The Litchfield County post., 1827-03-22

swelling heart told far more than his voice
could utter. She smiled Osishm through hel
tears, and again turned to expatiate on the
beauties Ofcreation. ~
The vessel glided rapidly forward, and her
track was marked by the waves, that seemed
to want0n in the moonlight. Suddenly the
ship rolled, and the favOrite dog that had been
standing at his masters feet fell OverbOard.-
Campbelrs first impulse was to leap into the
ocean to save him. His wife caught him by
the arm in time enough to prevent the despe-
rate leap. He stood gazing in agony upon the
faithful animal, who, struggling in the water,
made feeble attempt to swim after the ship.
Distress was pictured in the countenance of
the dog, as the vessel rapidly receded from
him. His struggle was hut short, for while yet
In the sight ofthose upon the deck, fearful
yell denoted his fate. The shark that had
followed the essel for hours in the pursuit of
prey, received him in his ravenous Jaws, dis
appeared for asmoment, and then was again
seen following in the track of the ship. Camp
bell remained silent for some time, and his
countenance denoted the deepest Distress
at length he broke silence, and turning to his
wife said, with melancholy smile :
Louisa, do not smile at my superstition,
but feel as if my voyage in this life will ter
inmate before my voyage across the allan
! TIC"
She endeavoured to dispel the melan-
choly idea that had taken possession of his
mind. ~
"You may cali it," he said, weakness,
defect in education, vulgar prejudice, what
you will but surely life and death are not so
widely separated, but that there may be some
cord in this complicated system which shrinks
instinctively at the approach of dissolution,
| and gives warning that the enemy, or as
should term it, the friend, is at hand. Is the
the mind so lavishly bound to, and dependent
on, this corporeal frame, that it, which is to
live to eternity, can receive no intelligence, no
light, but through the senses and organs of
that body which will perish in day, and be
! forgotten in its kindred dust!"
He paused, and taking her hand, proceed
| ed =
the mind be not thus absolutely Deepen
dent on the outward sensesfor intelligence, |
now foretell speedy close to my feverish
existence"
She expostulated against the weakness of
letting the loss of a favourite dog thus deeply
to affect his mind.
"He was but dog, It's true: but 7, Lou
lisa, could better have spared a better friend
If | possess such. He.was the means of
awakng my mind from its present gloomy
state, to scenes of happier days. He has been
my constant companion for ten years. We
have climbed the mountain height together,
where the air was pure and the heart beat
freely; unoppressed by the contaminated at
mOsphere that encircles the haunts of man.
Whole days we have wandered over the wild
mountains, when the circling flight of the ca
gle, as he assembled to purer region, yield
ed inexpressble delight to my young heart
| hon fn1nO SNFk L.. II
rocking on the highest branch of some blight
cd pine hanging over the precipice, was a sight
to arrest attention ;2--when l. shouted with
joyous heart to frighten him from his secure
seat, and he in very mockery mingled his cd,V-
| ings with the echo returned by the surround
ing hills. The sight of my poor dog served to
recall those days of my boyhood and limo
cence; then have not, indeed, bitter cause
to deplore his loss!"
As the night was far advanced they retired
to rest, but the haggard and woe-worn fea-
lures OF Campbell, the following morning.
proved that rest had been stranger to his
pillow. The death of his dog was severely
felt by him, land his mind was strongly impress
sed with the belief that his own death was
near at hand. The superstitions, which in
youth gave an air Of romance to his life, and
were cherished on that account, until they
became part ofhs nature, still maintained do
minion over his mind. undirninished, and Moth
ing could persuade him from the belief. that
he had received natural, or supernatural. i'm
dication, that it was time for him g to set his
household in order" 1.-THE mystical cord
has been touched" said he, there is no mis-
taking the notes there is no mistaking my
feelings" 49,
The day passed, and remarked that his
countenance appeared more serene than
usual.
The evening was calm. and the golden
beams of the setting sun were dancing on the
green bosom of the heaving ocean. Campbell
and his wife were upon deck, as usual, enjoy
ing the scene, and it seemed as if the delight
he experienced at that time compensated for
the load of misery he had cntailed upon him
SELF His eyes glanced rapidly from the heav-
ems, and as the tints in the sky and upon the
water varied, as the sun slowly descended, he
pointed out the change and richness Of color
ing to his wife, who leaned on his arm and
seemed to find more charms in his animated
countenance, than in the beauties ofthe scene.
They were happier on that evening than they
had been at any time since we left the capes
ofthe Delaware happier than at any moment
afterwards.
about sunset the helmsman deserted yes
sci in distress about ten miles distant. As we
approached it proved to be a wreck in most