smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

rows Of stiff Lombardy populars that
led up to the parsonage, the old min
lister under the grotesque sounding
board; the solemn, pompous deacons,
under the high, narrow pulpit, dea-
coming off the first lines Of the hymns
to the singers; the veteran chorister
with his pitch-pipe and loud announce
ment of the tunes; the long prayers (;
the long sermons; the short recess at
noon; the gossiping women around
the doors; the toddy drinking men in
and arouud the old tavern, with its
large gallows looking sign all these,
after the novelty Of the first impress
ion was over, gave me neither pleasure
nor profit.


| always had to walk fast to keep
up with my father, and so would get
quite warm by the time Of arrival !!
and when the winters came | had to
go Immediately into that cold church
where there was no fire, and not even
plastering on the walls, and sit on
straight, high-backed seats, shaking
with cold through those long meta
physical theological discourses drawn
out to ''tenthly," "lastly," "fnaly," "to
conclude" and the Improvement" "
while the only word could appreciate
or rely upon, so that it might do me
any good, was the final Amen.


There was the same weary round to
go through again, after an hour, in
the afternoon. 1t makes me shiver
even now, after all these years just to
think Of that experience, What an
affective means Of moral and religious
education those old Sabbath services
must have been to us boys = only |
did not then see it in that light.


Oh, those "good old times" when
we had to carry our shoes to meeting
in our hands till we got near the
church, and then repeat the process
soon after we left it to go home; when
the only difference between our win.
ter and sumer clothing was the one
small thread of wooden on the cotton
warp called satinet when people
were living in the direst poverty and
shocking intemperance ragged, bare
footed. In mean, unpainted, unfurn.
ished houses, the broken windows of
which were stuffed with old hats and
rags; when there were but two car
pets in our whole town, and a real
scarcity OF the necessarles OF life. vi
the moral and social condition of this
particular neighborhood, | will here
say nothing because I suppose my
readers can easily infer from any part
of life such as that, what the whole
must have been-must see that it was
necessarily all on the same low plane
Year: 1873

When a man thinks that nobody
cares for him, and that he is alone in
a cold and selfish world, he would do
well to ask himself what he has done
to make anybody care for and love
him, and to warm the world with faih
and generosity. Generally those who
complain the most have done the
least.
Year: 1873

Reflect that q sound mind and body arc tho
most necessary requisites to promote connubial
happiness. Indeed, without these the journey
through life becomes 3 weary pilgrimage, the
prospect hourly dsrkens to tho view. the mind
becomes shadowed with despair, and hlled With
the MELANCHOLY reflection that the happiness of
another is blighted with our own.


n1urAc OF IMPRIIDENGE
Year: 1873

In the mountains OF the ryrol it Is
the custom OF the women and children
to come. out when it is bedtime to sing
their national songs until they hear
their husbands. fathers and brotheis
answer them from the hills on their re-
turn home. On the shores OF the Auri-
attic such q custom prevails. There the
wives of the fishermen come down
about sunset and sing 4 melody. After
singing the first stanza they listen
for awhile for the answering strain
from of tho water, and continue to
sing aud listen until the well known
voices cone borne over the tide. tell
Ing that the loved ones are almost
home. How sweet to the weary fisli-
efnen, as the shadows gather round
item, must be the songs Of the loved
ones at home, who sing to cheer them;
and how they strengthen and tighten
the bonds that bind together these
humble dwellers by the sea! Truly 1t
is among the lowly in this world that
W.T. find the most beautiful customs.
Year: 1873

tSs ....'' :


THAT night was the pivot on
which my whole destiny turned.
You were kind to me when every
one smoke coldlv; you trnsted me
when all other faces were averted
T vowed a VOW to prove myself
worthy of yonr confidence and |
kept it. I did not spend the mon
ev-I treasured it np-and heaven
has added nightly to my little
store. I put the dollar bill under
the cornerstone of my new house.
has risen from it, and it alone. I
won't offer to paw Won back, for I
am afraid" he added, smiling, sthe
luck would 90 from me with it.;
hut Til tel you what I will do,
Mary; I will give money and
words of trust and encouragement
to some other poor wretch as you
gave me-"


And Squire Partlet never knew
what his wife did with the dollar
hill he gave her to buy q new piece
of oil cloth. .
Year: 1873

A young officer, serving with his
company at the lava beds, is said to
have received O letter from his
lady love, containing the following
passage: eff anything should hap
pen to you, do make some arrange
ment to have your hair recovered
and sent on. It is the exact color
of mine, and I can't get puff of
the right shade her."
Year: 1873

A small place in the interior countries
of the State of New York has among its
local annals a sad story of insanity. A
young lady of eighteen years had fallen
desperately in love with ayoung man Of
the place, but her parents, particularly
her father, opposed the match The
reasons are supposed to lave been good
ones. but certain it is they assumed a
fearful responsibility, and brought upon
themselves dire atfiiction.


