smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The Washington Star serves up SINE
interesting information respecting the
difficulties attending the work of news
gathering by the army of correspond
ents in Washington. Every news-gath-
erer has channels of information which
belong to him pretty exclusively. BY
this is meant that one may enjoy facili-
ties, of q social nature, which may pour
the article into his lap. But the main
spring for all news is in the Executive
Departments. Tn the Treasury Depart
ment the fountain head is the Secretary.
To one who has never applied the news
paper pump to Bristow, or who puts it
in operation for the first time, the con-
clusion would be jumped at that he is
rather dry fountain. He treats all
who wait upon him cordially, but ask
him If he has any news and his answer
is a shake of the head. Carrying as he
does in his head all the grand batch of
whisky information, what fund he
has in store if one could only check it
out. Jewell wants " the boys" to have
everything that is worth having in his
Department, and the heads of Bureaux
and divisions, knowing this, give will
ingly to the press all matters of inter-
est. Secretary Chandler is also fav-
orite Cabinet officer with the journal
lists; he is willing that the press should
have every facility extended them in
their laborious hunt for news. No
newspaper man thinks OF going to
Robeson in person. He hates the guild,
and will pay no more attention to q
card sent in by one of them than would
an Egyptian potentate TO the salaam OF
his humblest subject. At the War De-
partment, Belknap is variable. Some
times he is talkative and obliging, and
then again he isn't. The jolliest aud
best liked man by the guild in the
Treasury Department is Treasurer New.
His heart is as big as his vaults. He is
q genuine, Western bomhommie which
makes visitor feel at home the minute
the door closes one in his office. He
can tell good story, enjoy one with a
keen relish, and is not chary with his
information when he has any. But the
worst to do business with is Architect
Potter. Secretary Fish, too, is always
dumb as an oyster, while Attorney-Gen
eral Pierrepont rather exerts himself to
give information. AT the White House,
Babcock usually make public such mat
ters as the President desires should be
snnounced. But the White House is
not q good hopper for news.
Year: 1876

Nor Hrs BEsr SERMON. minister
was paid to preach a sermon on some
special occasion IN q country church.
AZ the congregation was not very rich,
he was informed beforehand that they
could not afford TO pay him moro than
five dollars for his discourse. When
the service was over, he received in the
vestry the congratulationsof the olders,
who were loud in their admiration Of
his elcquence. He turned round upon
them with almost a smile Of contempt,
and said: Do you call that an olo-
quent sermon ? I should Just like you
to hear my ten-dollar sermon
Year: 1876

The following letter, which purports
to have been written by sgushing Web
foot damsel The sympathetic reader
can scarcely repress longing to hear
Of her marriage with her Darling
Jack": s3es5s sss ,s45. I, 49, -


- Ar HOME, Jan. 8, 1876.


DEAREST DARLING JACK: As I am feel
ing in quite communicative mood to-
night I thought 7 would give vent to
my feelings by writing to you, my dear
est. / must tell you, Jack, that the
other day I fell in love with q widower
over here, and thought for a time I
would have to write and let you know,
but when / came to my senses I thought
how foolish I was. It is true he had no
moustache, neither have you; but oh,
your lips are so much sweeter than his
but as / said, I was so ashamed of my
self that I went and put my head in o
flour barrel, and still have it there and
I want you to come over and pull me
out. My own love, we had parsnips
for dinner to-day and they were good,
but not half so good as you are nor
near 30 sweet. / often wish you were
O. ruta-baga and was growing over here,
SO I could go down and pull you up and
squeeze you good. You bet do. We
have some carrots in the garden but
we did not have any for dinner to-day.
They amt sweet no how. I had lots
of fun to-day playing with our tabby
cat, You ought to see him turn SOM
mersaults and antics. I wish you was
a tabby cat and I would play with you
too. Our pork is pretty salty and it
makes me have to go to the spring pref
ty often for drink and oh / wish you
were here to go with me and we would
both sup out Of the same cup. I some
times chaw gum to pass away the time.
Oh I wish you was gum so I conld chaw
you, for you would be so sweet i would
chaw all the time. We caught q mouse
in nice little trap last night and it was
a nice little mouse but not half as nice
as you are. 81 it''s


