smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1872

Joking with people in authority is moi
always an entirely safe amusement, as
an officer in the English army not long
since found out. He had been sent on
visit of inspection to some home sta.
tions, and, in his statement of disburse-
ments, included the item porter, 3D., ("
which was struck out by the war officer.
He explained that the charge was for
carriage of his luggage under circum-
stances where he otherwise would have
had to pay Is. cd. for cab. To this
explanation came a reply that in this
case the claim would be allowed, but that
it should have been put for porterage'
and not porter" The officer answered
that he would obey orders, although he
could find no authority for such word
as porterage." and inquired, in addi-
ton, if in future he should use the term
cabbage" when he meant "cab?
His wit was rewarded with severe repri-
mand, which was worse luck than it de-
served. A very similar story is told of
that inveterate wag, John Phoenix, who,
as most of our readers know, was Lieu
tenant Derby, of the typographical engi-
neers. He was directed by an order
from the war department to survey the
Tombigbee river and see how far il ran
up. He reported promptly that a sur
vey for that purpose would put the gov
ernment to unnecessary expense, as it
was a well known fact that the Tombig-
bee river ran down. His joke very
nearly cost him his position.-Neo York
Times.
Year: 1872

to say. many of the best singers have


been incapable Of giving even a good


musical reading to the songs in which
they have been most famous. 1t was
rumored that Madame Grisi had to be
taught all her songs, and became great
by her wonderful power of appropriate
ing suggestions of pathos and express
sion which she was incapable of origi-
mating herself. Madame Malibran had
q great dash Of original genius, and sell
dom sang song twice in the same way.
Most women reflect with astonishing
ease, and it has often been remarked
that they have more perception than
thought, more passion than judgment,
more generosity than justice, and more
religious sentiment than moral taste.
Year: 1872

ABOVE the sunset hills now the vanquished clouds


are breaking,
The light trails its jewels along the dusky lane;
And, u bird at my window the old song awaklng,
Adown the meadow-path the well l-known way I'm


taking,
know where the blossoms of the golden bell are
Iknow where the fern sips the brooklets falling
know of a bank where daisies bloom the whitest,
And nook In the beeches where shadows fal, the


lightest,
And cooling breezes flicker on sultry summer


day.
was there by the brookside we built bower of


rshes,
n the shade of the beeches in that old happy
We wrought the rustic roof where the purple hare


bell bushes,
And Ben trimmed il o'er with the fr-tree,s sombre


brushes,
While our merry voices blended with the waters


ripping chime.
How sweet on the air came the breath OF new


mown cleveri
How soft was the whisper of the wind In the
There were Maude's golden curls, with the sun


light gided over,
There was merry little Carl, and brave Ben, the
All, mel Ben is sleeping now beneath the South.
sste ern seal
And fair little Maude in stately ship is sailing,
Is sailing and sailing to far foreign shore;
And Carl Is at rest where the Northern winds are
wailing,
Where the Northern sea is moaning and the North


lights paling,
And the wild waves thunder round his bed for


evermore!
But the song of the bird in the sunlight's quiet


beaming,
The sound in the tree-top of the winds low re-


frain,
And the voice of the river with its white waves


silver cleaning
Draw me back through the years to our youth


times happy dreaming,
To the dear olden time that can never come
again!


Our YOUNG Folks.
Year: 1872

AT st. Louis theatre a rural swain,
sitting with his girl, departed suddenly in
the tragic part of the performance.
and soon returned with two glasses OF
lemonade, surmounted by enticing straws.
The diving hero was disgusted at the
way the audience laughed over his
wake
Year: 1872

A consecrated Christian is a steam en-.
gine on the up grade toward heaven. Fdc1
is the coupling by which he may draw a car
full of passengers after him. That minister
made mistake who commented on the words
of Christ, Be ye wise as serpents and harm
less as doves" " Brethren" said he, obey
this injunction only mingle the ingredients
in the right proportion-an ounce of serpent
and pound of dove" We need hundred
pounds of each the doce to serve Christ
ioringiy, the serpent to serve Christ nisely.
Evil is wrought by want of thought
As well as want of heart


1t is not always wise to talk with all we
meet on the subject of religion-sometimes
it is an impertinence.


