smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1871

The Plattsburg (Mo) Register gives
the following "A few days ago, VIM
Hamilton, residing near the Missouri
Pacific Railroad, went into the timber
about mile off to shoot squirrels.
Nothing being heard Of him all night,
several neighbors tho next morning
went in search of him. About three
o'clock in the afternoon they found
him up a leaning tree, thirty feet from
the ground, fas' and unable to extract
himself. After some trouble he was
taken down, aud it was seen that one
foot and ankle were badly torn and
bleeding.


He said that about three o'clock the
previous day he came across large
black bear, and shot at but missed
him. The bear made for him with
all his might, He ran, and, finding
the bear gaining on him, threw away
his rife, and partly climed and partly
ran up leaning sycamore tree, with
the bear following close at his heels
The top of this tree had been broken
off and was hollow. lie thrust one
of his legs into the hole to keep him.
self from falling, but soon found that
his leg was fast. lie tried TO cxtricatc
himself but could not. The bear in
tho meantime had torn his boot of
and was gnawing and eating the flesh
from the foot and ankle. Mr., Hamil.
ton took his pocket knife out and cut
at Bruins eyes but with one sweep
of his paw the bear struck the knife
from his hand, with part Of two Of
his fingers.


Mr.. Hamilton could now see no
help and gave up TO die, expecting to
be eaten up alive by the bear. But
soon a happy thought struck him.
That morning he had put some salt
into his pocket to salt some cattle he
had running in the timber. He took
small handful and sprinkled it in the
bears eyes. 1t bad the desired effect.
The bear shook his head, growled and
went down. He soon returned, how.
ever, but little more salt drove him
away the second time, and to Mr..
Hamlton's ineXprcssiblo delight be
trottcd off into the forest"
Year: 1871

SECONDARY FEELINGS. There are
many persons in society who have
gone under the influence Of secondary
and lower feelings 50 long, that there
has q kind of crust formed over their
real character, which hides il. There
are people Of all degrees and classes
Of goodness and badness, but nobody
is perfect And among these there Is
q very largo class whose outside Is
bad, and whose inside is good. Like
chestnuts, they are hard to deal with
but are excellent when they are Out
of the burr.
Year: 1871

The CARE.-As n measure of ccono-
my, President Grant recommends an
increase of salary to all officials. This
no thinks would make them less venal
But il is not now observed that they
decrease in vanity, in proportion TO
the amount of their salaries,
Year: 1871

A thirty-inch track is to be laid from Allen
town, Pa, to Harrisburg, by way of Reading
and Lebanon, which will test the value of the
narrow gauge roads, which have attracted so
much of the attention of railroad men for
some time past. IF this and other expert
ments, now in contemplation, shall prove sue
cessful, new impetus will be given to railroad
enterprises. The small cost of construction
and equipment of these roads will cause them
to be introduced in many localities which will
not afford the expense of building and working
a road of ordinary SIZE
Year: 1871

Ten thousand dollars have been appropriated
to defray the expenses of the select Commit
tee to investigate alleged Southern outrages ;"
This is the way Sadicals use the funds of the
Government il efforts to perpetuate their own
power
Year: 1871

The assumption of payment of the public


debt is so intimately connected with the ma
terial interests Of the State, that there can be
no hope for general advance towards prosper
ity until the ques ion has been definitely set


tied, by her expressed determination to meet


her obligations to the last doilar.-Rich. En-
Year: 1871

The Legislative Troubles in Arkansas seem
likely to end In a civil war in that State. The
Governor and Lieutenant Governor are at dag
gers points, and the two houses of the Legis-
lature are so equally divided that no positive
measures can be taken by either party legiti-
mately. Under this pressure it is probable the
Governor, whom we know from his past ac-
mination, will declare martial law and have the
scenes of 1867 repeated, when negro militia
! swept the State and kept rebellious democrats
under subjection.-M r Herald.
Year: 1871

that the folks broke into the room to
see what was the matter, and there
they was with their faces and hands
all as black as the inside of a forty
year old stove pipe. I'd a given half
my interest in t'other world just to
have been in some safe place where 1
could have seen the whole row. AS
soon as they found out they was really
the same folks that were married the
night before, they called for water
and soap, but just here the doctor
happened to think about the pitcher,
and took it to the door to see what
was the matter. There was a little
piece of caustic that was not dissolved,
and as soon as he saw it he says:


It's no use washing. All the soap
in New York can't wash that black Off


That was the truth, Squire; soap
and rags had no more effect than they
would on native born African, and
all the chance was to wait and let it
wear off: How long it took them to
get white again I never found out
but one thing do know he conclud-
ed, getting up to go out, the next
time 1 saw the doctor l had the hard
est fight, and come the nearest getting
whaled that ever did in all my born
daysp
Year: 1871

Shortly after dinner yesterday, q
messenger from Springwells arrived in
! the city with the information that a
person, supposed to be Colonel Henry
Barnes, long a citizen of Detroit and
a resident of MAMA avenue, had been
found dead near the Fort, victim by
! his own hand The social standing of
the reputed victim caused the news to
spread over the city within an hour,
and there was feeling of sadness in
every circle when the evil tidings were
confirmed by another messenger.
Upon receiving the information j. A
Barns, brother of the deceased, pro-
ceeded at once to Springwells, and
arrived home with the body last eve
ming


The deceased left home at an early
hour yesterday morning, informing the
members of his family that he mig ght
be absent several days. and stated that
they need feel no alarm if not hearing
from him for some time. He took
passage on Fort street car, CONVEX
sing with several acquaintances down,
and arrived at the old Forsyth House
on Military avenue, in Springwells,
about ten o'clock. 1t is thought that
he purchased a revolver for the ex-
press occasion, the weapon being new.
Circumstances also went to show that
he laid down on the ground at full
length, and then placed the revolver
at his head and fired. The position
of the corpse did not indicate any
struggling, and it is probable that his
death ensued Immediately. Several
persons passed ear the body during
the next hour. but supposed that some
one had wandered to that place to sleep
off the effects of intoxication. Just
before noon a passer stopped, found
that it was case of suicide, and i'm
mediately informed the proper officers.
Justice Ludlow held an inquest Oh
the body, the jury returning YER
dict that the deceased came TO his
death by his own hand.


Colonel Barnes was fifty-six years
of age, and leaves wife and several
children. He had been for many
years prominent State politician,
and was a man of considerable infu
ence and ability. He was for several
years the chief editor and proprietor
of the Detroit Tribune, for a time
postmaster of Detroit, and since the
war served considerable time as Gov
ernment Pension agent. He gained his
military tame by his efforts to put ne
gro troops into the field, regiment of
whom he raised and commanded, and
he also held positions in Washington
in the service of the government, hav-
ing brother in the Land Office there.
AS an officer and citizen he gained
and kept large number of friends,
all of whom will lament his untimely
fate.


The immediate causes which led to.
the commission of the act are supposed
to have been the financial reverses
which have lately overtaken him. One
or two speculations proved unfortunate
and a short time ago partner in bus
iness-ran away with a large amount
of the firm money. leaving Mr.. Barns
with scarcely dollar. These rever-
ses cut deeply, and the man sought
relief and rest in suicidal DEATH
Detroit Free Press.
Year: 1871

Let the person whose name you wish
to know inform you in which Of the
upright columns the first letter of his
name is contained. If it be found in
but one column it is the top letter; if
it occurs in more than one column, it
is found by adding the alphabetical
numbers OF the top letters of the these
columns, and the sum will be the
number of the letter sought. By tax.
ing one letter at time in this way
the whole can be ascertained. For ex-
ample. take the word Jane, J is found
in the two columns commencing with
Band H, which are the I'd and Sth
letters down the alphabet; their sum
is ten, aud the tenth letter down the al.
phabet is j the letter sought. The
next letter A appears in but one, col
umn where it stands ON the top, N is
seen in the column headed B, D and
II !. these are the second, fourth and
eight letters of the alphabet, which
added give the 18th, or N, and so
ON. The use of this table will excite
no little curiosity among those unacf
quainted with the foregoing exPla-
nation.
Year: 1871

One day Sandy Higgins came into
my office and sat down without word.
For minutes he sat sill, watching me
intently. as if he was trying to make
out by the sound of my pen what ]
was writing.


Squire said he at length, dill /
ever tell you about my scrape with the
widow Horny, up here on the river! =
Never did, said 1, laying down my
pen, let's have it


They're curious creatures, widows
is said he, in meditatiye tone, tand
the more you study about 'em the
more you don't know anything about
'em. What was that thing I've read
in Egypt, or some other country, that
/. nobody could unriddle?'


