smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

Dover, Nov. 3, 1873.


My DEAR BoY.-The double barrel
that you sent came safely to hand, and
| was only shot at once while carrying
it home. Bill Silvers popped at me
from behind the fence as | was passing
his house, but had loaded the two
shooter as soon as got it, and he didn't
Jump from behind that fence but once.


am glad that one of the barrels is
rife, as | needed it for long range prac-
tice. The other | can load with buck
shot, and can riddle man nicely at close
quarters. mean to try both barrels on
those Jetts when l meet them. You see,
old man Jett stole mule from us in the
war, and pap laid for him and killed
him. Then Niger Tom Jett, as we call
him-the black faced one-he laid for
pap and plugged him. Then | picked
up fuss with Tom, and cut him into
giblets and since that time his brother
Sam has been laying for me. l know it
is his turn, but [ think my double-bar-
rel will prove too much for him.


If you want to see some fun. come
down for while and bring a rifle. It
don't make any difference which side
you belong to, and it isn't even neces-
sary to join the militia 1t is easy to
get up grudge against somebody, and
all you have to do is to lay for your man
and knock him over. Behind my pig
pen is one of the best hiding places
know of, and it is so handy. A good
many people come within range in the
course of week, and man can pass
his time right pleasantly.


[ wish you would send me catalogue
of Sunday school books with the prices
if there are any in st. Louis. If We
can get them on time we will take biz
lot of books. / am Superintendent o
the Baptist Sunday school now, and an
running it under full head of steam
Old man Byres, who was turned out, il
right mad about it, and swears that ht
will chaw me up; but he will chaw leat
if he don't keep clear of me.


My wife wants to know if you can
send her set of teeth without gettins
measured for them. Her $25 set wa
busted all to flinders by pistol sho
that went through her mouth, but it di
not hurt her tongne. Write soon to


Your friend and pard.
Year: 1872

2. S.-That sneaking, ornery cuss of
Tom Jett crept up last night and fired
at me through the window, but he didn't
happen to kill anybody except niger
girl. mean to go for him though, to-
day, and will be glad of a chance to try
the double barrel.
Year: 1872

The ELEPHANT IS LOvE-Cassell's
Natural History says elephants are sus-
ceptible Of the most tender attachment
to one another and relates the following
occurrence: Two very young elephants
male and female-had been separated
in order to be conveyed siDgly to Paris;
and, not having seen one another for
several months, the JOY they expressed
on meeting again is not to be described.
Running instantly together, they uttered
a cry of delight that shook the whole
building, and blew the air out of their
trunks with violence resembling the
blast of the smiths bellows. The fe-
males pleasure seemed to be more live
ly; she expressed it by moving her ears
with astonishing rapidity, and tenderly
twining her trunk around the body of
the male She laid it particularly to
his ear, where she held it for consider
able time motionless, and, after having
folded it again about his body, she ap-
piled it to her own mouth The male
in like manner folded his trunk around
the body of the female, and the pleasure
he felt seemed to be of a more sentimen-
tai kind, for he expressed it by shedding
an abundance of tears Afterwards they
had stable in common, and their mu-
tual attachment excited much interest
Year: 1872




The FREEDMEN BUREAU.--The
Frcedmcn's Bureau is still in exist
cnce, and, as a matter of course,
those who are running it want Con-
gress TO vote them more money.
There is always.a a deficiency in the
concern. Somehow it seems to par
take of the extravaganza and care
lessness which characterizes the me-
gro. 1t cra never make both ends
meet. There are always leaks in
its treasury. Money will disappear
from its drawers mysteriously, and
yet, when asked where it has gone,
or who took it, nobody knows. 1t
would be as hard to detect the de-
linquents, as for stranger TO pick
out any particular chicken thief
from a multitude of genuine Afri-
cans in the dark. AT the end of the
present month the Bureau will be
without dollar in it, and the loyal
majority in Congress arc expected
to fork over sum large enough 10
keep the concern running while
Grant is running for reelection.
Whether it will be kept up after
that, must depend upon the temper
Of the next Congress. lift should be
strongly Radical. the fat places now
filled by those who run the Bureau
will not be vacated speedily. Should
Grant be reelected, with Con-
gress prepared TO support him, it
will be taken for granted that the
taxpayers are perfectly satisfied 10
be plundcred by Office holders and
the assumption will not be violent
one by any means.-Lancdster { Pa. }
hteiiigeneer.
Year: 1872

