Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-01-19
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From the Cattskill Recorder.
T,HUNDER-PROOF CASTLE

J
house was raised in a pleasan. little
town on the Connecticut, by MI. Flint,
who, with his newly welded partner,
began their fortunes in it, with as fair
prospects of happiness perhaps as any
family in all New Hampshire. Mr.. and
Mrs. Flint were not of that class who find
solid enjoyment alone in the depths of
science, nor of that order, who see hap
piuess alone III the round Of affluence.
They were both illiterate and poor
The ideal happiness, not only of iDdi-
vidnals but of families, and even great
nations, is often overthrow by single
breath of wind. So it Jared with the
Flint family. They had not inhabited
their new dwelling quite year, when
an incident, very triAing in itself, threw
a gloom over their lives, and transform
ed smiling couple into the melancholy
devotees of sorrow.
1t was pleasant day 10 the month of
June, and the family, consisting of Mr..
and Mrs. Flint, hired labourer, and a
servant girl, were on the point Of sitting
down to dinner, when rap was heard
al the door. At the customary answer
walk in," the door opened, and hid
eously deformed old woman made her
appearance, and seated he.~slf. The
novelty of a. fortune teller unluCkily
drew an unguarded expression from the
wife, while at table, at which. it is pre-
sumed, the old Sybil was secretly Offend
ed; and it may be seen in the sequel,
that it proved a fruitful source of trouble
to the family for many years.
Dinner being ended, and an opportu-
9ity offered to consult their oracle, they
" turns passed the examination of the
brtune teller, and received their future
estinles from her lips; but as none Of
item have any bearing upon our story
bit Mrs. Flint's, we will not presume to
'nfold the roll of fate, further than our
PRESENT purpose demands.
{" In less than one year" said the old
Ing, "you will give birth TO a son. He
will be very bright and promising
; Child, and when he is eighteen years,
FIVE months and eight days old, he will be
killed by lightning" The year rolled
round, and brought with it the promised
son. But it did not bring with it the joy
that usually accompanies such BOOM
From the day of his birth, Henry Flint,
Cor so he was namely was nursed with
many an anxious sigh, and was the sub.
jet of many dreadful dream. Had any
accident befallen him, or had he been a
dull, sterile mind, the credit of the pre-
diction would have lost ground, and his
parents might have rested in peace
But it was not so. He was of a quick
and penetrating genius, and discovered
early stability of judgment, far above
, his age; he was always healthy, cheer
. full and fortunate, and these circumstan
ces, which ought to awake the gratitude
of parents, only made has more wretch
ed, as they seemed so completely to &C
cord with the augury of the old fortune
teller. Henry was placed at grammar
school, and no pains were spared to fl
him for the sacred desk place tc
which his early piety and natural capa
f city seemed to destine him. By his per
severing activity, he found out the cause
, of the melancholy that hung over hi
parents enjoyments; but he manifested
a total disregard of such predictions
f which his better judgment and education
t had taught him to despise. He stroy'
with all his ingenuity to convert then
to reason, and omitted no opportunity +
bring the inventions of such gypsies int
: ridicule. But the day was fast approach
5 ing; and he had already entered tn
: eighteenth year without any other fruit
Of his labours, than deeper and NOR
! constant gloom on the minds of farme
= Flint and his wife. Having found fruit
: less all his attempts to bring the bugbea
from their imaginations, he desistet
: with firm determination 10 think D
: more about it. Many were the council
: and consultations at farmer Flint's col
! tage, to devise ways and means TO war
, off the butts of fate. 1t was at least de
! termined to build retreat, or castle,
J we may so call it, which should be proc
, against the destructive elements, and o
A the fatal day, to lead him in there 70
: his safety. This was to be built, with
out any regard TO expense, of such ma
terials, as had been proved by observe
ton to escape the effects Of lightning
3 and on the lowest spot of ground hea
} the cottage; and Henry had SO far cor
r sented to this plan as to let them go o
: without ridicule, for hitherto he had rid
iculed every foolish whim as far as de
2 cnncv 10 his narents would allow.