Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1837-12-28
RaHSCEELA n.
THE LiSBONESE.

THE LISBON ESE.
Blythe Huthor Of The Preuost Of Bruges.' ;
/, is many years ago, yet the recollection
Is IN my MUD as flesh as the occurrences IF
yesterday. l was Standing on the Terrace
in front Of Greenwich Hospital, look ing at
the wrecks OF gallant fellows " ho had for
many years, hurne their cnuntry's nAs
through 'the battle and the breeze" now
hnhhiIng about with such limbs as tate had
left or the cociur had supplied hen, and eX-
orc':ing all my ingenuity In trace, ihru' ILeir
quaint sober uniforms ard venerable pray
hairs, the fiery heroes al a thousand can, bats
The struggle in lie Peninsula was then al lis
height. aud vessel with Portuguese cnlors
was passing aP the river. | made some re.
mark upon the subject To an old pensinner
who was Standing 10y me II lie was a very
old man. with quiet expression of bene,u.
fence ga his face that seemed IL stamp him
shade above the common sailor.
'Ah sir = said he, Il have seen strange
things in The counIIy where che comes from
was al Lisbon ia The great earthquake, in
fifty i've
'Indeed!' said l. That was an event no,
10 &c forgotten
III was sir, from more Causes than the
esrlhquake,-to me, that is
How so.' enquired.
poor thing, like To talk about her ; so, il
you'll SIT down on this bench YOU shalt have
II from first 10 iasi'
AS told you was in the city when the
earthquake began ; and a terrible thing il
was, 10 he sure. The houses swayed up and
down just for all the world Like ship at an
chnr IN heavy swell and then il got ~ orsc
and worse I'LL down they came, first one, then
another, then a whoie street and The poor
l., a.,
fell and buried them, and the earth opened
anA swallowed them and The noise was like
thai Of The lasi day crashes Of ruin and de-
Notwithstanding, eroans and prayers all
mixed up in one hnrrIhle din It'll y0u could
nat tell which was loudest. Many ~ voice
WAS Then lifted To heaven that had never
pray edbefore--and the unfinished PRAYER was
buried wiki them in the openings Of The earth
or the ruins of+he houses. Some went mad
and Stood and laughed the roofs nodded un.
der lhem,-and the laugh was stopped ns
the prayer had been. Some stoad sill with
children in their arms, huggiug them 10 their
bOsoms with their heads bent over them, till
they found a common grave. Aud then the
IRE began for The tapers at the affairs, and
the lights in The houses SET fire TO whatever
fell en- them, aud thousand flames compile
ted The horrors Of that dreadful day.
For my own part, Staggering along the
heaying streets, and al every other step
thrown on the ground, " ith bricks and stones,
scrambled did not know where. Itwas
not exactly fear for British SAILOR YOU
know, sir, is not used To lose his hearingS
from such cause but the dar kness and The
dust, and the smoke made such confusion
one born in the place could not have found
bis way, TO say nothing ola Stranger. How
ever, as was saying, scramhling 10 make
my way semew here, any where indeed
where there was fresh air ind no houses, |
ran against lady with child in her arms.
She was Young, and as beautiful creature
asever set my eyes on. She hurried past
me, and The next mumeni the earth gave ii
Ehudder and heard scream louder than all
the uproar. thought it must lie she, and
turned round, when ] found the earth had
split ina great chasm between us even on the
spot where moment heinfe we had both
been Standing ; and there she was balancing
upon the BRINK Of il, with the child held a,
bove her head. The ground was crumbling
under her, bu. where stood il was sill tirm.
held out my arms-she said something 10
me IN Portuguese which | did not Under
stand, hut knew she was asking the tutake
care oil the child; and told her | wculd-I
swWe II! Nature YOU know sir, is alike in
oil languages-so she understood me. aud
giving one lid kiss TO the little ones Inns
WIN desperate struggle she threw il pcrOs.
the chasm. She saw the child was CAUGHT
in my arms, cldsped her bands and threw VI
her beautiful eyes to heaven, " hen fresh
shake OF the earth iumlled down large bull
ding behind her and sheToIied with il in the
yo"ning guli-neser To- rise again in lhi'
world Perhaps you may imagine " hat
teIi--"hsi did do NOT know but, after az
hour ni wandering aud escaEes more Than
Gould count, found myself ~ the open coun
try, and Tor he present, Al; least, safe
went on my knees Ia thank God, and bad,
The llule creature do the same but she did
not Stir, ard as laid her on the grpss,
found deep wound ON her head and The bloot
cio1'Ing her he9uiiiul black hair; but still sht
brsatbed. To make. short long story, W,
got et last on board the ship again, and IN,
doctor alter examining The ~ wound said there
vas no harm deOe, and that she would soor
be ss we'll as ever.
She was lovely girl Of about six year