smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

"In rummaging for keys and purse,
he had struck the sleeping squirrel. Of
whose strange habits with regard to
his bedroom he had not been aware.


mot liking to be thus suddenly dis
turbed, the little animal gave the thief
so sharp bite on his thumb that he
could not forbear yelling with pain,
and the master of the house, alarmed
at the unusual sound, came into the
room armed with the poker, just as the
thief was escaping through the VIM
dow


"The Waterman happening to be
passing, the unwelcOme guest was
given into custody; and as the geese at
Rome had saved the capital by their
cackling, so the little squirrel had
saved his masters property by lodging
in his coat-pocket. '-Youth's Com
31U3ljOll
Year: 1876

by reason of inherited infrmities and
ignorant living, are as good as dead
before reaching middle age. Those
whose ancestors have lived gOOdly
life, caring for their bodies as we'll as
their souls, do not reach middle-age
till they have completed their forty
nine years. Seven times seven is the
period for graduating for life work.
But how is it with this generation and
age? Our children are brought up in
violation of the rules of health. and
many who survive might us well have
persisted with the millions who die in
infancy. for they possess neither
strength of body nor of mind.


We seem to have lost the power of
prOlonging life. In this climate, we
are housed for six long months Of the
year, with doors, windows, and even
the chimney-placesc carefully closed up,
that the offensive smells and poison
Gus gases from the cellars, sewers and
water-closets may etfectually whiten
our cheeks and corrupt our blood. 1t
is well known that when the surface
of the earth is frozen over, there is Il
current Of unhealthy gas all the time
entering the warm easements of our
dwellings and lodging permanently
with us in every room to enfeeble and
destroy life. Enter the sleeping
apartments of the majority of houses,
when the sleeperS are leaving their
beds in the morning, and if your nose
is fit for its work, it will tell lament
able story of impaired mental and
physical powers and ineXcusable lg-
nOrance. By-and-bye the architect Of
the future may bring us relief, but in
the meantime it behoOYeS us all to
summon to our help the aid of COM
mon sense, for where there is a will
there is way, in this matter as i'll
most all others. We can do no more
this morning than point the attenOlon
of our readers to some Suggestions
bearing on this exceedingly important
subject.


When we lay in our winter supply of
coal, we first dampen it that it may the
more effectually emit deleteriOus gases
which, all winter, permeate the whole
house. Into our cellars, also, we put
potatoes, cabbages and other decaying
vegetable matter for nosegayS.
Whence come consumption and all kin
dred diseases? We answer, from our
cellars in very many cases. Reader, II
YOU wish to save the life of your wife
and rear your children in vigor, know
the value of pure air, and attend well
to the subtle enemies which attack us
from cellars and sewers.


There are seven means of keeping
cellars sweet. /. Buy vegetables and
other perishable commodities daily in
cities; and in the country, store them
in root house at some distance. ?.
Have the cellar windows open night
and day, except in the coolest weather
3. Have your furnace for heating the
house in the cellar, drawing in the
air from it all winter, and sending 1t
up the chimney. 4. Have every part
scrupulously cleansed and swept fire.
uuently. 5. Whitewash it all over
three or four times year. 6. Put in
coal perfectly dry. 7. Keep no live
stock of any kind in it.-N. Y. W.T.
| ness
Year: 1876

The Iron and Steel association
Bulletin has taken pains to inquire
carefully into the reduction in the cost
of pig iron caused by the break in the
coal combination, and learns that in
the Lehigh district it will not average
fifty cents to the ton and in the Schuyl-
kill district it will not average dollar
n ton,
Year: 1876

SOME mothers try to reach the soft
side of their boys nature with kind
word; some with harsh word; and
some with an old slipper. Some moth
ers try it in this manner: "Now you
great. big lubber, get right out of here
and stop that outlandish noise, will
youl Don't you know better tnan to
whistle in the house? You are al
ways in the road. Go way, and don't
let me see you again to-day" Now
Jim, John or Pete-whatever his name
may be-will withdraw, and bOy-like
will say nothing; but boy-like again,
will keep up big thinking. If we
could reach his thoughts it is more
than likely they would run in this
channel: "Now why can't mother
give fellow a kind word once in a
while! [ know amt the worst boy
in the world, but she appears to think
SO. If l am always in her way why
does she always call for me when she


