Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1864-05-03
ADVENTURES OF A BASHFUL
MAN,

Harry Gordon Singleton made his debut
into the world en- Friday. We deem this
fact worth chrnGicling, since it was an
eyaC:, Of Importance to cur hero, and he
chese we hope to show to urbslievers that
the Old saw about the unluckiness of Fri
day'i correct. From his very birth, Harry
was stigmatizod He was an exceedingly
pretty babe, fair umplexioned, brown
haired, plump and rosy; but be was en-
dowed with a heritage far worse than
humpbnck, club foot, or a ssquint eye
he was basbful! !, hen the ladies came to
look at him in his cradle, and to call him
little beauty-the express image of his pa,
the little sweet wO uld iuvariab bly, put his
fat fist into his mouth aud hide his inter-
eSting face " the pillow.
Mrs. Singleton-a fair faced, handsome
wOmsn-regroted very greatly this unfor-
tunate trait in the temperament of her be-
loved first born. and used every endeavor
to break bin of it, but without success, and
Harry grew up to youth the most bashful
and retiring of human beings. He was,
also singularly unluoky. No child ever
received so many thumps and bumps since
the fall of Adam bis lrrebesd was q popu-
lous srcb@pelago of blue. yellow and black
bruises, in various stages of eolering.
When there was company ut the house,
Harry generally retired TO an unoocupied
room in the attic, where, having enscOned
himself in the bed which stood there, be
passed the day reading some old novel or
book of history, picked out OF the great
chest in the garrett used for the repository
Of rubbish; or, by way of variation, be
some times took refuge in the barn, and
snuggly hidden on the hsymow, spsut the
time in silent meditation on bis unfortu-
nate destiny. He would walk q mile
around through the fields to avoid meeting
young lady; and when in the street if he
heard the sound Of wheels he would lear
over the wall or fence and lie prone or
| the ground until the vehicle had passed
by,
As he grew older he lost none of biz
peculiarities, aud before he was sixteer
years Of age, bis mothers' chief diffieu lty
was s s.A fear that he would live an old bach
~. Hundreds of silver dollars could no
have induced S;;Iu to speak to girl Of hi
age, and his father was obIIgeu 70 toregt
his purpose Of sending him to the Whithe
stoWn Academy, and have him educated
at boys school.
But notwithstanding Harry's excessiv
bashlulness, be grew up to be 6ne felloV
brave, generous and handsome, an
there was not girl in town that would nc
have felt herself honored by his preference
Harry, however, stood aloof from all th
female sex, and as natural consequence
he was the subject of numberless practices
jokes, and the happiless occasion of contit
ual gigging among the gay girls at I'd
singing school.
When Harry was nineteen Rosalie Wa
ers came to Whitestown to pass some tim
With her aunt, Mrs. Judge Flanders
Rosalie was pretty bright eyed, MISCHIEF
Gus fairy of seventeen, and If the trut
must be confessed, she took quite likin
to Harry Singleton but of course waB tC
much of a oOquette to allow Harry to guei
it. He, on his part, thought himself des
IN love, though he dared not raise his eye
to the peerless face Of his guiding STAR
: For whole days he raeked his brain, plan
ming how he should address her, but with
, out deciding upon anything definite. %
night at a singing school bold idea fash
ed across his brain; its very bOldness mad
il seem very practicable. He would offt
T TO escort Resale home!