smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1876

The death of another minister whose widow


is to receive an annuity of four hundred dol
lars from the Relief Fund of the Church, in


vites attention to this admirable provision fol


the widows and orphans of our deceased pas


tors. When this venerable clergyman haC


made his last payment to the fund, and Sc


cured the annuity to his family, he was SC


gratifed with the prospect before them that


he exclaimed, with Simeon of old, "Now,


Lord, let thy servant depart in peace" He


was poor, and his salary small, but he man.


aged to set apart sixty dollars year, for


FIVE successive years, from his narrow in.
come, to make his family comfortable after
his decease. Our ministers are generally as
poor as he was, and the salaries promised
them are often delayed so, that they are often
insufficient to meet the present wants of
food and clothing and house rent. But this
pastor cut down his expenses, and lessened
mis- wants 80 as to save enough to meet the
necessities of the future as well as of the
present Most assuredly he deserves praise
for his self-denial and his foresight. And
those who follow his example will fad the
same cause of congratulation when they are
about to take their last sigh, and depart to
the land of spirits. If they have spent their
whole income on books, and clothes, and
necessaries, and laid by nothing for the fu-
ture, they will look with sorrow and sadness
on the wife and children whom they are leav-
ing, and wish with their whole hearts that
they had been more frugal, more saving, and
mora provident, so as to meet the wants of
their family after their decease as well as be-
fore. The children of the world are often
wiser than the children of God. 10 their
eager desire for wealth, they lay by some
thing which will support their families, and
educate their children, when they can work
for them no more. The Christian minister
trusts to Providence and to the charity and
favor of friends. The last two often fail,
and the first is often a thOug and i'm
pious confidence without the use of means to
attain the end. 1t is like praying for our
daily bread without working for it, or like
praying for the coming of Gods kingdom in
the world without contributing farthing for
the cause of missions. If we really desire
certain result, it is our duty to use the meth
DDS which Gods Providence has taught us
are appropriate to secure that result. Faith
without works, wishes without exertions,
prayers without action, are barren and insult
fcient. And the minister who expects his
family to be provided for when he is gone,
and saves nothing from his income for that
purpose, fails in his duty to his God as well
as to his family. And when he lies on the
bed of death, he will be unable to use the
prayer of faith, or to feel the peace which
Christian ought to feel when he gives his last
adieu to those he loves.
Year: 1876

In the palace of Justice, at Rome, they
take you sometimes into chamber with
strangely painted frescoes on the ceiling and
around the walls and upon the floor, in all
kinds of groteeque forms. You cannot re-
duce them to harmony, you cannot make
out the perspective, it iS all bewildering
maza of confusion. But there is one spot
upon the floor of that room, and one only,
standing upon which, every line falls into
harmony; the perspective is perfect, the
picture flashes out upon you, instinct with
meaning in every line and panel. You can
see at that point, and that only, the design
of the artist that painted it.


l believe that this world is just as bewil.
dering maze, looked at from every point ex-
espt one. l look back upon the records Of
history; I look upon the speculations of
science; endesvor to gaze into the future
Of this worlds career; wherever turn am
opposed by the mysteries that hem me in
and crush me down, until 1 take my stand
a. the foot of the cross. Then darkness and
discord become light and harmony; the mys-
terry is solved; the night that shut me ia be-
comes radiant with the Divine light and
glory. At the foot Of the cross art, science,
literature history becomes at once to me a
divine, glorious and blessed thing. And
SO claim fer my Lord his rightful dominion
over all the works of bis hands. We will
gather all the beauties Of art, and all the
treasures of music, all that i5 brightest and
best in this world, and will lay them down
at his feet; for, Worthy is the Lamb that
was slain to receive might, and majesty, and,
riches, and power, and honor, and glory"
His is the scepter, his is the right, his this
universal world.-Dr. Manning.
Year: 1876

contiguous congregations which would b


glad to get portion ofsais time, and whicl


without such an arrangement must continu


vacant. Surely, Presbyteries have the righ


to say how and where their ministers shal


labor, and in cases in which they render aid


it is their duty to see that this labor is Sc


dispersed as to conduce most effectively tC


the edifcation of the churches and the


Strengthening of Presbyterianism. This is


a vital question, the proper treatment Of


which is imminent1y demanded in many of the


Presbyteries.