The worst bore | ever knew was one of
the best Christians. He was in dead earn
est. The only trouble was, he had not
learned Bible tactics. He would button
hole you right in the middle of Chestnut
street in Philadelphia, the crowd tumblng
against you, and would put you through y
for half an hour. How much time have
wasted lodging round the corners lest he
should collar me! We both lored the glori-
GUS theme but if man is on his way to
the dentists, with his tooth jumping as if
for prize, he does not want to stop even to
talk about heaven. This blessed brother
had any amount of doce, but he lacked SER
pent


One young man entered a stage in New
York. He was burning up with zeal for his
Master. An old gentleman sat in the corner
reading Bible. "There," thought young
Timothy, "is chance to scatter seed" The
old gentlemen alighted-he likewise. The
old gentleman walked down Broadwav-he
likewise. Soon he came up with the old
gentleman, and with dignified solictude ex-
claimed, like Philip to the eunuch, Under
standest thou what thou readest ?" But,
unlike the eunuch, the old gentleman under
stood it all; and looking down upon his
questioner with fatherly smile he answered,
as he patted him upon the shoulder, I" Young
man, have been preaching this Gospel for
over thirty years, but you meant well, my
young friend, you meant WELL" One minute
from that time


1.-THE boy, ah, where was hep


Certainly not anywhere in the vicinity of the
old gentleman. Christ always remembered
the adage of the wise Solomon, There is a
time for every purpose" For thirty years
He lived in the sequestered little village of
Nazareth waiting for the fit season to arrive.
When that season. came He performed His
work boldly and well, but not till then.
Earnestness is wild horse unless Wisdom
holds the checkrein, and Christian earnest
ness by itself is the worst of all.


Let man 20 to work coascientiously to
smash church and he will do it. The story
of many divided interest would be, if it
were written, that one man was determined
the church should do what he conscientiously
kaew was right, and the other two hundred
and ninety-nine were so mulshly obstinate
as not to agree with him. .F'ervor vith uis-
dom is zeal; acithout it, fanaticism, culti-
vate the dove, but don't forget the serpent.
: Watchman and Reflector
Year: 1872

less. If what we have stated has no good influence, more would not.

 General Crook is no more responsi- ble fer this state of affairs than he is for storms and earthquakes, or the ex- istence of those who do and will deny our declarations through ignorance,

 malice, or hope of some share in the profits without the dangers of the plan which has made this ominous condition. A bad agent who never reports to him is at Grant, and for whose conduct he Is not responsible. The policy which has compelled a cessation of hostilities against the Apaches, total abstinence, for a given time, of any punishment how ever insolent or criminal, is one he never recommended and always de- clared would produce no good results but the contrary. This people and the country are reminded of these facts. If with a cautious and rigid observance of the truce, and its accom- panying good treatment of the Apa- ches, they remain in peace, General Crook will not care for more credit than that of 8 soldiers duty under the circumstances but should they go on the war path, as all appearances indicate, he must in no sense be held therefor.
Year: 1872

Bur for U. s. District Attorney Rowelfs fearful lying about what could be proven against the Camp Grant Massacre parties, grand jury would not have been called to inyes- tigate the matter. As liar, he was only temporary success in this in stance. In connection with his own testimony on the stand in that case, he was told he swore to lie, and he has taken no steps to refute the charge. Probably Tn no case on rec ord was there ever more vicious and official lies told by the managing prosecutors than in the one referred to, and the "unmitigated scoundrel |" Rowell is the father of many.
Year: 1872

SrxKEy TREASURE AT CAPE MAY
A great deal of work has recently been
done near Cape May to get at vessel
sunk IS years ago, together with S5OO,-
900 in gold, supposed to have been In
the nurser's cabin The cause of the
excitement, q correspondent of the Phil
adelphia Post informs us, was reyela-
tion or dream of an aged lady OF this
nlace. Communicated to her was de-
scription of wreck in which were vast
sums of gold to be had for the mere dig
ing out Of a small quantity of sand. She
told other wonderful stories, and the
effect was truly astonishing. The whole
community was thrown into state OF
efferyesence much more affecting and
lasting than that caused by the fire two
wears back. Companies were organized
hoats chartered, agreements drawn and
signed and sworn to by all the participa-
| tors. and off they started for the one
particular spot which to them seemed
| the Ell Dorado of New Jersey. In their
hurry some forgot to pay due respect to
/ the tide. and the consequence was that
at least one crew remained in the sands
all night, thermometer near zero and nc
covering. Yet even this did not cool