We regret to notice during our
suspension attacks from several of
our Texas journals upon ex-Gov.
Throck While we have
differed with that accomplished and
distinguished gentleman upon many
points of public policy, we have
felt, at all times, y very high respect
and admiration of the man. Social
ly no one can but admire him. He
is pleasant and genial, and generous
to a fault. With life time devot-
ed to the service of his country, we
find him in his old age poor. lie
lives by the arduous labors of his
profession. As we remarked, in u
previous editorial, the intellectual
men of commonwealth constitute
its pride and strength. Whatever
may be his errors of opinion, he
has been the devoted friend Of our
State and people, and was removed
from the Gubernatorial chair, by
radical tyranny, for his integrity
and patriotism. IF he were to die
today, those who are most severe
in their animadversions, would be
among his-warmest eulogists. The
last ten years, have been fruitful of
instruction in two things; of the
uncertainty and vanity Of wealth,
and of tolerance of differences of
opinion among good men; that
broad, Catholic charity that encom-
passes all things, and that does not
magnify the foiblcs of men, into
grave and objectionable sins. For
one, we have learned this great les
son, and have no procrustian bed
upon which to imolale men, every
vibration of whose hearts arc for
their country.


The time is rapidly approaching
when such men will be needed in
the public counsels, and when the
country, recognizing their past SER
vices and their abilities, will suffer
no narrow, contracted policy to per
nit them to be ostracised. 1t is n
shame to a republic like ours, that
they should be disfranchised, and
the ignorant and vicious exalted to
places of prominence, once places of
honOr.-Jeferson Times,
Year: 1872

sD-we are happy to learn by the com
muncation, which we publish else where,
that our friend Col. Crockett, 80 well and
favorably known throughout the State, is
about 10 convert his beautiful place, situa.
ted near the city, into Dairy Farm. This
is the very thing itself We wish him un-
bounded success, and we intend to test his
milk and goodies of all sorts one of these
warm coming early summer days.
Year: 1872

A MrNNEsorA woodchopper hewed
down tall tree the other day, and
upon splitting up the trunk with an
az and wedge, found imbedded In the
wood at the point where the trunk d.
yerged Into branches. a leather bridle
ofantique pattern, with bit and buckles
attached, and all in remarkable state
Of preservation. IL has been fully
thirty feet from the ground, and its
presence there can only be accounted
for by the supposition that some
passing horseman had used the crotch
Of a sapling rs rest for his bride,
and, led from the place In pursuit Of
his strayiug horse, had been unable to
find it again. aud abandoned the bridle
to be carried up and entombed BY the
slow growth OF the tree. 1t Is believed
that the tree must have been fifty years
In hiding its treasure.
Year: 1872

A FEW days ago, as heavily loaded
train was nearing Green's Bridge, on
the Central Railroad of New Jersey, n
man was seen lying across the track.
The engineer. not having time to stop
the train, concluded to try n hazards
ous experiment, which WAS to climb
out OH the pilot and haul the man
from the track. He and his fireman
posted themselves. in position, aud as
they neared the prostrate form, they
seized aud threw It to one side, there
by saving the mans life at the immi-
nent risk Of their own.
Year: 1872

letter for the first time, itty-ive years
after 1t was written-read my only love
letter from the only man ever loved,
halt century from date


DEAR EFFIE." it began. "you think man
who i worth much should not be coward,
even in love. 50 do |. Therefore begin As |
90 Dear Fife, | love YOU. | want YOU for
my wife. can never be happy without you
and if YOU can make me happy BY saving that
you ike me, tor Heaven sake do 50. for you
can't guess what condition OF mind am in
! know I'm not all ought TO be toward Won
| know how heavy my poor fathers disgrace
lies upon me- but | love you, and FL try nv
best to make yot feel proud of me, If You'll but
think OF me. | cannot speak to YOU in my
heart. 1 cannot even write as | wonld, but
love you better than Garret GRAY could love
any woman. and | think YOU would be happier
with me. lfyour answer is Yes please send
me one little line If il is NO don't say anv-
thing. ! will understand it and go awav.
When have sealed this I'll put it on the man
fle-piece in the parlor, where YOU will be sure
70 md 1t. And whatever YOUR answer, | shall
always be your true and tender lover


