Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-06-02
NV GUARDIAN:
4 SOIdIer,s NarratIye,


was the eldest of three. My eyes FIRST
saw the light Of day just two years pre-
vinus 10 the breaking out of the Mexican
war; so you zee my infsntiIe state prevents
ed my being hero then. Ny childhood
was not marked by any event of striking
importance; but was passed in q manner
characteristic of great mems childoode. /
acquired the rudimente Of common school
education; from The common school passed
to the academic halls Of learning. Here
looming toll cast its shadows before" and
| saw, with dread dismay, the hill Of sci-
ence and the amount Of knowledge up
whose sides lovers Of learning must climb;
but my motto, Knowledge is power" gave
me courage for the task, and / went to
work.
Two years passed away. and my cranium
was stored with the fables of Escp, the
poetical thought of Virgil, aDd the demon
stratIVe powers Of Euclid; slso, in one cor
ner, was moderate pile of Greek roots.-
But, alas "man is being Of impnlse."-
And l was man, or, perhaps, young
gentleman.
The poetical thoughts of Virgil we're
used to gain the hearts of fair maidens.
while the demonstrative powers which
had acquired from Euclid were used to
prove my affection for them.
My table was strewn with "billet doux"
from handsome, sentimental and roguish
girls, and my slate, instead of being cover
ed with proposition Of Lsgendris, was
covered with very poetical proposition to
young lady for walk by moonlight the
ensuing evening.
Thus passed two years. 1t was two
years of heterogeneous vocatioDs.
My parents died when / was young
My sister and brother passed to rest ere /
emerged into my teens. was alone in
the world; alone to crafty my desires,
tastes and whims. The years of my min
GRITTY were gliding swiftly by; would soon
reach an age when would be called q
man.
Reader, you know what guardians are,
don't you? hope so; but not from ex.
Perience. Wasn't it preposterous in me at
that advanced age to accept guardian,
when ! had the privilege of doing as ]
pleased? Let the sequel show. My guar
dian had heard great deal about, but
never had seen him. heard he was i'm
mensely rich, owned great many ships,
and many ether things, which, when ]
look back upon them, seem plain enough,
| though they were very mystifying them
! My guardian, report said, was quite cor
| pulent. So imagined he would be quite
| generous, and honor all my demands on
cash. We always called him Uncle Sam
uel. I'VE signifies my cousins and my
self.) l was eighteen; / had been two
years at the academy; | began to tire of
study. Is it to be wondered at, then, when
| my Dear uncle sent one Of his agents to in
form me if would come under bis protect
ing care, accept him as my guardian for
the remaining three years Of my minority,
he would allow me to giveup study, and
spend my time IN travel. Il didn't know
what travel meant them is to be wondered
pnndered the subject? How grand %
| visit cities of art and science, to wander
among the curiOsities of nature! But l
will not tire you; the picture was dazzling
| consented.
In few days paper was placed in my
hands by the same agent. which be said
must -ign in ratification Of the agreement.
l did 30. ! didu't scrut'nize it very closely
but couldn't help noticing some figures
| on one side, such as one hundred dollars
bounty, thirteen dollars month, etc -
| Concluded they were some remittances
which my uncle designed to forward me
before long, and which was quite desir-
Gus OF receiving, as my pocket change was
very low. gave up study, threw aside
books, and began preparations for travel
ling, expecting every post to bring letter
from my uncle, inviting me to call upon
him previous to starting on my tour of
travel. No letter came.
Reader, need tell you what followed ?
how l soon learned to call Uncle Samuel
/ L.
one who had accepted him as guardian for
three yearsT The remittances came in
due time, and this seemed TO be the only
agreeable thing about tho whole affair
| Well l soon commenced my ., urse oftrav.
ell. ! was provided with great many
things / dOuldn't see the use of. One was
q gun. another leathern concern called a
catridge-bOx, both Of them too heavy for
cOmfort) filled with blue things with pa.
per on one end. But what troubles me
most, have never seen my uncle. l cup.
| pose he's as kind an old gentleman as ever
lived, but don't believe he knows what
his protege has to endure. Then his remit.
fences are often delayed; / can't tell wby.
I'm sure, but suppose it's all right. As 70
travelling, it is faithfully performed, night
and day.
When we inquire who is the cause of
this, we are told Uncle Sam. Now don't
wish to get angry with my dear uncle, but
he ought to be more considerate than to
start Us up at midnight, march Us till
morning, and then give us "hard tack''
and coffee, without ham and eggs, for
breakfast. ! have read works on travel.
but never such system advocated as the
one adopted BY my uncle. He let me have
my remittances in gold at first, but now it
is q lot Of green paper.
He Gays he is giving me military edu>
cation, but think it's q dangerous study.
besides the discomfort experienced. But
III try to reconcile myself to the improves
ments of the age, trusting everything is ell
right, only hoping that he will hurry up
those remittances which have been due me