smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

ask what is the amount of your for


tune?"


swell, sir, I don't know precisely
but it is something handsome"


Would you estimate it at half g
million dollars, Colonel?"
''Yes, 1 dare say it is"


! "That being the fact, sir, if you
will do me the favor to disclose
to me the secret of the pro
cess by which you in ten years have
been able to transmute $4,000 into
ten times that amount, without any
visible means outside your salary,
will most eheerfully tell you how l
have managed by turning an honest
penny now and then, to amass the
comparatively insignifcanta amount 1
have named" ,"


"That is all very well, " replied the
imperturbable vice president; "but
you seem to have forgotten that there
is slight difference between your
status and mine upon the - rail
road, in that-you are responsible to
me for stealing the company's money
whereas am not accountable to you
for my transactions. In view of this
fact, it now becomes my duty to in
form you that your services are no
longer required on our road"


The facetious conductor probably
anticipated this result, and with his
Characteristic GOODNESS remarked:


''Iu that event, sir, it may at some
future time be necessary for me to
seek employment on another road.
Would it be asking too much for you
to give me letter setting forth your
estimate Of my ability to perform the
duties of conductor


off you desire it. certainly l have
no objection to giving you a testi-
monial to the effect that I look upon
you as the most unscrupulous and
unblushing knave that has ever dis
graced the catalogue of our employ
es, and that any company having
anything to do with you will be mo-
rally certain to be robbed" from
detective Pinkerton," by General
R. B. Marcy, in Harper's Magazine
for October.
Year: 1873

I


| Mr.. CObleigh, Of Nelson street


bought three hens Saturday night


and put them under a box until he


could build coop. Sunday morn-


ing he saw one of them in the street
/ and bestowing a brief curse ON tbe


somebody who overturned the box


and jeOPardized his property. he


started out after it to drive Il into


the yard. It took fifteen minutes to


convince him that the hen could


not be driven into that yard, and


then he attempted to catch it.


Three times he rose up with his


hands full Of feathers and his chin


full of sand, but still that hen elud-


ed him. Once he got it eornered,


and he thought sure he had It, but


II new straight up over his head,


ana Mapped its wings in his face,


ana hlled his eyes with dust. Oh,


now mad Mr.. Cobleigh was! 1t


was Sunday morning. The belIs


were ringing, people were starring


to church, and there he was in the
street, with no coat OF hat on. and
with nothing but slippers on his
feet, and every once in a while one
OF them would come of and fy
through the air, and his naked foot
would come in contact with the
cruel gravel, before he could stop
himself. Then he would have to
hop back on one foot after that slip
per, while the hen stood on the walk
and elOcuted, and the little Sunday
School children stopped and laugh
ed, and their parents reproved them,
and laughed too. Finally the hen
got away from him and started down
street st q wonderful speed for a
hen, and he started after, his face
redder than ever, and every time he
cleared rod be would stop and hop
back two after one of those slippers.
When he reached the corner Of Es-
sex street he jumped out Of both
slippers at once, but instead Of stop
ping to go back he picked up a stick
Of wood and kept on. Then as the
hen lodged into a gateway he hurl-
ed the stick and broke the LEG Of a
strange dog, which added its pierc-
ng "ki-yr' to the entertainment.
But Cobleigh didn't stop. He fore
I'd into the yard after his property
a his bare feet, and chased the hen
nto wOodpile and caught it just
As the owner of the premises came
put and wanted to know Whist Cob
iegh was doing, was going to do
with has hen, and what he meant,
anyway, by getting drunk and kick
ing up such a hunabaloo in a peace
ful neighborhood. Cobleigh frst
thought nc would knock the man
down with an axe, and what he could
not eat Of him bury under barn;
but the newcomer succeeded in
proving to Cobleigh that the hen
was his, and then the miserable man
burst into tears and limped back
home, where he found the three hens
under box.-DaR5ury Necs.
Year: 1873

II Martin b. Bowers, the statesman, has been
around among his constituents, telling what q
grand deed he aided in accomplishing for the
people-the exemption of mortgages from taxa
ton. He claimed that it wonld be the salvation
Of men who were in debt His time has been so
wholly engrossed in the service Of Christ and
Bowers, that he has not found time to read the
Constitution of his State, although he took an
oath to support it. Therefore, it was impossible
for him to know that when he was doing the
bidding of the moncy-sharks, at the expense of
luboring men, his great de,d would not
stand the test of law.
Year: 1873

