Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-01-20
a FoR EST IN WINTER

A.short time since Mr.. George Bancroft deliv.
c'co Two lectures nj Tie rooms Of the N. Y. Mer-
cnnllle Association, on tho acts and character of
Roger Williams the truly grent founder of Rhode
is'"lu' Inc ~ Y, American has given the fol.
! loving striking passage from one of the Iect,r,s
ih"scene IS skeIched with graphic skill aud our
experiences enables to bear record to itr truth n,
well as l'eauty .Adveriiser.
~ all the scenes INTO which man can be
brought, none Is so difficult te he Crashed by.ibe
Imagination us the deep recesses of II wintery for-
est. lis solemn and striking influences must
be actually iclt before they can DC conceived. IL
IS silrou1ed in s0tiIhre shadows at the brightest
uoon, and wrapped ~ night in worse than Eryp-
iinn darkness. Moray from the glowing sun or
SILVER moon, or twinklnig starsttan Struggle Ilr0'
The dark an croNlelfumbrags, to cheer the
wnnderer The rhckly set trees linHl his view 10
ann nnd narrow circle. Al every step he plum.
ges INTO tie snow that is spread to the depth Of
several feet around him. The branches loaded
with ice ms they swing to the blast scatter their
burlhcn upon hls head. As he brushes through
them, he is blinded with the showers ot snow
fiakes shaken from tLelr limbs M traces OF lille
or motion can be seen. The hollow chambers
onh aSles of the forest above aud around rcsounh
10 the harsh aud sudden cracking of the branch
rs, rendered brittle by congeantion, and his ear is
startled 10y The sharp and loud inionatlois of the
solid trunEs swapping with the frost. lie has no
landmark ond u" trace to guide him. Heaven aud
earth are both shut out from his vision. Whether
tfnycrsng yaes or climbing mountains or APP
preaching rivers or lakes or seas, he cannot tell
lie listens, aud his imagination is Impressed and
soetnnized by The andlbe respiration Of the for
est, more mysterious aud sublime, il possible, than
the everlasting murnur Of the ocean.
! This perpetual breathing aud moaning Of tho
woods is productivity the ceaseess r.u,ions of tue
upper atmosphere, forever agitatne the operhang-
ing canopy OF limbs and branches. H. oppressed
Ivy the sense of solitude, aud for The purpose of
breaking up the impression produced upon his
feelings by this mysterious and unearth'y muir
nurlng OF the Forest he raises aloud his own Wi, O.
it seems to fall into broken and suifncaied erhons
aud 10 die away without penetrating The wider
ness. Aud il 10 the Other circumstances Of sue!
scene, we add the perils which hing over it, tho
mpossibiiliy OF obtaining either shelter or sustr-
nance, the danger of being he wlIdered and lost or
of pershing with cold aud hunger, and the mo-
'nentary exposure to the sudden assaults of wild
beasts, TO say nothing of the steallhy savage, we
make an approach towards something like an est.
mate but we do nOt for we cannot. fully conceive
the condition in which Roger Williams found him
sell the first night after having been driven from
his family his nome and chrisendorn itsoif.
! Can we not see him MS lie wrnps his blanket n
round him, and lays himself down in his he'd of
snow, in Tie dark bosom of the forest. The night
wind is howing IN the branches that iurm his OILY
shelter; and the wolf aud the hear have coma
forth from their dens III search OF prey hut lie
closes his eyes in peace, and sleeps svrei!y, for his
conscience is clear and his trust is in GJd."