smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876




than. He hurried out, and I knew he
would speedily return with him.
At that instant J onathan Morris, one
OF our neighbors, entered the office.
His face was flushed, and his breath
came deep and quick, as if he had been
running.


He fixed his eyes for a minute encour-
aging!y upon me, and then asked per-
mission of Esquire Hammond to speak.
Then he said, in loud voice:


"Nathan Bagley has just told me that
Jasper Cooper's trial is going on, and I
am here to testify that he did not know
his gun was loaded"


How my heart bounded at these words
of hope.


81 saw a fox" continued Jonathan,
"prowling about my turkey pen. I ran
over and borrowed Jasper's gun of Mar
garet Oonnor. Before could get back
and load it, the fox was gone, but when
l carried the gun home, the ball was
still in it,


Jonathan Morris was a highly respect
ed man in the town, and his testimony
saved me from being tried for capital
crime. The stern features of Mr.. Ham
mond relaxed, and the opinions of all
who had listened to him were percepti-
bly, changed. L was undoubtedly bad
boy, but not so bad as had seemed.
After few more questions, and lit
tie deliberation, Esquire Hammond gave
his verdict as follows:


"For the crime of wantonly frighten-
ing Mrs. Lucy Robinson, Jasper Cooper
is required to pay a. fine of fifteen dol
lars and the costs Of this trial"


Father and Nathan had come in while
he was speaking, and in time to hear
his concluding words. Father took out
his pocketbook and promptly paid the
fine. You may be sure that was thor
oughly punished and penitent.
AS we walked home, confessed, with
out the slightest concealment, all the
wrong I had done in forging his writing
to obtain leave of absence from
school, and then in a moment of resent
full mischief, pointing my gun at an old
woman, and threatening her with the
disastrous result now so well known.


"My son." said he, very seriously,
"you now see the value of good name.
You prejudiced old Lucy Robinson
against you by teasing her. You for
feited Esquire Hammond's confidence
by robbing his pear tree and the note
you counterfeited destroyed your charac-
ter for truth. With only your own
word to help you in this trial, you could
not have escaped the heavy charge made
against You. If good name has been
established, and the life record is right,
You may defy suspicion and conquer
false charges but with bad reputation,
it is often impossible for even the inno-
cent to get justice"


have never forgotten the lesson Of
that day. 1t taught me to shun dissimu.
lation and artifice, and since then have
never wilfully told lie. I sought by
every means in my power to repair the
wrong had done Lucy Robinson. Her
woundhealedint time, and as sfatherpresent-
ed her with handsome sum of money,
besides fixing her house, her bitter feel
ings toward me quite died away. care
fully saved my pocket money, and when
Christmas came purchased for her nice
WOODEN dress, which she received with
the warmest thanks. From that time to
the day of her death, had true and
faithful friend in old Lucy Robinson
Youths COMPANION.
Year: 1876

The following funny story appears in the
New York Graphic, from q Washington
correspondent:


A remarkable case of mistaken identity
comes to my knowledge through the com-
missioner Of internal revenue, General
Rsum. 1t see ms that during the few days
preceding the adjournment Of Congress
Oscar Holt was appointed collector OF in
ternal revenue for the northern district OF
Louisiana, on the recommendation OF Sem
ator West and the members from that
State. and confirmed by the Senate. No
official notice was given to Holt OF his sp-
pointment, as Senator West did not know
his address at the time, and tho commiss ion
was to remain in the department until Holt
could be heard from. 1t was telegraphed
to the newspapers, however, az all appoint
ments are. In . few days after the pub;
location Commissioners Rsum received
letter from Oscar Holt, who stated that he
saw he had been appointed, and was very
gratifed, etc. He was in Murray,
Kentucky. and desired the official
notice sent there. This was in accordance
with Senator Vests request, and was COM
Piled with. The usnal notification was
sent to Murray, Kentucky. and the in
structions in regard to the bond to be give
by the new collector. The summer passed





between the bureau and Holt, as he was un
able to give satisfactory bond. Tne mat
ter was delayed, however, for the return of
the commissioner, who was in Illinois dur
ing election time, and when he returned
there came a note from q prominent Federal
official in Kentucky begging to know on
whose recommendation Oscar Holt was ap-
pointed collector of Louisiana. The letter
stated that he was q resident OF Murray,
hnA hoon <N1 oy1Ssy ono
in his life, that he was Democrat and had
always been, was in the Confederate army,
and was man of bad char acter wherever
he was known.