81. Another subject 70 whiea careful at


tention ought to be given at this time, is the


securing of contribution this year from


every church. Last year there were T3O


churches which failed to contribute to Sus-


tentation. These were distributed through


out all the Synods..a Same Of the older Pres


byteries failed mor'4 4gri@syously than the
younger and wssS - Iiis important
year; yet without an earnest effort it will
not be avoided. Means ought, therefore, to
be put forth during the present month to in
duce the officers of all the churches, whether
vacant or supplied, to give their churches an
opportunity of contributing of their sub
stance to this most important object.


4.h. A matter nearly allied to the fore
going, and of scarcely less Importance, is the
effort to get the regularly contributing
churches to give more liberality in proper
ton to their means. With a few exceptions,
the contributions of last year were very
small in proportion to the financial ability
and numerical strength of the churches. In
many cases churches contented themselves
with giving the merest pittance, thus show
ing that no real effort was made to support
the cause, but that the collection was per-
functory discharge of disagreeable duty.
Now is the time for all concerned to learn
that the Churchs work cannot be conducted
successfully by any such measures as these;
and that the great Department of Sustenta-
tion, which lies at the foundation of all as
sured growth and prosperity, is worthy of
different treatment at the hands of those to
whom it appeals for support A casual COL
lection, to which very few contribute, will
not answer the purpose of this Fund. There
is demand that the people shall be informed
in regard to the Importance of the Fund, its
needs, its special relations to the work in
their own Presbytery and throughout the
Church, and that means shall be employed
to secure contribution from every member.
Every interest of the Church at home and
abroad is suffering to-day because of the ne
glect of the past, and there will be no per-
manent change for the better, until our min
sters, elders and Chr nepgle estimate
more correctly the fll ~ This work,
and give it far more gsl support than
has been attained heretofore. An immediate
and instant effort is needed to bring these
matters intelligently before the churches in
lime for the January collection, and it is
hoped that the labors of PreSbyterial Com
nittees will prepare the way for full and
ample support of this cause at that time.
Year: 1876

We MUST be drinking the living water
from the smitten rock, or we cannot speak of
its refreshing power. We must be hiding our
guilty souls in the wounds of Jesus, or we
cannot with joy speak of the peace and rest
to be found there. This is the reason why
unfaithful ministers are cold and barren in
their labor. They speak, like Balsam, of
Saviour whose grace they do not feel. They
speak, like Caiaphss, of the blood of Christ,
without having felt its power to speak peace
to the troubled heart. This is the reason
why many good men have barren ministry.
They speak from clear head-knowledge, or
from past experience, but not from present
grasp of the truth, not from present sight
of the Lamb of God. Hence their words fall
like shower of snow, fair and beautiful, but
cold and freezing.
Year: 1876

were sorry TO part Win us, ana call


say for one, I was truly sorry to part


with them.


After we had disposed Of our
morning meal we took up our line OF
march. About 10 o'clock A. NJ we
passed Gen. Writ. Adams outposts
and soon were marched in front of
his headquarters. The General and
some of his staff officers interviewed


US and assigned us quarters for the
night. Writ Adams Brigade and
the Marine Brigade had met in sew
eral sharp skirmishes, and we had
lively talk with them during the
afternoon, and fought some Of our old
battles over again.