The young lady was forbidden to see
her lover, and he was told not to visit
her house but they managed, as is Of
ten the case, clandestine meeting, aud
interchanged assurances of their undy-
ing affections for each other. Busy
village gossip soon informed the father
of the condition of affairs. Though nat
urally kind father, he was greatly irri-
tated and Immediately adopted stringent
measures to separate the lovera
Year: 1873

The crucihed hung on the accursed tree,
His accents Of mercy fell soft on thine ear.
Is there no mercy for me; Will He heed my


prayer'


O God in The stream that lor sinners old dow
Wash me, and shall be uh:ter than snow.
Year: 1873

There will be no delay in organizing
both houses Of Congress to-day at noon
The Republicans have majority OF 1ot
members IN the House and they nomina
ted BLAINE for reelection as Speaker il
their caucus Saturday night and also SO
lected at the same time their other prin
cipal officers. We presume the Presi
dents messsgewill be cent in promptly
after the organization, and we therefore
expect to receive 1t by telegraph during
the afternoon and publish it in good shape
tomorrow morning. "a
Year: 1873

TO ihe bd1tor OF Jhe Trtouaes


SIR A recent letter from youn admirable
Boston correspondent refers 20 myself in connection
with article the time Of Hamlet by the late Geo.
b. Woods that places in a somewhat ialse position.
An essay Of mine Hamlet that appeared in The Atlantic
Monthly about two years ago called forth rejoinder
IN The Boston Advertiser, wherein my argument
that the action Of the tragedy did not cover moro than
ten days pronounced "strong steel-except one
link" the writer. Mr. Woods finding the flaw and prov
tng the action not days but between two and
three months The moment this acute criticism appeared
saw Mt Woods, thanked him for being quiokerwltted
than myself and only excused my own blindness on the
of that perennial hurry in which journalist plus
lecturer Ia doomed to live. At that time determined
the republication Of my essay to make the necessary
correction, giving due credit to Mr. Woods. and regret
that his editor did not allow mo an opportunity OF
settng myself right with the public well as OF laying
n flower upon the grave Of friend, the aertness OF
whose mind was only eaualed by the integrity OF his
character am proud to say it was The Atlantic essay
that inspired Mr. Woodss research and am glad to say
that IN this matter two heads we're better than one
The time of Hamlet is settled heneeforth and for ever
more Very truly yours NATE FIELD


No. % GrGmeroy-pdrk, Jan. G, 1873
Year: 1873

We build our puny works on beds OF sand;
Gliding the rou2hness with aim oil gold
Tho winds iooeed from the hollow Of His band
Sweep DER the ten pie, and the tale Is told;
We climb the rugged sleeps OF earthly fame,
Leaving sweet blossoms In the vale below,
AID learn too late that on the upper hight
10 the cod glitter Of eternal snow.
We watch and wait. we strive an! hope In vain.
For full fruition Of our happy dream;
The mirage springs afresh. still further on;
The golden spp.es are not what they seem.
We bear our Crosses with too loud complaint,
As II he could not hear who bore them nrst,
And with the paths wherein our footing tread.
With stubborn blinGness. OF We choose the


worst.


Yet. from His human heart he dropped the seed
That springs eternal In the deathless soul.
And the aim rcachings OF our feeble hands
Are blossoms of the fruit that waits the goal.
And In the tender. erriDg heart he made,


With all Its faults and burdens OF rcsrot,
The imprint OF q perfect life 10 traced.


