smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

show me the sights, drove the lead
in between his eyes in a style that
taught 'em all manners for the rest
of the watch. Yis, Henry, we had
solemn and lively time of it, for
sartin, that night, and at times it
looked as if there would be no fune-
raj the next day; leastways, none
that me and the hound would attind,
onless we made one for ourselves;
but we stood to our postand between
the brands and the lead and the help
Of the Lord we brought the body
through safe TIL sunrise.


But it was mighty solemn watchin'
by the body all by myself in the
depths of the woods here that night,
for at times the animils would make
the air roar and scream, and the
mountains to yelp as if the upper
world was inhabited with cats and
wolves and panthers, and then they
would suddenly become quiet, and
the world round about was nothin'
but silence, with the moon shinin'
through it; and the dead mans face
was white as the moon and still as
the air, for his troubles was overland
the marks of them passed from his
features when his breath went away
And SO me and the hound kept our
watch by the dead til the sun riz in
the east and the hour had come for
the funeral"
Year: 1876

he gradually pushes the leg over on
the clean table-cloth, and when he
picks it up it slips from his hand in
to the gravy-dish and splashes the
gravy around for six square yards
Just as he has made up his mind
that the turkey has no joints in its
wings, the host asks him if he thinks
the Indians eau really be civilized?
The girl next to HIM laughs, and he
says he will explain his views upon
the subject after dinner. Then he
sOps his brow with his handkerchief
and presses the turkey SO hard with
the fork that it slides off the dish
and upsets goblet of water on the
girl next to him. Nearly frantic, he
gouges away again at the wings, gets
them off in mutilated condition,
and digs into the breast. Before he
can cut any off, the host asks him
why he on't help out the turkey
Bewldered, he puts both legs on a
plate and hands them to the maiden
lady, and while taking her plate in
return, knocks over the gravy dish.
Then he sits down with the calmness
of despair and fans himself with a
napkin, while the servant girl clears
up and takes the turkey to the other
end of the table. lie doesn't discuss
the Indian question that day. He
goes home right after dinner and
spends the night trying to decide
whether to commit suicide or to take
lessons in carving.-Riladelphia
Bulletin.
Year: 1876

From the New Century for Women,


Owing to the sudden changes of
our climate. it is of the greatest i'm
portance for Americans to protect
the entire surface of the body and
limbs nine months of the year. How
we dress during the remaining three
is of less Importance than how we
work and eat; but unless the skin is
we'll and closely covered during the
fall, winter and spring we cannot be
free from the inf1ence of sudden
changes. This can be done by thick
or light under clothing, in silk, t1an-
mel, or woolen wear; but in some
form it is necessary. This important
precaution ought particularly to be
remembered in dressing little chill
dren. Their clothing ought to meet
in such way as to leave no chance
of bare skin, for sacques and over
shoes are mockeries it the knees are
uncovered. AS for short stockings,
they are simply traps for disease.
They may be safe in July, but the
chilly nights of Autumn ought to
warn all mothers to put them away.
After the skin is covered the cloth
ing may be light or heavy, as the
wearer needs; but as a simple matter
of comfort complete suit of warm
underwear and long stockings do
more for women and children in the
way of protection from coughs and
colds than all the furs, tlannels, and
wraps they can possibly put on.
Year: 1876




Though we were now 1900 feet
below the surface of the earth, there
was shaft sunk hundred feet
deeper still. But there was no ''cage'
in it, and no way of access except by
q bucket, swung up and down, as by
a we'll sweep. Peering over the edge
of the pit, one could see faint Ii ight
at what seemed an unfathomable
depth below. Col. Fair had drawn
us one side to a shaft where we
could get a breath of cool air, when
| asked if we could not continue oul
explorations down in this lower lev
ell? He looked at me incredulously.
eyes, we could, If we could screw
our courage to the sticking point OF
swinging at a ropes end and being
let down like a bucket in a well."-
''And the Lady," "No, no; such a
thing was never heard of-never was
one of the sex down in that tremen
dous depth underground" swell
but there must be a first one; here is
an American girl that has gone
around the world and isn't afraid to
try" Slowly he rose up, as if he
doubted her courage, even then. As
was fitting, 1 led the way. The buck
ct was one of but ordinary size; il
would take two men, but would give
them standing room for only one
foot apiece. The other leg was kept
swinging in mid air, serving as q
guide to the bucket, which would
spin around like top and often kick
against the sides of the shatt,so that
kick had to be given in the rear tc
send it off to the opposite side
Thus spinning and revolving, and
knocking here and there, it descend
ed with conside, able velocity till il
reached the level below. The fore
man first took me in hand. The
bucket was drawn to the side, and
we put in one foot each, then grasp
ed the chain overhead, and he put
his arm around me, and we were
hoisted away, swinging foot OIL
two to get clear, and then lifted over
the mouth of the pit and slowly let
down. How long we were in de
scending I do not know-perhaps
not over minute, perhaps mucl
longer