TAX LIsr.-Our paper this week is mostly oc-
cupied with the Delinquent Tax List, and will be,
for several weeks to come. We hope readers
will bear patiently with us. We have been CIV
ing them more reading than any County paper in
the State, and they afford to let us take it
easy for few weeks.
Year: 1873

The unexpected length Of the Tax List crowds ont
tho report Of the Teachers Insttate which have In
type. We did not make sufficient allowance in working
OF the outside. 1t will 60 In next week.
Year: 1873

The authorities of Biddeford, Me-, are at
their wits end. They have the Liquor Law in
all its length and bredth, with all its ingenious
provisions and stringent penalties, and yet they
are forced to confess that drunkenness was
never so common ia Biddeford as now." So
the authorities aforesaid solemnly consult to-
gether and conclude that if hard drinking is to
be suppressed it must be by enforcing the law
against the illegal sale of Intoxicating fluids.
We do not know when we have heard of a
more notable instance of municipal sagacity.
We assure the Biddeford magistrates that
nobody will drink what nobody can get to
drink. We are positively certain of it.-M y


Tribune.
Year: 1873

The Daily Critic, a sprightly eve-
ming paper Of this city, in its issue of
last Saturday, contained the following
interesting item Of news:


"a few days since there vas ship
ped from Washington to Long Branch
the summer house of President Graot,
three wagon-loads Of choice flowers
iu pots, two rustic settees and forty
hanging baskets which the keen eye
of the practical observer will miss
for some time from the Botanical Gar
den. Long Branch, in the meau time,
will present to the WashiDgtonlan
the home attraction of having the
Presidents garden enchanting bis
cottage around with the array Of for
al gems and rustic property hereinbe-
fore described"


This is all very nice, doubtless
very home like and attractive for the
President and the few office holding
Washingtonians who may accompany
him or from time to time visit the
Executive Mansion by the sea. But
what will the people who are taxed to
provide these lu1uries say? The
Botanical Garden is no more the pri-
vste property of the President than
Of the hum blest citizen 10 the country.
He has no more right to ship rare
plants, choice flowers and beautiful
hanging baskets from this conserva-
tory than he has to take the Goddess
of Liberty from the dome of the Cap
itol and set it up on bis private
grounds at Long Branch to frighten
away trespassers. Not only was the
Botanical Garden despoiled, but a
large portion of the furniture which
the Government provides for the
White House was shipped to Long
Branch. Eight wagon loads of it,
according to the Herald, arrived last
Friday. They contained enough ap-'
psrentIy to fill a couple Of such Swiss
cottages os the President resides in,
and comprised all varieties Of house.
hold furniture, from tete-atetes and
sociables to fower.pots and soap
boxes.-NeD York Sun.
Year: 1873

THE NAN SKELETON OF MEXICO
A fearful story i. told Of the Indian
chief and robber Of Tepic-Lozada-
which has but recently been brought
before the public, AMI which for
cruelty can not find parallel.


In the small village Of Sun Luis,
near Teplc, there has been discover
ed a subterraneous apartment con-
structed especially for the prosecu-
ton of horrible crimes, aud in this
Was found, not long since, aman
who for fourteen years had not seen
the light of day. Unsbsven and
uuwashed, and doubled by feebIeness,
aud withal bereft of sense when dis
covered, be is said to have had more
the appearance Of wild animal than
humanity.


From motives of revenge Loz,da
had him incarcsratedin the sepulcher,
and formerly would seen to have taken
especial pleasure in wl,uessing the
tOrtures of this unhappy man, visit
ing him daily for that purpose, and
tauutiug and mOcking him 10 bis
helpless misery.


The wretched man was placed on
his release 10 charge Of physician,
who is obliged to use the utmost
prudence in bringing him forth from
his living tomb to enjoy once more
the liberty of life, and even with the
greatest care, it is thought his en-
feebled system will not sustain th'
shock such a change may bTiug to 1t
Ne,o York Herald.
Year: 1873

We heard story told the othe


day that made our eyes moisten. W,


have determined to tell it, just as ",


heard it, to our little ones:


"a company Of poor children, wbc
had been gathered out of the alley:
aud garrets of the city, were prepar.
ing for their departure to new and
distant homes in the West. just: be.
fore the time for the starting Of the
cars, one of the boys was noticed
aside from the others. and apparent
ly very busy with cast off garment


The superintendent stepped up
to him and found that he wa. cutting
a small piece out Of the patched I'm
ing. 1t proved to be his old jacket,
which having been replaced BY a new
one, bad been thrown away. There
was no time to be lost. "Come john,
come!" said the superintendent, what
are you going to do with that old
piece Of calico?"


