smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

her potato off her own plate the other
day.


81 fear she IS very forward, de.
signing girl. l shall not think of ia.
king her out in London this year,
Mrs. Ashford said with some asperity
"nor shall I allow her to appear at our
croquet party next week. She is far
too young to be brought out"


So Ella was desired to remain in
her room on this occasion. She near
ly cried, poor little thing, but what
could she do Her father was away:
and when he came back Mrs. Ashford
would be sure to explain everything to
him. Mrs. Ashford had explained life
in so strangely ingenious a manner
that be had got to see it in . very top
sy'turvy fashion. Some things she ex.
planned away altogether, some she had
distorted and twisted; poor little Ella
had been explained and explained, un.
til there was scarcely anything Of her
left at all. Poor child she some.
times used to think she had not sin.
gle friend in the world but she would
ohide herself for such fancies-it must
be fancy. Her father loved her Is
much as ever; but he was ensrossed
by business, and it was not to be ex.
pected he should show what he felt be-.
fore Julia and Lisette, who might be
hurt. And then Ella would pull up .
bedful of weeds, to chase such morbid
tancies out of her mind.
Year: 1873

This is the way Berkshire Mass. }
woman didn't outwit railroad con-
ductor. She entered the car with her
boy of eight or ten years of age, and sat
down, the latter, however, becoming
suddenly invisible. A close observer,
however, would have noticed behind her
and next the window the top of a boys
hat, which bobbed down out of sight as
the conductor came along, and then came
up for fresh supply of atmosphere as
he passed by. The boys breath gave
out, and he bobbed up little too soon,
one time, and the conductor saw how it
was himself-and with the amused pas
sengers sitting by, took in the whole
tableau. The boy was produced in a
state of collapse, and deposited at his
place of destination, where, under the
instruction of his thrifty parent, he may
eventually grow to be Credit Mobilier
Congressman, or member of some Re-
form Legislature.
Year: 1873

A singular case occurred in the Lex
ter Asylum, in Providence, r. l., last
week. A woman died in the institution,
and the overseer notified. as he sup
posed, the fact to her husband but
there had been two women of the same
name in the asylum, and the overseer in
formed the wrong man, who arrived
with coffin, after having made all his
preparations for a funeral, only to find
his wife in excellent and lively
health. He also had sent word
to large number of relatives and
friends in New York, and they had come
on for the funeral Now this husband,
who isn't widower after all, wants to
know who is to pay for the coffin which he
has on hand, and for which he has no
use !; and he threatens an action in the
case against the overseer.
Year: 1873

A MICHIGAN exchange tells us of a
strange sect which has its abiding place
at Battle Greek, in that State. 1t is
called the Seventh Day Adventists, and
its members look for the coming of the
Saviour very soon, but do not fix any
precise date-wherein they are wiser
than the Millerites. They are wealthy
as community, and noted for strict in
tegrity and the scrupulous cleanliness of
their dwellings,. They believe in the
water cure, and their establishment at
Battle Greek is the resort of invalids
from all parts of the country. They
have publishing-house, tract-house
and stores, and are as fond of making
money as if they did not expect to go to
heaven for some time.-Erchange.
Year: 1873

The pursuit of mythical fortune of
two or three hundred millions of dollars
in England, in which the "Chase heirs"
have been for some time engaged, is
promised counterpart by scramble
for an estate of upward of hundred mil
lions, which it is claimed is awaiting the
cisatlantic heirs of couple of Holland
ers named Webber and Brewer, who
shuffled off their mortal coils in the
Low Dutch country something less than
ten centuries back. A meeting of cred
ulous individuals who claim to be de-
scendants in direct line from the afore-
said houses of Webber and Brewer was
held in this city on Tuesday, to take
steps toward a movement in the Western
States to secure to the legal heirs the
large legacy which they claim belongs to
them under the provisions of will late
ly discovered in Holland. There may,
and there may not, be chance of these
fortune-hunters getting slice of this
Webber and Brewer legacy. Upon the
whole, we rather incline to thu belief
that they have not. For our part, we
would much prefer chance in Ben.
Woods lottery, or ticket in the Slab
town Opera House drawing, or share
of stock in the Ujiji canoe company
Chicago Ledger.
Year: 1873