To-day the weather was fine;


The sun shining all the time;
If YOU had been here to-day,


Ishould want to be Mrs Ray.
L nave got lttie Dlru tnht man
gave me. 1t is fine little bird and ]
keep it in cage. / got lead pencil
the other day and it has got a rubber
on one end of it; and oh wish you
was rubber, but you amt are youi
No, you are q precious little lump Of
sugar, sweeter to me than honey.
Jack, for my to try to tell You how
love you would be impossible. I have
me quilt done now and all ready to
use. Oh how I wish you were quilt.
But you amt. No you are as niceas tai
low candle; I go by your light, and can
see and love you more if it is possible
for me to do so. Jack, / wish you was
o plow with your feet for the shear and
your arms for the handles, thenI would
do nothing but plow all summer. But
you ain'tare youP No; you are my own
darling, and too sweet for any use. Let
us get married and then we will be hap
py, too happy to express for you know q
pig in the pen is is worth two outside.
+ wish you were pig and in pen, but
you amt are you? No more at present.


saaa, Yours. till death,


ANNIE.
Year: 1876

s" How doyou keep your wife from
finding You out?" ask one college
friend of another, after they had both
been married q few months, "By al
ways being at home at proper hours, y
was the conclusive reply.
Year: 1876

HoNEsTY. We hare somehow learned


to make o difference between those OBJ,


legations which we owe to one another


as men, and which we owe to the Gov


ernment and corporations. Thoseideas


are nota whit more prevalent among Of,
fice-holders and directors than they are
among voters and stock holders. Men


are not materially changed BY being
clothed in Office and power. The radi-
cally honest man is just as honest out
of Office as he is in gik. Corrupt men
are the offspring Of corrupt society.


We need STRENGTHENING up, The lines
of our morality all need to be drawn
tighter. There is not q man who is
willing to smuggle, and 10 see custom
officers betray their trust while. he
does it; willing to receive the results of
the sharp practice of directors of cor
porations in which he has an interest;
willing to receive the patronage OF tho
Government in the execution of schemes
not based in absolute necessity willing
TO take ON exorbitant price for d piece
of property sold to the Government or
to corporation, who is to be trusted
with Office. g sipsi n


When we have said this, we have Civ
en- the explanation Of all our public and
corporate corruption. and shown why it
is SO difficult to get any great trust man
aged honestly. All this official corrup-
ton is based on popular corruption
loose ideas OF honesty as they are held
by the popular mind; and we can hope
for no reform until we are better based
as people in the everlasting principles
of equity and right-doing. 1--we would
have the stream clear, We must cleanse
the fountain. DR.. Holland.
Year: 1876

A CHAMPAGNE lumber. tempered by
new process. was fired AT and hit eleven
times by a saloon ride without injury
The twelfth shot broke II. Another
tumblsr filed with ics was set ahoat In
boiling water, and lid not break.
Year: 1876

The following resolution unanimously adopted
at meeting of the Millinery and Fancy Goods Jobbers
Association of this city on the 9th inst =


Resolved That as an association we look with dis
favor upon any compromise with fraudulent debtors
and earnestly recommend that, in case failure is
tainted il any way with dishonesty, settlement be
refused and the party falling be- If possible forced
into liquidation and driven from the company of honest
merchants and that we also strongly recommend that
any party known have made dishonest failure be
reinsnh credit by all members OF our assocation.
Year: 1876

Not long ago an engineer brought his
train TO a stand at a little Massachusetts
village where the passengers had five
minutes for lunch. A lady came along the
platform and said, "The conductor tells me
the train at the junction in p. leaves fifteen
minutes before our arrival. 1t is Saturday
night that is the last train. have a very
sick child in the car, aud no money for a
hotel, and none for private conveyance for
the long, long journey into the country
What shall do :"


"Well," said the engineer " | wish could
tell YOU"


"Would it be possible for you to hurry a
little ?" said the anxious, fearful mother


" No madam, have the time table, and
the rules say must run by it,"


She turned sorrowfully away, leaving the
bronzed face of the engineer wet with tears
Presently she returned and said, "Are you a
Christian p


81 trust am" was the reply.


