Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-02-22
Written for the HERALD
PARADIsE.
BylHugh Whiting

Let me introduce you. Now do not
imagine fancy flight to regions ether
ial, an apocalyptic vision.
"ProeR! procpl, este prcfani!" is bla-
2 ID on IA. folded scroll of such a
tn, To-. Au y, imagine at the word
Par, Sc til, eight or ten acre patch
wher, our III, lnrents passed their hon
ey-mo D.,
introduced you TO one of the boys |
in blue--a soldier of the Republicans
brave lad as ever marched up to the
mouth of cannon. And to interest
you further in him, good reader of the
HERALD, he was Green Mountaineer.
He was, perhaps, an acquaintance or
relation of yours, or your next door
neighbor. Not TO crafty your curiosity
which has no right to be gratihed-l
shall not tell you his town or county or
regiment; neither his real name. He
was, rest assured, bona tide individual,
cheerful, merry and bright as the sun
shine, which is by far the cheerfulest,
merriest and brightest thing know of
In the world. But the sun sometimes
shines behind the clouds. Not so with
Paradise; there were never any clouds
in his face. 1t was always beaming;
hence the soubriquet of Paradise. He
was never in bad humor in his life;
mot even, believe, when he cut his
teeth, when every mortal has a sover-
eign right TO be cross and squally. Good
humor was constitutional with him.
How unfortunately and lamentably con-
stituted are some of us Now the very
people for whom l mean this hint will
no more take it to themselves thnn if
they were as amiable as our hero. In
spite Of all my own excessive sweetness
of temper. owe these same individuals
a monstrous grudge. But | have no
wish to become iratc in my feelings, or
prosy in my story over them.
Paradise had q wonderful liking for
the ladies, which is not wonderful in it
self, for think all men are so inclined
more or less "Know thyself" is the
ancient motto. Ladies, l am an old
bachelor; q very indifferent sort of d
fellow in d general way but | know
the sight of those pretty feet which I
see 90 plainly under that looped-up
skirt. The motion Of q delicate hand,
the futter of a curl, sets my heart o
thumping great deal harder than did
the first newspaper puff Of my articles.
History, l believe, tells us nothing of the
love sCrapes Of that glum old phioso-
pher, DiogeneS but | believe 1t was all
on account of some pretty face that
would not smile upon him that he shut
himself up in tub, aud was so dis
gusted with the world, | have seen the
time when could have shut myself up
IN tub, and have made myself as dis
agreeable as he, but everybody knowing
the circumstances of my being Tilted by
the girl on whom l had placed my affec-
tons, should never have gained the
credit OF being philosopher.
But to return to Paradise. He was
as I said before fond of the ladies to a
wonderful degree. He was volunteer,
raw recruit. 1t was the commence
p1ent Of the war, and he was out on a
picket, pacing his beat TO and fro, along
the bank of a broad creek. On the op-
posito side, just in sight, was small
plantation house.
Wonder who lives in that house 7"
oueried Paradise of himself, stopping
to whistle. Thought l saw cou-
pie OF girls Just now on the piazza, was
the language of the whistler to himself.
Sure enough two girls came down the
steps toward he creek, just opposite our
hero.
;cwish that creek was dry land !" he
soliloquiaed.
Down they came and waved their
handkerchiefs, which Paradise returned
by military salute.
Come over" shouted the girls: e..
Cant, on daty." hallooed back Para
disc.
"Dou't make bit OF difference, said
the girls. "The pCkets come over ev-
cry day Come over and get some sup
per-"
Do come" said the prettiest 40
sweetly; we've got h0t cakes aud hou.
ey for supper"
Paradise besitated: looked at the
creek. Cant step it,"
'Oh ! I'll bring over tho bateau, said
the eldest.
She quickly dlseusaged it, concealed
IN the bushes, and shot across the creek.
Paradise got In and rowed back.
o! Paradise, Paradise it sounds very
badly to say you deserted your duty.
But there isreallys great deal of excuse
FOR you.
First; The precedence of example =;
the old sttry Of Adam and the apple
you know. And Paradise is much more
TO be pardmed than Adam. Adam was
citizen. Paradise was soldier, Ad-
am had the fruit Of the garden on which
TO dine. Paradise lived on soldiers ra.
aons.i And then Eve offered Adam only
an apple, which doubt not was both
sour md hard. He tasted. What would
he haze done had he been q soldier and
been offered hot cakes with honey2 1t
is my opinion, not only would he have
tasted, but the cook would have to have
been kissed.
Paradise we have pleaded your cause.
vi arh toI IL II lad