Then came C.'s turn, whom Col
Fair would allow no one to take in
charge but himself. She stepped in
to the bucket as gaily as if she was
going to take a sail in boat by
moonlight, and the gallant Colonel
put in his foot on the other side
both clasped the chain, and he put
his arm around her, Che is a power
full man and has grip like grizzly
bear) and held her as in an iron wise
But the bystanders above { was al
ready on the lower level) were some
what nervous as she "swung off," ol
rather they were in state of mind
between fear and admiration. One
of them, an enthusiastic young Amer
lean, looking at her as he saw her sc
down, turned to our English friends
who were standing by and said
"There! Is there a woman in al
England who could do that?"
Year: 1876

The Cincinnati Commercial has II
full report of an interesting lecture
by DR.. Reamy on the "U Sc and Abuse
of Baths" before the faculty and
students of the Ohio Medical Col,
lege, from which we extract the fo,=
lowing:


'But important as it is to keep
these millions of sudatory ducts
open, it is very questionable whether
a lavish use of soap and scrubblng-
brushes has the tendency to do so.-
In fact, the contrary may be presun-
ed; for the application of soap 10
the outer cuticle, scrubbed we'll into
the pore with a rough brush, must
rather block up the capillaries than
open them. The application of very
warm water surcharges the skin with
blood, while that of very cold water
drives back the blood and contracts
the capillaries.


There are other reasons, however,
why soap and scrubbing brushes are
not only unnecessary to health, but
even inimical to it. The outer cuii-
Gle or scurf skin of the body,is coal-
posed of the same material as the
nails, although the fiber is somewhat
differently arranged 1t is fact,the
enamel OF the skin, and its proper
preservation gives to the skin of Il
beautiful woman the ivory polish sa
much admired. 1t is the protectio:l
of the true skin beneath. But, ike
the substance of the nails, it may he
painlessly scraped or rubbed off. 1t
can all be scrubbed off easily enough
if one keeps scrubbing long enough.
Under the microscope it is scaly,like
the skin of a fish; and these scales
may be easily scraped away. Near
ly all soap contains strong alkalis,
which soften the scurf-skin and ren-
der it easily removed by rough
scrubbing. A strong flesh-brusb.
rough towel and hot water are all
wonderfully eficacious in removing
this membrane, but are wholly un-
necessary to health and cleanliness.
The only really healthy and proper
water bath costs little ornothing. and
can be taken at home. Some say
they have no time to take bath, but
this bath requires eight minutes be-
fore breakfast, which everyone not
inordinately lazy can take. Go to
timer, and get him to make you a
tin tray, about two inches deep and
eighteen inches square. This will
cost about sixty cents. Then buy a
sponge, which will cost you about
quarter. With the tin pan, sponge
and gallon of water, you have all
the requirements for an excellent
bath, and every person should take
such a bath daily. 1t is only neces-
sary to sponge yourself thoroughly
from head to foot and wipe dry with
a soft towel. The exercise of doing
this ones self-no oneelse should do
it's excellent. The water should
be about the same temperature as
the atmosphere, if you are healthy
and strong, but if the weather is in
tenscly cold, tepid water may be sub
stltuted. But the bath should not be
taken with the window open or in a
current of air, and the water should
be of the same temperature as the
atmosphere of the room.
Year: 1876




