smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1873

! | was sitting alone in the little back.
Iparlor, writing letter, all the rest Of
| the family in bed, when the clock struck
eleven. co." thought I, cit is growing


late, | will finish my letter in the morn
ing"


| Just then I heard a scratching noise,
which appeared to be between the shut
ter and the window panes. In vain
looked up, for / could see nothing, SO
after time I went on writing, saying
to myself, "Another line or two, and
then / will co.


Hardly had I put pen to paper be-
fore the noise returned. GA mouse"
said |, but on little consideration it
seemed to be very unlikely place for
a mouse. Again [ went on with my
letter, it was but for minute, for the
noise once more disturbed me.
| "Surely," said [, cit cannot be the
canary; hope it has not been left out
of its cage;;" so getting on a chair I
looked in the cageand found poor Jessy
at.the bottom with her head under her
wing. Again I took up my pen to
write little more Of my letter.


All at once the noise came louder
than before, and I really thought that
a mans hand on the outside was feel
| ing about, trying to unfasten the win
dow. Up jumped at once, unfasten
the outer door, and ran into the yard,
but no man was to be seen. [ looked
about the premises, and examined the
window without making any discovery;
SO, coming into the house again, I put
aside my Writing-desk and went to bed.


For full hour I lay awake, wonder
ling what it could possibly be that had
given me SO much trouble, and still
thinking that it must have been the
hand of a robber. Indeed, when was
in bed, I fancied that 1 yet heard the
noise. In the morning | again ponder
ed the matter over in my mind, but to
no purpose. It was altogether mystery
that / could not unravel. At last I
went TO Betty and asked her opinion.
go, sir, said she, it is nothing in the
world but the jessamine-tree, it always
does so when the wind blowsp


On examining the window again L
saw long, loose branch of the jessa-
mine rubbing up and down the panes,
and now and then tapping them, just
as the wind happened to blow. Out
of this jessamine bough had made a
mouse, a canary bird and the hand of
a robber. Really did feel ashamed
of myself.


Some good, however, may come out
Of this affair if my readers will learn
from it the folly of giving way to fool
ish fears and fancies, and the wisdom
of exercising a sound Judgment.


The only cure for our foolish fears
is confidence in our heavenly Father.
Who trusts in God may camly close his eyes
AS safe, when night and darkness round him rise,
AS though thousand armed men in rows
Were standing round and guarding his repose.
Year: 1873

There are many passenger duties
which are not merely not obnoxious,
but are eminently proper; and yet how
many persons travel constantly by rail-
way without giving them thought.
By way of useful admonition, let us
specify few:


There is, first of all, the duty of not
pushing at the pay place, especially if
ladies chance to be in front of you.


There nextly is the duty of coming
there provided with the proper ready
meney, so as not to keep folks waiting
while you change fve-dollar bill.


There, moreover, is the duty Of alb
stention from piling up your hat boxes
and handbags and wraps in the UNI
brella net so as to risk their tumbling
on your neighbor's head.


There is the duty of not quarreling
about an open window, but of conced-
ing the command of it to the sitter
next it, facing toward the engine, who,
by long acknowledged justice, clearly
has the right.


There is the duty of obedience to the
law respecting trespass which prohib-
it's the removal of d coat or umbrella
marking the retention of a vacated
seat.


There is the duty of shutting the
door gently when you quit the traiu at
a waystation, and neither slamming it
with a bang nor leaving it wide open,
as is done by selfish and ungentlmanly
snobs.


There is the duty of sharing your
newspaper with any one who has none,
and offering first the leaders, and not
the outside sheet.


There is the duty ofnot putting your
dirty boots upon the cushions when
you wish to lay your legs up.


There is the duty of opening the car
door for any lady leaving or entering
the train, even at the risk of soiling
your new gloves.


There is reciprocally the duty on the
lady's part to smile her gratitude at
least, if she does not verbally express
/ it.
Year: 1873

A correspondent takes ground a.


gainst high managers for horses, for the


reason, as he says, that they irritate the


thorax and wind-pipe, and create ten
dency to heaves. His practice is to
feed from manger on level with the
feet, and not over twenty inches in
front of them. This enables the horse
to eat according to nature, and not af-
ter the manner of the giraffe.


Stove luster, when mixed with tur-
pentine and applied in the usual man
ner, is blacker, more glossy, and more
durable than when mixed with any
other liquid. The turpentine prevents
rust, and when put on an old rusty
stove, will make it look as well as new.


Cure for Founder. AS soon as the
horse is found to be stiff swab the legs
and feet with hot water so that the hand
cannot bear to touch it, but it must
not be so hot as to scald. After short
time the legs should be rubbed dry and
the horse gently exercised.