The Kingly seal upon Its tablet set.
Year: 1873




Impatiencc IS being manifested in all
quarters at the delay in fixing the time and
place Of the next Democratic State Conven-
ton. What does it mean, is the question
asked by every democrat. Colonel Wink
Ter, the Chairman, neither acts nor gives
any explanation why he does not act. Every
days delay is now injurious to the demo
cratic party of Texas, which some pretended
democrats are evidently intriguing to break
up and destroy. We have too much con-
fdence in the Chairman of the State Com
mittee to believe, for moment, that he Is
playing into their hands, but such is really
the effect of delay. Unless Colonel Winkler
soon fixes the day and place, some united
action must be had on this subject VIII
he remain silent under all the pressure
brought upon himG
Year: 1873




The Galveston News publishes with ap-
probation the Allen county, Ohio, ResOlus
tions, which contemplate the formation of
new party, without any declared princi-
pies, on the general issue Of corruption in
the powers that be. The resolutions de-
nounce the squandering Of the public lands,
and the Credit Mobilier frauds, and the
salary bill, and the general corruption,
which both the present political parties, it
alleges, are unable to check, and call
meeting of the people of the State of Ohio,
without regard to past political associations,
at Columbus, on the thirtieth day of July
inst. The idea of party, with no avowed
political principles, and with only gen.
eral charge of corruption against those
holding Office, in order to get Office
themselves, without any guarantee
that they will do any better, is an
absurdity which needs only to be
understood to be condemned. No
party can or ought to succeed that has no
basis except mere profession of honesty,





In fact, this movement means a mere
scramble for Office, by combination of all
sorts of people, who have not got Office.
And the democratic party is to be given up
for this sOulless, senseless, mongrel concern,
made up of weakened, hungry democrats,
who cannot wait for the triumph of their
party on principle, and the odds and ends
and offshoots of radicalism, who have failed
to get Office, from the supply being greater
than the demand. This conglomeration,
without even name as yet, is to take the
place Of the great democratic party, with its
fixed and well known and well understood
principles, as lasting and undying as free
government ITSELF And this shameless
movement in Ohio to break up the old DEM
ocratic party, the News thinks its readers
in Texas viii generally indorse." Then we
trust its readers will be few, and grow
fewer every day.


We did not expose and denOunce the po-
litical course of the News a moment too
soon. We have now an open avowal, on
its part, against continuation of the dem
ocratic party. It goes for the new Ohio
movement, which it thinks will probably be
''the platform of anew State party in Ohio, +"
and it only regrets that the Allen County
Resolutions did not say something about
the arbitrary interference of the Govern
ment in Louisiana, and the growing tend
ency towards Capitalization, which, in fact,
as well as all political issues, are ignored
entirely by them. But no matter for that
any thing to break up the democratic party
seems to be the idea and object of the
News. First we had the approval of the
half and half negro equality party move
ment in Louisiana, and now the new no
party movement in Ohio, and, if any thing
else should spring up, calculated to prevent
the organization of the democratic party on
its old principles and platform, we may ex-
pect the News to go for it, with proviso,
or something in the way of a small hole, to
creep out of, if found necessary.
Year: 1873

MARK TWAIN, in the New York Herald,
has been trying to give humorous report
of the visit of the Shah of Persia to Eng
land, and has signally failed. It could not
be Of itself a subject of humor, but we are
inclined to think that Mark Twain's mine
is pretty much worked out. A man who
attempts to be humorous on all occasions is
likely to exhaust himself in time, and he
becomes stale, fat and Improbable y
Mark Twain is getting stale, and his witt
cisms fiat, and he is making his whole life
Improbable 1.-TWO much pudding will
sicken dog, " or man either. We think
it about time for Mark Twain and Josh Bill
lings to cease their affected and laborious
droliiries. They are dried up.
Year: 1873




WHAT do the people Of Austin think of a
press that has been opposing the call of the
Democratic State Convention at the capi-
'tall Such has been the course of the
chicken-pie Statesman on this subject, as or
all others in which the interests of Austin
could be materially prejudiced.-State Ga
zette.