The shareholders in Cuba continue to
worry themselves necessarily over the
fear that the march of events will soon
touch their island and bid the enslaved
go free. They don't know what to do
about it. Meantime it is said that the
slaves themselves keep well posted up.
and are all ready for the coming of the
inevitable decree that is to make them
freemen.
Year: 1873

A FROZEN WAsP.-The question "Will
wasps freeze ?" has been decided by a
Peoria man, who found one in frozen
nest one day last week, and took the
insect into the house, and held it by the
tail while he warmed his ears over gas
jet. You wouldn't believe it, but the
Peoria naturalist says its tail thawed out
first, and while it's head was so stiff and
icy it couldn't wink, its "probe" worked
with inconceivable rapidity, to the great
distress of the minister who was present,
who was dreadfully distressed by the
hideous profanity consequent on each
and every movement of the probe afore-
said.
Year: 1873

to prizefghter, "Brush" was not ready


to tackle" 1t certainly startled us,
for we all knew the old dogs mettle.


Now occurs my great difficulty as a
faithful chronicler of my own and the
others experiences. What followed
was instantaneous but what was it :?
Nobody saw anything, and yet everybody
was, at the same moment, conscious of
something that passed right through
the two rooms from the back to the
front, and out OF the front room into
the passage. The candle on the table
was famed, as by person passing rap
idly through the apartment. Tom and
myself did not feel the actual contact !;
but still we knew that something had
had the touch been recognizable by the
ordinary sense. Finally the door of the
front room was thrown wide, just as that
of the back room had been, after which
it closed with bang, and left us star
ing at each other in blank and utter as
tonishment. AS soon as it had closed,
Brush" timidly emerged from his
corner, buried his nose in between my
knees and rs plainly as he could, with
out articulate words, besought me to get
up and go.


Still nobody spoke. By common con-
sent we all arose, took candle with us
right out into the front garden before
we extinguished it, turned our heads
toward the city, and tacitly agreed to
walk home. In plain English, we had
been scared out like the rest.


When we got to the village church we
say that it was not yet quarter past
twelve. Our ghost experience had been
"brief," if not delightful. The
night in the ghost chamber, properly
so called, had been matter of minutes
only.


1t was not until we had been toned by
good squirt on the road that we found
our tongues. When we did, however,
we agreed, one and all, that no imagina-
BILE form of horror, no apparition, how
ever hideous, could have so knocked us
over as that invisible yet palpable pres
ence of something-that complete evi-
dence of personality unaccompanied by
any of those appeals to sense or sight
by which, in our present condition, and
under ordinary circumstances, such per-
sonality is proved. Even Brush, - who
usually rampaged' y about the roads
during anything like noctural ramble,
expressed his sympathy by dangling to
our heels. 1t would have been interest
ing if he could have found tongue to tell
us what was the impression made on
his senses by night in ghost-cham-
ber.


l have not the slightest explanation to
offer of this circumstance. l can only
say we are none of us anxious to sit
again; and Tom Chester has decided
not to hire the villa for dark seances. 1t
is a pity, perhaps, to spoil good ghost
story by anything like an anti-climax;
but the practical man who got the key
for us never passes any of us on the
street without expressing the tenderest
regard for our salubrity, and fervent
hope we will not endanger our health or
nerves by sitting in a thorough draft"
Year: 1873

The world buds every year,


But the heart just once, and when
The blossom falls off sere


No new blossom comes again.
All. the rose goes with the wind.
But the thorns remain behind
Was it well in him, if he


Felt not love, to speak of love SO?
If he still unmoved must be,


Was it nobly sought to move so7
Pluck the flower and yet not wear il?
Spnrn, despise it, yet not spare it?
Need he say tina. was fair,