their ardor, and on the return of the tide


they proceeded on to join the wreck,


there to work until midnight throwing


out sand, which the action of the wave:


would replace before morning. AnC


thus it continued for several days thu


tide filling in as fast as they could throw


it out. They then obtained planks ant


built a guard around the wreck which


held off the water for a few hours, bu


suddenly giving way, the water again


took control but nothing daunted b.


repeated failures the majority still KEEP
TO the work, although a number cam


home on Saturday night, rather disgust
ed. with the information that but thre
feet below the deck had been rotten an
. there is every likelihood that the bottor
, has gone out of the craft. Never pu
off till tomorrow what should be don
: to-day. Here now is the old lady prt
, erastinating as to her dream for % veal
and the consequence is that the gold


gone.
Year: 1872

RUM.-On the 28th inst, Mr.. Jo-
siah Kicker, blacksmith by trade, and.
but for one fault, very good citizen of
Gr0tOn, came very near losing his lite.
He had imbibed little too freely, and
crazed and maddencd by the devillsh
death water, he fell in company with
some Frenchmen on the line OF the rail-
road, near the long pond, and, either by
fair or foul play, had his face badly
hurt, and a blood vessel in his mouth
severed, by which he came near bleed
ing to death. He was found at the long
pond Just at dark, so weak from loss OF
blood, that he must have perished be-
fore morning had it not been for time
ly aid.
Year: 1872

HUxLEY's IDEAL. .CHURoH.-T emf
nent man is reported to have said Il
can conceive the existence of an estab-
lished church which should be blessing
to community church in which, week
by week, services should be devoted, not
to the iteration of abstract propositions
in theology, but to the setting before
mems minds of an ideal of true, just and
pure living place in which those who
are weary of the burden OF daily cares
| shonld find a moments rest in the con-
temptation of the higher life which is
/ possible for all, though obtained by sc
few place in which the man OF STRIFE
and of business should have time te
think how small, after all, are the re
wards he covets, compared with peace
and charity Depend upon it, If such
church existed, no one would seek todis
establish it,
Year: 1872

The approach of the assembling OF the
disaffected republicans at Cinclnnal
brings the issues directly into discussion
by the people. 1t Is now question OF
doubt how successful it may be, or how
strong its candidates, or what will be
the precise basis Of its platform. Its
direct object is more patent-to over
throw the party in power nnder the
ruise of reforming alleged abuses i'll the
party and in the administration OF Pres
ident Grant. There is great ado about
this Cincinnati Convention, and an at
tempt has been made to hold it in terror
over the republican party as the nucleus
of a great opposition. This is a short
sighted scare-crow. This Convention,
as 1t now appears, can, at the most, be
only the receptacle Of cast off political
rubbish, having little or no power to
consolidate into formidable opposition
from the distracted elements Of which
il is to be cOmposed-there are no bonds
of assimilation between them. The
moment an attempt is made to unite 1t
will be discovered that it contains no
elements having the least affinity. The
only principle, which will be found in
common to all, is Opp0sitionto President
Grant. There can be no other bond OF
union between the democracy and his
personal enemies, so far as principles
are concerned, the democrats, if they
have any, are hopelessly divided. The
passivists, the new departure men, the
the copperheads, the State sovereignty
advocates, the Ku Klux, the free trad
ers, the proteCtionists-these are all
found in the democratic ranks. How
can men with republicanism in thell
hearts NIX with such a Heterogeneous
and incongruous mass How can the
labor reformers, the working men, unite
with party that opposed the Homestead
act denounced emancipation and the
renresrntatives Of which vote almost
solidlv against the recognition OF the
eicht hour law? ? How are the revenue
reformers and tariff men to come to-
petbnr9 How shall they combine gen
eral amnesty, the protection of the citi
zen in ali his rights and the equality be
fore the law without distinction OF race
color or previous condition2 What will
the friends Of the Union do with the in
famous war record of the democracy


When these clements can be brough
into harmony, then the proposed Cincin
natl Convention will be a success, ant
not until then, and we believe the mil
lenium nearer at hand than such
union.
Year: 1872

-Throuch the courtesy of DR.. Gold |
fsmith we are favored with the act |
which has Just passed the Massachusetts
legislature for the formation of library
corporations. AS the formation OF
public library is now being considered
by several of our leading citizens, the
publication of its main features which is
very simple may prove useful, and a
corporation can be easily organized un-
der the general laws of Vermont on
similar basis.


