Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-03-17
MISCELLANY.
THUNDER-PRooF CASTLE.
From the CatshiH Recorder. I

Some forty years ago, the first frame
house was raised in apleasant little town
on the Connecticut, bya Mr.. Flintwho
with his newly welded partner, began
their fortunes in it, with as fair pros
pect ofhappiness 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
piness alone in the round of affiuence.
They were both illiterate and poor.
The ideal happiness, not only of indi-
viduals, but of families, and even great
| nations, is often overthrown 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 trifling in itself,
threw gloom over their lives, and
transformed smiling couple into the
melancholy devotees of sorrow.
Itwas pleasant day in 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 at the door At the customary
answer "walk in" the door opened, and
hideously deformed old woman made
her appearance, and seated herself.
The novelty Of fortune teller unlucki-
ly drew an unguarded expression from
the wife, while at table, at which, it's
presumed, the old Sybil was secretly
offended and it may be seen in the Sc
quel, that it proved a fruitful source OF
trouble to the family for many years.
Dinner being ended, and an oppor-
tunity offered to consult their oracle,
they by turn passed the examination Of
the fortune teller, and received their
future destinies from her lips; but as
none of them have any bearing upon
our story but Mrs. Flint's, we will not
presume to unroll their fata,-farther
than our present purpose demands.
GIN less than one year," said the old
bag, "you will give birth to son. He
will be a 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. BUTT did
not bring with it the joy that generally
accompanies such boon. From the
day of his birth, Henry Flint, for so he
was named) was nursed with many az
anxious sigh, and was the subject OF
many a dreadful dream. Had any &C
cident befallen him. or had he had 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 circum-
stances, which ought to awake the gra-
titude of parents, only made his more
wretched, as they seemed so complete
ly to accord with the augury Of the old
fortune teller. Henry was placed at a
grammar school, and no pains were
spared to fit him for the sacred desk ;
place to which his early piety and
natural capacity seemed to destine
him.
By his persevering inquiry, he found
the cause of the melancholy that hung
over his parents enjoyments; but he
manifested total disregard of such
predictions, which his better judg,
aenrand education had taught him to
despise. He strove with all his inge-
nuity to convert them to reason, and
omitted no opportunity to bring the
inventions of such gypsies into ridicule,
But the day was fast approaching; and
he had already entered the eighteenth
year without any other fruits of his Ia
bours, than deeper and more constant
| gloom on the minds offarmer Finland
his wife. Having found fruitless all
his attempts to bring the bugbear from
their imaginations, he desired, with a
| firm determination to think no more a
boutit. Many were the councils and
consultations at farmer Flint's cottage,
! to devise ways and means to ward oh
the burst of fate. 1t was at last deter.
mined to build retreat, or castle, Il
we may so call it, which should be proof
against the destructive elements, and
on the fatal day to lead him in there
| for safety. This was to be built, with
out any regard to expense, Of such ma
terials as had been proved by observa-
ton to escape the effects of lightning,
and on the lowest spot of ground near
the cottage and Henry had so far con-
sented to this plan as to let them go on
without ridicule, for hitherto he had
ridiculed every foolish whim as far as
decency to his parents would allow.
The trying day at last came. Mr.
Flint,s family arose, after sleepnes'