"Will you pray with me that the Lord
may in some way delay the train at the
junction ?"


"Why, yes, win pray with you, but ]
have not much faith.'


just then the conductor cried, "Al
aboard" The poor woman hurried back to
her deformed and sick child, aud away went
the train climbing the grade.


"Somehow," says the engineer, every
thing worked to charm. As prayed,
couldn't help letting my engine oW Just Hhle
We hardly stopped at the first station peo
pie got on and off with wonderful alacrity
the conductors lantern was in the air in d
half minute and then away again. Once
over the summit il was dreadful easy TO give
her little more, aud then little more, as
prayed, still she seemed to shoot through the
air like an arrow. Somehow | couldn't hole
her, knowing | had the road, and we dashed
up to the junction six minutes ahead ol
time"


There stood the other train, and the con
ductor with his lantern on his arm. "Well,
said he, "will you tell me what am waiting
here for 2 Somehow felt that | must wal
your coming tonight, but | don't know
why" al guess" said the brother conduc
tor, sit is for this woman, with her sick anC
deformed child, dreadfully anxious TO ge
home this Saturday night" But the mar
on the engine and the grateful mother thinl
they can tell why the train waited.


Men can raise objections, and ask queS
tions, and make out Of this anything but di
vine help manifesting itself in natura
way, but to the believer in Gods word it i
a manifestation of that power promised ever.
sincere believer And how far off from
these promises and this divine teaching con
cerning prayer lives the average disciple
Indeed, he who has now the name, Israel
will say that his experience in prayer ant
his proving its efficacy is like drawing few
dollars from a bank now and then, wher
the deposit is a million. Does the Bibl
treat the question in a metaphorical way o
is Christian faith too weak to find the mean
Year: 1876

A marriage should only be consumated
when both the parties are morally certain
that they are necessary to each others exist
ence; that life would be dreary waste,
without the oasis of the loved one that the
intended one possesses all you admire and
esteem, and that the journey through life in
his or her companionship will be one OF
serenity and happiness. The union will
then, by the endeavors of both, be attended
by all the Joy, contentment and happiness,
that it is in the power of mortals to obtain
here below. Marriages are usually con-
tracted TO crafty desires-as love, fortune
and position. The results are most truth
fully stated by an eminent divine in the
following passages who marries for love
takes wife; who marries for fortune takes
a mistress who marries for position takes
lady. You are loved by your wife, and re-
garded by your mistress, and tolerated by
your lady. You have a wife for yourself, a
mistress for your house and friends, lady
for the world and society. Your wife Will
agree with you, your mistress Will rule you,
your lady will manage Your wife will take
care of your household your mistress of your
house, your lady of your appearances. IL
you are sick, your wife will nurse you, your
mistress will visit you, your lady will in
quire after your health. You take walk
with your wife, a ride with your mistress,
and 60 to a party with your lady Your
| wife shares your grief, your mistress your
money, your lady your debts. If you die
/ your wife will weep, your mistress lament
and your lady wear mourning Now, which
will you have 2" To man there is but one
choice that he can nationally make-a mar
riage of love.
Year: 1876

