Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1834-12-25

OF mountain, at the distance OF about
a mile, the folds OF a dark cloud be-
came suddenly visible, and, at the
same instant, a hollow roar came down
upon the winds, as if il had been the
sound of waves ina rocky cavern. The
cloud rolled out like banner-fold upon
the air, but still the atmosphere was
calm and the leaves as motionless as
before, and there was not even qui-
yer upon the sleeping waters to tell Of
the coming hurricane.
To escape the tempest was impossi-
Bile. AS the only resort, we fled to an
oak that stood at the foot Of tall and
ragged precipice. Here we remained
and gazed almost breathlessly upon the
clouds, marshalling themselves like
bloody giants in the sky. The thunder
was not frequent, but every burst was
so fearful that the young creature who
stood by me shut her eyes convulsiye-
ly, chung with desperate strength to my
arm, and shrieked as if her very heart
would break. A few minutes and the
storm was upon US. During the height
Of its fury, the little girl raised her fin
gersto the precipice that lowered above
us. looked up, and an amcthystine
flame was quivering upon its grey
peaks; and the next moment the clouds
opened, the rocks tottered TO their foun-
dations roar like a groan Of the
universe filled the air, and felt my
self blinded and thrown, | knew not
whittier. How long remained insen-
sible cannot tell, but, when conscious
ness returned, the violence of the tenn
pest was abating, the roaring of the
winds dying in tho tree-tops, and the
deep tones ofthe cloud coming in faint
murmurs from the eastern hills.
| arose, and looked trembling and
almost deliriously around. She was
there-the dear idol of my infant love
stretched out upon the wet, green earth.
After moment of irresolution, | went
up and looked upon her. The hand
kerchief upon her neck was slightly
rent, and a single dark spot upon her
bosom told where the pathway of death
lad been. At first | clasped her to
ny breast with cry of agony, and
hen laid her down and gazed into her
ace almost with feeling OF calmness:
Ter bright dishevelled ringlets clustered
'weetly around her brow, the look of
error had faded from her lips, and an
ntant smile was pictured beautifully
here, the red rose tinge upon her
cheek was lovely as in life, and as |
pressed it to my own, the fountain of
ears was opened, and | wept as if my /;
lead were waters. | have but a dim !
recollection of what followed-I only
,now, that | remained weeping and
till the coming on of twi.
lght, and that | was then taken ten
Ierly by the hand, and led away,
where | saw the countenances of pa.
ents and sisters.
Many years have gone by upon their
wings of light and shadow, but the
Genes | have portrayed still come
'ver me, at times, with a terrible dis
lnctness. The old oak yet stands at
he base Of the precipice, but its limbs
are black and dead, and its hollow
trunk, looking upwards to the sky as
if ''calling for drink" is, an emblem
of rapid and noiseless decay. A year
ago | visited the spot, the thoughts of
by gone years came mournfully back
to me-thoughts of the little innocent
being who fell by my side like some
beautiful tree of spring, rent up by the
whlrlwnd in the midst of its blossom.
ing. But remembered-ando oh, there
was JOY in the memory, that she had
gone where no lightnings slumber in
the folds of the rainbow cloud, and
where the sun-lit waters are never bro.
ken by the storm-breath of Omnipo
tence.
My readers will understand why
shrink in terror from the thunder.
Even the consciousness of security is
no reliefto me-my fear has assumed
the nature Of an instinct, and seems
indeed part of my existence.