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

grave seemed to rest on the inhabitants O'Hal-
loran cast his eyes round, and beheld the fatal
guest whom he had harboured, standing on the
very summit Of the mountain: his cap had
fallen off, and his cloak and loose hair streamed
wildly On the breeze; his hands were stretched
forth, his eyes, beaming with more than mortal
brlancy, were fixed on the planets which were
rolling III the canopy above. Again O'Halloran
bent his chances upon the town, and far and
wide as he could see, water was yelling and
yelling, as though the springs of the earth had
broke loose. Suddenly the stiffness was dissolv-
cd: the bands OF sleep burst asunder; the bells
sung violently, and lights were seen flashing to
and tro, from house to house, and from room to
room. Dreadful was the scene that now present
ed itself to the senses of the appalled, family 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
rifle, and they sounded as the loud cry of wretch
es whose hearts wrung with the last knell of
hope. The upper windows were 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 beheld 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
themselves INTO the stream, and, struggling with
their fate, vainly endeavored to make towards
the land. In one place a father encircled by his
children, was buffeting the tide, and in another
a husband, clasping his wife, tried to save her
from the danger that surrounded them. But it
was indeed VAN! The power that invoked their
destruction, defeated their eXertions and every
soft, sweet tie of kindred was swept into an in
eytable ruin. One fearful gurglng shrek arose
from the town; O'Halloran's brain felt as if
spinning round; he shut his ewes. and pressed
his hands tightly on his ears, to close out that
sight of wo,-that shrek of wilderng despair:
1t sounded again on the breezes of night, and
then all sunk into stiffness. broken only at inter
walls by faint plash In the water as a hand or
arm rose to the surface, and waving for mo-
ment sunk heavily in the stream After the
lapse of short time, O'IIalloran and his wife
again ventured to gaze upon the scene! All was
gone! and where town had reflected the beams
OF the last evening sun, dark deep lake was
now stretching its sullen waters Long, silverv
streaks of light in the horizon betokened the
dawnlng of morning; and as the thick clouds of
tight rapidly rolled into the west and the distant
hills were illumined by the first early RAYS of
the day, O'Halloran looked round for the stran-
ger whose fearful vengeance had called down
the rum; but he was gone, and the breeze only
waved the tall weeds where he had stood A
plous 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
ga. 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. which to this day, is known by the name
Of LOUGH MORN. r.