Some years ago, after one of our terrible
battles, was called Just after midnight, TO
see a wounded soldier. went 10 the dying
man lie said, 4" | wish you TO help me to
die" | said, would help you to die If ]
could. ] would take you on my shoulders
and carry you into the kingdom Of God If !
could but can not. | can tell you of One
that can. And told him of Christ being
willing to save him; and how Christ left
heaven and came into the world TO seek and
TO save that which was lost. just quoted
promise after promise, but all was dark, and
it almost seeme, as if the shades of eternal
death were gathering around his soul. |
could not leave him, and at last | thought
of the third chapter of John, and | said
to him, Look here, ! am going to read
to you now conversation that Christ had
with man that went 10 him when he was
in your state of mind and inquired what he
was to do TO be saved / just read that
conversation to the dying man, and he lay
there, with his eyes riveted upon me, and
every word seemed to be going home to his
heart, which was open to receive the truth.
When came TO the verse where it says,
" AS Moses lifted up the serpent in the will
derness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up; that whosoever believeth on Him
should not perish, but have eternal life, the
dying man cried, stop, sir; is that there 2"
yes it is all here" Then he said, won't
you please read it TO me again 2" ! read it
the second time The dying man brought
his hands together, and said, " Bless God for
that Won't you please read it TO me again."
| read through the whole chapter, but long
before the end of it he had closed his eyes.
He seemed TO lose all interest in the rest Of
the chapter, and when | got through it his
arms were folded on his breast he had
sweet smile on his face remorse and despair
had fed away. His lips were quiyering, and
| leaned over him, and heard him family
whisper from his dying lips, "As Moses
lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even
so must the Son Of man be lifted up that
whosoever believeth in Him should not
perish, but have eternal life" lie opened
his eyes, and fixed his calm, deathly look on
me, and he said, "Oh, that is all | want; :"
and in few hours he pillowed his dying
head upon the truth of those two verses,
and rode away on one of the Savior's chariots,
and took his seat in the kingdom of God.
Oh, sinner you can be saved now if you
will. Look and LIVED. /. Noodg
Year: 1876

Conventions for the consideration of radi-
cal changes in the shape and modes Of wear
inc garments intended for women and fe-
male children do not appear to impress the
public mind favoraby. The failure pos
sibly arises from the fact that many of the
women and nearly all Of the men engaged in
agitating the reform are propagandists Of
Of aer irrelevant notions which have not so
vital a claim upon the attention of women
as the subject of reform in dress should un-
doubtedy have. The question of % fashion
ing garment that it shall be supported by
the body with the least tax upon the strength,
and be least hurtfu to the health, is not
visionary "ism." II is, therefore, very much
to be deplored that it should be entangled
in any way by either men or women with
any sort Of doctrindire preaching or preachers
with which a majority of sensible domestic
women are sure to disagree, and perhaps to
hold in adherence. The reform desired
would certainly be great boon to female
humanity, but it will never make material
step of progress until it is totally separated
from all the disturbing notions with which
it is generally complicated. The present
style of dress for women and female children
is utterly and mischievously defective. We
do not now refer TO apron-fronts," or pull
backs" or "panners," or anything com
monty understood by the word "fashion :
but TO the style which compels the garments
to be suspended from or supported upon the
body in most unnatural ways. The weight
of mans dress is borne upon the shoul-
ders. The burden of every garment he
wears, except that of his hat, stockings and
boots is upheld upon that part of his body
best adapted to carrying the weight. 1t Is
lust the opposite with the weight of the gar
ments worn by women and female children.
With them the burden falls mostly upon
the hips and loins, literally dragging down
their strength and greatly damaging their
health. Men, who have greater muscular
strength than women, carry the load of their
dress supported from that part of the body
where the burden is felt the least women,
who have less physical strength, carry the
weight of their garments supported from
that part of the body which must inevitably
make the weight most burdensome and ex-
hausting. Look at porter bearing Sara
toga trunk He walks away lightly with the
great mass after he once gets it on bis Shout
der. How far could he go if he had it
swung from his hips Yet it is precisely
such an inversion of the natural way of
bearing a burden that is brought about by
the prevailing style of garments for women.
The real reform proposed is not question
of short " Bloomer skirts or of masculine
trousers, but of such mode of nearing gar
ments as will not wear away strength and
health and life. If the majority of women
do not like the leadership of those who hold
public conventions on the subject, they should
consider the matter earnestly in their private
circles, and thus extend the area of free