With such meaning in his tone,
Just to speak of one whose hair


Had the same tinge as my own?
Pluck my life up, root and bloom,
just to plant it ON his tomb?
And she'd scarce SO fair a face


$50 he used to say as mine;
And her form had far less grace,


And her brow was far less fine;
But twas Just that he loved then,
More than he can love again.
Why, if beauty could not bind him,


Need he praise me, speaking low?
Use my face just to remind him


How no face could please him now?
Why, if loving could not move him,
Need he teach me still to love him?
And he said my eyes were bright,


But his own, he said, were dim;
And my hand, he said, was white,


But what was that to him?
For" he said, sin gazing at you,
seem gazing at a statue"
Eyes !" he said, he had grown wise now,
lie had suffered much of yore;
But a fair face to his eyes now,


Was fair face and no more.
Yet the anguish and the bliss,
And the dream, too, had been his.
Why those words, n thought too tender
For the comnlonpaces spoken?
Looks whose meaning sccm'd to render
Help to words when speech came broken
Why SO late in July moonlight
just to say what's said by moonlight.
Year: 1873

THAT relic of barbarism, impriso nment
for debt, is by no means SO generally
abolished as people suppose. The
Hartford Courant informs us that ten or
twelve debtors have been lodged in the
Jail of that city during the past winter,
and three are confined there now. Con-
sidering what a fuss was made some
years ago about the injustice of this
method of collecting debts, it is not en-
couraging to consider that the world
is going on very much in the old way.
Year: 1873

New ORLEANS, August 19.-In re-


spOnse TO a communication from Monroe


parish as to the proper course to be pur-


sued regarding Louisiana affairs, Gov


ernor McEnery writes letter advising


q State convention in December and the


appointment of a committee to appeal to
congress. After reviewing the Kellogg


usuTpation, Governor McEnery says


that "the present deplorable condition
of Louisiana demands her rescue from


utter ruin; the adoption of one or
two regiments, either for the rescue of
her government from the ignorance and
corruption pervading almost every de-
partment by the united action of the
intelligent and honest people of the
State, or an utter surrender of the State
TO the federal government, trusting that
that government may institute an
honest home government that will
save the people the confscation
of their property now gradually going
on, and consequent and evitable bank
ruptcy and ruin. To any one educated in
the theory and genius of our government,
the latter alternative Is hard to accent,
but any government promising better
future, however irregularly instituted, is
preferable to one promising certain i'm
poverishment and general bankruptcy.
When people find themselves surround
ed as we are, by desperate and
circumstances, commerce
decaying, agriculture demoralized, capi-
tai, with MercuTial wings, in fight resl-.
ize the depressed and deprecated fifty
per cent since the Kellogg rule, ard
in fact all values on the decline
all this in a State of bonnl-
less resources, and simply ard
alone due to the fact Of bad, dishonest,
government, possessing
neither the confidence of the people at
hone or abroad, it is natural that they
will accept relief from any hand that e:I-
tends 1t, and will not stop to enquire us
to the regularity or irregularity of the
authority exercised, but hope that fate
is not so impervious that we
shall be driven to accept no
desperate remedy. Let rs hope better
of those who hold our destiny in their
hands. Let us appeal earnestly to con-
gress, trusting that that honorable body,
casting aside all political prejudices and
party rule, will do simple justice to a
much-wronged and injured people,
Year: 1873

In our rambles about town yester-


day, we came across story, which II


true In Its facts, vividly illustrates to


what an extent, evil may be wrought


by want Of heart and want Of thoug ht.