The Sphynx, probably I replied.


'Well.'. he continued, that was a
widow, as sure as you ever had gran
ny. Everything else on the earth has
been found out but them, and they are
as much a mystery to-day as the
length of the North pole. You may
read the history of the world, from
Genesis to Revelation, and you'll fiud
that widows has been at the bottom or
top of FIVE quarters of all devilment
that's been cut up. Was you ever in
love with one?'


Lots OF them,' said I.


You're great gander-that's what
you are,' said he "A man that loves
one and gets over it won't never get
bit by another, if he's got as much
sense as ground hog. l don't con-
slider that I've got any sense at all,
but I'm little grain too smart to let
another of them get all the trumps on
me. This widow Horny that was
speaking of is little the handsomest
woman, reckon, that ever looked a
maa into fits, and 1 ought to be a
judge, for I've seen lots Of pretty wo-
men in my days. She was about
twenty five years old when I went up
there to work, jest in the bloom of her
beauty, and as full of deviltry as a
three year old mule colt. There was
ball over at Jenkins, and of course l
went, for j always go where there's
any fun going on and generally act the
fool before getting away, of course
The widow WAS there, dressed as fine
as Solomon's lilies, and flying around
as frisky as young lamb in a rye
patch. 1 got introduced to her and
asked her to dance with me. and when
she flashed her eyes at me and said
yes I jumped up lik had sat down
on no, griddle. You may talk about
sensationst but when she took my
hand and sorter squeezed it 1 felt a
sensation as big as a load of wood,
and it kept running up and down my
back like squirrel with a hawk after
him Pm very fond of dancing, but
Pll be hanged if 1 knew whether L
enjoyed it that night or not, for every
time she took hold cf my hand I'd
commence feeling curious behind my
ears and up and down my back again,
and then l wouldn't Ynow whether l
was on earth or in a balloon, or on a
comet, or anything about it. 1t vas
undoubtedly case of love at first
sight, and powerful bad case at that.
For wonder 1 got through the frolic
without making myself conspicuous or
cutting UP any extras, as am in the
habit Of doing when go into public.
I'd set nv pegs to go home with the
widow after the ball, but just as I
was fixing my mouth to ask her,
UP steps a big, long, leather faced
Doctor, named Mabry, and walked
her right of before my eyes. That
Year: 1871

An ice dealer in Evansville says d
colored man amused himself awhile -e.a
Saturday by swinging his corpus from
a hook suspended in the ice house for
the hoisting and lowering of ice. Sud
denly, by some mishap, he missed his
hold on the hook and fell into the deep
ice cellar, depth of from fifteen to
twenty feet, and ''lit' on his head and
shoulders. Of course those who saw
it expected to find him dead, but when
they looked in at the door he sat
scratching his head with foolish kind
of look on his face, first examining the
broken ice where he fell, and then
slowly measuring the distance with his
eye upward to where he fell from
When he saw Mr.. Wheeler he looked
very sorry and said, go de Lord
boss, Use sorry broke dat ice, I isy
sartin."
Year: 1871

Revelations being made in New Hamp-
shire, by the Democratic Legislature, show
that the Radicals in that State have kept
power for years by the most corrupt usages
Of the ballot-boxes and registry lists.


A local editor says his pants were made
so tight that he can't get his boots on, and
if he puts his boots on first he can't get his
pants on. He says it ''is case of genuine
distress" We should think sol
Year: 1871

Remember Louis Leon, Clothier has
just received large supply of Spring
and summer Goods at his new store
rooms in the McNulty Block. Go
and examine his new goods. and order
suit at once.
Year: 1871

Camphor-water is said to cure the
gapes, spasms and other little all
ments in chickens. It is easily made
by taking piece of camphor the size
of a filbert, and pour upon it about a
gallon of water. When cold it is fit
to give to the birds. 1t will keep any
length of time.
Year: 1871

How TO {" LAY Our " A TowN.-IIorace Greeley
presents the following as a sure means of de-
stroying the prosperity of the most promising
town. There can be no doubt of its efficacy:


If you wish to keep town from thriving don't
put up any more buildings than you can conve-
niently occupy yourself. If you should acci-
dentally have an empty dwelling, and any one
should want TO rent it, ask three times the act
ual value of it, Demand Shylock price for
every foot of ground God has given you stew
ardship over. Turn Il cold shoulder to every
mechanic or business seeking a home
among you. Look at every new conner with q
scowl. Run down the work of every new work
man. Go away for wares rather than deal with
those that seek to do business in your midst
Fail to advertise, or in any other way to support
your paper, so the people abroad may not know
whether any business is going on in your town
or not Wrap yourselves up within yourselves,
and cover yourselves with coat of impervious
selfshness. There is no more effectual way to
retard the growth of town than the action like
those enumerated, and tljere are people in every
town who are pursuing the above course every
day of their lives, and to whom the above re-
marks are most respectfully offered for their
careful attention.
Year: 1871

| PRoDuoTIvENEss OF ALFALFA.-Some years ago
number of men were conversng in Bakersfield,
in Kern county, about feed for stock and the
possibility of its running short. " Well," said
one of them, "my horse is all right, anyhow,
for have half an acre of ground sown in alfalfa
grass for him." At which his hearers laughed


ncreduously. The idea of talking about half
an acre of pasturage in domain where the pas
ture is measured by the thousand acres seemed
in the highest degree absurd. The speaker let
them enjoy their laugh, and when they had done
he Immediately adopted the California plan of
eulisting respect-oGering to bet. He offered to
bet his horse against any horse owned by the
company that if one of the animals were put in
the half acre of ALFALFA and pcketed with thr-
ty foot rope, it could not eat the grass off this
small circle quickly as it would grow. This
silenced his hearers.


One farmer, J. r. Reeder living within half a
mile of the town of Bakersfield, has thirty-fve
acres of land sown with alfalfa. He keeps three
men and mower employed in the field contiuu-
ally, and they have never yet succeeded in get
ting ahead of the growth of the grass.


1t positively seems to leap up. tits among the
most nourishing feed on which beef and dairy
cattle can he fed. Reeder sells all he raises at
SIT so to $50 per ton on his farm and draws
from each acre of the thirty-fve about 500 per
year, of which at least one-half is net profit
The total crop this year will be two hundred
tons. There is plenty Of just as good land in
Kern county, owned by the Government and
open to pre-emption and settlement, suitable for
grain, corn, alfalfa, or fruit and when the South
ern Pacific railroad is built, it soon is to be
through that section, the land will be worth a
high price, and its products will pay much bet
ter than they do now. Instead of selling this
grass, it will then pay much better to raise cat
tie upon it, either for butter and cheese beef
making purposes. The cars will then carry Ell
ther of the three to a large and unfailing market
With these facts before them, those who have
said that they were too poor to own land, will
have to admit either that they were mistaken,
or that they too lazy to become farmers on
their own account.-San Francisco Bulletin.
Year: 1871

LETTERS OF REcoMMENDATIoN A gentleman
advertised for boy to assist him in his Office
and nearly fifty applicants presented themselves
to him. Out of the whole number he in short
time selected one and dismissed the rest.


"I should like to know" said a friend, ION
what ground you selected that boy, who has not
n single recommendation.


"You are mistaken" said the gentleman
"he had good many. He wiped his feet when
he came in and closed the door after him, show
ing that he was careful He gave up his seat
instantly to that old man, showing that he was
kind and thoughtful. lie took off his cap when
he came in, and answered my questions promptly
and respectfully, showing that he was polite and
gentlemanly. lie picked up the book which
had purposely laid upon the floor, and replaced
it on the table, while all the rest stepped over it
or shove it aside and he waited quietly for his
turn instead of pushing and crowdng, showing
that he was honest and orderly. When talked
with him, | noticed that his clothes were care
fully brushed, his hair in nice order and his
teeth as white as milk and when he wrote his
name, noticed that his finger nails were clean,
instead of being tipped with jet, like that hand
some little fellows in the blue jacket. Don't
you call these things letters of recommendation?
do and would give more tor what can tell
about a boy by using my eyes ten minutes than
by all the fine letters he can bring"
Year: 1871

WHEN Brigham Young received the ter boxes
containing the imported silk dresses and cash
mere shawls for his thirty wives, he said to
friend: "Ah, if you knew the cost of those
goods you would not believe for a moment that
practice polygamy as an earthly pleasure. No,
sir | it is with me a stern duty"
Year: 1871