WdiltS d pan VI Wdtel VI dill dlHIul VI
wood? Why amt in her road then !?
1t must be disgrace to be boy, for
she and sisters are always snubbing
me because am a boy. wish l was
away from home, then / could have a
few minutes peace. If he goes down
town with view of finding a place
where he is not in the road, it is very
likely that he will not find the purest
and best company in the world. The
boys with whom he will have to asso-
ciate have been through the same mill
! that he has, and being deprived of the
Year: 1876

home influence which they should
have, they are not exactly model boys.
They will swear, smoke, chew and
play cards; and if j., the subject of
our sketch, falls into the same ways,
who is to blame? Mothers and sisters,
for heavens sake, make your home at
tractive for your boys. Don't find
fault with them every time they stir,
because boys are by nature noisy set.
Who would have them otherwise?
Treat your boys well and give them
good advice in small pieces; don't
feed them too much at once, or it will
act in the wrong direction. Give them
kind words, and you will never pass
any sleepless nights ON their account.
A boy who has the right kind of a
home will necer turn out b0d.-Rurdl
Near Yorker.
Year: 1876

In these days of great pedestrian
feats it is worth while to record the
doings of an old Yorkshireman who
has just died at the ripe age of eighty
four wears at Masham, in Yorkshire.
James Heap was a schoolmaster, and
carried on his calling in wild and
bleak part of the county, walking
every day a distance of eight miles.
He lived at a cotton mill just below
the village of Uealey, which is the
western part of that portion of York
shire called Mashamshire. His school
house was four miles distant at Col
tersdale, which is still further west,
and among the bleak moors and wild
hills leading away to Westmorland.


A storm of wind and rain is no
tri6ing matter in these parts, and dur
ing a snow-storm the snow very often
drifts so thickly as to make the roads
almost impossible, but no condition OF
the weather or the atmosphere could
shake James Heaps steadfast purpose,
and he never had any ailment or accl-
dent which kept him from going his
dailv round to the school and home
again. Many time had he to wade
through snowdrifts to find that
his pupils were not able to reach
the school, and he was con-
stantly subjected to drenchlng
rain in the winter months. Yet from
December, 1922, to January, 1867, he
never missed a single day, and during
.292 consecutive weeks he walked
more than 10000 miles, or nearly
five times round the world. Nor was
he altogether idle on Sundays, for
during forty-two years OF this period
he shared with others the teaching OF
a Sundav-school at a place called Sum-
merside, about the same distance from
his home, and in an equally dreary and
wild district on the moors with Colt
ersdale; seventeen Sundays in each
year during these forty-two years did
he walk eight miles to teach, Whlch
adds an aggregate of SIP miles to the
former sum, so that taking Sundays
and week days into the reckoning, he
would, if he had continued his work
for rather more than another year,
have covered distance equal to half
the space between the earth and the
moon.


The old man, until quite lately, en-
ioyed good health, and the schoolmas-
ters' Association had only lately writ
ten to tell him that an annuity which
he had been in receipt of for some
time would, after the 1st of Novem-
ber, be still further increased.-Lon-
don Globe.
Year: 1876

WE cannot show grand array
OF toothsome things Thanksgiving Day
The day so very near;
Our little pantry will not boast
Delicious viands by the host


To every palate dear.
Meath weight of all the good things known
Our little table will not groan.


No, not the very least;
Our little home will not be best
With many welcome joyous guest
To help us at the feast.
Yet, notwithstanding what we lack,
Well not regretfully look back


And sigh for better days,
But we will fill in every part
The spacious store-rooms Of our heart
With gratitude and praise.
Well count our present blessings o eE,
And We shall find they number more
Than all our trials do;
Our happy, thankful thoughts shall be
Delightful guests-right royalty
They will reward US, too.
To seats we once did occupy
we II NOT lDOk up WITH Wlsllul eye
And covetous unrest,
But, bending lower down our gaze
To poorer homes, to saddor ways,
Thank God we are SO blest.
Thank God that though our home is small
1t still contains the dear ones all,
Rich in affections wealth;
Thank God we have enough to eat,
Thank God for clothing warm and neat,
Thank God ior perfect health;
Thank God we feel the fires warm glow,
While many cold and freless 90
In many cheerless home.
Oh, yes, most gratefully we'll lift
Our souls to God for every gift,
And trust for all to come.
Thus round our frugal little board,
With cheerful hearts wen praise the Lord
And keep the jubilee;
Nor shall there anywhere be found
Within this Nations utmost bound
A happier family.