The story runs as follows: One day


about month ago brakeman on the


Reading Railway. who had permitted


his thoughts to dwell upon an accident


by which man lost his life, until his
mind had become affected, came to
Quakake. Here he fell into the
clutches o. some train hands, who,
perceiving his unfortunate condition.
resolved to take advantage of IL for the
purpose Of having some sport. So
they told him they would show him
how to "get religion" and be saved
eternally. The poor creature jumped
at the offer and resigned himself into
the hands of what he supposed were
his friends. They took him and
painted him. his body and face black
and his hair white. They then placed
him beside q stove aud kept him there
until the paint dried thoroughly.
They then vanished him, leaving his
face all streaked aud hideous. Having
had their fun they let him go. He
went away and WAS subsequently
found between Tamanend and East
Mahanoy Junction, dead. This is the
story MS told to US. We do not vouch
for its truth. But we give it publicity
rs the surest aud shortest means of
securing q thorough investigation of
the matter. We trust it may be found
incorrect. II, however, 1t should be
true, we are sure public sentiment
will demand that the villains who
perpetrated the outrage be brought to
justice. Miners Journal.
Year: 1873

We do not often notice new music
but we are impeiled to make some re-
m srks upon a song recently published,
and entitled "Kiss Me Darling, When
I'm Gone" The request itself is in
deed OF an interesting nature, because
it suggests the inquiry, How, in tho
name OF common sense, can his dar-
ling kiss him when he rs gone? 1t is
too much to expect Of a woman. 1t is,
in certain aspect, unreasonable. If
she kisses him while he is there, he
ought to be satisfied, without request
ing her to perform the osculatory feat
after he has left home. THAT word,
"osculatory," will probably be used in
this paper many times during the
next few months. Whenever we start
up new aud surprising word like
that, all the editors and critics and re-
porters seize 1t aud shake it At the
public until it becomes tiresome.)
But what we wish to refer to particu-
larly In this song is the first verse,
which is as follows:


When struggling gainst the stormy waves


or life's ill-bearing sea.


The fragrance OF thy loving smile


VIII wait new strength to me.


You will observe that while he is
swimming in the said sea he expects
her to stand somewhere and smile a
loving smile, upon the fragrance Of
which, IL the wind blows In the right
direction, he expects to float ashore.
II his hopes are realized we should
like to hear from him. We shall take
pains to patent that woman's loving
smiles, SO that the fragrance Of them
can be sliced of aud sold as life pre-
servers. A woman whose smiles pos
sess such power would be invaluable
as q hambermaid on . steamboat. II
anybody happened to fall overheard.
che could stand by the taff-rail and
smile and watt the struggling sinner
on the smell Of the smile to safety bet
ter than II he had gum thing around
him.-EE.
Year: 1873

A batcehlor says that If you hand a
lady paper with paragraphs cut out
Of 1t, not line oft will be read, but
every bit OF interest felt In the paper
by the lady will center In finding out
what the missing paragraphs con-
tanned.
Year: 1873

"A bright little boy, hearing bis father
say that man ought to "stick to his busi-
ness,p emptied bottle of mucllage in the
old gentleman's Office chair. The old man
says he has not been stuck SO badly since
1857, and rewarded his offspring by taking
hlm on q whaling trip to the back cellar.
Year: 1873

THE tenacity of popular belief, in the
absence of any established facts on which
it can be based, and in opposition to all
the teachings of learning, science, and in
dlvidual experience, has long been the
wonder of philosophers. The explana-
tion perhaps is, that it is an inherited
habit or instinct, and perpetuates itself
through successive generations as other
habits do. Thus we see the dog on his
masters carpet before the fire. turn
around before lying down, in obedience
to an inherited habit acquired ages ago
by his progenitors when obliged to make
their own beds in their native wilds.
And SO of many habits in man and the
domestic animals, which are still con-
tinued, though the occasion for them
ceased to exist countless generations ago.


The beliefwhich seems to have the firm
est hold on the popular mind, and to be
the most widely disseminated, is in the
influence of the moon on vegetation and
the weather. This has long resisted the
accumulated contradictions of experience
as to the facts, and the teachings of
science as to the theory. But it shows
the marvellous power of the human mind
IN thrusting aside phenomena which in
terfere with cherished convictions and
established habits of thought. No indi-
v1dual of mature age who holds this be-
lief but has seen it fail in his own expert
ence a thousand times. But all observa-
tlon shows that the result of such failure
Is only to fix the delusion still more deep
ly; Such belief does not depend on the
efficacy of trial, but on the strength of
faith. A believer in these delusions will
believe anything rather than that his
faith is in the wrong.