What do the people of Austin think of
the editor of a paper going as a delegate to
a democratic State Convention and therein
openly pledging himself TO abide by its de-
termination, and then turning tail and put
ting his back to it and violating his
plighted faithl Ought such man to feel
much interest in democratic convention,
or is he likely to be in another very soon,
whether at Austin or elsewheres We have
said that we prefer the convention at some
other suitable point, to avoid the senseless
cry about the Austin '.ring, and we repeat
it. Austin don't need the assemblage of a
convention here for two or three days to
keep it alive and kicking. II is Just now
the liveliest city in the State.
Year: 1873

WE are not having all the hot weather in
Texas. On the third of July the maximum
heat in Washington City was 1O1 in the
shade. AS last winter was the coldest
known for years, so this summer bids fair
to be the hottest. One extreme follows an
other We have no recollection of any
hotter weather in Texas than what we have
had for the last week. It has been hot
enough to broil an editors brains, if he had
any. We rather envy the editor of the
Houston Age just now. He must be cool as
a cucumber, if not as seedy.
Year: 1873

Wool is selling at Waco from twenty
two to twenty-three cents a pound for me-
dium. A few thousand pounds were sold
at twenty-three cents. We suppose this to
be unwashed wool. How was it and what
was its quality2 VIII the Examiner an
swerg At the North, it is customary to
wash the sheep in running stream, few
days before shearing, and let the wool dry
upon their backs.
Year: 1873

THE State Gazette wants the question OF
the authorship of the saying that ''cleanli-
ness is the next thing to godliness" referred
to the Statesman for settlement. What
interest can the Gazette feel in question OF
cleanliness or rodliness2
Year: 1873

The rumor that Governor Davis is dis
gusted" with the editor Of the State Jour
nal, on account Of his feeble defence of his
administration, and that, on his return,
after selling the bonds and repIenishing the
treasury, he viii appoint Ruby Secretary Of
State, is not credited in the low radical
circle
Year: 1873

Little Johnny Horner
Sat in his corner
Eating his radical pic.
He put in his thumb,
And pulled out plumb,
And said, what big boy am II
But he soon eat it all,
And began then to bawl,
Because they would give him no more,
For the "so-called'' shut down
On the boy Of renown,
And now he does nothing but roar.


100000.
Year: 1873

Yes, it is only woman's hair-soft
and silken and brown. To you it is but
q faded tress, but to me it cannot fade
for the love which sanctifesit, is eternal
and cannot know decay or death.
It WAS once somewhat brighter than
it is now, but then my life was brighter
too, and the poor, little lock of soft,
brown hair keeps its freshness better
than the heart which loves it, and the
hand which fOudles it in these evil davs.
It flowed then over a neck graceful rs
the lily stem, AMI pure white as the lily
flower; it danced coquettishly then,
when sweet girlish laughter bubbled
out upon the air, and it was scented with
the breath of orange blossoms, an
dewy with the kisses of the warm south
wilo, that ripplea over the blue waters
of the Gulf. It was happy then as the
pure young heart of it's maiden mistress,
and seemed to smile as the sunbeams
shimmered over it, and the moon laid
her golden glory on its glossy waves.


But now the breath Of orange BIOS
som livs only among sad memories,
and the blue Gulf has vanished in the
dim distance; and the soft tendrils seem
to twine thems Ives about my heart,
with a yearnine loneliness, as if they
would draw me on into the grave, where
she and I and they could be ouce more
united.


Tonight, as 1 looked into the deep
brown eyes, and. listened to the low
voiced tones of another woman, Thought
of her from whose wealth of flowing
tresses this was taken. She, too, had
soft. brown eyes, and gentle voice that
made music of the humblest words, but
the ghostly years that have rushed off
into the dark, since her eyes looked into
mine, and the phantom joys which have
faded since her voice fell like blessing
on my hot young heart / do not care to
count.


It seems long, long time, though I
could count the years and the Joys on
my fingers.


Yes, it is only woman's hair, butthe
violets and the buttercups blossom
above she beautiful head from whence
Year: 1873

