurries over the track but II 1t s near at hand
she stops for the train 10 60 past As the wages
paid TO drivers in this establishment are Sal per
month 1t will be seen that this mare mas saved her
present employer $1,000 by gong without driver.
Year: 1871

The stock market was weak, and after the
bank statement underwent q sudden decline


Internediately Erie, Harem and Rock Island
had shown premontory symptoms OF the
coming 'break," although Lake had been
carried as high at lIa,. The clique were
compelled to buy enormous quantities Of this stock
tins afternoon to prevent serious tumble IN It 1t
ia said that The Executive Commrtee are In session
nightly over the to be called up on the 43 per
cent stock dividend and doubtless the result OF Their
deliberations wlape MADE pupllc within few days
Year: 1871

An old gentleman III Polk county,
Missouri, of considerable wealth, was
some time since made the dupe of mis-
placed confidence in the following man
ner as related by the Bolivar Free Press /:
GA band of Gypsies appeared in the
neighborbood, remaining several weeks.
A woman belonging to the party made
the acquaintance of the old gentleman,
and communicated to him the startling
intelligence that a large amount of treas
ure was concealed on his place, and that
by obeying her instructions he could
secure it. This he agreed to do. She
then informed him that he must deposit
all his money ina certain place. After
the lapse of few days the whereabouts
of the treasure would be revealed to him.
He accordingly deposited the sum of
three thousand two hundred dollars i'll a
hiding-place known only to himself and
the Gypsy. When several days had
passed, she again appeared unto him,
stating that her incantations would not
work, and assigning as reason that he
failed to deposit all of his money in the
hiding-place, as stipulated. He then
added seventy. seven dollars more to the
amount, but still the spell which was to
lay bare the hidden wealth proved un-
successful. He then agreed to let the
Gypsy take the package of money into
her keeping in order to facilitate hel
coniurations. She kept it several days,
then returned with the entire amount
and they counted it over together. The
Gypsy then informed him he must, tc
complete the charm, secrete the package
once more, for aperiod of ten days tha
he must not, in the meantime, look at o.
go near it. This was assented to, ano
the package once more carefully sealed
up and committed to his care. Whel
ten days had expired he proceeded to g
to the place of deposit, found the pack
age as he had placed it, but upon open
ing it was amazed to discover that i


contained nothing but scraps of OLE
newspapers. He sought the Gypsy wo
man at her usual haunts, but the entir


party had folded their tents, like tn


Arabs, and silently stolen away"
Year: 1871

There is, We heard an eminent lawyer
allege a few days since, no marriage le-
gal which is celebrated on the Sabbath
day. There are, no doubt, twenty thous-
and couples in this State alone for whom
the marriage ceremony was performed
ON the Sabbath-many Of them in the
evening Of that day. A note drawn and
signed on the Sabbath is illegal, or any
other legal agreement between parties.


Marriage is a legal contract, which, il
performed out of the legal time, neces-
sarily must be void and claiming this,
the sons and daughters of a recently de-
ceased millionaire mean 10 contest his will
because in that a large portion of his
estate was willed 10 the children of their
stepmother, who was welded 10 their
father ON the Sabbath, in n church in
the city of Rochester in this State. III
the question is TO be decided that stIch
marriages are illegal, another long cata-
logue OF vexatious suits will be brought
into our courts by parties similarly re-
lated to the one above mentioned. The
decision lately rendered by a learned
Judge of our courts, that marriages of
minors are illegal, and divorce for such
not necessary in order that they can
separate and remaITy legally, since ii
was carried into immediate practice by
the parties for whom the decision was
rendered, is proving baneful to society.
The harm that this decision does TO our
social system is temporary only, and il
the entire marrying population but
learn of this decision, the future will
witness less elopements of young couples,
and a less number Of cases where guile.
full and designing men entice young
ladies' from home in order TO wed them.
That the ceremony of marriage perform
ed for minors on any and all days of the
week, or for a couple where one is q
minor and the other an admit, should be
pronounced illegal and non-efiective, is
strange. But in the face of long-practis
ed customs, that Sabbath day weddings
are illegal will strike thousands with feel
ings akin to CONSERVATION. With al
our laws and codes it is, indeed, strange
that those legal enactments which mos
concern our personal welfare and happi
ness are least known and least under
stood by the general public, including
our most intelligent people.-Ne'c Yori
Society
Year: 1871

Bats dislike captivity so much that
they die under it. Five were turned
into roughly y-made cage, in which they
were fed with flies, for which their ap-
petite was something wonderful-in their
eagerness, they would snap and bite at
one another like SO many ravenous ours.
Cooked meat they could not appreciate,
but raw beef was more to their taste a
circumstance affording their proprietor
great relief, since, by attaching piece
of beef to the inside of their box, he
was saved the trouble of catching flies
for them, and was able to watch them
cater for themselves. The meat proved
source of attraction to divers blue
bottle flies, to the intense qualification
of the captives, who displayed great
quickness in disposing of these visitors.
No sooner did an unwitting blue-bottle
come within range than he was struck
down by pair Of bats wings, the for
tunate bat falling instantaneously with
all its membranes expanded, covering
over its victim, and securing him by
thrusting its head under. When the
head came forth again, the membranes
Immediately closed, and the poor fly
was Immediately swallowed, wings and
allan operation affording several min
utes' enjoyment to the performer. They
seemed pretty comfortable in theil
prison, getting quite lively of an eve
ming, and regaling the ears of their own
er with harsh music of their own
more curious than pleasing. But il
nineteen days every one of them wa
dead-nor did second party Prov
longer-lived.
Year: 1871