Any three or more persons associated
together by written agreement, and COM
rplyinr with certain provisions relating
to corporations in general, may be con-
stituted library corporation, and en-
powered to hold read and personal es-
tate and provided, moreover, that such
CORPORATION shall allow the inhabitants
of the city or town, in which it is lOcat-
ed, free access to its library, annual ap-
propriations may be made to its support
by such city or town.


The tendency of such enactments in
States will be to multiply public libraries
throughout communities, affording new
and great facilities for free reading.
While it is not proposed, as we under
stand it, in the formation of public
library in Rutland to call on the town
for aid, at least, in its founding, get
under our statutes a town has a right to
establish library by the appropriation
of money. Yet after it's permanent es-
tablishmcnt it would be just and proper
for the town to aid it by an appropria-
ton of an annual sum of money for its
maintenance. A town which appropri-
ates thousands of dollars for distinctive
ly educational interests, will find an an
nual appropriation of few hundred
dollars will suffice for the establishment
and support of such public library as
shall contribute quite as powerfully as
the school to the education of the peo-
pie. Where there are public libraries
and reading rooms their general ignor-
ance becomes impossible and crime is
lessened. An appropriation of only 9
few cents per capita would suffice tc
make such knowledge as can be got
from books and papers, as free as watel
in any of our towns A good public
library is only second to churches anC
schools as an inducement to residents.
Year: 1872

SoALDED. Joseph Minor, of Fairfield
was boiling sap in the woods, using a
40 gallon kettle swung by a chain from
a pole over the fire Friday last. by
some mishap, he struck his head against
the pole and partially stunned, fell back
ward in the boiling fluid. His son and
hired man rescued him as soon as possible,
but not until he was seriously scalded.
His physician gives hopes that he may
recover.
Year: 1872




In making the correction yesterday
concerning the freight tariff from
Wheeling to Sandusky, we simply
obeyed rule we have endeavored to
follow in the treatment OF men and
measures in this journal. We have
made no statements concerning Rush
r. Sloane which We have not, at the
time they were written and printed,
believed to be true, and we have pro.
posed to follow this rule even in our
war upon Sloane, either % an individ-
ual or candidate, and we have not
knowingly said OF him an untruth
We should be Iecreant to our trust
we're we to keep back what we believe
to be true. While it is no. pleasure to
us to state these things, We can dc
nothing else and do right. Believing
him to be q villain, we shall proclaim
it, no matter whose feelings are hur'
thereby. Had he sought that obscur
ity he deserved, we should Lave LET
him alone. As he seeks Q prominenl
political office, we shall do our bes
to prevent his securing 1t. No on,
hut q bad man at heart could treat
soldiers orphan as Sloane treatet
those placed In Chaplain Collier'
hands. and no man but one who'll!
selfish and mean could charge tn


city for transporting steamer, sen
to save q burning city. A man ba'
At heart, mercenary and selfish, doe
ont deserve public support, and Rusl
Sloane il such o man.
Year: 1872

can a Post office. This plan nSsB
very effective in strengthening the
Liberal cause thus far. There may
not be post-offices enough to go
round, but that will not be determin-
ed until after the election.
Year: 1872

SIR HENRY BULwER, the elder brother
of the novelist, is dead at the ripe age
OF si1ty-eight. Over thirty years Of his
life were passed in some Of the most
important diplomatic positions in the
gift of the British Cabinet. During the
term Of President Taylor and part OF
that OF President Fillmore he repre-
sented Great Britain at Washington,
with unmixed success and popularity.
His political insight was OF the keenest,
and his literary productions rose above
the level Of respectable talent. With
q mind formed amid the Talleyrand era
Of diplomacy, he had breadth enough
of view to appreciate the international
relations OF different era, and he leaves
behind him areputation as unblemished
and a memory as pure as il he had
never been known save as a high.toned
and cultivated country gentleman.
Year: 1872