This somewhat surprised Commissioner
Raum and although Holt was ready to give
his bond, the commissioner thought he
would delay accepting it till he could see
Senator West, who was expected every
day.


first things he did was to complain at the
commissioners office that Holt had never
heard anything officially in reference to his
appointment:


The commissioner stated that the depart
ment had carried on considerable CORE
spondence with him, but had delayed final
action until he (SeLator West) could be
seen, as Holt was represented to be Dem
Ocrat, resident OF Kentucky, and q man
of bad character.


WHO Gays that7" asked the Senator.
The commissioner gave the name of mis-
informant, when West pronounced the
whole statement lie. he said that Holt
was q native of Louisiana. was UniOnist
during the war, and was q man Of excellent
reputation, and besides, the Senaoor added,
''he writes me that he has not heard q sim
gle word from this department in reference
to his appointment"


The Senator fumbled in his pocket till he
found the letter. The commissioner exam
ined it and found that the manuscript was
altogether different from any he had seen
before. Further explanation and inquiry
showed that it was case Of mistaken iden-
tity, and that the Oscar Holt of Kentucky
was the wrong man in the right place.
Year: 1876

nISA 0PAAAo0N w c~O&~s-S'


remainder of the people it asks:


Will they submit to this and allow the
chains forged by the miscreants who nave
60 long held us down to be rivetedE Or
will they rise 10 their might and d'wrath, and
hurting defiance in tho teeth of the national
government which has 30 long fostered and
upheld their oppress0rs, assert their rlghte,
and defend to the last extremity those
liberties so dear to the hearts of louisiana


This is the alternative that will in all
probability be presented to our people:
Either one is dreadful to contemplate. but
for our part we prefer determination to .
cowardly surrender of what our fathers 80
nObly gave their lives for.


We put on record, thus timely, these evil
dences of Democratic determination to
inaugurate new rebellion, that none need
be surprised by its development, and that
the authorities will have no excuse for not
summarily crushing it out.


The Democratic town council OF New
Iberia hired q large oonstabulary force at
81 so a day to aid in bulldozing Repub-
lioan voters during the election. This has
failed to excite any Democratic ire that we
have heard of.
Year: 1876

Court Ifem8s


The courts arc gradually filing up their
official corps of officers, regardless of the
Returning Board. Yesterday Mr. Edward
M Hunt was sworn in as shorthand re-
he will add to the excellent reputation he
made last term in the same capacity in the
Second District Court.
Year: 1876

Force Of habit in Texas is apt
ly illustrated by the San Antonio
Heraldgas follows. "Look here,
my friend" said the clerk Of one
Of our hotels to rough customer
from the frontier, who was about
to take his place at the dinner ia
BILE with his six-shooter at his hip,
"yOu'll have to leave that in the
Office until you leave town" The
frOntiersman objected to this, be-
cause he was not used to sitting
down to the table without his
"weepings." The clerk refused to
pander to the whims of the guests,
although he was willing he should
wear the empty holster OF the pis-
tol, tut the whole matter was fl.
nally arranged without prejudice
to the honor of either party by
the guest taking out of the weap'
on all the metallic cartridges but
one, which was retained to secure
respectful treatment from the wal.
ter.
Year: 1876

A swindler advertised in the
Boston newspapers that he had
money to loan on bond and mort
gage, and informed applicants that
they must deposit sum 10 pay
for searching the title to their
property. He secured large a.
mount of money in sums ranging
from FIVE TO twenty dollars, and
then fed.
Year: 1876

BROTHER,
Oh, be not the first to discover


A blot on the fame of friend,
flaw in the faith Of another,


Whose heart may prove true to the END
A smile or sigh may awaken


Suspicion most false and undue;
And thus our belief may be shaken


In hearts that are honest and true
How often the light smile of gladness
Is worn by the friends that we meet
To cover soul full Of sadness,


Too proud to acknowledge defeat.
How often the sigh of detection


Is heaved from abe hypocrite's breast,
To parody truth and affection,


Or lull a suspicion TO rest.
How often the friends we hold dearest


Their nobleSt emotions conceal;
And bosOms the purest, sincerest,


Have secrets they cannot reveal.
We none of US know one another,


And often into error may fall;
Then let US speak we'll Of our brother,
Or speak not about him at all.
Year: 1876




mana personal friend who, in
serving the ones he loved, had
come to the door of death.


