The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-11-19

So'uNi sui. AND alter they have made thu
1fiai' my word for it, if they survive, thev
: VIII at least so far question the correctness
OF tnelr theory as to adopt the more ratjona
CONCLUSION, that, if drowning be the easies
metho'l OF dying, they had better live sober.
" ana honestly, say their prayers, and cling
10 ire as long as they can with honor.
me scenes of my boyhood were in the
vaiiey yoming--lendered classic ground
ny one OF the sweetest minstrels of the
fage-and really, poetry aside, one of the
sweetest and iovellest spots in creation
was swimmer from my very infancy up.
and, at the period of which | am now going
10 speak, could sport amongst the pillows
IKE dolphin. Not that would compare
! fnyseii with Leander or Lord Byron. Still.
mad been on one side of the Hellespont. on
moonlight night, and seen the beautiful
prlestess of Sestos, Reckoning to me with
torch from the other, think should have
hazarded as much as he of Abydos did for
blove. OF Byron for fame.
| but, be that as it may, with me and NV
youthful companions at Wyoming, to leap
INTO the deep clear flood, and buffet its
waves as they dashed up impetuously, was
one OF our cleverest sports. Fifty of us in a
row, with a run and frogs leap from the
verge OF precipitous rock, oftensuccessively
plunged into the deep Susquehanna beneath
us. The fayorite spot for these aquatic
sports, was one where the torrent dashed
wildly and furiously over narrow rocky
ped, and, eddying round a steep promontory,
distance.
on one of these occasions, my foot slipped
on the ledge. lost the curve, and the wa
ter hurt me as | fell upon it. NY legs felt
suddenly as If they were no longer fit for
swimming. Their sinews were contracted.
and was fast hurried from the shore by the
current. For time, moderate exertion
OF my arms served to keep me afloat.
numbness began to creep over me. Nv
tongue, however, was not compressed, nor
silent. My cries were loud for help. and
my appeals were vehement as the PARALYSIS
increased, and my strength was exhausting.
Al length two OF my friends were by my
side. My friendsr' Yes. But they came
not within my reach, and only swan timidly
around me. | stretched themmy hand, and
implored them to save me- They. took it
not; but looked pale, and shrinkingly be-
sought that would not grapple with them.
81 will not, n replied-and did not-for the
next instapt | was beneath the surface. and
breathing another element.
The thought now came shudderinp over
me, that my last hour was come. and that
my soul was about 10 be demanded by its
Maker. My lungs played heavily: bat |
had no pain like tire Thoughts of friends WIN
were yet over me. A thousand recollec-
lions hurried through my brain in an instant
my mother, my sister, and Annette, the
loveiest maiden of the valley. NY throat
was enlarged, and at every breath seem
ed to inhale an ocean. NY lungs grew
shallow was full o God | could not
a weight, cold and ponder
Gus, came upon my heart, and sit seemed
to run down like a clock !" | was light,
and the tempest that was about me was
sweeping me along. / seemed to he hnrrI-
ed through the air,and the stones over which
was dragged, appeared ragged and fright
full. Every thing was revolving around me.
The heavens and the earth alternately
seemed above and beneath me. Every thing
was magnified and convulsed. The sun
was bIoodshot, and every moment it grew
darker and more terrible.
At length it was calm. breathed again.
The sun stood still, and the stones were
beneath me. / lay on the ground, but |
could not rise, for my weight was heavier
than lead. The sun looked yellow, and
the heavens appeared of gold. No fancy
could paint the magnfcence Of the scene
that was about me. The pebbles beneath
were all pearls, and gilded fish seemed
gently flying through the air all glorious
and beautiful as the tints reflected by the
prism. They came and loated still above,
their fins played gently like tilny pinions of
silver, and their scaly sides shining, as they
moved. with various hues-mingled emer-
aid and gold The earth seemed every
where covered with rubies, and the bound
less distance filled with turrets Of gold
Harmony of the most raVishing sweetness
tappeared to fill the atmosphere, and COM
Iniete the enchantment that was about me.
Every thing was charming to the eye, CRATE
I ful to the senses, soothing to the spirits, and
| delicious to the soul. was happy. =
! AGAIN saw the heavens convulsed. The
sun seemed agitated, and large boat was
Gliding through the air above. Men APP
| peared to be FLYING all around me, and one
reached his long, brawny arm, and raised
me from the earth. He took me where 1t
was dark. and ! could not breathe. Q
Heaven! the agony of that place felt 1t
moment, but Irecollect tho moFe-l was
lost-my memory died in that struggle
The next sensation of which
have any, even the most confused and IN
distinct recollection, was that of being an
moved bv multitude of demons, who seem
ed to take delight in affecting me. They
tumbled me about, and chafed me with
cnnn,less hands, as though each were a
Rriareus. Then strange, confused, and
muttering sounds of unearthly voices began
70 fall upon my ear Yet all was dark and
coll and could neither move, nor make
tha effort to do so. At length succeeded
in raising my eyelids, and caught glimpse
Of light But they we've heavy as lead ,S'
and straightway all was dark again: Tho
80 offnrt was more successful, and | coult