". Y. GraDRic.
Year: 1876

The combustion of iron in air is
chemical phenomenon now made COM
paratively easy to the eXperimenter.
The most practical method is to take
straight bar magnet of some power,
and sprinkle iron filings on one Of its
poles. These filings arrange them
selves in accordance with the lines Of
magnetic force, and. however closely
they may appear to be placed, of course
no two of the metallic tilaments are
parallel, and consequently certain
portion of air is enclosed as in metal
lie sponge. The fame of any ordinary
spirit lamp or gas-burner readily ig-
mites the finely-divided iron, and 1t
continues to burn most brilliantly for
considerable length of time, the COM
bustion being, apparently, as natural
and easy as that of any ordinary sub
stance, and the light normal, though
vivid ~. Y. SatR
Year: 1876

PRINTERS ink is recommended as
cure for driving bands that slip OFF
their pulleys. Lay little ink on the
under surface of the strap as it is run
ming; the ink is soon carried over the
whole surface, and cling is got which
will last for six or eight weeks.
Year: 1876

! Editors Dispatch: venture to say for a
majority Of the members of the City Com.
mittee that they prefer primary election to
ward meetings for the election of their sue
cessors. The only question is one of money.
A primary election properly conducted will
cost say $3.50. So far from having that amount
at their command, the committee find them
selves somewhat Ia debt, notwithstanding
the active eXertions Of their treasurer and
their collecting committee and the practice
of the most rigid economy during the last
campaign. To collect $3.50 in the ordinary
way at least three hundred people would
have to be called upon at considerable sacri-
flee of time and feelings Of eollecting com.
N tee. If there is on the part OF the public
any sincere desire to have primary election,
as suggested in your editorial of to-day, let
some one or two dozen men of means meet
Mr.. Pulliam, the treasurer Of the committee,
and guarantee that The expenses of the pri-
mary election shall be provided for. In that
event, | am sure the City Committe will
promptly give their time to making all the
necessary arrangements. More than that
think they ought not 10 be aske d TO do. Near
ly every member has during the past twelve
months given to the party service both money
and time. It is their desire TO leave to their
successors no legacy OF debt They know
that it Is as much ss they can do to pay Oh
what they now owe. To contract new debt
not knowing how or when 1t can be Fald
would lie upjustifable.


MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEES.
Year: 1876

Somebody dropped some quicksilver
on the sidewalk in Montana, and an In
dian tried to pick it up. First he made
q grab at it with his thumb and forefn-
ger, and was astonished when he found
he couldn't pick it up. He was deter
mined to have that quicksilver anyhow;
so he unwound handkerchief from his
hat, and spreading it on the ground got
a chip and scraped the quicksilver into
it. A look of triumph shot from his
eagle eye as he gathered up the four cor
ners of the handkerchief, but it was re-
placed by one of horror and disgust
when the metal run through the fabric
like water through sieve. Looking at
the metal as it lay on the ground in a
puzzled sort OF way for a moment, he
launched vicious kick at it, and utter
ing an angry ejaculation, he turned on
his heel and left the quicksilver for some
other untutored son of the forest to e1-
pertinent on.
Year: 1876

Oh, the beautiful home Of the sunset,


Hung out on the western sky,
Where the days lay down their brightness,


And bathing in splendor, die!
Swekt friends in the home of our childhood,
The gentle and loving ones, stand
Gazing out as We enter life's wildwood


In search of the sunset land.
Full soon do the meadows grow broader,


And rougher the path where We stray,
Less frequent the cool, gushing fountains,
And the sunset seems further away.
Aud the friends who have journeyed with Us,
We lay with the moldering dead;
They have reached the bright sunset before US,
And lonely the pathway We tread.
But the foods Of molten glory