Booth told all. He told how,
long before, in a fit of passion
to do some bold deed, he had
Joined in a conspiracy to alb
duct the President and to hold
him as hostage for the release
of certain military prisoners
who were Booths friends, and
who it was thought, were to be
shot. He told of the meetings
they had held at the house of
Mrs. Surratt, and that all of that
plan had fallen to the ground
long before.


He offered his services at any
time, and in any place Or ca
pacity, free of cost or fearless
Of consequences. The eminent
gentlemen who were with him
joined in the request that the
prayer Of Booth be granted,
and that Bcal should be par
doned.


At last, President Lincoln,
with the tears streaming down
his face, took Booth by the
hands, bade him rise and stand
like a man, and gave him his
promise that Beal should be
pardoned. He asked the party
to depart that he might gain
rest, for the work Of the NOR
row, and said that tho official
document they asked for should
be forwarded at once to United
States Marshal Robert Murray,
in New York, and through him
to the officers charged with the
execution of Beal.


After breakfast, Lincoln in
formed Seward, Secretary Of
State, what he had done 0r
promised to do. Seward said it
must not be done. That pub
lie sentiment in the North de-
mandeG that Beal should be
hung. He declared that to par
don Beal would discourage en-
listments, lengthen the war and
insult the sentiment that called
for blood. He chided Lincoln
for making such promises with
out asking the advice Of his
Cabinet, or advising with HIM
self, Seward, on State policy.
AS the argument grew conten-
tious, Seward declared that if
the conduct of the war was to
be trified with by appeals for
humanity, he should go out of
the Cabinet and use his influence
against the President, land should
charge him with being in sym
pathy with the South.


Lincoln yielded and Bcal was
executed to the carrying out Of
the sentence Of the Court. The
reaction to Lincoln's nervous
system was such that for days
he was far from well.


The effect on Booth was ter
rible. He ravcd Ike a madman,
and in his frenzy swore that
Lincoln and Seward should
both pay for the grief and ago
ny he had been put to. From
the death of Beal Booth brood
ed vengeance for that which he
considered a personal afiront.-
His rage took in Seward, and he
engaged Harold, Azterodt and
others to avenge Beal's death
by killing Seward, while he
| Booth wreaked human ven-
geance on the President.


AT last came the hour. Booth
killed Lincoln. His friends and
the relatives or avengers Of Beal
tried their best to kill Seward,
and when they left him stabbed,
bleeding and limp as cloth, as
he rolled over behind the bed
whereon they found him, they
supposed their work was COM
pletely done.


Our story is told. We have
given the truth Of history, and
told exactly why Abraham Lin
coin, the humane President of
the United States, was killed.


The latest victim of investiga.
tion Ia T, X Ti3nipcOft chief
Year: 1876

adjacent to the grounds Several Of the State buildings
have been entirely completed and thrown open to
use to-day The Russian exhibitors are busy arranging
their goods which have recently been received The
number OF visitors the Exhibition to-day was some
what larrer than that of yesterday Up to noon they
numbered about 10000 The platform used by the or
chesra OF Theodore Thomas the opening day Is now
being removed; that occupied by distinguished Visitors


in front OF Memorial Hall has been entirely cleared
away. This morning the committees representing the
United States Centennial Commission and the Centennial
Board of Finance held meeting for the purpose OF ar
ranging details for the proper celebration OF Fourth OF
July the Centennial grounds. There general in
terchange of opinion but nothing definite was arrived at
The conference will be continued tomorrow


The United States Centennial Commission reassemoled
Morrill, Chairman of the Executive Committee presented


report which, after referring the auspci0us opening
Of the Exhibition states that the great number OF visitors
has already made practical test Of the regulations
adOped for the OF the Exhibition with results
which in the main asiactory, much less dhcity
having been experienced than anticipated The Exec
uive Committee believe that the comfort, convenience,
and safeyof visitors will he fully provided for In such


will insure the best results to exhibitors and
public large All regulations which appear defect
i've will be promptly corrected The report was accepted
The Committee Classification stated their report
wOud be ready tomorrow The report OF the Secretary
OF the Commission then read giving an account OF
the work already accomplished by the Commission.
resolution ad pted fixing tomorrow rs the time
for the annual election Of officers Of the Commission
Year: 1876