Z After supper we raked together
some leaves and laid down for q
nights rest There was a new guard
detaile | to guard us for the night,
and in order to give my experience
of that night so that the reader may
understand it correctly, 1 will de
scribe our prison pen. We were en-
camped in a woods pasture, and the
place selected for our aecommoda-
ton was about 200 yards from the
Confederate camps. On one side of
our ''bull-pen." as we called it, was
large log, about Is feet from our
nest of leaves. One of the guards
seated himself on the log, and the
other three took up positions against
trees and stumps. We were tired
and soon fell asleep. I don't know
how long 1 slept, but some time in
t?e night awoke out of a restless
sleep,and there were two of the guards
sitting on the log. My face was
turned towards them. They were
drinking pine-tcp whisky. noticed
that one of their guns was lying
across his lap, and the muzzle was
pointing directly at my head. 1
could almost see down the barrel. |
The one that furnished the whisky |
said to the one that had the gun. |
Look therel do you see you nave
got a good bead on that Yank9
Shoot him. Lift your lock and let
him have it. I'll swear it was an &C
cident" The other guard would |
lift up the lock and let it spring back
against the cap. He was timid about
shooting, and yet he was trying to
cause an accident and his companion
encouraging him to pull harder!
''Let him haveit, you coward! Why
don't you shoot? No body will
know you done it on purpose. I
never experienced just such feelings.
1 saw that they were drunk and firmly
believed that they were going to
shoot me- I tried to move my head
out of range, but could not do it,
without discovering to them that 1
was awake, and 1 was afraid that |
would bring about the deed 1 was
trying to escape. Just then, FORUM
ately for me, their attention was called
to something, the gun was elevated,
and the scoundrel that caused me
the fright marched off to some other
part of the camp. The guards were
soon changed, and I went to sleep,
with the rather unpleasant refec
ton, that last night I had begged
for their comrades in arms, and to-
night I had narrowly escaped being
shot in cold blood by a drunken
soldier, to crafty his passion for
killing somebody. Thanks to a kind
and overruling Providence, morning
found me still in the land of the liv-
ing, and twomil walk landed us
in Canton, Miss.


To be continued.
Year: 1876

Belknap was Democrat before
and since the war, and at the time
of his appointment as Secretary Of
War was chairman of the Democratic
Central Committee of the county
in Iowa where he resided.
Year: 1876

When your time is out, don't wait till You have &
chance TO come TO town, or send the money by d
neighbor but enclose it in letter at once and hand
it to your P. NJ. We rtH be responsible il tie money
is lost, from any poSt-c6ice in this county.
Subscribers outside of the county should send
money orders, when practicable where the amount
is 81 or more. An order costs but 10 cents, which
the subscriber may deduct from the amount sent.
Year: 1876




that place.


One morning the Major informed
us that he had received orders to
send us to Canton, Miss, and turn
us over to the General Government.


He said he had been trying to ex-
change us for some of his men, but
these had been sent North, and he
and the Federal officers were unable
to negotiate an exchange under those
circumstances; that if the Mississippi
Marine Brigade had any prisoners
with them they could exchange US,
but when the Confederate General
Government got control of prisoners
it was out of his power to help us.
He said if we wanted to write letters
home to our friends, he would furnish
us the material and send the letters
with a flag of truce to our boats.
We were about so miles from where
we last saw our boats at that time.


The Major told me that the night
they ambushed US his men wanted
to stretch telegraph wires across the
cut about as high as our heads, but
he forbid them. He told them that
he:couldn't think of butchering US up
in that style.


Ten men were detailed and mount
ed to convey us to Canton. Our
trip lasted about week, and when
any of the boys got tired of walking
q guard would dismont and let him
ride. So we took turns in resting
one another We got well acquaint-
ed with our captors. When we were
hungry they would give us food.


One evening about the last of
March, our guards told US that would
be our last night with them. They
selected suitable place for cam ping,
AMI then located us about 200 yards
from their ctmp. Four men were
left to guard Us, and after we had
sot to sleep they laid down also and
went to sleep. About midnight Hen
ry Fry shook me and 1 awoke, and
he beckoned to me to come outside.
The rest of the boys and guards
were locked together and fast asleep.
I asked Henry what he wanted. He
said he wanted me to agree to take
the lives of our guards-to kill them
all, change clothes with them, take
their arms and horses and make our
escape by passing ourselves off as
Confederate scouts. I told Fry 1
could never consent to anything as
bad as that. 1 told him it would be
cold-blooded murder, and we must
not think of it for a moment He
seemed determined to awake the rest
of the boys and carry out his point
by their cooperation and consent,
but 1 finally prevailed on him to
give up his plan,


The reason Fry called me mp first
was that I was the only non-com,
missioned officer, and they looked to
me as a leader. I must say, I
thought then and still think that
the guards had treated US with too
much kindness for us to take any
advantage of them in an unguarded
moment. But I was often blamed
afterwards, when we were looking
starvation in the face, for the course
I took. That was our last night
with Major Robbord's boys.


