Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-10-13
NV INDEPENDENCE.DAY.

NV INDEPENDENCE-DAY.
The 4th of July, 1868, with ell the hal
lowed associations of the past and its prom.
Use in thy thrObbiL z present, has passed
away; but it came to me so Greighted with
the memory Of az eveDtful day in nv life
that | cannot sail smoothly on with old
Tempus without first unburdening myself
Trusting that now and then some fretted
teaveler as he journeys on may be teTrpted
to reep into and profit By my budget,I cast
it upon the highway.
i bad been dining out. The meats served
on the occasion were good, the wines So
perb, the speeches brilliant, and, better
than all my own unprecedented remarks,
which, by singular coincidence, had
haunted me for the past four DAYS, had been
received with decided eclGt 1t was on the
night of the Sd of July. 1855. The show
| windows were gorgeous with their display
OF IRE works. and multiplication of the gas
lights the ruckets and pin wheels seemed to
be having premature frOlic on their own
acc unit.
On the whole. felt peculiarly happy
and amiable. A bright eyed, rosy beggar
child asked me Cor sixpence she was star
wing she said. My heart was touched and
threw her a small handful. of silver
hree young gentlemen came swaying arm
in arm along the sidewalk, i1stling me
rather roughly. AT any other time might
have been indignant; but now, were thew
not men and brOtherst | bowed grace.
fully, and at the same time, i fel: confident.
with dignity, and stepped off the curbstone
to allIv them to pass. At last | reached
my own door. The lock was out of order.
for my key would not turn it. ! rang first
the door-fnOb, then the bell. Violently. Nv
next-door neig hbor, Mr.. Green, came to the
doer in his calico wrapper.
'Ah, Mr. Green exclaimed, steadying
the lettering door post, delighted t'see you
Is my wife IMP
Mr. Green seized me somewhat roughly
by the arm, thereby seriously incOnvenien-
cling me, las he pinched about cOnsidera-
bly,. and led me to a neighbUring door.
Where is your Dight-key, Mr.. F-Y
he asked, grutfly.
There were about six pockets in my vest
on that occasion but after while dis
covered the right one, and produced the
key. with a pnlite bow.
The next instant found myself inside
the door closed. and the only visible link
between mysel: and the second story swing
ing violently backward and forward in the
shape of dying jet suspended from the
ceiling My effort to resuscita:e the spark
resulted in total darkness.
After grouping about for while found
the stairway. and clutching the baster,
commenced to ascend. This fact ! atten.
ded with so much difficulty that was in
duced to bring the full force Of nv reason.
ing powers to bear upon the Ierf rmance,
and soon discovered that had been trying
to mount the bat-rack. Abandoning the
enterprise, with q smile of superiority over
my weaker SELF proceeded in my search,
and finally planted my foot firmly upon the
lowest step. Alas! step number two co.,
Vlnced me OF my error, and our tommy's
new velOcipede toppled over with crach.
casting me PROSTATE beside it. Then ]
saw fash of light. and soon, approaching
nearer, las though let down by q rope from
the upper regions, tho white.rObed grace
full form of my oldest daughter Kitty
Rising and offering her my arm we ascend.
ed the stairs together. AS she left me at
the room door turned end solemnly gave
her my paternal blessing. She was yisibly
affected, even bursting into tears and ex-
claiming oh, fatherp as she hurried
Rway.
The next morning found myself on the
spare-roOm bed with all nv clothes on, ex
cept my cravat aud one boot. The cravat
was on the hearth and the boot Vas on the
manaepiece. Guns were booming, fire.
crackers were suapBiOg, the din of powder
and merry voices filed the air. / could
hear my own youngest shouting out Justify
in the garden, and in the hall the first
bell was tiDgliDg its summons through the
house.
TWAS the 4th of July sure enough. and
l, as head of Tire family, must present N.Y.
self in suitable array at the breakfast.table
and inaugurate the jollities of the day. /
seized the boot IN one hand and cravat in
the other, and proceeded meekly to the ap-
artment generally used in common By Mrs.
F. and myself.
'Ab {! Mrs. F. said /, bowling rather
sheepisbIy 10 my attempt to pass the affair
Of as joke, Woodworking, ma'aml
'GOod-mOrDing john replied my wife,
quietly, not shade Of crossnsss 10 her
tone i must 60 down anG watch the
children or they may do some mischief with
their pistols and 6recrackers; but come to
breakfast as soon as you cam
With these words she left the room.
was almost sorry that she didp't scold or
go on a little concerning my epres. This
cad, gentle way of speaking made me uu-
comfortable, cough and strut about the
room as | would, for knew we'll enough
the pain and disgust gnawing at her heart
ana that during the past year had given
ner too frequent cause for the approaches
that meyer Dame though was prepared to
receive them after offence.
Cold water, however, aud clean clothes
braced me up somewhat, and soon after the
second belP rang / strobe maiesticsIIv
through the balls, severe 10 my dignity as
head of the household. Reaching the haze
msnt door. paused moment, half dread.
ing to meet the rows of young faces on eitF.
er side Of the table, end my wifs's sweet
pale countenanOe beaming go quietly over
them all This momeptaFy weakness over.
with pom eOus 'ahem' l mqsteEeT the re.
qpisite manner and. entered.
There was no one at the table, epd only
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