No man will build house to suit his


inmost necessities, unless he proceeds


Independently of all modern rules OF


construction. Some of these are good


enough, but they 1early all culminate
in an ambitious externalism. The bet
ter class of dwellings, erected IS years
ago contained broad staircases, spacious
sleeping-rooms, and a 1iving-rOom,
where the whole family and the guests,
withal, might gather at the freside.
The house was an expression of hospi-
tality. The host had room for friend
ships in his heart, and room at his
hearthstone.. The modern house, with
its stiff ,angularities, narrow halls, and
smart reception-rooms, expresses no
idea of hospitality. It warns the strang-
er to deliver his message quickly, and
be off. Tt is we'll adapted to small con-
ventional hypocrisies, but you will new
er count the stars there by looking up
the chimney. One may search long to
find the man who has not missed his
aim in the matter of house-building. 1t
is generally needful that two houses
should be built as a sacrifice to senti-
ment, and then the third experiment
may be reasonably successful. The
owner will probably wander through the
first two, seeking rest and finding none.
His ideal dwelling is more remote than
ever. There may be q wealth of gilt
and stucco, and an excess of marble
which ought to be piled up in the GEM
etry for future use But the house
which receives one as into the very
heaven-which is, from the beginning,
invested with tie ministries of rest, of
hospitality, of peace--of that indefnable
comfort which seems to converge all the
goodness of the life that now is with
the converging sunbeams-sucha dwell
ing does not grow out of the first crude
It will never be secured
until one knows better what he really
wants than an architect or a carpenter
can tell him.
Year: 1873

A writer in Westminster papers dis


cusses the qualities of the late Emperor


Napoleon III. and the late Lord Lytton


as whist players. OF the former the


writer says: Throughout life he en-


joyed his rubber. Whilst young he


was bold even to rashness, as many of


the French school are, and later on the


characteristics that marked his career


in the political world were shown with


exactness in his whist. He never SEEM


ed to know his own mind. The scheme


of the game with which he started he
failed to carry out. An over-stubbOrn


player is bad player, but the man who
will not work out his ideas, but turns
aside from too slight cause and chan
ges his tactics, is often the worse player
of the two. This was the Emperor's
defect. He changed his suit when his
only chance of safety rested IN sti ,king
to one." Os Lord Lytton the writer
remarks: 'He was a good player, and
nothing more. The majority of whist
players early reach the same stage of
excellence, which is only passed by
those who have natural genius for the
game, and this genius Lord Lytton had
not. He could scarcely be considered
an enthusiastic for the game, as more
than once he gave up his practice for
several years together, only resuming
the pursuit when, as occurred to him on
two or three occasions, his pet physician
of the hour recommended whist as like
ly to be beneficial to his health. At
these times he was constant player at
the Portland, and he occasionally made
up pleasant whist parties at the Kneb


worth. He was exceedingly slow in his
play, and at times he appeared absent
and unable to concentrate his thoughts
on the matter before him. Yet after
one of these reveries he seemed to be
able to recall all that, for the moment,
he had lost. One can easily imagine
that such mind had many more pleas
ant creatures of the fancy in his brain
than ordinary nortals. He was deaf,
and we generally find that deaf people
are more attentive whist players than
others, and this is doubtless owing to
the fact that their minds are not so east
ly diverted. His defect in whist was
want of perception, or lack of power to |
draw correct inferences from the fall of
the cards, for, although he could play |
double dummy well, at whist he did |
not seem to take the full advantage of |
the position of the cards when they |
were presumably known to him. With |
such a mind, with so much study and |
practice with the best players, it is
strange that Lord Lytton, who did |
everything else well, and who SO nearly |
to the top round of the ladder |
in every walk of life, should have failed |
to reach eminence in whist; but, with |
out doubt, so it was, and we can not ac-
count for the fact, unless it was that he, |
in common with all whist players, ne
elected to put down the hands that he
had PLAYED"
Year: 1873

we do not need to wait till in the fun


ness of time we can join the throng AT


watering places. To any one, unless


shut up between four brick walls, If
there belong a green spot somewhere
around the house, if he can sit at least
under one vine and fig tree of his own


there is at hand perennial spring if he


bnt knows how to drink of it. Per-
haps you say, "I cannot stop to rest ;
have no time will bE and by, but
now L must do my work" All but
are you sure of your by and blythe
one this side of eternity L mean? Are
you not doing the very thing now that
may lose it for you, or, if entered upon.
will it not, instead of being spent in
rest, as yon fondly hope, be spent rath-
er in vain regrets for the strength SO
unwisely and hopelessly lost2 More
over, what is this work that You must
always be doing? II to do good is
yOur ruling motive, have You not learn
ed that it is what yOu are. as well rs
what you do that blesses the world
and though the toll of your hands il
worth much, beautiful spirit of good
cheer surrounding you is worth more,
and you are not becoming the best you
might be if you have no time to enter
tain this spirit of rest and strength
which cannot live with WEAKNESS.