Franklin Hooker, of Cornwall, Vt,
who has been making some nicely cal
culated experiments as to the relative
merits of deep and shallow setting of
milk for butter-making, reports in fa
vor of the shallow pans. An expert
ment with the milk of nine COWS, even
ly divided, showed a difference of five
pounds of butter in favor of the shallow
pans.


Scrambled Eggs. Melt a tablespoon
full of butter in saucepan; beat the
yolks of six eggs few minutes; then
add to them six tablespoonfuls of milk
and a teaspoonful of salt; beat a little
longer and pour them into the melted
butter. When they thieken slightly,
pour in the whites unbeaten, and mix
them with the yolks carefully with a
fork, and serve on pieces of toast in a
hot dish, or if preferred, omit the bread.
The whites should not be beaten in
hard, only stirred with the fork enough
to mix slightly with the rest.


Canning Fruit. The philosophy of
canning fruit consits solely and simply
in preserving it from contact with the
atmosphere. In perfect vacuum, that
is, in space free from air, the most
perishable article will keep indefnite-
ly. But to do this perfectly is imprac-
ticable. We therefore boil the fruit a
short time to expel the air from it, place
it in a glass or tin cans, and while it is
hot and the can quite full, seal them
up air-tight. As the fruit or other
contents of the can cool and contract,
and the steam condenses into water, a
partial vacuum at least is procured,
and the articles keep better or worse as
this partial vacuum is nearer to or
further from perfect one. There is |
no work published that describes the
process. 1t is one to be learned by ex-
perience and practice. Mold is caus-
ed by the growth of fungus which
needs air and moisture for its support.
M 7. Tribune.
Year: 1873

North Carolina is famous for it's ex-
cellent potatoes, and in reply to que
.ry as to the best method of keeping
them over winter for seed the follow
ing spring, the north Carolina Agri-
culturist recommends that they be
gathered carefully; that is, when it is
a dry day, and take care not to bruise
them in handling them. Then store
them in bulk where they may be kept
dry, and at temperature of 40 to SO
degrees; 45 degrees is about right, and
the more uniform the temperature the
better. They must be kept dry as well
as warm. They should be put in bulk
where they are kept, and handled as
little as possible, being dug before the
ground freezes, though if the frost has
blackened the vines, it does not neces-
sarily harm the tubers. After the
sweating process is concluded, throw
over them dry loam, or in the South
they are covered slightly with the foli-
age of pines and then with about four
inches of earth, ventilation being left
until they cease sweating. But if you
insure them dryness and 45 degrees
warmth, and do not bruise them in
handling them, they may be kept as
well as Irish potatoes.
Year: 1873

There is the duty of never eating
peppermint, or using scents or drinks
which have a nauseous odor.


There is the duty of abstaining from
bothering your neighbors with remarks
about the weather, or platitudinarian-
isms upon things in general.


There is the duty Of not snoring
when in company and pursuing night
journey.


And there is, finally, the duty of re-
membering that delays are dangerous,
especially on railways; and therefore
of never keeping the train waiting
while you tumble in your pocket for
your ticket, which you ought to have
in readiness to be produced at any mo-
ment.
Year: 1873

Never sendeth thou. an article for
publication without giving theeditor
thy name, for thy name oftentimes Sc
cures the publication to a worthless
article.


Thou shouldst never rap at the door
of printing office, for he that answer
eth the rap sneereth in his sleeves and
loseth time.


Never do thou loaf about, ask ques-
tions or knock down type, or the boys
will love you like they do shade trees
when thou leaveth.


Thou shouldst never read the copy
on the printers case, or the sharp and
hooked container thereof, or he may
knock thee down.


Never inquire thou of the editor for
the news, for behold it is his business
at the appointed time to give it to thee
without asking.


It is not right that thou shouldst
ask him who is the author of an arti-
Gle, for it is his duty to keep such
things unto himself.


When thou dost enter his office, take
heed unto thyself that thou dost not
lcok at what may be lying open and
concerneth thee not, for that is not
meet in sight of good breeding.


Neither examine thou the proof
sheet, for it is not ready to meet thine
eye that thou mayest understand.


Prefer thine own town paper to any
other, and subscribe for it Immediately.


Pay for it in advance, and it shall
be we'll with thee and thine.


