Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-04-27
Correspondence of the Signal.
SHREVEPORT, La, March 18th, 1647.

presume the "Stgn0L, OF peace ana
prosperity, is still displayed to the quiet
inhabitants of the beautiful prairies. 1t
has been long time since | have seen
anything of the kind, or heard from the
land. favored with so propitious sign. A
day of clouds and rain, such as will occa-
sionally darken the brightest skies, GEN.
fines me within doors but, happily for
mankind, they are able by various means,
to light their way when it is dark, or gid
at least. the clouds while they stay. For
that purpose employ my pen, and can
die made of Buffalo tallow.
wrote you on my way down the Mis-
sissippi, and designed imposing upon your
good nature, in the same manner when
ever an opportunity offered; fortunately
for you. have seen but few stormy days
though it is not in dark days, alone, that |
remember my friends, or am capable of
doing them faver. The season is con-,
sidered backward, though the fruit trees
have been in bloom for weeks, gardens
made, and corn planted. Ills not so easy
to discover the approach Of spring where
winter is hardly known; where the wood
lands are ever blooming with shrubbery
and flowers, and gay with the songs of
birds. The most striking indication of
change is in the music of the forest we
miss the notes of the robin, bluejay aRd
meadow lark, aad their places are supplied
by the glad songs ofthe martin, mocking-
bird and paroque,, coming back from the
summer valles ofrropic isles, to the happy
scenes of their nativity. What sad havoc
the fall of man has made with the happi-
ness of the world. 1t not only made man
the foe ofhis maker and of his fellow man,
but introduced enmity between himself
and all created things. By sin he became
malicious, murdeTous, and beasts and birds
shun him. niscord, war and death reign,
where, otherwise, there would have been
order, harmony and peace. If a good
understanding existed between man and
his fellow tenants Of this terrestrial bail
if the lion and the lamb slept together,
and the little child fondled, harmlessly, the
rattlesaake, and other venounous reptiles,
the sources Of human happiness would be
innumerable, their extent Unreasonable.
And those birds, companions Of the
spring." as they make their ''annual Wis
its" might bear messages Of friendship
and love, from friend to friend /; be per-
suaded to stag along the path of the wan
derer, or in the tree that shades the door
of our distant houses. We see them de-
part, and fam would accompany them, but
they take barty departure as if from
foe, without ''good bys," or "what
shall tell your folks"l Happy creatures
may they find their nests undisturbed, and
escape, through long bright Summertime
net and the gun of the sportsman
Our southern friends flee from the tor
rid heat of summer, and delight themselves
in the cool breezes of our northern lakes
and mountains. know not why the den.
liens of the north should not escape from
the gloomy skies, the chilling blasts, and
cold SHOWS, by which they are visited in
the changing year, and enjoy through the
inhospitabIe months of winter, the kindly
influence of southern cline. The in
ducement is not found in personal pleasure
alone. Friendships would be formed !;
inequalities reciprocated; courtesies ex-
. changed; and public opinion assimulated
by familiar interchange Of views and
feelings aud harmony introduced be-
tween individuals and states; where, now
ignorance and prejudice are sowing the
seeds of discord and disunion. Pleasing
scenes and associations, beaefcent influ-
ences in society and nature, warm the
heart and awaken sympathies and friend
ship more sincere and faithful. 1t is the
Frightening skies Of April, that looseRs
the icy letters Of the lake and rill, glad
dens the meadows with flowers and cheers
the forest with songs, making glad the
heart of man. No journey could afford
equal pleasure, or be so full of interest to
the northern man. In descending the
Mississippi after the frests of November
have blighted the foliage of the north, we
seem to have passed through the dreary
reign of winter, and nature assumes the
appearance of spring in about the latitude
of Memphis. AS we glide along with the
velocity Of steam, the change from the
gloom of winter to the beautiful hues of
spring, is SO rapid as to bewilder the fan
cy; and, forgetting that the picture is
real, we feel like one wandering in dreams
through q fairy land. The change an
hour brings, is equal to that effected by a
week of April sun and showers. The
sunlighs brightens, imParting more daz-
cling sheen to the broad bosom of the riv-
or the tinge of the forest deepeBs, and
music, of more varied note and livelier
strain. delights the ear as we advance
And, long before we roach New Orleans,
all that is beautiful in the light of summer
clouds and skies. the verdure of forest,
and the bloom Of fowe rs, are enjoyed
! There are other changes the northern
man will observe, not less pleasing and
interesting. We left the strong close built
| farm house, ia the MIDST of leafiess trees