Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-02-09
JOLIET, ILLINoIs, FEBRUARY5.o 8, 1917. g

erage to thousands, YET drank and re-
peated the draught, vainly endeavoring to
quench the fire, to ,appease the worm that
was gnawing at my vitals. +.taas a.l 4
Time the grand umpire Of creation.
rolled on ceaseless and unimpaired bring
ing epheneral joys to some, to others a
message from the unknown world, while
] was left to epitomise and review my wild
career, and turn from the error of my ways
and walk erect as one ofthe noble works
of God. But alas my doom vas sealed.
The Spring and the reptile was ever be-
fore me and | drank deep. yet my thirst
remained unsuitable. At last received
intelligence that my Government required
my immediate presence at Rome, | re.
paired to Italy flattering myself that that
sweet sunny land would prove an asylum,
balm to my wounded spirit, but even in
the Eternal City. / found the Spring of
Death, and full we'll knew that the can
ker worm was there. After the execution
of my mission at Rome, visited Vienna,
when the crowned heads of Europe had
congregated to dispose of the grandeur of
The fallen Emperor; and here my embassy
ceased. had served my country abroad
for years, and now wished to seek reposs
such as is only found in the private walks
OF life. But even here the detested spring
was before me, and must drink of its
poison at last resolved to flee from its
presence, travelled DER the most of Eu.
rope and ASIA,
' "Knocked at the gates, -.. ...
Of the cities Of the world
Yet ever met the spring with the loalh-
some worm nestled in its bosom. Final.
ly returned 10 my native land, 10 the
home ofmy childhood, and oh God even
in that once happy vale, the pride of NY
ancestors, the Eldorado of the Mohawk,
on the very site where once stood the
Chieftain's wigwam, on the little hill
whose top was ensconced by the old Fort
during our Revolutionary struggle, issued
the fatal spring whose waters were as un-
intermitting as the march ofcivilized men.
But even here en- The graves of my fathers
Ipartook of its waters.
The changes that time had wrought in
my absence, was almost incalculable.
Most ofmy old associates had passed away
and with their notions, political, as well 5
private. and of course was dropped from
the political calendar, as one to- ancient
10 be useful, and those installed who had
participated in Rip Van Wrinkle repose;
now became constant visitor of the
spring, with unnatural eagerness quaffed
the maddening bowl, again and again
drank that | might quench the fire that
was literally consuming my vitals. At
last came to the bold determination to
flee from the presence ofmy inveterate en-.
envy, the abhorred Spring. plunged in
| to the western wilds, but firm and steady
the civilian pursued, carrying with him
the unrelenting reptile of the spring, that
ne might embrace every favorable oppor
tunity to apply the cup of death to his
brothers Ii ps. With determination never
to return to my home, or even to inform
my few remaining friends of my ca thly
continuance, paused not until reached
the confines of the broad prairies of the
west, where alone the red man roamed
happy and contented receiving the boun.
ties of the "Great Spirit" with gratitude
and mirth. Twenty years repose on the
broad prairie of Illinois, has not in the
least aPPeased the burning appetite with
in me or cooled the fever of my bursting
brain, Twenty years have elapsed since
resolved to avoid the abode of civilized
man, and even now while in your midst.
my soul is on fire, am in search of the
spring, the fouEt ofwhich is the Distillers
Worm-the Worm that never dies.