The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-06-01
observation-disclosures
THE THUNDER STORM.
BY GEORGE d. PRENTICE.

H6TG are lew SCtltS 6llueE VI Vic HuIndu
or elemental strife, upon which have not
loohed with an eye of daring. have stood
in the front Of battle, when swords were
cleaning and circling around me, like fiery
serpents Of the air-I have sat on the noun
tain pinnacle, when the whirlwnd was
rending its oaks from the rocky clefts, and
scattering them piecemeal to the clouds-I
have seen these things with swelling soul
that knew not-that wrecked not of danger
but there is some thing in the thunder's
voice that makes me tremble like child.
have tried to overcome this unmanly
weakness. l have called pride to my aid,
l have sought for moral courage in the les
sons of phiosophy-but all in vain; at the
first moaning Of the distant cloud, my heart
sinks, quivers, and dies within me.
My involuntary dread of thunder had its
origin in an incident that occurred when |
was child of ten years. had a little
cousin, girl Of the same age with myself,
who was the constant companion Of my
childhood. Strange, that after lape Of al
most a score of years, that countenance
should be so familiar to me. | can still see
the bright young creature, her large eye
flashing like beautiful gem, her free locks
streaming as in joy, upon the sunrise gaze,
and her cheek glowing like ruby through
wreath of transparent snow. Her voice
had the melody and joyousness of bird ;
and, when she bounded over iFie wooded
hill, or the fresh green valley, shouting a
| glad answer TO every voice of .naturo, and
clapping her hands in the very ecstacy Of
young existence, she looked as if breaking
/. away like a fresh nightingale from the earth,
and going off where all things are beautiful
and happy like her.
1t was morning in the middle of Au-
gust The little girl had been some days
at my fathers house, and she was now to
return home. Her path lay across the fields
and gladly became the companion Of hel
walk. never knew a summer morning
more beautiful and still. Only one little
cloud was visible, and that seemed as pure
= and white, and peaceful, as if it had beer
the incense-smoke Of some burning cense
of the skies. The leaves hung silent in thu
woods, the waters of the bay had forgot
ten their undulations, the flowers were
bending their heads, as if dreaming Of thr
rainbow and the dew, and the whole atmos
phere was of such soft and luxurious sweet
ness, that it seemed cloud of roses, scat
n tered down by the hand of Peri" from
the far-of gardens of Paradise. The gree
s earth and the blue sea, lay abroad in thei
boundlessness, and the peaceful sky ben
d over and blessed them. The little creatur
at my side was in delirium Of happiness
and her clear sweet voice came ringing UP
1t on the air as often as she heard the notes {
70 a favorite bird, or saw some strange an
lonely flower in her wanderings. The VI
J. broken and almost supernatural tranquilit
,! continued until nearly noon. Then, for til
first time, the indications of an approachin
tempest were manifest. Over the SUNNI
of mountain, at a distance of about a milt
:, the folds of dark cloud became suddenl
visible, and at the same instant, hollo
i, roar came down upon the winds,as if it ha
been the sound of waves in a rocky cayerI
The cloud rolled out like banner fold u
: on the air, but still the atmosphere WI
calm, and the leaves as motionless as b
le fore, and there was not even culver upC
the sleeping waters, to tell of the cOmiI
>. hurricane.
81 To escape the tempest was impossibl
AS the only resort we fled to an oak tn
stood at the foot Of tall and rugged preC
ne pice. There we remained and gazed I
most breathlessly upon the clouds, marsh'
ar ling themselves like bloody giants in Il
a. sky. The thunder was not frequent, b
every burst wa. SO lEishtiul' that the y0u'