Next morning bright and early
we were up, and our guards were
preparing our breakfast and feeding
their horses, without any knowledge
of the discussion that had taken
place the night before between Fry
Year: 1876

But I have occupied more space
now than I intended, and will close
by saying that trade is dull, and
money hard to get. People say
''times" are harder than ever known
before JOHN GERGE-
Year: 1876

The country that we had beer
travelling through was broken ant
rough, and the land poor, the tim
Der mostly pine The inhabitant:
were of the poorer class of the South
They were ignorant and honest
They believed it was their duty tc
protect their homes from all enc
mics. The guards that had US IL
custody were of that class.


During our stay at Silver Spring
my faithful horse died from the
wound he had received. I had the
pleasure of giving him to young
soldier by the name of VIM. Allen
name sake of our venerable ex
Governor, 1 had extolled his good
qualities to Allen until he had prom
ised to take good care of him.


One morning we got orders to
move to another point. 1 have for
gotten the name of the place, but it
was a days journey. At that place
few Confederates were furloughed
home. Billy Spittles was complain
ing of his wound, and the Major fur
nished him q tent to sleep in, where
the provisions were kept. There
was a guard kept at the entrance to
watch Billy and the rations. There
was lot of fine hams in the tent,
and the Johnnies didn't think that
the officers issued the provender as
fast as they could consume it, so
they proposed to Billy that if he
would slip them some hams out the
back way under the bottom of the
tent, the guard would look some 9th.
Ell way while an accomplice would
come up behind and take charge ofthe
spoils. They promised Billy for his
share in scheme all the fried lean ham
ham he could eat. Billy stipulated with
them that the balance of the prison
ers should have all the lean ham
they could eat also. 1t was agreed
to, and from that time we ht.d plen-
ty of meat as long as we stayed at
that place.
Year: 1876

A school director of a rural township of
ON interior county in Pennsylvania, who de-
scribes himself as friend of education
because he knows the want of it, read
paper recently at q teachers meeting
which is more replete with common sense
than is usual with compositions Of the
kind 1t is especially interesting because of
the hints it gives us not only of the growth
of the public school system in that State,
but of the difficulties it was compelled to
meet and overcome The school directors of
forty years ago, Mr.. Wilhelm tells us took no
interest in the system, and large part Of the
people was opposed to it. The teachers
were only remarkable for "their bad tongues,
their long fingers and the hoop-pole punish
ment they inflicted on the children" Mr..
Wilhelm goes further, and gives an in
stance of a teacher who tried a milder dis
cipline and was compelled to relinquish his
school because of such an unheard of inno-
vation. ''That was the beginning of
new era" says the director; sthe
impressions he made remain, and MS
the victims of the rod grew up they begun
where he was obliged to leave off " As con-
sequence of the introduction of a little COM
mon sense into the prevailing notions of edu-
cation inhumanity was banished from the
school room, and the public school system
became the very bulwar1 Of the State.
Enmities ceased and prejudices disap-
peared. A greater interest was taken in the
schools and a better class of teachers en-
ployed. Now there is no better school sys-
tenn in any of the States than in Pennsylva-
nia but in no part of the country must the
people fail to remember that common school
education is only in its infancy. The sys-
tenn needs all the encouragement which
school officers, teachers and parents can
give it, and, above oil, it needs that practical
common sense which in few years, COM
paratively, has raised the public schools Of
Pennsylvania from what they were to what
they are. There is nothing that we possess
for which we ought to be more thankful than
the system of free education which has now
become almost universal and the numberess
blessings which have been the result of the
system.
Year: 1876