DOM" as the anti-slavery champions used tc
say Philadelphia Ledger
Year: 1876

"But," he added, I" this must be put into
the ground by hand that has never been
stained by dishonest act My hand is not
clean, therefore pass 1t to your majesty"


The king took the piece of gold, but hesi
tated. Finally he said " | remember in my
younger days that have flched money from
my fathers treasury which was not mine.
have repented Of the sin, but yet | can
hardly say my hand is clean. pass II there
fore TO my prime minister"


The latter, after brief consultation, an
swered at were pity to break the charm
through possible blunder. | receive taxes
from the people, aud as | am exposed to
many temptations how can be sure that |
have been perfectly honest must give it
to the governor of our citadel"


d" No, no. cried the governor, drawing
back. Remember that have the serving
out Of pay and provision to the soldiers. Let
the high priest plant IT,"


And the high priest said You forget /
have the collecting Of tithes and the dis
bursements.for sacrifice"


At length the thief exclaimed Your
majesty, think it would be better for So
ciety that all five OF us should be hanged
since it appears that not an honest man can
be found among us"


In spite Of the lamentable exposure, the
king laughed, and so pleased was he with
the thief's cunning expedient, that he granted
him a pardon
Year: 1876




Walk through the British Museum, and
you will see all the orders Of animals stand
ing in their various places, and exhibiting
themselves with the utmost possible pro
priety. The rhinoceros demurely retains
the position in which he was set at first the
eagle scars not through the window, the
wolf howls not at night every creature,
whether bird, or beast, or fish, remains in
the particular glass case allotted to it; but
YOU all know well enough that these are not
the creatures, but only the outward sem
blauces of them. Yet in what do they differ
Certainly in nothing which you could read
ily see, for the well stuffed animal is pre-
cisely like what the living animal would
have been and that eye'of glass even ap-
pears to have more of brightness in it than
the natural eye of the creature ITSELF yet
you know well enough that there is secret
inward something lacking, which, when it
has once departed, you cannot restore. So
in the churches of Christ, many professors
are not living believers, but stuffed believers,
stuffed Christians. There is all the external
of religion, everything that you could desire,
and they behave with a great deal of pro
priety, too they all keep their places, and
there is no outward difference between them
and the living, except upon the vital point,
the life which no power on earth could
possibly confer. There is this essential dis
tinotion, the life is absent.
Year: 1876

EVERY man takes care that his neighbor
shall not cheat him. But day comes when
he begins to care that he do not cheat his
neighbor. Then all goes well lie has
changed his market-cart into chariot Of the
sun EmerSOn.
Year: 1876

Many a happy hour have I passed,
listening to incidents of his daring, his
patience and endurance quick
nervous nature causing strange con-
tradictiOns in his character. One can
hardly believe that the man who for
three weeks spent evey day, and all
day long, lying on his back under a
tire. watching two little birds building
their nest, could be the same who
would sometimes become SO discour-
aged and so impatient, when the effect
he desired could not be produced, that
he would throw canvas, easel. paints
and brushes from him, and rush from
the house, to find consolation In his be-
loved woods. On his return he would
find his implements collected together
and arranged. and would resume his
work as ii no Outburst Of temper had
interrupted him.


At no time did he lose sight of his
work, and he carried it with him where
ever he went; il not i'm the tangible
form of paints and brushes. 1t ap-
peared in his earnest questions addressed
to those he might be with, or in the
quick glances of those eagle eyes which
were such q noticeable feature In his
handsome face. Animals of various
kinds many of them far from attractive,
were at one time or another inmates of
his house. l remember my mother
telling me Of her first experience with
my grandfather, WAS being calico up
one night In common with the rest of
the household to catch q number of
white mice, which had escaped from
their cage: and very amusing was her
account of the pursuit aud final capture
Of the runaways the excited owner
leading the chase, under tables and
chairs, into corners and behind the cur
tains, eventually securing them all,
though not without brave resistance
OH the part of the mice, whose sharp
teeth left painful records on the fingers
of the captors.