WAITER WEIGH


But for Gods sake Try to love me Try to
answer yes"


had not cried before for twenty wears.
But cried when read that letter. like
child The clumsy maid had brushed it
into the crack in the mantle. and never
told me; and 90 all my life had been
altered-and all his, perhaps, for he had
a loving heart by switch Of a maids
dusting brush, and a crack il an old man
tle-piece. And wonder whether he lives,
or is dead and whether he ever married
But | wouldn't care to have him know the
truth now; its all too long cone by. and
we are as much to each other as though
the sod was over us
Year: 1872

l have been thinking for some time OF


process by which certain kind of waste


land may become profitable. | mean that


kind o. land usually called ledgey land that


Is SO broken by slate ledge that onlv small


parcels. Of irregular shape, can be powed


While whole acres have SO little soil above
the rock, that short drouth kills the grass


TOR that reason. When this kind OF land Is


nrSt cleared and burned, il produces well
tor a lew years, when Kind OF spear grass
comes in, which starts early in the spring,


hut by midsummer is all drv ana useless


Thus IL remains year after wear, the owner


receiving in fact nothing for its use, While


be Keeps it fenced, and pays taxes on the


same. rode by piece of this Kind of


Iahd, this season, which j. covered with


pine grown from the Seed--nOw fifteen feet


In height Now would it not be well for
farmers owning such land to plant ii with
pine: About forty yeas ago my grand
father owned few acres Of gravelly land
a sort OF island in ii meadow. lie had titled


II for many years, always getting larger
crop OF stones to put in the causeway than
corn ana grain. AT his decease the land fell


into the hands Of q son. who said he would


not 00Hge his bows to work on that land as


he had worked Accordingly he prepared


10 sow 1t to rye; first getting a lot OF pine


burrs, which he threshed, and sowed the
seed with the winter rye. The next sum
mer he harvested his rye, leaving the little
pines and the land to take care Of them
selves. Fifteen years ago | saw the pine
forest-for 1t was really fOrest-and asked
my uncle how much it was worth an acre
then. He said he could take Slu0 Al acre
for IT, At the time the pine seed was sown,
my father had ledgey pasture Of ten acres.
on which he had spent more than 500 for
fence. As pasture it was nearly worth


less, and to till it was still worse. If he
had sowu That pasture with pine then, it
would now ne worth one thousand dollars


Why did he not do it: Perhaps the reason
is the same that many others would give
that there were trees enough in Maine with
out planting them; besides, many thought
pine trees would not grow on such soll. If
such had examined the stumps on such land,
they would have found pine stumps so near
the ledge, that it would seem impossible to
draw sufficient nourlshment from the soil TO
support life. Such trees sent out their lit
tie roots and produced giant trees that pro-
duced the best of lumber. Think of this
ye owners OF such land; ami instead OF
it in its useless state To- the
next generation, leave it to your heirs Gov
cred with a rich growth of pine In nearly
every town in Maine there l. more or less
OF this klnd OF land On light, sandy soil
pine grows spontaneously, while in most
cases i must be safely trans planted, if done
one OF the longest DAYS OF the year ana
well watered. The pine forest spoken OF is
in Plymouth County. Mass. Waterville
Mail
Year: 1872

The dairymen OF Washington Territory.
for want Of tubs and lars, have adopted a
new method Of putting up and keeping but
ter.


All bufteris packed in muslin sacks, made
III such form that the package, when complet
ed,is cylinder three or four inches in diane
ter and from half foot to a foot in length.
The butter goes from the churn, as soon as
worked over, into the cylindrical bags made
OF tine beacaed muslin. The packages are
then put into large casks containing strong
brine with slight admXture Of saltpetre,
and by means OF weights kept always be-
low the surface. The cloth integument al
ways protects the butter from any impuri-
ties that chance to come in contact with the
package, and being always buried in brine
that protects it from the action Of the air:
and it has been ascertaned by trial that
butter put up in this way will keep sweet
longer than III any other way.