"Pleasa sir" said John, Il am
cutting it TO take with me. My dear
dead mother put the lining into this
old jacket for me. This was piece
Of her dress, and Il Is all shall hare
to remember her Ly.'-And as the poor
boy thought of that mothers love,
and Of the sad death bed scene in the
old garret where she died, be covered
his face with his hands, and sobbed
as if his heart would break.


"But the train was about leaving
and John thrust the little piece of
calico into his bosom, "to remember
his mother BY" hurried into a car,
and was soon far away from the place
where he had seen go mnch sorrow.'


We know many an eye will mois-
ten as this story is told aud retold
throughout the country, and many
a prayer will 90 up to God for the
fartherless and uotherless in all great
cities and in all places.


Little readers, are your mothers
still spared to you? Will you not show
your love by cheerful obedience?
That little boy who loved so well, we
are sure, obeyed.


Bear this in mind, that if you
should one day have to look upon
he face Of dear dead mother" no
can be so bitter as to remem-
Der that you had given her pain by
your willfulness or disobedience.
Year: 1873

How TO CATCH A FLEA.-Don't
be in a hurry and get fran tic
Watch your chances. Take two
foot rule, measure the distance from
your hand to flea. Take your pen
Gil and calculate the time it will take
to pass your hand that distance, so
you may be sure. Take long breath.
Aim to grab his hind leg. Nerve
yourself up, take drink, m maEe fe-
rocious grab, and if the flea strays of,
continue the chase around the room
until you tumble over the baby;
then-hee!
Year: 1873

A beautiful girl was married in
San Francisco, and at the conclusion
of the narrirge ceremony she turned
TO her husband and said. George,
kiss me, I am dying" The husband
complied with the request, and st
that moment the young bride fell
dead 10 the floor.
Year: 1873

rope at the moment he is trying to break il,
This, however, is not a cure, as IL seldom
prevents the horse from repeating the at
tempt; II only puts him on his guard against
the sudden rupture Of the tie he still per-
sists in his efforts 10 break il, but he takes
care not to fall backward. The other way
is to tie him 20 strongly that no force he can
exert will free him. After he has made a
few unsuccessful trials, he appears to con-
cludO that the thing is not practicable, and
he desists. For an experiment of this kind
a leather halter is too weak the head-piece,
upon which the stress falls, should be Of
strong rope, setting close behind the ears. If
the manger is not sufficiently firm, the ring
should be sunk deep in tho wall. The use
Of neck strap. instead Of the ordinary hall
ter, dsters many horses from this trick Of
breaking loose. As additional security, the
halter may be put on too; il keeps the head
straight, 30 that the neck may not be twisted
wien the strain is on the strap. The halter
strap should be az lOOg as the mock rein.
Whenever the horse is observed hanging in
the collar, with the purpose of breaking loose,
he should be well logged always from be-
hind.


The trick is often the result Of bad man.
agement An awkward or rude man, by the
manner in which he approaches horse, or
works about the head, often frightens or
pains him. The horse should never be struck
in the head or neck. nor blow threatened
by person standing before him; il makes
him draw back. The ordinary mode of FILL
ing the hay rack, may have something to do
in producing the habit. A few horses Of de-
termined temper will not be tied up after
they have succeeded several times in break
ing loose. They struggle SO long, and with
such violence, that they injure themselves,
even when they do not get free. A loose
box is the proper place for these.
Year: 1873

Very few persons comprehend the enor-
nous extent of the live stock interest. The
figures are given, but the casual reader does
not comprehend or realize the full extent of
the statement conveyed by many totals.
Did you ever. reader, turn these figures over
in your mind, and try to realize what they
mean2 Did you ever stop to consider what
countless herds would fall under your Wis
ion if all the live stock Of the country were
mustered before you for grand review ?
Did you ever consider the amount of money
this stock represents, and what could be
done with it, etc.2 If not, we ask your Pc
rusal of the following extract taken from a
local paper. The statements were made in
connection with notice Of the excellence Of
the Fairbanks scales in use at the Union
Stock Yards in Chicago, and are the result
of an effort upon the part of the writer to
show the valuable service performed by the
scales iD question but the figures are start
ling and interesting, nevertheless, and here
they are


