The Ohio Democrat and Dover advertiser. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1839-1840, 1840-05-08
THE THUNDER STORM.
BY @. D. PRENTICE.

By @. D. PRENTICE.
was never man of feeble courage. There
are few scenes, either Of human or elemental
strife, upon which have not looked with an
eye Of daring. have stood in the front ofDat-
lie, when swords were cleaning and circling
round ME like fiery serponts Of the air-I have
set on the mountain pinnacle, when :he whirl-
wind was rending its oaks from their rocky
clefis and scattering them piecemea to the clouds
1 have seen these things with a swelling soul,
that knew not, that rocked not. Of danger-but
there is something in the tllunders voice that
makes me trenble like child. Ihave tried 10
overcome this unmanly weakness; have called
pride to my aid have sought !or moral cour-
age in the lessons Of philosophy; but all in
vain at the first low moaning Of the distant
cloud, my heart shrinks, quiver' aud dies wth-
in me.
Ny involuntary dread of thunder had its ori.
gin in an incident that occurred when was q
child of ten years. ! had little cousin, girl
of the same age with myself, who was the con
slant companion, of my childhood. Strange,
that, after the lapse of almost score of years,
that counienance should be so familiar TO me.
! can still see the bright young creature, her
large eye flashing like a BEAUTIFUL GEM her free
locks streaming as in joy uponthe sunrise gale;
and her cheeks glowing like ruby through
wreath Of transparent snow. Her voice had the
melody and tho joyousness of birds, and,
when she bounded over the wooded hill or the
fresh green valley, shouting glad answer to ev>
cry voice ofnature, and capplng her little hands
in the very ecstacy of young existence, sho look
ed as il breaking away like freed nightengaie
from the earth, and going off where al! were
haauiifiil and ha INV like her
1t was morning in the middle Of August. The
little girl had been passing some days at my IA
ther's house, and she was now to return home.
Her path lay across the fields, and gladly became
the companion of her walk. never knew
summer morn more beautiful and STILL;
Only one little cloud was visible. and that
seemed as pure, and white, and peaceful, as ifil
had been the incense smoke of some burning
censor Of the skies. The leaves hung silent iD
the woods the waters of the bay had forgot
their unduatlons, the flowers were bending their
heads as if dreanng Of the rainbow, and ,he
dew, and the whole atmosphere was Of such q
soft and luxurious sweetness, that il seemed "a
cloud of roses scattered down by the hand of a
Peri from the far off gardens of paradise. The
green earth and the blue sea lay abroad in their
boundlessness, aud The peaceful sky bent over
and blest them. The little creature at my side
was in a dslirium of happiness, and her clear
sweet voice came ringing upon the ear as often
as she heard the tones of favorite bird or found
some strange and lovely flower in her frolic
wandering. The unbroken and almost super-
natural tranquility continued until nearly noon.
Then for the first time the indications Of an ap-
preaching tempest were manifest Over the
summit OF mountain, at the distance Of about
a mile, the folds of dark cloud became sudden
Iy visible, and, at the same instant, hollow
roar came down upon the winds, as if it had
been the sound Of waves in rocky cavern. The
cloud rolled out like ban1erfold upon the air.
but still the atmosphere was as calm aud the
leaves as lnotioness as before, and there was
not even quver upon the sleeping waters to
tell ofthe coming hurricane.
To escape the tempest was impossible. Astie
only resort we fled to an oak that stoUd at the
foot Of tall and rugged precipce. There we
remained and gazed almost 6reathlessly upon
tIle clouds. marShalliug themselves like the bloc
Gy giants in Ihe sky. The thunder was not fre>
auent but every burst was so fearful that the
young creature who stood by me shut her eyes
c'nvulSively, Glung with desperate strength to
my arm, and shreked as if her heart would
breal:. few minutes and the storm was upon
US. During the height OF its ftry,the little girl
silently raised her finger to tie precipice that tow
cred above US. As looked UP, an ame,hys>
tine flame was quyering upon it's graypeaks.
and the next moment The clouds opensd. the
rocks totteed to their foundations, roar like
the groan Of the universe filled the air, and
lyh myself blinded and thrown, know not