The Louisiana Sugar Bo,Dl of recent
date contains q communication from a
planter at Irish Bend, Parish of ST. Mary,
who during the last eight months has
had twenty-six Cinnamon at work for
him on his sugar plantation he infinite
ly and for every reason prefers them to
negroes. In November and December
last they planted forty arpents OF cane
for him, and although at first they were
awkward workmen yet in wonderfully
short time they improved so greatly as
to be better even than his old hands,
who, with three exceptions, became dis
gusted and ran away at the end OF the
year. As ploughme1 the Chinese are
admirable, and take good care of their
beasts, never beating or abusing them.
They are intelligent and honest every
one of them can read and write In his
own language, and so, when payday
comes, if any of them becomes indebted
more than his wages amount to he mere
ly sends up his book to have it posted,
and all is right. This planter pays them
S13 for twenty-six days work, retaining
SO until the end of the contract their
rations, fifteen pounds of pork and fifty
pounds of rice for thirty days. The La.
borers are orderly, cheerful, and cleanly


all of the twenty-five in two houses
twenty feet wide by forty long, and al
their cooking and eating is done in al
adjoining house. If the experience o
other planters shall be similar to that o
this correspondent the negro's occupa
ton in the South will soon be gone.
Year: 1871

PREJuDIoED. A farmer who went to
Texas to buy farm was greatly preju-
diced against the country he. thought to
settle in, from the fact that a doctor
whom he had called in to attend HIM
when he was seized with fever, began
trying his clothes ON Immediately after
writing the prescription. The fact that
while the doctor was trying on his coat,
the chambermaid was examing his hand
kerchiefs, and the porter was struggling
with his boots, lent wings to his imagi-
nation, and doubtless had an influence
in regard to his speedy exit from the
State.
Year: 1871

A charcoal man and his wife, who be-
longed to the Commune, escaped the
vigilance of the police by the happy
device of thorough washing. The dis
guise was too perfect unluckily, for they
have been looking for each ever since.
Year: 1871

UaLY.--The Lucknow Times tells Q
story of an elephant which lately drowned
a man because he leaped down in front
of him while he was making his ablutlons
in river in India. Being provoked
by this impertinent interruption of his
toilet, the gigantic brute seized the man
and held him under water till he was
drowned
Year: 1871

Not with reproof for any of
that days sins of omission or COM
mission. Take any other time but
bed time for that. If vou ever
heard a little creature siching or
sobbing in its sleep. you could never
do this. Seal their closing eyeIids
with a kiss and a blessing. The
time will come, all too soon, when
they will lay their heads upon their
pillows lacking both. Let them,
then, at least have this memory Of
= happy childhood, of which no
future trouble or sorrow can rob
them. Give them their rosy youth.
Nor need this involve wild license.
The judicious parent will not mis-
take my meaning. If you have
ever met the man or woman. whose
eyes have suddenly filed when
little child has crept trustingIy to
its mothers breast, you may have
seen one in whose ehildhood's home
dignity" and Severity stood
where Love and Pity should have
been. Too much indulgence has
ruined thousands of children, too
much Love, not one.
Year: 1871

A judicious wife is always snip
ping off from her husbands moral
nature little twigs that are growing
in the wrong direction. She keeps
him in shape by continual pruning.
If you say anything silly, she will
affectionately tell you so. IF you
declare you will do some absurd
thing, she will find means of pre-
venting you from doing it. And by
far the chief part of all common
sense there is in this world unques-
tionably belongs to woman. The
wisest things which a man COM
monty does are those which his
wife counsels him to do.
Year: 1871

his feet, and said, You come her


at q late hour, Miss Heath


i do, General. You are in dan
ger"


How ia that p exclaimed Green


The brave girl told her story
and the General grasped her hand
while the tears trickled down BIZ
war worn cheeks.


Thank Heaveni you have saved
my army, Miss Heath I can never
repay your


1 want nopayment. The thought
that | have done my duty, and the
thanks of Gen. Green, are worth
more than gold and diamonds was
the heroic reply.


Take my thanks. my brave girl,
and may the Great Jehovah watch
over and guide you through the
changing scenes Of lifo,' responded
Green.


And may He save my country
too, added Kato.


You need rest. Here, sleep in
my tent tonight, while l seek a
resting place among my men, said
the kind hearted Green.
Il do not wish to rob you Of your
couch, General


You will not. I shall be en-
gagged in forming my troops to
meet the attack And General
Green left the tent.


