The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-12-09


bominably. For all that, didn't neglect
my supper; on the contrary, was busily |
employed discussing a second tumbler of
hot brandy and water, when the guard came
in with his usual-'Ready, sir
Directly, said l, filling up third COB
let.
''The horn sounded-'Ta-ra-ra!
"Confound it, said l, the brandy is so
hot
"Ta-ra-ra,' said the horn again.
"You may watt said l, rather waspish-
", as man who was loath to leave good
liquor.
Another flourish of the detestable horn.
'The clatter of horses feet on the hard
ground followed, and the waiter busting
in, somewhat superhously informed me
that the coach had gone. l never bole a
disappointment better in my life. With
out single remark-which, indeed, would
have been useless-I ordered a bowl of
punch to be brought in, and fresh wood to
| be heaped upon the fire. There was moth
| ing left for it, but to make myself comiorta-
ble-and comfortable was, never more so
in my life, except for the ticking of that
horrible Dutchman, and the squirting of
the little goggle-eyed Saracen.
Il wish the fellow who made it was at
the devil quoth |.
Tick, tick, tick replied the Dutchman.
A death-watch couldn't have been half so
unpleasant.
Tick, tick, tick-roll, roll, roll
There was something ominous in the
sound; and as the wind howled about the
chimnevs, and the hail patteredagainstt the
windows, began to feel first odd-then
cold-then aarmed for the more listened
the more singular was the tick, tick of
the Dutchman. 1t was evident the clock
was talking to me, and really thought l
began to understand his language. In the
midst of my terror a whimsical thought
came over me, and | couldn't help holding
up the punch-bowl to Meinheer, and ex-
claiming-'You must be thirsty after so
much talking; suppose you drink
AT this moment, there was fierce gust
of wind that seemed to shake the house TO
its very foundation, and the spirit of the
clock-for there certainly was a spirit in
it-groaned heavily. Tick, tick, tick
and the Saracen rolled his eyes as ifhe were
mad. But the dead pause that followed
was still more awful, and the voice of the
clock in the silence sounded yet more sol
emnly. On sudden the ticking ceased
: and the eyes stood still; loud whizzing o
wheels followed and in the next momen
4 the clock fell to the ground and was shiver
ed to pieces like so much glass. Am'ds
the shower of flying atoms up started three
i strange beings, that like the beasts in th'
: Apocalypse, set language atdefance. Th'
u first was an indefinable compound OF tn
/ eagle and the human being. The secon'
S had the appearance Of man of glganu
stature, with lofty brow, upon which sa
- determination, WIlue lHe lluSCltS vi III
S chest and arms swelled with restless eneI
= gv. The third wore the form of Venus, a
l, poets have described her when she ros,
n from the foam of the sea.
l. 81 am the PAST said, or rather scream
1t ed the eagle figure, and his eyes glistened
a. and his talons shot out from their covering
'f as if about to stoop and seize me. i al
" the PAST; how hast thou used me?'
81 am the PRESENT, said the second fig
m ure, sternly. Use me wisely, treat m
= kindly, and thou shalt have no need to fea
p the beak and talons of my brother. Look
the world is full of briars; take this axe
N and hew thyself a way through then
The earth is stern and nggard; take thi
n spade, and compel her bounty.
81 am the FUTURE said the third spiri
y in tone SO sweet and musical, that, Will
h / listened, all fear departed from me, an
le the heart within me kindled. Follow m
"a | ......~1 H. L,,,,;c,1 e,,;r;t 1o,J / ,,,i