Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-03-03
rTsanslated from che FFsneh for The Methodist.
THE SENTINEL. ~


Once upon a time there was young
pringe named Ferdinand. Everybody
loved him, and be wgs constantly receig-
ing rich presents. Bat among them all
nothing pleased him 50 much as an au-
top1eton aGrenadier,9 fnsI figure,
about three feet and half high, and
moved by very ingenious mechanism.
The figure could carry arms," "rest,
and, siAdsed, could 20 tbroagh many
steps Of drill When It's task duty was
over, II would put out it, hand as If to
shake hands. 1t had very martial face,
quite IA keeping With It's we'll proportion
ed and soIdier-like body. 1t had dark
completion. brown eyes, full Of fire, sur
mounted by eyebrows, black gand well
arched, and aquilIne nose, expressive
lips, covered With thick mustaches. The
right cheek showed sabre cut sztehcs
ing from the ear to the mouth, and the
forehead Was Marked bytwo large scars. /
In short, the sntomaton was q perfect /
lhkeuess of one Of those brave 86rena-
tlfers of the Guard that the prince loved |
so much. and that he desired to conduct |
one day 10 the field Of honor, l5zl5
The prince named. tbe figure "Troca-
dero," and 'Trocadero for time oc-
cupied all biz thoughts. He had a bark
Ing, dog, q magic lantern, and many
other toYss but they we're all neglected
Even the elegant carriage With the white
horse III which lie took daily drive
were absolutely nothing compared to his
dear "Trocadero'o Did The automaton
roll his large eyes, the prince saw in the
tnUtion a threat for the enemies Of his
Ac6dntry All day long the prince could
be heard saying "Carry armsf' "Tro-
eadero, give me your hand And the
adtonatou obeyed az If By magic. The
prince himself cleaned the weapons for
Trocadero; be curled with the greatest
care his beaatifaI mustaches, brushed
bis utfifofm, and made sure that his car
fridge box watiif GOOD order.
AZ last the prince made his grenadier
G his night sentinel EgefS evening on
retiring to Fssl be drew rrocadero near
bis bed, spoke low to him in the ear,
and said afterwards, with tone Of satis-
faction: Now can sleep quietly, he
has the coantersign. lnthe morning he
would ask the sentinel, who be knew
wen had never removed from his post,
all thathad passed during a. night;
aud Immediately be added Nth dignity;
Hdsenadier, / am satisfied with your
; service, and If ysuaeoniinae faithful ]
shall charge myself With demanding for
you Of your General the cross Of honor.
Trocadero moved then his eyes and lips,
and seemedlto thank bis young protec-
tor for 80 much goodness. But one
morning When the prince on walking de-
manded his usual report, be vas aston
ished to see that the automaton, IA hold
ing out his hand presented him with a
written paper. Unfortunately, Ferdin'
and scarcely knew bis letters, and foi
the first time he felt sorry aud ashamed
I beeause be couidfot read q He took the
paper turned il over and over hundred
different ways, and burned in vain viii
the desire To- know what It contained
Suddenly he heard Is sister, ayearoldei
thnu himself who came rs usual to ioir
in play with him, and he begged her Il
read the mysterious writing The younl
princess hastened to saiisfy Der brother
who she loved dearly
She unfolded the paper aud and read
these weTds, q Ballalin- of the conduct o
the prince during yesterday"
ut is singular, said Ferdinand :" fro
cadero'a duty was simply TO watch oyei
that which should pass around M durin.
the night
Apparently, my brother, he has re
ceived the order TO observe also tina
which you may do daring the day. Lis
TEN The prince on rising has carrie'
his playfalness so far as TO annoy Oh
servant who assisted to dress him.
Nff "a fr.a fpy atatot hsfB / tavn aatss.
his pardon and we are reconciled'
y eThe prince shared his breakfast will
an old veteran Of the Guard who ha,
been brought to him"
Nothing more Just; he permitted IN
the other day, whilas walking in the park
-. 20 eat some OF his soup, which Appearel
20 me delicious, and wish 10 make
return 1Ha fnamfHlI6ata
"The prince in playing with his sabr,
touched bis sisters foot"
"But threw myself at once upon N,
e knees and kissed the place where has
the misfortune to strike you.
"fhe prince was unwilling 20 read q
even to name bis letters.
"Oh, in that was very wrong, but / wis
IS so much to apply myself. that very sool
hope 10 be able to read everything tina
is written for me
Ia fine. the daily bulletin of the sen
tinel told With serupulons exactnes
what the young prince did or said from
the time he got up until he went to led
But az the number OF the good action
ss was very many more than those Of u,
bad, and as even-these were only Ia
passing effect Of petulance or giddiness
Il v,afI Il ~, a
began to reflect thoroughlyupon his can
duct, aud, when be found impstienes o
anger rising, he glanced at the sentias
and said to himself; "frooadero wi
not fail to put oil that in his bulletins
The young princess, his sister, becam
tho discreet cenfdant to her brother
reading to him exactly all that he ha
done the previous day. -.
Ferdinand became very anxious {
find out the mysterious writer of 8
these faithful revelations He knev
well that a simple automation had n
intellectual faculty, and could not 81
prove or blame everything that chill
said or did during the day. he eoal
not make out anything about it. pro
cadero had not the power 10 say VIII
the person was who each morning de
hyered to him the writing. Il was nee
essary then 10 resign himself with
good grace, to keep in his apartment
that faithful witness of all his actions
and for some time he had to be indeb
ed to the kindness Of his charming siste
to know the criticism or eulogium tha
was made of his conduct But the youn
princess was neither less hyslyn nor les
loud of fun than her brother, and NOR
than once she laughed ut his expense i
Y reading certain revelations thatthe ser
tinel made. More and more Ferdinan
. felt the necessity of knowing how I
read. He redoubled his zeal and appl
q cation, and at the end of two months B
could make out very we'll indeed ia
daily account, which was generally wri
=. !.