The Union Stock Yards were opened on
Christmas Day, 1865. From that day un-
til the 3lst day Of last October the number,
estimated value, aud estimated gross weight
in pounds Of the live stock received hes
been as follows the numbers are taken from
our own records; the estimates Of weight
and value have been carefully based upon
Year: 1873




Some horses are very cunning and perse.
vering in their efforts to get loose they Of
ten succeed during the night, and wander
over the stable in quest of food, quarrelling
and playing with the other horses disturbing
their rest and lamiDg them. Some slip the
halter over their ears these must be tied by
a neok-strap or the throat.lash, by being set
out from the head-pieco can perform the Of
fee of neck'strap. Others bite the rope
through the only remedy for them is chain.
In admitting strange horse to stable, it
might be prudent TO tie him up, as ifhe were
known to be in the habit Of getting loose it
will soon be seen whether or not the precau-
tion be necessary. Many horses attempt to
get free by falling back upon the launches,
and throwing their weight upon the halter
strap there they hang for awhile till some
part of the rein gives way, or till they find it
too strong for them. This is the true break
ing loose cutting the rope with the teeth,
and casting the halter, are merely slipping
loose. Such forcible mode Of getting free,
or attempting to get free, is attended with
some danger. If the lie suddenly gives way,
Charlie falls back with such violence that he
is generally lamed or injured. The haunch
bones are sometimes broken, and the hooks
seldom escape a severe confusion OCCASION
ally the head is cut, either by the fall or the
strain of the halter


There are two ways in which cure is
attempted one consists in giving the horse
good fright aud a tumble, by freeing the
Year: 1873

An English gentleman was visiting farm
house, when horse came to the door, grasp
ed the handle Of the door with his mouth,
opened it, and entered the room. The mis-
tress of the house, who knew what he want
ed, put lump of sugar in his mouth. The
horse then backed out Of the room, shut the
door, and marched back to the barnyard.
The woman said he often came in this way
for q lump Of sugar.


This gentleness was the effect of kindness.
Roughly treated horse becomes ugly.
Kindly handled and gently spoken to, it is
willing, gentle and affectionate. Try it, boys,
on your fathers horses. Depend upon it,
kindness is magical wand. 1t will tame
both brutes and men. Try it.
Year: 1873

1t is bad enough, says the Dambury
News, to see bachelor sew on a button,
but he is the embodiment of grace along
side of a married man. Necessity has
compelled experience in the case of the
former, but the latter has always depe ended
upon some one else for this service, and
fortunately for the sake of society, it is
rarely he is Obliged to resort to the needle
himself. Sometimes the patient wife
scalds her right hand, or runs silver
under the nail of the index finger of that
hand, and it is then that the man clutches
the needle around the neck, aud forget
ting to tie knot in the thread, COM
mences to put on the button. 1t is always
in the morning, and from FIVE to twenty
minutes after he is expected to be down
street. He lays the button exactly on the
site of its predecessor, and pushes the
needle through the eye, and carefully
draws the thread after, leaving about
three inches of it sticking up for lee way
He says to himself well if women don t
have the easiest time ever | see" Then
he comes back the other way, and gets
the needle through the cloth well enough,
and lays himself out to find the eye, but
in spite of great deal of patient jabbing,
the needle point persists in bucking
against the solid parts OF that button,
and finally when he loses patience, his
finger catches the thread, aud that three
inches he had left to hold the button
slips through the eye in twinklng, and
the button rolls leisurely across the floor


lie picks it up without single remark
out of respect for his children, and makes
another attempt to fasten it. This time
when coming back with the needle he
keeps both the button and thread from
slipping by covering then with his thumb,
and it is out of regard for that part oil HIM
that he feels around for the eye III very
careful aud judicious manner, but eyentul
ly losing his philosophy as the search be-
comes more aud more hopeless, he falls
to jabbing about in loose and savage
manner, and it is just then the needle
finds the opeulng, and comes up through
the button and part way through his
thumb with Il celebrity that no human in
genuity can guard against. Theu he lays
down the things with few familiar quota
tions, and presses the injured hand be
tween his knees, aud then holds it under
the other arm, aud finally jams it into his
mouth. and all the while he prances about
the floor aud calls upon heaven and earth
to witness that there has never been any
thing like it since the world was created,
and howls, and whistles, means and sobs
After while he cools down, and puts on
his pants, aud fastens them together with
a stick. and goes TO his business a chang
ed man.
Year: 1873