Which Beam from the sunset land
Fill our hearts with restless longing


On those beautiful shores to stand
Our locks, once sunny and golden,


Are white as the drifting snow;
Our eyes have grown dim with their gazing,
And our footsteps are feeble and slow.
As We near the eternal splendor


We pause at a swelling stream;
We must cross it ere reaching the hilltops
Which glow in the sunsets beam.
So, closing our eyes for moment


In the suns last dazzling ray,
We awake where glory dwelleth,


In land of perpetual day.
Year: 1876

Capt. Webb, the great swimmer,
writes, in CasseUs Family Magazine
1t is the duty of every parent to insist
on his sons learning to swim. 10 teach
very young child to swim, the best
place is large puddle in the sand at
low tide. The child, like puppy, will
begin by padding. If you throw cork
into the water, you will see the puppy
run in up to its depth and give short
bark; and the chances are, especially If
there is a grown up dog that can swim
to set him an example, that in day or
two he will take his plunge of his own
accord, and very proud he will be OF his
first success; only here again, don't
overdo it. As soon as the puppy has
been in, walk away, and call him, and he
will be more anxious to 60 into the water
another time. Now, treat your child
like your puppy. Entice him to go in,
and if you can get some older child who
can swim to go in with him all the bet
ter, but let the child do just as he likes.
Get two children to play at splashing
one another; they will enjoy the fun, and,
gradually getting excited, will venturein
deeper and deeper.
Year: 1876

Two women in Des Moines, Iowa,
gave birth to children in the same room
and at the same time. The woman who
cared for the little strangers, bathed
and clothed them, and started to present
them to their waiting mammas. Then
she made the startling discovery that
she had inextricably mixed the infants
so that she was unable to decide which
was the mother of either. The two
mothers cast lots for choice, agreeing
that if the children should, when grown,
develop family traits sufficiently to
identify them they should be exchanged
if the selection should prove to be In
correct.
Year: 1876

There lately passed away, at the clos
of long and well-spent life, one OF our
wealthiest merchants-a man honored
and respected by all who knew him, and
noted not more for his worldly wealth
and honor than for his deeds OF true
Christian benevolence. We once heard
that man tell how he commenced his
business career.


At the age of sixteen, having master
ed good common school education, he
went to the city in search of employ
ment. His ambition was in the direc-
tion of mercantile pursuits. Entering a
large store, to which he had been rec
commended as conducted by excellent
men, he asked if they wished to hire a
clerk. The answer was in the negative,
and emphatic.


The youth reflected that if they did
not want a clerk, they might be willing
to hire laborer; but his garb-he had
on his very best-was hardly in keeping
with the requirements of such posi-
tion; so he returned to his lodgings, and
donned garb that had seen service on
the old farm, and on the following day
he applied again at the same store, and
asked if they wanted to hire porter.


No-they wanted nothing of the kind.


"Then," cried the young man, earn
estly, "will you not hire me as COM
mon laborer9"


CA laborer! Are you not the same
young gentleman who applied yesterday
for a clerkship 2"


eyes, sir" replied the applicant,
frankly. "I wish to learn your busi-
ness, and I am willing to begin any
where. I care not how humble, or even
servile, the place may be, SO that it be
honorable, and in it I can make myself
useful"


One of the partners, overhearing these
last words, examined the youth more
particularly, and finally hired him as
Iaborer in the packing and shipping de-
partment, down in the basement, where
he went to work with will. Ere long
he attracted the attention of the ship
ping clerk, and then of the head book
keeper. It was found that in various
ways he saved more by his method
saved more to his employers-than his
wages amounted to. There was no
petty thefts committed under his eye,
nor was there any waste. If he was
wanted to work till midnight, he made
no complaint if he was wanted to come
to his work before daylight in the morn
ing, he came brightly and cheerfully.


In short, the young man labored to
make himself not only useful, but in
dispensable, to his employers, and he
succeeded. He was promoted from
post to post, thoroughly mastering
everything in the way of business that
came under his observation, until at
length he was admitted partner in the
concern, and became, finally, the head
of the house.