Its disposition to support religious insti-
tutions has put the government in France
in collision with the republicans in the
Chamber. Attitudinizing was, perhaps, the
primary idea Of Prince Napoleon in his
speech on the estimates for public wor-
Ship" yet he cast frebrand into the dis
cussion, for the relation of State and Church
is one of the points that most profoundly
divide parties in France. If Prince Napo-
leon had spoken for the imperialists it would
have been of some significance to find
him arrayed against the Church, since if
that party and the pronounced republicans
were to act together this item would be cut
out of the budget and crisis would be-
come imminent. But it is we'll known that
his words never have any deeper inspiration
than the little wit of which he is the per-
sonal possessor. It was, therefore, in the
last degree impolitic for the legitimists to
reply to his assault by offensive references
to the history of the Empire. This skirmish
may, through their folly, yet prove the pre-
them on this important ISSUE Plon Plon
takes ground boldly as leader of the anti
Church agitation, but the caustic refer
ences to the Empire from the republicans
seem to indicate that their memory is too
good for him to become dangerous 1t is
possible, however, that there is even yet a
field in France for princes envious of the
fame of Philip Egalite, and it is certain that
this poor specimen of the Bonapartes has
stirred q smouldering fire, ready to burst
into flame. The defeat of the Ministry on
an item in the estimates for public worship
is an instructive indication that IN effective
majority of the House differs definitely with
the government on the obligations of the
country toward religious institutions, and
this dispute once fairly opened must lead to
very troublesome agitations.
Year: 1876

Yesterdays cold took New York by sur
prise, judging from the expression of aston
ishment and dismay depicted on the faces


of the shivering pedestrians that hurried


through the streets. But the temperature
as experienced in this city was almost tropi-
cal when compared with that which pre-


vailed in the West and Northwest, particu-
larly in the early morning. From
Northern Dakota to the Lower Missouri
Valley the thermometer indicated from
20 degrees below to zero. Thence to
the Gulf of Mexico the temperature
varied from zero to 32 degrees above,
or freezing point. Northwnrd of Punta
Rassa, Fla, there was no point in the United
States east of the Rocky Mountains that
had higher temperature than 36 degrees,
or degrees above freezing. This remark
able area OF cold is almost unprecedented in
extent and presents some interesting features
to the observer. 1t is rare to record the fact
that the weather was two degrees colder at
New Orleans than on the northeasterly
coast Of Nova Scotia, region which is gen.
orally associated with all that is cold and
miserable Yet such has been the case.
The pressure yesterday was extremely
IN in the Northwest and CORE
Year: 1876

federal service have to be paid out of the
national Treasury. and it would be impossi-
BILE to get dollar appropriated for that
purpose with democratic majority
in the House of Representatives. The
militia would not serve for any length
of time without pay, and there will
be no means of paying them SO. long as
a democratic House holds the purse strings.
The appropriations were SO cut down at the
late session as to cause complaints that they
are insufficient for ordinary purposes.
With scant means for keeping the govern
mental machine in motion in time of peace
where are the resources to come from for
paying militia? 1t is idle to talk of increas-
ing the army when not a soldier can be
enlisted without the consent of Congress


and it is equally idle to talk Of supplement-
ing the regular army by State militia when
there is no money to pay them. The House
of Representatives holds complete check
on the President if he should attempt to use
any other military force than the diminutive
army which Congress has authorized and for
which it has made appropriations. Even
the means of supporting this small army
will be exhausted on the 1st Of July unless
the House consents for new bill providing
for its future pay. A new administration
can 60 on only for brief period of four
months without further legislation, and it
is not probable that the democratic House
will pass any appropriation bills in the COM
ing session until after the second Wednes-
day Of February. If the democrats are
cheated out OF the election they can block
the wheels Of the government, and this
fact may have some influence in arrest
ing the boldness of the administra-
tion. We hope that, after o full sur
vey of the situation, both parties
will see the folly of attempting to overreach
each other and will recognize their power
lessness to carry on the government with
the public sentiment of the country against
them. 1t is only by demanding nothing
which is not clearly just that either can
command the support of the country, and
the one which has not the support of the
country will be forced to succumb. We
hope this retreat of the administration may
pave the way for pacific settlement