There Is now and then person so
stupid as to believe that advertisements
In newspapers are not generally read, and
that money expended in advertising is
practically wasted. Even such will con-
cede that if a hundred men of polite ad-
dress, OF fluent speech and ready Wit were
to call upon hundred others aud get the
ear of each long enough to say John
Smith, or Jones, or Thompson, ut sseh
place, has such and such good, 3, such
prices, or would sell farm or house and
lot, or has lost horse or pocket book, or
would loan money, etc We say, such men
will concede that the services of this
hundred men would be of great value to-
Smith or Jones, and in some manner ad-
vantageous to the party to whom this
statement was made. These one huud
red men could not be employed to 60 from
door to door and make this statement to-
ten thousand people at less than cost of
several hundred dollars each trip. All
this is done by the newspapers at cost
OF few shi!llngs, or u few dollars at
most, and the visits are male week af or
week, and day after day The messenger
""o Il S4o duUtCSSSS himself 10 the ear,
and takes the party addressed when he
may have his thoughts absorbed in busi-
ness or other matters but the newspaper
reaches the party sought through the eye,
when the reader has his thoughts solely
fixed upon the paper before him.


But those who affect to believe that
there is little use in Advertising urge as
an objection that the advertisements are
not read. They can easily be convinced
OF their error in this respect by making
inquiry. Let them insert an advertise,
ment Offering to purchase some article
that is tolerably plenty in the market,
and they will be flooded with offers to sell
before the ink Of the advertisement is
dry. An enterprising weekly that has
circulation of one, two, or three thous-
and copies is in position to do the viii
lage merchant great good, and for which,
as rule, the publisher does not get one
fourth of what he justly deserves In its
sphere, the weekly is of quite as much
service to the advertiser as is the daily,
and often times enjoys the privilege of
being the exclusive family visitor,
privilege the daily seldom has
Year: 1873

If you have a good dog that kills or
runs sheep, aud don't want to shoot him
build pen l6 feet square and run pole
across the top, and then pick the largest
and oldest buck of the flock, put him in
the pen, get your dog with collar around
his neck, and rope to draw up over the
middle of the pole, so that the dog will
have his forefeet swinging off Of the
ground few inches. Get out Of the
pen, and let the buck give him several
good butts, and then turn him loose
This is sure cure tried it on my
fathers dogs when | was boy ; never
knew them to ever cross field where
the sheep were grazing Rural Sun,
Year: 1873

The Harrisburg State Journal says
that there is general disposition in the
localities where mo license" carried at
the late election, to give the system fair
and proper test, and to have the law en-
forced in an impartial manner. There is
good sense aud sound policy in such a.
course, by which those who practive will
profit 1t is always in order to give
law fair test, when, if it is effective, it
can be continued, and if inpracticable,
repealed.
Year: 1873

STATE COMPTROLLER JNO. c. BURCH
is not only vigilant in the performance o.
the duties Of his office, as 1.-THE same'
are defined by law, but he is particular
and careful to answer by personal letter
any attack, near or remote, upon the
financial policy of the State. SO far be
has proven his capacity to fill a position
one Of the most responsible in the State,
the satisfactory performance Of the du-
ties of which cannot fsil to prove bene-
ieiai to every interest in Tennessee.
Year: 1873

The bloody assault which Oc
CURED yesterday, by which an in.
offensive negro man nearly lost
his life at the hands of 8 white man
crazed from the effects Of opium, might
have been averted by the arrest OF the
lunatic before he fred his pistol. We
are reliably informed that he was going
about all the forenoon yesterday seeking
whom he might kill, and ayowing it his
purpose to kill some one. Why was be
not arrested? Had he been there would
to-day be no loss to lament, not even
his death, forhe has since died. Ought
not the police lock up such lunatics?