Besides, it is found easier and cheaper
for the manufacturer than to pack either IN
jars or tirkins. And for the retailer, there
is no telling the advantage on the score of
safety and convenience. These rolls of
butter can lie on his counter as safe from
injury, from dust or other contact as bars
OF lead can be rolled up for hi- customers
IN sheet of paper with as much propriety
as a bundle of matches. If the consumer
when he gets home, discovers specks of
dust upon the outside of the sack, he can
throw it into a pail of pure cold water and
take it out clean and white. As be uses the
butter from day to day, with sharp knife
ne cuts 1t OFT from the end OF the roll in
sllces OF thickness suited to his want, and
peels on the cloth from the end Of the slice,
leaving 1t in tidy form to place upon the
table
Year: 1872

WARTS ON HORSES. wart came on the
side Of the face of a young horse of mine,
tour months ago, and got to be the size of
thimble. The top would rub off, then
bleed. inquired of many horsemen none
told me what to do. I had some powdered
bluestone (blue vitroD and burnt alum
mixed. [ sprinkled on the wart twice, and
it is now entirely gone. Skin perfectly
smooth, and hair coming on. [Cor. Country
Gentleman.
Year: 1872

spare no pains to manufacture as much as
possible OF this mine of the farmers wealth,
and apply it in the most economical method
to such crops As he required TO raise for
pleasure or profit let him improve his es-
tate so that two blades of grass will grow
where only one grew before, and he will in
deed be beuefactor to mankind.
Year: 1872

We are not cheese eating people In
England, IN every town and village, are
shops devoted to the sale of cheese exclu-
sively. These are the cheesemongers, who
in London, form an ancient and honorable
Incorporation of guild" (of which the late
Lord PaimerstOn was an honorary member, }
for the purpose of mutual protection. There
are also the cheese factors, or commission
agents, all over the country who touch
nothing but cheese. The same system is in
vogue in other European countries, and
cheese is as regularly brought on to the
table as the desert, and often forms a sub
stitute for meat.
Year: 1872

Wee bit sparrow, with bare red feet,
Ankle deep in the chilly slect,


Clad in your summer coat of brown.


Whom black winds whistle and black clouds frovr
Bravely chirruping while the snow,
Busy at work above and below,


Hides the smiles of the morning sun.
And covers the crumbs o'er ono by one
Prithee in trust reveal to me


The gist of that sage soiiloquy.


Is it wall for the buried flowers
And the vanished pomp of the summer bowers
Or homesick dream of q brighter sky,
Bending and smiling lovingly
Ger the homo nest under the hawthorne shade.
Where your earliest efforts in fight were made,
Or arc yon bewailing in just dismay,
The slender chance IF meal to-day1
Long are the months of King Winters reign,
Long e'er the pleasant days come again,
And the Ruler of all who guides he sun,
And appointeth the seas d course to run,
Hath too far distant His glorious throne
To hear the cries of his little one.
But, needless of bodings CT coming ill,
The cheerful chirp had brave note still;
While each in succession the bare red feet
Crept into the soft down out of the sleet,
And, 10 vision Of rarest grace
With fair hair shading the childish face,
At the opposite window has taken stand,
Scattering crumbs with lavish hand.
As down to tho banquet the sparrow few
A snatch of song with meaning now
Was waited back no the frosty air
FED by our Heavenly Fathers care"
Faint hearts craving tho crumbs of love,
Fearfully watching tie clouds above,
Hear from His glory the Master say
Are ye not better far than they,"
Year: 1872

Ruskin says :"Do you think you can
make gill lovely, if you do not make
her happy. There is not one restraint
you put to a good girls nature-there
is not one shock you give to ber iu-
s,incts Of affection or of effort-which
will not be iudelibl7 written on her
features with hardness which is all
the more painful, because it takes
away the brightness from the eyes Of
innocence, and the charm from the
brow of virtue. The perfect loveliness
of woman's countenause can only
consist iu that majestic peace which Is
founded in the memory Of happy and
useful years-full Of sweet records;
and from the joining of this with that
yet more majestic childishness; which
is still full of change aud promise, open
ing always, modest at once and bright
with hope of better things to be won,
and to be bestowed. There is no old
age where there is still that PROMISE
it is eternal youth"
Year: 1872