As to the weather, the experience of
every adult will require him to admit that
there can be nothing more variable and
uncertain than the condition of the
Year: 1873

THERE is not the least necessity of frit-
tering away much time on people who are
neither profitable, congenial, or in any
way companionable, although there is an
immense amount of time wasted in that
manner, and deal of scolding done in
consequence.


Those who have nothing to do but
chatter, lounge about in easy chairs, eat
bon bons, and conjure about their neigh
bors, will soon seek more welcome quar-
tiers if one continues the duties and la
bors of the day regardless of their pres
ence. The atmosphere of industry does
not harmonic with chronic idleness.


How often it occurs that entire plans
for the day are frustrated by an untimely
visit from the last person one would care
to see Important matters ere neglected
merely to be civil and hospitable, purely
from cannot-help-yourself feeling.


Entertaining people without being at
all entertained or edited in return, is the
most stupid, thankless task one can as
sumo. There is absolutely nothing to be
gained from it in the end.


The only true, successful and lasting
basis for sociability and companionship
is sympathy of thought or similarity of
pursuits.


1t is unwise to have or permit ac-
QualntanceShlpS which cannot prove
pleasurable or beneficial.


Now and then it may be pardonable in
man or woman to treat a consummate
"bore" with consideration because he has
money, and can be induced to lend few
dollars in an emergency, but the obeis-
ance and sacrifice made to money are
generally too low, frequent and fawning.
Money and clothes are not recommends
tions to the friendship of those who
amount to anything intellectually, still
they are too apt to win soft smiles, gentle
words and fattery from the masses, and
pass for much that exists only in dazzled
imaginations.


Such twaddle as people endure because
gilded with money is almost enough to
discourage the poor from seeking after
knowledge. Rich ignorance and vulgar
ity snub impecunious culture and refine
ment, and the people bow in submission.
"She is an heiress," or "he is rich" set
tie all questions of equality and merit,
and the poor are discounted at once


There are few eccentric individuals
who do not regard money above all else,
and they will not bend the knee 10 that
which is tasteless and uncongenial. Such
persons are not popular; but they enjoy
freedom from the trammel of unwelcome
guests, aud cringing to the unworthy is to
them unknown. Blessed be such eccen-
tricity,-Em Orl0u.
Year: 1873

A fireman was once striving to save q
person in danger of perishIng in burn
ing house, but the flames leaped out OF
the windows and beat him back. Hell
never do it." cried one. "He'll have to
come down. s'Cheer him." shouted an
other, and in q moment three stirring
hurrahs went up from the crowd. 1t
nerved the mans arm and strengthened
his spirit 1t quickened his movements,
and in another minute he bore the child
down in safety to its mothers arms.


What power in that cheeringi So it
often is with those who are ready to give
out by the way. They would have per-
ished but for some good stirring word of
cheer God put it in the heart of some one
to speak to them. Have you ever cheered
a desponding heart thus, Or have you
let the opportunity slip by with the feel
ing, "Am l nv brothers keeperp We
are all, in q sense, our brothers keeper.
Is there a poor, down-hearted man in
your community whom sickness and mis-
fortune have reduceds Don't give him
the cold shoulder, as is the worlds Gus
tom when person is unfortunate. Cheer
him, and see il it will not infuse new life
into his heart. Do more. Lend help
ing hand if you can -


What would you have done that day
your wheel got stuck in a rut II neigh
Dor hsd not happened along who could
lend you q helping hand for five min
utess Ii was very little for him TO do,
but it was worth great deal to you. A
little after, you were rolling along pros
perously, as if nothing had happened
just so little cheer and little help often
puts a poor neigbbor on the road again.
Surely it were worse than churlish To re-
fuse to give what costs you such little
effort. yet is worth SO much.-C0tfntry
Gentleman.