Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1847-02-09


launch into eternities ocean! He pas.
siyely suffered me 10 lead him to my resi-
dence, where he remained several days !;
during which he related tho following in.
cidents in his even,fal career of life: The
place of my nativity, said he, is German
Flats, in the valley of the Mohawk. Tryon
county, now Herkimer county, n. Y. My
education was commenced for the priest
hood, but subsequent events changed the.
views of my parenls, and at the early age
of sixteen, | left the scenes of youthful en-
dearmepts for the tented fields ofthe Rev.
olution, and joined that little band of high
| toned spirits, under tie Immediate com
mand of tho fearless and indetatgabe
Willett. 1t is needless for me to recount
the trials that endured in tina: nemora
bic struggle. but suffice it to say, that
rendered that service to my country, which
entities me to the regard of government
if not to individual responsibility.
After peace was restored TO our war
worn country, and its independence &C
knowledged by the civilized world, was
called into public life and Albany became
my place of residence for many subsequent
years. Although called to fulfil the i'm
portant duties of servant of Sovereign
constituency, which in itselfis considered
not only honorable but pleasing, particu-
larl y to the ambitious, yet to me it was
the commencement Of all existence, ulti.
matsly more intolerable than ten thousand
deat hs, the "kindling of the fire that is
never qnenched" Fashion, the grand
mistress of the Universe, found here in
state; but the din ofbusiness at first pre-
vented me from approaching her avenues,
yet her votaries finally forced me- along
and soon was found floating in her train.
Here for the first time | saw the "Social
Spring" and fashion prompted me to par
take of its highly valued waters; with
friends drank, and with them pronounced
it delicious. But business fDrced me away
for this time but she called again, and |
reluctantly obeyed the summons, yet ]
found the waters fthc spring more refined
than before, and | was induced to pro.ong
my visit.
The. attractions cf(ashion now began TO
render business irksome, and | finally
| came to the conclusion to explore the wa
tiers of this beautiful spring to lis fountain
source. This | soon accomplished, and
found thousands there before me, and was
| told that thousands had left and gone the
road from ''whose bourne no traveller re-
turns" To me this was a sad reality, but
fashion called and | must drink at the
source ofthe Spring: drank and oh! how
delightful. drank again and again but
not from the crystal fount that sprang up
before Hagar-- not from the pool of Be.
thesda, nor the we'll of Sychar, but from
Spring whose fount is as eternal & enGur.
ing as the march Of civilization only. DAILY
| now visited the spring. and the crowd Of
triflers was immense the wild delight
| that reigned in every breast, gave hut little
opportunity for reflection, yet in my tran
quill moments, in my waking dreams, saw
it all. The hardy yeoman, who, like my
self had become spell bound by these en-
chanted waters, gradually lost his hale,
robust appearance 1.-The splendid statesman
whose fire of eloqnence had astonished
an admiring world, soon began to relax,
and the affection of my own nerves at last
aroused my suspicious. examined the
Spring, and 10! a reptile lay engirding
the bottom, whose poison not only pollu-
ted the spring, but when disturbed con.
taminated the very air we breathed. !
proposed to remove the loathsome object
that the visitors might drink and not be
subject to its direful influence but mis-
cradle Shylock looking creature, told me
that he was the proprietor of the spring,
and that the reptile las chose to term it)
must not be removed, as it was that which
supplied the fount, and impaired life, and
enchantment to its waters.
After minute examination Of the rep.
tiles entire locality and habits, became
satisfied of its pes,iferous properties, and
to drink the waters Of the spring was i'm,
and drank again, that might allay the
thirst the fever that now began to rage
within me. e eds
With horror saw many ofmy compeers
leave the spring-well | knew that the
poison of the reptile had done s work !;
they had gone, gone to their long home.
| Nevertheless continued to drink and en-.
tice others to follow my example.
Finally the tide of events called me away
from this scene of death, and was com
missioned !oserve myconstituents in other
and distant countries. went TO France,
that land of glory, whose cannon was
booming DER all continental Europe, pro-
claiming victory, and first liberty to an
enthralled people. At Paris ] was ush-
I cred into the gay troopofEashion, when 10!
a Spring more brilliant than the one had
left was before me. Fashiop-induc me
to test the genuineness of waters, |
drank, and the enchantment was complete.
i When left my home, was orerjoyed
to think that this incubus this eternal fire