There is nothing aycung unmarried
man likes better than to go to a din
ner at the house Of a friend and be
asked to carve the turkey. lie never
carved a turkey in his life, and with
an old maid on one side of him,
watching him closely, and on the
other side a fair girl for whom he
has tenderness, he feels embarrass-
ed when he begins. First, he pushes
the knife down toward one of the
thigh joints. He can't find the joint
and he plunges the knife around in
search of it until he makes mince-
meat out of the whole quarter of the
fowl. Then he sharpens his knife
and tackles it again. AT last, while
making a terrific dig, he hits the joint
suddenly and the leg files into the
maiden lady's lap, while her dress
front is covered with a shower of
stuffing. Then he goes for the other
leg, and when the young lady tells
him he looks warm, the weather
seems to him suddenly to become
400 degrees warmer. This leg he
finally pulls loose with his fingers,
He lays it on the edge Of the plate,
and while he is hacking at the wing
Year: 1876

Living in Kansas City, a respected
and wealthy merchant, is Greenup
Bird, an old resident of Missouri,
and one of the best men in the State.
In 1866 he was banker at Liberty,
Clay county, town not ten miles
from the home of the James broth
ers.


One day while he and his son Will
liam were alone in the bank, three
men entered and asked him to change
a $40 note. He took the bill and
stepped to side table to procure the
change, and, on returning, was met
with revolver presented to his face.
He realized that he was in the power
of men who would not hesitate mo-
ment to take his life if necessary
What followed can be told in almost
word. The robbers leaped over
the counter, and, while Mr.. Bird and
his son were guarded by one, the
others secured $1,000 from the vault,
the door of which, unfortunately,
was standing open. The banker and
his son were then hastily thrust into
the vault, and the door closed. The
robbers then fed, mounting their
horses, which were in charge of asso-
ciates in the street. They both dash
ed down, the principal street Of the
town, the people looking on i'll won
der, not knowing what had happen
ed. The younger Bird succeeded in
opening the door of the vault, and
rushing to the window he gave the
alarm in time for citizen to draw a
revolver and fire at the retreating
robbers. Unlucky shot for him; the
robber, turning IN his saddle and Ia
king deadly aim, sent ball through
the brain of the man who had miss
ed his mark. Out of the town they
went without further molestation.


But the James boys and the
Younger brothers were unknown as
dashing highwaymen in those days,
and a party Immediately started in
pursuit. They chased them to the
Missouri river, and there overlook
them. A running fight followed,
but the robbers escaped, and from
that time forward until they murder
ed the cashier of the Mortified bank,
followed their daring calling with
success. This was their first bank
robbery, and commencing right at
home, it shows that the life of no
man, friend or foe, was allowed to
thwart them in their nefarious un.
dertakings.
Year: 1876

The stories of guides and trappers
of the Adirondack region have prov
ed rich mines to Mr.. Murray. One
of the most powerful of these nara
tives is that of an old trapper depict
ing his experience in protecting a
dead body from the beasts of prey
by night:


"Well, Henry, took my stand at
the foot of the bier, and kept my
death-watch rifle III hand, steady as
sentry on duty, save when stirred
the fire or lighted pine knot. For
the animals was oneasy, as they al
ways is when corpse is round, AND
l needed the pine knots more than
once, and some of the varmints got
the tech of lead and the smell of pow
der that night, l tell ye, for they was
full of their devilments, and made
me and the hound as wakcful as if
we was surrounded by inimies."


"Did you really have to kill any
thing?" l asked, speaking for the
first time IN an hour; for the old trap
per had told his story with such nat
uralness of intonation and gesture
that he had held me spell bound by
his narrative for no one could hear
him tell the strange tale he was tell
ing and not be carried along by the
movement of it-and now that he
was evidently reaching the climax, I
feared l should mss some detail OF
his experience which being omitted
would mar the narration, so, hoping
to hold his utterance to the line of
actual occurrence, l said, "Did you
have to kill anything that night?"


"Well, yis, l did," he replied. 81
bored hole through a dog-wolf over
thar on the beach, arter l had borne
his onnateral howlin' as long as
mortal could; and l dropped a cat
from that dead cedar thar arter me
an the hound had stood the stare of
her eyes ten minutes or more, and
about two o'clock in the morn
ing litter of panthers crawled
in on US ontil the bush seemed
alive with 'em, and l lifted the scalp of
the biggest of the drove, arter he
had got within forty feet of the
corpse, and paid no more attention
to brands pitched at him than if
they were TUFTS of sod; so, with a
pine knot all afire in one hand, to
Year: 1876

makes It's music heard everywhere.