Out in certain Western fort, some


time ago, the major conceived the idea


that artillery might be used ef1ectually
in fighting with the Indians by dispeDs-
ing with gun-carriages ana fastening
the cannon upon the backs of mules
So he explained bis views to the COM


mandant, and it was determined to try
the experiment. A howitzer was Sc


'ected and strapped upon an ambulance


mule, with the muzzle pointed toward


the tail. When they bad secured the
gun and loaded it with ball-car,ridge,
they led that calm and steadfast mule
out on the bluff, and set up . target in
the middl, of the river to practice at.
The rear of the mule was turned to-
ward the target, and he was backed
gently up to the edge Of the bluff. The
officers stood around in semi-circle,
while the major weLt up and inserted a
time fuse IN the touch-hole Of the how
itzer. When the fuse was ready, the
major lit it and retired. In minute
or two the hitherto unrufled mule heard
the 6zzing back there on his neck, aud
it made him uneasy. He reached his
head around to ascertain what was 60
ing on, and, as be did so, his body
turned and the howitzsr began to sweep
around the horizon. The mule at last
became excited, and his curiosity grew
more and more intense, and in a sec.
ond or two he was standing With his four
legs in bunch, making six revolutions
minu te, and The howitzer, understand,
threatening sudden death to every man
within half mile. The commandant
was observed to climb suddenly up a
tree; the lieutenants were seen sliding
over the bluff into the river. as if they
didn't care at all ab, ut the high Price
of uniforms; the adjutant made good
time toward the fort the sergeant be-
gan to throw up breastworks with his
bayonet, and the major rolled over the
ground and groaned. In two or three
minutes there was puff of smoke,
dull thud, and the mule-oh! where
was he? A solitary jackass might have
been seen turning successive back-som-
ersaults over the bluff, only to rest at
anchor, finally, with his howitzer at the
bottom Of the river, while the ball
went off toward the fort, hit the chm
ney in the majors quarters, ratified the
adobe bricks down into the parlor, and
frightened the majors wife into convul-
sions They do not allude to it now,
and 90 report Of the results Of the ex-
pertinent was ever sent to the War de.
partment.
Year: 1872

THE proprietors of the Aldine recently
gave reception at the st. James Hotel,
New York, at which were present a
large number of distinguished journal
lists, Vice. President ColfaX presided,
Mark Twain spoke substantially as fol
lows:


Gentlemen, / would rather address a
stag dinner party than any other assem-
blage in the world laughter for the
reason that when you make a point, those
who have been listening always applaud,
and those who have been talking to each
other and did not hear it, applaud louder
than anybody se-[laughterl l-and if
only had speech prepared for this occa-
sion, would take genuine delight in de-
livering it, Laughter. But l got the
notification to be present at this dinner
this evening, at half past eleven O'Clock
this morning, or pay what l owed to the
AIdine establishment-[ laughter and ]
had to leave half an hour after that III or
der to make this trip, so had no oppor-
tunity of preparing speech, and am
not one of those geniuses who can make
speech tmp0mptu. have made a
great many happy impOmptu speeches,
but / had time to prepare them.


Laughter. Now, it is singular,
and l suppose that, but for q
circumstance which happened when was
fourteen years of age, might have rushed
blindly, into real impromptu speeches, and
injured myself good deal. Laughter.
This circumstance, which happened when
was fourteen years of age, has always
protected me against anything of that
kind, and it has led me to think a good
deal-now, don't think a good deal
generally [laughterl-of what may
probably be the moving springs Of
human action. / put that in
merely because it is good expression
[Laughter.] Now the thing that made
the deepest impression on my mind, and
has lasted until this moment, was mat
ter in itself essentially trivial. 1t occurred
when was boy, and it has protected
me up to this time against making q
speech when | hadn't a speech prepared
1t was a remark made by friend. He
said 81 could have catched them cats il
had had on a good ready" Laughter.
Now, at first glance that don't appear tC
convey an idea, but It does, and the mea
of it is this; don't do anything hurriedly
don't do thing unless you are prepared
to do it; therefore, until this moment,
never have made speech unless haC
that speech all set down and ready Thii
incident is of no consequence 10 you a
all, and never made speech in my lf'
unless tried to inculcate a moral laugh
ter unless tried TO convey instruction
and if can make you better than yoI
are laughter lit is not for me to sa,
there is room for it, though suppos'