PHILADELPHIA, May ia sensation at the
Centennial grounds occurred this morning in the shape
OF AN attempted suicide by poison on the part OF
woman, who gave her Mrs. Bogardus, and
claimed TO be the wife Of OF the Centennial guards
duty the spot She states she Is from Auburn, "
and that neglect the part Of her husband induced her
tn make the attempt her life
Year: 1876

PHILADELPHIA, May 1.-THE Committee on
Cone ssions the Centennial Board Of Finance gave
notice several Of the restaurant keepers within the
grounds that unless they reduced their prices to those
which are current In the city Committee would grant
concessions 10 rivals who would build along side and
enter into competition.
Year: 1876

We do not know the author Of the
following, but he breaches one Of the
best practical business sermons to
young men that we have read this
many n day:


~ wish Ihnd capital So VIC heard
q great strapping young man cxclain
the other day in our Office. We did
want to tell him piece Of our mind so
bad, and will Just write to him. You
want capital, do you? And suppose
you had what you call capital, what
would you do withit? Havn't you got
hands and feet and muscle and bone
and brainY and don't you call them
capital? What more did God give to
anybody?' "oh, they are not money"
say you. But they arc more than
money, and no one can take them from
you. Don't you know how TO use
them? If you don't, it is time you
were learning. Take hold Of the first
plow or hoe or jack-plane or broad-ax
that you can find, and go to work.
Your capital will soon yield you a
large interest Aye, but there's the
rub. You don't want TO work you
want money or credit that YOU NAV
play the gentleman and speculate, and
end in playjng the vapabond Or Won
want n plantation and negroes that
Won NAV hire an oyerseer 10 attend 10
them, while Won run over the country
and dissipate: or want 10 marry some
rich girl who NAV be foolish enough 10
marry vou for your good looks that
she NAV support you.


Shame upon Won. Young mani Co
to work with the capital Won have
and YOU will soon make interest
enough upon il and with it to give You
as mucb money as Won want and
Year: 1876

An OLD CUsToMER.--lt appears that
they are having some trouble with the
devil over in England. A London cor
respondent of the New York Sun re-
lates the following


Belief in the personality of Satan
has now been judicially declared not
to be an essential part Of the creed OF
the Church Of England. Such is the
effect of the decision delivered on
Wednesday, in the case of Jenkins
against Cook, by the highest court OF
the United Kingdom. Cook is cler.
gyman, who had denied to Jenkins, one
Of his parishioners, tho sacrament OF
the Holy Supper because he denied the
existence of a personal devil. Jenkins
thereupon sued Cook in the Arches
court, and though beaten there, has
finally obtained decree against his
pastor, requiring him to admit him TO
the communion table. II was decided
in England, some time ago, that il was
not necessary for orthodox churchman-
ship to believe in the eternal punish
mcnt of sinners, and it was proposed
to inscribc on the tombstone Of the
Judge who made the decision, that
he dismissed hell with costs, and took
away from the pious members of the
Church of England all their hopes OF
everlasting damnation' Now that
the devil also is turned ont of court, il
is hard to see what consolation is left
TO men OF the Cook stripe
Year: 1876




BENEFIT OF LAu0HTER.-Probably
there is not the remotest corner or lit.
tic inlet of the minute blood vessels
Qifc vcssels) of the body that does not
feel some wavelet from that great con.
vulsion (hearty laughter) shaking the
central man. The blood moves more
lively probably its chemical electric,
or vital condition is distinctly modified
it conveys different impression to all
the organs Of the body as 1t visits them
on that particular mystic journey when
q man is laughing from what il does at
other times. And so, we doubt not, a
good laugh may lcngthcn mans life,
conveying q distinct stimulus to the
vital forces. And the time may come
when physicians, attending more close.
ly than at present they are unfortun-
ately apt to do to the innumcable
subtle influence which the soul exerts
upon the tenement of clay, shall pre-
scribe TO torpid patient $50 many
peals of laughter, to be undergone at
such and such a time just as they now
do that far more Objectionable prcscrip-
ton pill, or an electric or galvanic
shock, and shall study the best and
most effective method of producing the
required effect in each patient
Year: 1876

