The ladies' garland. [volume] (Harpers-Ferry, Va. [W. Va.]) 1824-1828, 1825-12-24

heavy mass of obscurity, and the sleep of the
grave seemed to rest on the inhabitants O Hal
ioran cast his eyes round, and beheld the fatal
guest whom he had harboured, standing on the
very summit of the mountain: his cap hatl
fallen off, and his cloak and loose hair streamcd
wildly on the breeze: his hands were stretched
forth. his eyes, bcaming with more than mortal
hTi2ncy, were fixed on the planets which were
rolling IN the canopy above. Again O'ifalloran
bent his glances upon the town, and far and
NFide AS he could see, water was yelling and
yelling, as though the springs of the earth had
broke loose. Suddenly lie Stiffness was dissolv
cd; the bands Of sleep burst asunder; the bells
run5 violently, and lights We're seen flashing to
and fro, from house to house, and from room to
room. Dreadful was the scene that now present
ed itself to the senses OF the appalled, flmily on
the hill the houses were sinking rapidly and
the water was level with the windows on the Sc
cond stories the shouts and screams were ter
rife, and they sounded as the loud cry of wretch
es whose hearts wrung with the last knell Of
hope. The upper windows we're dashed open,
and bands Of the inhabitants issued forth on the
tops OF the houses. and tossed their arms in har
rowing despair, as they bchald retreat cut off
on every side. Lower and still lower sunk the
buildings. till the waters were even high as the
very roofs At that juncture hundreds flung
their fate. vanlY endeay0red to make towards
The land In one place father, encircled by his
children, was butie'ing the tide, and in another
husband. cltspng his Wife, tried to save her
from the danger thrt surrounded them. But it
was indeed yaini The power that invoked their
destruction. defeated their exertons and every
soft. sweet tie of kindred was swept into an in
cyitable ruin. One fearful gurgling shrek arose
from the town; Ol1tllOran's brain felt as if
spinning round; he shut his eyes, and pressed
his hands tightly on his ears, to close out that
sight Of wo. that shrek Of wildering despair:
1T bundled again on the breezes of night. and
then AL sunk into stiffness, broken only at inter
walls by faint pash in the water, as hand or
arm rose to the surface. and waving for a mo
ment sunk heavily in the stream. After the
lapse Of a short time, O EaIoran and his wife
again ventured to gaze upon the scenei All was
gone! and where town had reflected the beams
OF the last evening sun, a darl, deep lake was
now stretching its sullen waters! Lorg, silvery
strea1s of light in the horizon betokcned the
dawning Of morning; and as the thick clouds of
light rapidly rolled into the west and the distant
hills were il'nmined by the first early rays of
the day, O'Halloran looked round for the stran-
ger whose fearful vengeance had called down
the RUIN; but he was gone. and the breeze ONLY
waved the tail weeds where he had stood A
pous ejaculation broke from the lips of O'Hal-
loran. and he prayed with a deep and ardent
and burning intensity for the souls of the deceas
e.. When he had concluded he rose from his
knees, and taking the hands of his companions,
turned his steps far from that scene of destruc-
ton, w'Nrh, to this day, is known by the name
Of LOUGH MORN n