The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-09-29
A THUNDERSTORM,
Among the highlands of Scotland.

An enormous rhunder-cloud had lain all
tay- over Ben-Nevis, shrouding its summit
in thick darkness, blackeping its sides and
base, wherever they were beheld from the
surrounding country, with masses OF deep
shadow. and hinging down weight OF gloom
upon that magnificent glen that bears the
same name with the mountain, till now the
afternoon was like twilight, and the voice of
all the streams was distinct in the breathless-
ness of the vast solitary hollow. The inhab-
tants of all the straths, vales, glens. and
dells, round aifd-about the monarche Scot
tish mountains, had, during each successive
hour, been expecting the roar of thunder and
the deluge of rain; but the huge conglom-
Grafton of lowering clouds would not rend
asunder, although it was certain that calm
blue sky could not be restored till all that
dreadful appendage had melted away into
torrents, or been driven off by strong wind
from the sea.
All the cattle on the hills, or in the hol-
lows, stood still or laid down ii their fear
the wild deer sought in herds the shelter of
TIE pine-covered cliffs-the raven hushcd
his hoarse croak in some grim cavern, and
the eagle left the dreadful silence Of the up
per heavens. Now and then the shepherds
| looked from their huts, while the shadow of
the thunder-clouds deepened the hues of
/; their plaids and tartans; and every creak-
| ing of heavy branches of the pines, or wide
armed oaks in the solitude of their inacces-
sible rth-place, the hearts of the lonely
! dwellers quakcd, and they lifted up their
ewes to see the first wide flash--the dispart-
| ing of the masses of darknos--and paused
to hear the long, loud rattle of heavens ar
ti!lery, shaking the foundation of the ever
lasting mountains. But all was yet silent.
The peal came at last, aud it seemed as it
an earthquake had suote the silence. Not
tree-not blade of grass moved, but the
blow stunned, as it were the heart of the
solid globe. Then there was a low, wild,
whispering, waiing voice, as of many spirits
all joining together from every point OF hea-
ven-and then the rushing of rain was
heard through the darkness; and, in few
minutes, down came all the mountain tor
rents in their power, and the sides OF all the
sleeps were suddenv sheeted ftr and vide,
with waterfalls. The eiemeht Ut water was
let loose to run it's rejoicing rare--a4ld th at
of fire lent it ilumnations whether sweeping
in floods along .sne great open straths. or
tumbiing isycateracts from cliffs overhang-
ing the eegle' eyrie.*
/ Great iayers were suddenly iiooded--and
the little mountain rivulets,r few minutes
4 before,only silver threads and in whose fai-
4 rys Basins the minnow played, were now
jsscarcely fordable to shepherds feet. 1t was
time for the strongest to take shelter, and
none now would like to have issued from it;
for while there was real danger to lite and
/ limb, in the many raging torrents, and IN the
llightning's flash, the imagination and the
soul themselves were touched with awe
in the long resgsmding glens, and beneath the
savage scnwl Of the angry sky. 1t was such
a storm as becomes an area among the noun
/, tains; and it was felt that before next morn
ing there would be loss OF liyes--not only
among the beasts that perish, but among hui
man beings overtaken by the wrath OF thai
, Irresistible tempest.
! ~Ey, in the first syllable ofthis word, has the
f same sound as in they.