A WESTERN editor offered his weekly paper
for one year, as prize for the largest watermel-
on. The critical cuss made no award until he
had received three hundred melons of the largest
size.
Year: 1871

POINTED Wrr.-On the morning after the late
election, in Chico, some of the Democrats wore
terrible long faces as the result came flashing
over the wires. A Democrat who lives a few
miles from town, and who, by the way, was one
of those earnest Democrats who was not afraid
to smell powder in defense of the South during
the rebellion, came into town, and was told of
the bad news to the party. He Immediately re-
piled That is nothing, rose every morning
for four years during the war and heard worse
news than that" Another remarked to him
that he was disgusted with the result and de-
sired to sell out and emigrate. "Where would
you go to 2' was the sharp query. "To h"
answered the sorrowful one. "Well," replied
our Democratic friend, "that is about the only
place where you will find Democratic majority" ."
Chico ReDiep,
Year: 1871

ADRoITLY HT.-A correspondent to the Her.
aid and PreSbyter, writing from Minnesota, tells
the following: | picked up little story +"
which think too good reproof for disturbers
of the peace in churches to be lost. presid-
ing elder of the United Brethren Church was
preaching in that neighborhood, and was much
annoyed by persons talking and laughing. He
paused looked at the dsturbers, and said al
am always afraid to reprove those who msbe-
have in church. In the early part of my ministry
made great mistake. AS was preaching, a
young man who sat just in front of me was con-
stantly laughing, talking and making uncouth
grmaces. paused and administered a severe
rebuke. After the close of the service one of
the official members came and said to me- Broth
er -, you made great mistake. That young
man whom you reproved is an IDIOT Since
then l have always been afraid to reprove
those who msbehave in church lest repeat that
mistake, and reprove another IDIOT" During
the rest of that service at least there was good
order.
Year: 1871

The Water Valley Yallonian of the 25th
ult. tells the following:


As the mail train on the Mississippi Cen
trail was coming South on Wednesday of
this week, Mr.. Boyd, conductor, an old
gentleman from this State was on the train
who had been "up country" for hands, and
was bringing down a number This unsus-
pecting old man fell in with a nicely dressed
gentleman who wished to borrow from him
some money, Offering as security check on
some man in Chicago. The old man loaned
his nice companion $3.50, taking as collateral
a check on some man in Chicago for $500.
At Grand Junction the confidence man
stepped off the Central train, and as the
Memphis train was moving of stepped
aboard of that and disappeared, leaving the
unsuspecting old gentleman in profound
wo1dezuent whether his check was worth
Year: 1871

anything or not When the old gentleman
had found out from our obliging conductor,
Mr.. Boyd, that he was perhaps the victim
of a confidence game, his eyes began to
open, and his bewailings were us ludicrous
as they were unavailing.
Year: 1871

Two months had elapsed since their
wedding night, and Mr and Mrs Clifford
had returned to find their house neatly
furnished with all the Improvements of
the day


II was cloudy evening in June, and
the black clouds came rolling across the
heavens, plainly foretelling one of those
terrific thunder storms so common in the
West, and looking as if they would burst
upon the earth every moment The young
couple were seated on the front verandah.
watching the many passers as they hur-
ried by to escape the fury of the storm
then brewing. Soon the thunder began
10 rumble above them, while the streaks
of lightning seemed to cut the sky into
thousands Of pieces. Meanwhile they
had removed from the verandah, through
the long folding windows, TO the pleasant
sitting-room, where they passed their
time in reading till the little clock on the
mantle struck ten. Then, after asking a
Divine blessing, they retired The lights
had hardly been extinguished an hour
when a dark form was seen to enter the
yard, and gliding noiselessly to the ve-
randall, climbed upon it. Then going to
the window (Which they, in their hurry,
had neglected to lock- he found an easy
entrance to the happy home. Pushing
open the window, he found his way
through the front and sitting rooms, till
he came to the door of their apartment.
Then he paused, and after drawing dag
ger from his belt he proceeded; his eyes,
fairly shooting from their sockets with
excitement, were cast upon the two un-
conscious sleepers. The lightning fash
ed more fiercely than before, and threw
its light into the small room through the
open window upon the young couple and
their masked enemy. Softly he approach
ed the bedside, and looking down upon
the faces of the sleepers he muttered a
low sound of satisfaction.