The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1834-12-03
THE THUNDER STORM.
EY GEO. ID. PRENTICE.

never was a man of feeble couragc-There are
few scenes either of human elemental strife,
upon which | have not looked with brow of dar-
ing. i have stood in the front of battle, when swords
were cleaning and circng around me like fiery
serpents of the ar-I have sat the mountain PIN
nacIe, when the whrlwind rending its oaks
from their rocky clefts and scattering them piece
meal to the Clouds have seen these things with
swelling sonl hat knew not, that recked not of
tlanger-but there is something in the thunder's
voice that makes me trembIe like child. l have
tried to overcome this unmanly wealness-I have
called pride to my add have sought for moral
courage in the lesson of philosophy-but it avails
me nothng-at the first low moaning of the distant
cloud, my heart shrnks, quvers, gasps, and dies
within me,
MY involuntary dread of thunder, had its origin
in an incident, that occurred when was child OF
ten years. had little cousin--a girl of the same
agc with myself, who had been the constant com
panion of my hildhood.-Strange, that, after the
lapse of almost score of years, that countenanco
should be so familiar to me; | can see the bright
young creature-her large eye flashing like beau
tiful gem, her free locks streaming in joy upon
the rising gale, and her cheek glowing like n ruby
through a wreath of transparent snow. Her voice
had the melody and joyousness of birds, and when
she bounded the wooded hill or the fresh green
valley, shouting a glad answer to every voice of ma
ture and clasping her little hands in the very eX-
away like freed nightingale from the earth,
and going off where all things were beautiful like
her.
1t was a morning in the middle of August.-The
little girl had been passing some days at my fathers
house and she was now to return home. Her path
lay across the fields, and gladly became the COM
panion of her walk. Inever knew n summer morn
ing more beautiful and STILL Only one little cloud
was visible and that seemed pure and white, and
peaceful if it had been the incense smoke of some
burning censor of the skies. The leaves hung ST.
lent in the woods the waters of the bay had forgot
ten their undulations, the flowers were bending their
heads if dreaming of the rainbow and the dew
and the whole atmosphere of such soft and
luxurious sweetness, that it seemed cloud of roses,
scattered down by the hands of Peri from the far
off gardens paradise. The green earth and the blue
lay abroad in their boundessncss, and the peace
ful sky bent over and blessed them. The little
ture at my side in delirium of happiness; and
her clear voice ringing upon the air often
as she heard the tones of favore bird, or found
some strange and lovely flower in her frolc wan
derings. The unbroken and almost supernatural
tranquility of the day continued until nearly noon.
Then, for the first time, the indications of APP
preaching tempest manifested. Over the sum-
init of a mountain, at the distance of about mile,
the folds of a dark cloud became suddenly visible,
and at the same instant, hollow roar came down
upon the winds as if had been the sound of waves
IN rocky cavern. Ihe cloud rolled out like n BAN
ner fold upon the air, but still, the atmosphere was
as calm and the leaves motonless as before, and
there was not even quiyer upon the sleeping wa
ter, to tell of the coming hurricane.
To escape the tempest was impossible. As the
only resort, fled to oak that stood at the foot
ofa tall and ragged precipice. Here we remained,
and gazed almost breahessly upon the clouds,
marshalling themselves like bloody giants in the sky.
The thunder was not frequent but every burst was
fearful that the young creature, who stood by
shut her eyes conyulsively, cung with desperate
strength to my arm, and shrieked if her heart
would break. A few minutes, and the storm was
upon us. During the height of its fury, the little
girl raised her hngcr towards the precipice, that
lowered above us. / looked up, and amc,hy-
slime fame quivering upon its grey peaks; and
the next moment the clouds opened, the rocks tot
tered to their foundations, roar like the groan of
q Usiverse filled the air, and felt myself blinded
-spj thsowu. I knew not whittier How long ]