"And," he added, as he concluded
his narrative of experience, "though
the beginning was somewhat rough and
hard, am satisfied that mymarked sue
cess has been in great measure owing
to my having made myself thoroughly
acquainted with even the most trivial
and servile parts of the business"
Year: 1876

The Alaska Indians believe in evil


spirits who live in the water, and send
sickness and disease among the people
q belief to which the occasional disasters
caused by mussel or fish poisoning have
doubtless given rise. They hold COM
munication with these spirits through
their sorcerers, but do not worship them
in any way or try to propitiate them with
offerings. When Kolosh dies his body
is burned, and rude monument placed
where the ashes are buried. They be-


lieve that the spirit lives forever, but
have no idea of any reward for virtue or
punishment for vice. According to their
belief, strict distinction of rank is pre-
served in the other world, all the chiefs
being in one place, the common people
in another, and the slaves in corner by
themselves. Only when slaves are killed
at the funeral of their chiefs their souls
remain in eternal attendance on their
master. This cruel custom was said to
be abolished under the Russian rule, but
it always has existed and is kept up to
the present day, though the ceremonies
are performed out of the reach OF the
authorities. Several cases of this kind
have occurred since the transfer of the
territory, in spite of the vigilance Of the
authorities. When a child is born it is
carried and nursed by the mother until
it is able to crawl and MUNICH away on
dried salmon; then the scantY clothing
of fur with which it was covered at first
is removed, and to strengthen its consti-
tuition, the chill is immersed In the river
or sea every morning; but as their own
parents would be likely to yield to the
piteols cries of the little martyrs to dis
cipline, this duty is generally intrusted
to an uncle or some other relative, who
stops all weeping and screaming with q
liberal application of the switch. The
children implicitly obey their parents at
all ages, and great care is bestowed upon
the old and disabled. Orphans are al
ways provided for by the community,
and fare as we'll as ally of the other chill
dren. When a young man wishes to
marry, he first asks the consent of his
parents, and when that is obtained he
goes to the village where his intended
lives, and sends proposal through some
"mutual friend" and if the answer Is
favorable he repairs to the house at once
with some presents for the parents and
relatives of the girl, and then takes i'm
mediate possession of his new chattel
without any further ceremonies. Ashort
time after this the new Benedick pays
visit to his wife's relations in company
with her, and if she has nothing to COM
plain of then, presents must be made to
him and his bride, exceeding in value
those he made at first. The Koloski
only regard relationship on the mothers
side, and the succession and inheritance
are confined to the female line. Poly
gamy is the general custom, and exists
even among the Christian Kenaitze,
where it is tolerated by the native and
half-breed priests in the families OF
chiefs. The wives often quarrel, and
stabs with knives and daggers are not OF
very rare occurrence.
Year: 1876

There are not few who complain that
the levy of $4,000 asked by the highway
commissioners for road and bridge purposes
is excessive, and many seem to imagine
that the amount required, ought not to
exceed half that amount. 1t does not
actually realize to the township but 81
500; unless, the assessment this year is
considerably higher than it was last year


For the information of those who do not
understand this, few points may no
Year: 1876

Recent Republican victories in In
diana indicate that the State has
grown tired of Democratic rule, and
that brighter day is beginning TO
dawn for the people of the Hoosier.
With a Republican candidate for
President lin whom there is no
guile"-such an one as will be nomi-
neutrality-suspicious. will carry the
State in November by handsome
majority.
Year: 1876

SMALL QUANITY.-Oue teaspoonful Of
that world renowned remedy, Goes Dys-
pepsia Cure, taken after meals, will enable
the most confirmed dyspeptic to eat any
thing he chooses without any distressing
effects. 1t is blessing to all who are
troubled with diseases pertaining to the
stomach and bowels.
Year: 1876

Nature in her own gradual process of
cure, where she heals without the aid of
medicine, does not put US on the rack.
There never was falser theory than that an
external remedy,to be effective, must burn
AID irritate the exterior surface. Burd-
sail arnica liniment, though penetrating,
mild, emolient and soothing.