A man would get very false notion
of his standing among his friends and
acquaintances If it were possible-as
many would like to have It possible-to
know what is said OF him behind his
back. One day he would 90 about in
a glow Of selfesteem; and the next he
would be bowed under q miserable
sense of misapprehension and distrust.
1t would be impossible for him TO put
this and that together and strike au
average The fact is, there is q
strange human tendency to take the
present friend into present confidence.
With strong natures this tendency
proves often a stumbling block-with
weak natures it amounts to fckleuess.
1t is a proof, no doubt, Of the universal
brotherhood; but one has to watch
lest, in an unguarded moment 1t lead
him into ever 80 slight disloyalty TO
the absent


1t is nice questiou-how much liberty
NAV we allow ourselves in talking OF
our absent friends? 1t is very clear
that we may discuss their virtues as
much as we choose. That is a holy
exercise But their failings l think
it may be considered a sign that we
have gone too far when we sweep away
all our faultfnding, our nice balancing
of our qualities and anslyzstion OF
character, in sudden storm OF aduls-
lation.


suppose the distinction between the
different grades OF friendship should be
made clear Let US sav-acquaint-
ances, friends, intimates. Most persons
can easily place the people whom they
know under these three heads. Now it
does seem not only natural but desirable
that there should be free, though
always loyal and kindly. discussion
as to the antecedents, the surroundings,
the prejudices, the whims, the chsrac-
tcrs OF those with whom we are thrown
in contact, and who come under the
first two heads. We may thus learn
to bear more easily with their eccen-
tricities, TO appreciate their good points,
to Judge how far we should allow their
views to affect ours. As for the third
class-go to is not love its own law ?
IHe "OK CILiact, ,ScriJRcrS s for Jutr.
Year: 1872

DAVENPORT, May 29.-I.ast evening
a nurse in the family of George Wing,
of this city, attempted to kindle fire
in the stove with kerosene oil. The
flames communicated with the oil, and
an explosion followed. The burning
oil flew in all directions, setting fire to
her clothing and burning it entirely of
her person. She fingered until this
morning, when she expired
Year: 1872

The dearth OF labor caused in Gers
many bv the heavy emigration move
ment is said to be attracting the atten-
ton of the German agricultural
societies, and many remedies have been
proposed. 1t has been suggested that
if the landowner wishes TO keep his
laborers he must improve their condi
tion by paying better wages, but it is
stated that the emigrants are coming in
the greatest numbers from those parts
of the country where the laborers are
most literally treated. 1t is contended
that the higher the wages the sooner
the laborer will save enough to pay
his passage money, and that when that
object is accomplished he departs at
once for his new home. 1t is also
contended that the landlord would be
ruined by the payment OF such wages
as would induce the laborer to be salts
fed with his position. The real diff
Guilty, however, it is stated, is to be
found in the fact that the land is heav-
lily mortgaged, and the proprictors have
not sufficient capital TO conduct farm
ing operations successfully. The
Pomeroy Agricultural Society, it may
be mentioned, thinks that 1t has dis.
covered mode OF relief and has rec
commended the German government TO
place emigration under more stringent
police regulations and also TO instruct
German consuls at American ports TO
inquire how many able bodied emigrants
in those places are willing to retarn to
their native country on condition Of a
free passage We conjecture that the
answer to such inquiries would be rath-
er discouraging.
Year: 1872

The Boston AdrertiSer wants the
Republicans to drop Colfax for Vice
President and take up Henry Wilson.
The Albany Eseniag Journal will be
satisfied with either. Make Henry
Wilson Vice President and there will
be a vacancy in the Senate from Massa.
chusetts, a seat that might be filled by
General Butler.
Year: 1872

MENrHIs, May 29.-The transfer
steamer North Missouri, bound up
White river, with two locomotives and
a cargo OF railroad iron, struck a stump
about fifteen miles below
and went to the bottom, the
water being over her hurricane root.