Kate enjoyed a good rest that
night and in the morning Gen.
Green came to her, and joyfully ex-
claimed, Good news Lord Rawdon
is in full retreat We took pris-
oner this morning, who says you
frustrated their plans and saved the
army. Heaven bless you for that
good act! But I must leave you
now, Tor 1 am going to follow Raw
don, and teach him that we can
fight. When are you going home?


In few minutes, General


Good bye and may you have q
save journey responded Green,
shaking her by the hand.


Her horse was led forth, and she
was soon on the way to her home,
which was reached in safety.
Kate Heath lived to see the war
close, and peace and plenty spread
their wings over the land, and not !
long afterwards she was welded 10
Walter Gordon, who had been
colonel in the American army.
Year: 1871

We advise all young people to
acquire in early life the habit of
using good language both in speak
ing and in writing, and to abandon
as early as possible the use of slang
words and phrases. The longer
they live the more difficult the ac-
QUESTION of such language will be /;
and if the golden age of youth
the proper season for the acquisi-
ton of language-be passed in its
abuse the unfortunate victim of
education is very probably doomed
to talk slang for life. Money is not
necessary to procure this education.
Every man has it in his pow T.
He has merely to use the language
which he reads instead of the slang
which he hears, to form his taste
from the best speakers, and writers,
and poets Of the country; to treas
ure up choice phrases in his memory,
and habituate himself to their use
avoiding at the same time that
pedantic precision and bombast
which bespeak rather the weakness
of a vain ambition than the polish
of an educated mind. There is no
man, however low in rank, who
may not materially benefit himself
by following this advice, and culti-
waiting at the same time such morals
and manners as correspond in char
acter with good words.
Year: 1871

Too GOOD BY HALF.-A gentleman said
at camp-meeting in Iowa last week that he
had been married twenty-years, and during
all that time he had never given his wife a
cross look or an unkind word. This man


should have been an angel long ago; he
is altogether too amiabe for this world. His
is an amiabllity, however, that may not be m
tirely desirable. He would be classed by
most people among the wooden men. He
would kill any high-spirited woman in three
weeks by his internal equanimity. He is as
Interchangeable as bas-wood tree, as impertur-
bable as mud-turtie. A house might fall
down on him!and it would'n. bring an ejacula-
ton from him. His wife might run away
with three men at one time, and he would
control himself so as to say nothing whatever
about it. Such men as he make domestic
peace and intolerable burden, and are alto
gether too sanity for flesh and blood wives.
Year: 1871

The Independent tells this story:


Our readers will remember that when our
former associate, Mr.. Oliver johnson, visited
the home of his boyhood, in Peacham, Yer
mont, last summer, he found quarrel brew
ing in the Orthodox church. Mr.. johnson
was panied at this unhappy state OF affairs
in church where peace had always reigned,
and resolved to use his best offices in bring
ing about a reconciliation. Accordingly he
sought an opportunity to say a few kindly
words to the congregation at the close of the
afternoon service, in which he told them of
his sorrow at the differences that had arisen,
and promised them that, if they would make
an end of their strife, agree in employing a
minister, and prepare their meeting house to
receive it, he would make them present of
good organ. The offer was received in the
spirit in which it was made, the quarrel ceas-
ed, the church edifice has been repaired, the
people have united in the choice of minis
ter, and an excellent organ, costing $3.50,
and abundantly answering the needs OF the
little church, will be put in the place prepared
for it on the first of September By this
graceful and generous act Mr.. johnson has
helped to preserve the Christian church from
division and shame.
Year: 1871

to buy Earth Closet, which is substitute for the
reach of all rich and poor, town and in the coun
try. simple means for providing, in the house. a
comfortable private closet, affording comfort neat
ness and health. Send for circulars to
Year: 1871

To limited amount, upon a railroad which is well
located for business, and has been already largely
constructed with the funds OF its Stockholders,
not be otherwise than safe. This security is


ed if the Constructing Company is composed OF men
of high character, ard OF ample means for success
fully carrying thrO ugh any work that they undertake
Year: 1871

Success is the best test of superiority; the
wonderful demand for Simmons Liver Regu-
lator is one of the convincing proofs that this
article is appreciated above everything else of
the kind. However much its jealous defamers
may throw their shafts, truth will prevail and
so will this medicine.
Year: 1871

Wanamaker & Brown are all alive to push
'heir business to its utmost extent, and are
sparing no expense to let the people know that
they are still holding their rank as the most
enterprising clothing house in Phila. They
are now offering great inducements TO their old
customers. and are making new ones by giving
good article of clothing for very small price
John II. Miby formerly of Lewes. is one of
the many statesmen in that vast establishment.
Give them call
Year: 1871

Mrs. Myra Clark Gaines, after incessant
legal warfare Of over half century with vary
ing fortune, met a crushing defeat the other
day, when New Orleans Court declared that
she was an illegtimate child Of the father from
whom her great pO,se.sions were to come.