Ba~A Pittsburg man rejoices in the
possession of a wife who is 20 affection
ate that she always kisses him good
hua when he nnnS in To the yard 70 food
Year: 1873

D1rIf the man who has got to the
top of the hill by honesty is ashamed
to turn about and look at the lowly
road he has travelled, he deserves to be
taken by the back of the neck and
hurled to the bottom again.
Year: 1873

Wha can't be must be endured says the proyerb
Out CAN be cured and therefore it is the
10 endure it. Dyspeptcs have certainly right to


to the end Of their days If they choose,


not supposed that rational being prefers physical
torment To ease and health the probability all suffer
CTS indigestion were convinced that absolute
remedy Tor their complaint existed they would with
eoeu resort to IT. We most emphateay declare that such
remedy does exist and that Its Hosteters Stomach
bter The record OF its extends over perio of
than twenty and is earesy alleged that during
he whole OF time it has failed afford pei anen relief
any disorder or arrangement stomach that was not
organic Malignant and incurabe testimonials that go
esosh this important fact be counted by the thous


stomach complaints that had been by total
disregard ot all diutay rules and and rendered
chronic oy medical treatment drastic purgaon have IN
oil instances been cured within by the
ysematc use OF this celebrated somache and


shOud be remembered that weakness the digestive organs
involves many other ailments Biousness
debility spasns papitaon of the heart the
head nausea vertigo and eepessnes among
ants and results and for all these the vegetable
Is specific 1t acts first the stomach
stomach upon the secretOy and systems
bowels general effect being always genial and benefcent
Year: 1873

The Dry Goods Fever keeps raging and is
becoming more intense among the American
people. We noticed some time ago the extra.
or linary importations for the spring trade, and
supposed that they would soon fall off. But
it appears now dry goods are pouring into the
port and market at the rate of FIVE millions Of
dollars a week. 1t seems that our people
spend all their surplus earnings in dry goods.
As nation we buy more than our produce ex-
ports pay for. Evidently the Americans are
the most extravsgant people in the world
| ~ Y Herald.
Year: 1873

The Congressional Select Committee in the
case of j. j. Johnson detaulting head of the
stamp division in the Treasurer's Office at New
York, exonorate the Assistant Treasurer from
blame. They recommended, for future secu
rity that law be passed increasing the
punishment of Treasury thieves, and prevent
ing the exercise of the pardoning power in
their behalf Also, that stock brokers who
violate the law by dealing with Government
employees should be prosecuted with greater
rgor than heretofore
Year: 1873

Stokes. after all, is to have another chance
for his life, Judge Davis, in Supreme Court
Chambers, Saturday morning granting a stay
of proceedings until such times as the excep
tions raised on the second trial could have a
hearing. His Honor, however, at the start
desired to have it understood, that he excludes
froE: consideration the affidavits used on the
motion for new trial, and all the questions
growing out of them.


The immediate effect of this decision will be
to defer the execution, which was to take place
a week from Friday next; but whether it will
result in changing the verdict or not remains
to be seen.
Year: 1873

The President has partially qualified his
construction of the new civil service rules by
recommending the reappointment of ladies
without undergoing the new examinations,
who had resigned on account of marriage, but
where subsequent thereto wi1owhood ensued.
There are other cases in which the President
applies that construction, but always in those
where the circumstances attendant are of a
meritorious character and the facts warrant
their restoration to office as a matter Of fair
ness and justice.
Year: 1873




If flash Of light could have been


shot over Danbury just as the rain


commenced to descend Sunday night,


it would have revealed the most as


founding sight ever witnessed here.
1t is estimated that 500 bare-legged


men and boys and about 200 made
quately clothed women were at one
time struggling across wet stoops
and through impenetrable darkness,
with most astonishing variety Of
tubs, boilers, pals and barrels, to
catch the rain water. Everything that
could be employed. for that purpose
was brought out, and as there had
been no rain for six weeks. and
the stoops were slippery, and there
was no time to lose, the natural con-
fusion of legs, language and utensils
was something remarkable. One
man on Franklin street, who was
dashing out doors with two tubs and
a boiler, lost his footholt, and sliding
cross the stoop. went off into an
open hatchway, down a stairway.
and half way across his cellar, the
tubs and boilers arriving about the
same time. 1t was some twenty
minutes before he could converse.
A feshy gentleman named Hays
lost his balance while on a chair to
fix the conductor, and fell into a tub
that he didn't know was there, and
the neighbors were obliged to carry
both himself and tub into the house
to get them apart-a job that was
considerably aggravated by the
promiscuous profanity and abuse
which he levelIed at everybody dur
ing the operation. A boy on Ste
yens street ran against a portico
post with such force as to render
him unconscious. and the moment he
came to he conceived the idea that
his father had kicked him. AS he
didn't run backward against the
post, the impression appears all the
more remarkable. There were other
accidents the same night; but what
renders the affair peculiarly painful
is the fact that not one woman was
in any way injured. We don't un-
derstand that.-Danbpy Ne1eS.
Year: 1873

The intelligence of novel elop-
ment has just reached us from New
Windsor, Maryland. A young and
enterprising mechanic Of that place
fell desperately in love, and resolv-
ed to marry very handsome but
young daughter Of a wealthy mer-
chant residing in the same place.
Everything was looking immen e'e
prosperous for the young co.,.


when the girls father discovo.