In the State of Massachusetts, law


has been enacted to regulate the equit
able sale Of eggs by the pound instead
of by the dozen. The New York Her
aid thinks other States would do wei
to adopt a similar law, as there il


no equity in computing the value of {
small egg equal to that of one twice ai


large. A writer in the american Gro
Ger says


On testing the difference we find
about this resuls: Small eggs we say
will weigh say one pound per dozen,
medium, one and three-fourths pounds,
while large will weigh two and three
fourth pounds. We think that one
and three.iourth pounds is about 4 fair
average. We buy about 1900 dozen
per month from producers, and we find
all of the above differencein the weight.
Parties claim that the hens that lay
the small eggs will lay the greatest
number. Now just see what premi-
um we are paying for the production
of an inferior article. We Still notice,
and this by experiment, too, that the
shells of two pounds of meat from the
small eggs weigh nearly double that of
the large egg. We will try to explain
our idea: For instance, one woman
brings us four dozen eggs that weigh
four pounds; we pay her eighty cents
for them she says nothing, it is her
due, twenty cents per dozen for her
eggs another comes, has two dozen
eggs, we pay her forty cents, weigh
her eggs and find she has four pounds
and she does not complimentary
cents per dozen for eggs. Now we say
Justice demands that we pay at least
as much for the two dozen that weigh
four pounds, while the shells of the
four dozen weigh much more than the
shells from the two dozen. Difference
in these figures is intended for OK
tremes, yet it is Of every day occur
renee that we find them both. Our
opinion is that the price should be bas-
ed on the rate OF two pounds to the
tlozen e0us
Year: 1876

4
that We must have . ''specis basis
for our currency, while admitting that
there is not enough gold in the world
for such currency. We; give You >
system which is more truly based upon
gold than that you advocate, for the
government may, at any time, pay ito
bonds il gold, and, if it has the gold,
when the currency is presented
to purchase bonds, it may say:
we are not issuing any more bonds, but
will give you gold for, your greenbacks.
The difference between the two systems
We advocate ia really this: yours con-
templates bank currency sustained by
the private credit Of the banks; ours
proposes nstional currency, founded
upon the public credit of the entire
country. Both are alike payable in
specie, when the parties issuing have
the specie to pay with, but ours has
the additional advantage Of being. ex-
changeable for interest bearing bonds.
We think ours is the more honest and
sounder system, and that our currency
will be far less likely than yours to cx.
pand unduly and depreciate in value.
Don't you think we are right.


Pol: I see that you have not studied
political economy and the science of
finance.


Bank; And I see that you are alto
gether too wise in'your own concelts to
make it worth my while to waste further
time with you.


Nam: You both perceive that we are
not such egregious fools as you took us
to be.


Farm: And that we have learned to
think for ourselves and are beginning to
find out how out.ageously we have been
imposed upon.


Trader: And hope that you have
all learned that the time has come when
labor must be fully rewarded for its
services.


Ereant on,nes.
Year: 1876

TIE BLESSINGS or WoMAN's SociETY.-Al
men who avoid female society have dull per
ceptions, and are stupid, and have gross
tastes. and revolt against what is pure.
You club swaggerers, who are sucking the
butts Of billiard cues all night, call female
society insipid. Poetry is as uninspiring to
a yokel; beauty has no charms for blind
man, music does not please poor beast,
who does not know one tune from another !;
but, as a true epicure is hardly ever tired OF
water, sauce, and brown bread and butter, |
protest can sit for a whole night talking TO
"A well regulated, kindly woman about her
daughter Fanny or her boy Frank, and like
the evenings entertainmenI. One OF tie
greatest benefits man can derive from a
woman society is that he is bound to be re-
spectiul to her. The habit is of great good
to Your morals, men, depend upon it. Our
education makes us the most eminently
selfish men in the world, and the greatest
benefit that We have is to think of some
BODY to whom We are bound to be constantly
attentive and respectfnl.-1haekeray.