The busy man of the horse car
found time to miss her, the school
mates evidently missed their queen,
for when I met them they walked
quietly, talked low, and several wore
black bows upon the sleeve; while I,
although | never knew her name, or
learned a single fact about her, felt
the sweetness of her happy nature,
and have not yet forgotten my little
schoolgirl.
Year: 1876

An Eastern gentleman engaged IN
mining in Arizona has written to friend
in Now York, giving an account OF the
difficulties under which mining opera
tions are prosecuted in that Territory;
He says: The amount OF progress
make seems to me small, but you can
have no idea OF the difficulties which
have to be constantly met and over
come. The labor is very unreliable, ana
it is hard to get days work for . day 8
pay, and there is a strong teenng OF
jealousy between the whites and Mex lex
cans which is hard to overcome. Inc
weather is hot beyond belief. Never, 1
think, less than ninety degrees in the
shade, and from that up to 12O degrees;
There is no lumber in the country, and
all the building has to be done with
cottonwood poles, and hauled i've miles
on jackasses to the mine. In addltlon'
I have had to pack water five miles, as
wa have had no rain, and the tanks at
the mine are exhausted. We have now
killed three rattlesnakes in the house,
besides any quantity Of scorpions, etc.
Tn opening my trunk was stung In the
finger by q scorpion. 1 bound poul;,
tice of onions and tobacco on the wound
and drank three full pints OF whisky.
It make me very drunk, and l think
killed the other poison, although my
whole hand and arm was numb for
day or two. 1t is pretty hard country,
and three men have already died OF
thirst near here. My last letters were
sent here from the -- mine (only
fourteen miles distant) by an old Scotch.
man. The letters did not arrive, and
we searched for him and found him dead
only four miles from camp. He was
stripped and his nails were worn from
his hands by scratching in tue sand for
water. We have sent out twice and
brought in men who we're crazy and
blind and speechless from thirst. The
sun is terribly hot, and the rocks 80 hot
that they blister the flesh if touched.
You can hardly realize what country
it is, nor how expensive it is, as we'll as
hard work, to accomplish much. Trans
portation, more than anything else, Is
the great bugbear.
Year: 1876

True love, not content to bask in the
sunshine without on umbrella handy in
case of .rain, finds fit expression in the
following letter, which the Danbury
News has divulged:


Ny DEAR HUSBAND l got here last
night all safe, and was met at the station
by uncle and aunt. They were so glad
7 had come, but were sorry that you
were not along. miss you so much.
We had hot rolls for breakfast this
morning, and they were so delicious. I
Sant you to be SO happy while am
here. Don't keep the meat up stairs. It
will surely spoil. Do you miss me now
Oh | if you were only here, if but foran
hour. Has Mrs. OR brought back
your shirts2 7 hope the bosoms will
suit you. You will find the milk tickets
in the clock. 1 forgot to tell you about
them when I came away. What did you
do last EVENING" We're you lonesome
without me? Don't forget to scald the
milk every morning. And I wish you
would see if ! left the potatoes in the
pantry. If I did they must be sour by
this time. How are you getting along
Write me all about it. But I must close
now. Oceans OF love to you. Aztec
tionately your wife, -.


P. S.-Don't set the teapot on the
Year: 1876

It is not many years since, says the
New York Times, that our merchant
marine was almost wholly manned by
men from the seaboard towns and vii.
lagos of the New England and Middle
States. And though but few OF the
present protectory laws then existed,
the trials in court for i'll usuage and
cruelty at sea were then comparatively
few and the desertion of the crew in
foreign port was likewise an infrequent
event. A hearty good feeling and
sympathy existed between the officers
and the sailors, who felt that they were
working together for common pur-
pose and this was strengthened by the
fact that the subordinates we're often
friends and relatives of their superiors
in rank, and were working for promo
tion. Now, however, there is distinct
type of sailor, who is as much looked
down upon by the officers of a vessel as
the Helots were by the ancient Spartans,
and perhaps as deservedly so. The
young man who goes to sea, before the
mast, for the purpose of acquiring O
thorough knowledge Of the profession is
now an exceptional person and even
with our reduced commerce, there is a
greater demand for officers of vessels
than would seem possible to those who
have not looked into this subject. Those
who die off, or who, from old age, quit
the service, leave but few to take their
place who have been properly educated
from the forecastle upward. The en-
tire service has become demoralized,
and parents do not care to trust their
sons under such influences.
Year: 1876