had recently become very .a


going out o nights, sand also tic cause.
He Immediately made a visit t7 ore
of his single sisters, accomran5-l
by his decidedly unwilling daughte-
and negotiations were entered into
for the aunt to take charge of the
dear little creature until her passion
had subsidized. Having the highest
confidence In his sisters ability to
perform the task satisfactorily, he
returned home, leaving the girl, and
looking as though quite load had
been removed from his mind. The
girl, being fully determined to mar
ry or dye, made good her escape
the first night of her bondage, re-
turned to her lovers home, found
him walking the floor Of his shop.
and in a short time after their happy
greeting was over the young man
might have been seen hurrying to-
ward his fathers stable. In a couple
of minutes a horse and spring wagon
was drawn up to the shop door, and
as daylight-the sworn foe to elo-
pers-was making its appearance, q
large box was thrown hastily into
the wagon, full of small air holes,
prepared expressly for the occasion.
and the girl crawled into that, was
hauled some twenty miles over q
rough pike to another town, and
there they were married.
Year: 1873

The Gardeners Monthly speaks Of
the popular idea that as plants are
known to give offcarbonic acid gas at
night, their presence in sleeping
rooms is consequently unwholesome
AS being nonsense and bug
aboo." 1t states that a sleeping in
faht in the rOom-which many of us
learn to tolerate-will ''exhale more
carbonic acid in one night than a hun
dred pot plants" and quotes certain
recent Investigations on the subject
by Prof. Kenzie, of the Michigan
Agricultural College. Prof. X. has
been analyzing air taken before sun
rise from the college greenhouse,
crowded with plants, and finds it to
contain actually a fraction less car
bonic acid than was present in the
atmosphere out of doors. A similar
examination Of air taken in the day
time showed still less than at night.
Prof. KS conclusion is:


Now. if a room in which were more
than 5000 plants, while containing
more carbonic acid by night than by
day contains less carbonic acid than
any sleeping room on this continent
we may safely conclude that one or
two dozen plants in room will not
exhale enough carbonic acid by night
to injure the sleepers."
Year: 1873

tinkled against the windows of the
little room in which Pansie and her
father sat. Severe misfortune had
reduced them to proverty, and the
old man being an invalid, all the
care fell upon Pansie's slender shoul-
ders She sat with her sewing,
while her father read aloud from 81
new book she had bought for him
with some of the money received for
her jewels. Her sweet face was
wan and sad, and her future stretch
ed before her sad. hopeless and
gloomy. There was a ring at the
door and a servant brought up
package for Miss Fontenay. An
exquisite bunch of pansies, fragrant
and golden hearted, done up in tissue
paper, and attached to them q card
bearing the simple words: ROSS
Dunbar has not forgotten little
Pansie."


Pansie sat amazed for a moment
and their rich bloom darted up to
her white cheeks.


"Oh father ''she cried, knew him
i knew him O, we have found
Ross at last %


An instant later Ross was in the
room, clasping her fluttering hands
in his, and into her blue eyes with a
glance look that brought the rosy
hue to her face. And a few weeks
later, when the clustering winds
were over, and the blue-birds sang
in their hedges and the golden
hearted pansies bloomed on the gar.
den-borders, little Pansie became
Ross Dunbar's bride, and for her
bridal gift he gave her back her
emeralds.
Year: 1873

A young man entered the bar
room of a village tavern, and called
for a drink. "No,' said the land
lord, ''you have too much already
You have had delirium tremens once
and l cannot sell you any more.''-
He stepped aside to make room for
couple of young men who had just
entered, and the landlord waited up
on them very politely. The other
had stood by silent and sullen, and
when they had finished he walked up
to the landlord, and thus addressed
him: six years ago, at their age,
stood where these young men now
are; l was a man with fair pros
poets. Now, at the age of twenty
eight, am a wreck, body and mind.
You led me to drink. In this room
l formed the habit that has been my
ruin. Now sell me a few glasses
more, and your work will be done !
l shall soon be out of the way there
is no hope for me. But they can be
saved they may be men again
Do not sell it to them. Sell it to me
and let me die, and the world will be
rid of me but for Heavens sake
sell no more to them p The land
lord listened, pale and trembling
Setting down his decanter, he ex-
claimed: "God helping me, that is
the last drop will ever sell to any
one :" And he kept his word.
Year: 1873

Mr.. Clay, in a debate upon the
Loan Bill, remarked that for twenty
or thirty years neither he nor his
wife had owed any man dollar.
Both Of them, many years gone by,
had come to the conclusion that the
principle of economy was this:
"Never to go in debt; to indulge
your wants when you were able to do
so, and to repress them when you
are not able to indulge them" The
example is not only good one in
itself, but comes from high source.
To repress q want is one of the
wisest, safest, and most necessary
principles of political economy. 1t
prevents, not only the dangerous
practice Of living beyond our means.
but encourages the safe precedent of
living within them. If all would
live within their means. the world
would be much happier than it il.