The disaster on board her majesty's
ship Thunderer has been thoroughly in
vestigated by the coroner, and, after an
inquiry lasting several weeks, the jury
has returned verdict Of accidental
DEATH This rendering is in keeping
with recent ono in the case OF the run
ming down of a yacht by Queen Vic
toria's pleasure steamer, the Victoria and
Albert. OF course it was pure acci.
dent that the safety valves of the Thun-
derer's boiler were tightly wedged down
when the fires were lighted and steam
was gotten up. The omission on the
part OF the engineers to examine the
condition of the boiler must be recog-
nized as accidental. 1t was an unfor-
tunate accident that water in close
reservoir should make steam when the
temperature was raised above the boil
ing point. It was entirely accidental
that the ship was built at all, for that
matter. If the English people are sat
isfed with the verdict we have nothing
more to say, but the word "accident "
has received q new meaning.
Year: 1876

For an hour or two he lay there, his
eyes closed, his figure motionless, and
then he arose with half groan of men
tai distress.


"This will never do. shall 60 mad
if I stay here with only my thoughts
for"-


He had gone over to the little dressing
bureau, carelessly taking up two little
pieces of paper that Effie had entirely
forgotten to hide, and a pallor, even
more marked than his late deathly pale
ness, overspread his face as he saw the
two formidable bills.


Then something very like an oath
came from his set teeth.


"My temptation be on her head
N.Y.


He sprung suddenly to his feet as the
doorbell pealed imperiously, and listened
with no ordinary curiosity as q mans
voice demanded. to SEQ Mr.. Ellis Ire
mayne, and heard the servant usher his
company into the drawing room.


Then he went slowly, slowly down
stairs, into the presence of Mr.. Wing
field and an officer.


"Mr. Tremayne, you are discovered
in your neat system OF embszzlement.
Officer" -


Ellis stepped haugLtily back.


"One moment, gentlemen, if you
please. Mr.. Wingfeld, I nm discover
ed. Twenty-four hours later I would
have been beyond pursuit; as it is, what
is the difference between hunted life
abroad, or-this2"


Quick as flash, the pistol cleaned in
the gaslight.


A report, a heavy fall that thundered
through the house like doom, and the
husband of woman that was too un-
womanly to bear her share in the bur
den of life the woman enjoying her
brief hour of pleasure on the sunlit
ocean shore-the woman who had 1t In
her power, as all women who are wives
have, to goad to destruction in some
form or another, or guide to happiness
and sue less, in some means or another,
this husband, who was less wicked than
weak, went to his reward.


And who shall say whose was the
guilt9


Hers or not, who knelt and sobbed
over his dead face, and tried to reason
into silence an inner voice that refused
to be still.


Sister wives, be you careful, lest, al
though your hands and hearts are not
stained with crime like this-and many
q wife's hands and heart are thus red
dened to day-be careful that it lays not
at your door thai your husbands lose all
their faith and trust in woman's sacred
VOW as we'll as blessed privilege to
share eagerly in their economies and
many petty grievances thatno household
is without-that small though they now
are, if not accepted in the spirit OF pa
tience, love and forbearance, are the
little ve1es that destroy the vine beyond
the hope of recovery.
Year: 1876

THE OoBB1ER's LAST WoRDs.-"
feel that I wax weaker each succeeding
day, and that I am fast approaching my
end; few more stitches and all will be
over; and ! shall go where there is rest
for the weary sole, and every sorrow
will be heeled" Having said awl be
wished, he calmly breathed his last,
Year: 1876

A few days since the poor Empress
Charlotte escaped from the Chateau de
Lacken, where she is still under care.
After finding her it was difficult to make
her return, and she was induced to do
80 at length by the stratagem OF fling
ing flowers before her, as she is very
Sond of flowers,