The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1843-09-16
full evolutions.

Now she would reclne at length or
the bare back of the flying steed, with an
appearance of the utmost ease and uncon-
Germ, whilst the tiny Bacchus nestled in
her bosom. Anon she would gently rise,
kneel upon one knee in an attitude CLASH
cally graceful, and look around and up
ward to the lille one that perched on her
shoulder, and embracing her hower-girt
brow, would seem to be laughingly pres
sing the juice from the grape-cluster
into the charlice she held alot in her
hand.
All this while, the smiling look of warm
and passionate affection to the infant new
er left her lovely features, though 1t was
occasionally mingled with the blushful
glow Of strange, Inward Civilizations, so
characteristic of her, at quick short
raltles of applause, that seemed to burst
al once from the whole enraptured audi
ence.
Then she rose gradually to her feet,
every change of posture being marked by
the most poetical elegance of motion. and
stepped lightly on the bare Group of the
wildly galloping mare, whirling the young
Bacchus about her head the while, or
rather seeming to make the infant fly with
lis nultering wings as she danced in swim
ming gyrations.
The way tins latter feat was managed
was simple enough. A series Of bandds
of thin, but strong leather. passed under
the child's dress, round its waist, beneath
it, and over its shoulders. These all met,
and were secured together at the bend Of
It's back to a strong steel ring, winch she
wore round three fingers of her han d,wlh
the fourth and thumb controlling by a
wire the two little gauze wings at its
shoulders, which were mounted on small
spiral springs, so that she could make
them culver or fold them to its back as
she pleased.
Well, while she was thus flying round,
and while the house was all eye for her,
and all ear for the admirable musical ac-
whilst the horse was gal
Looping at its most furious speed-al once,
just as she was opposite 10 the pit, the
winged Bacchus seemed to leave her
shoulder and fly towards the ground.
As j, fell, one of the wildly hund-up
hind hools of the animal met it, and the
next instant it was tossed IIIeless and al
most headIess into the ait, lis brains drop
ping in shower upon the persons of
many of the closely seated pit spectators,
and Immediately after, lis little body,
with its painted wings and gaudy frppe-
ry, lay dead and motlonless, like crush
ed butterfly, among the dust Of the arena
There was a strange, sudden hustle a
mong the spectators AT frst-lhey rose to
their feet by nlasscs-many screamed alb
rup,y with dread, others gave hurried
words of direction, al numbers Jump
from the pit and lower boxes to render as.
sstance. But the great majority were
altogether unconscious, for the first mo-
ment or two, of the narrowing event,
their eyes following the equally uncon-
scious equestrian, as she was born with
Lightning speed round the circle.
The riding master and myself, stunned
with the sight for a second, as soon as we
could command our limbs, sprang from
the centre, where we stood, to raise the
shattered body of the child; but ere we
had time to touch it, the fiery gallop of
the black mare had swept It's rider round
the ring, and she appeared on the same
spot.
As she came near, she seemed paralyz-
ed with surprise and horror, standing in
all attitude forcbly expressive OF these
emotions or the back of the animal,
(whereon, from mechanical habit merely,
for it could not be from effort, she con-
,inucd to maintain her balance and with
starting eyes, upllted brows, parted lips.
and features the deadly pallor of which
was fearfu!ly evident beneath the warm,
artificial complexion they bore, regarding
the steel ring upon her hand, to which a
fragment of leather was all that was now
attached.
But when she saw the mangled frame
of her hearts idol motioness among the
dust, with the wild shrek of mothers
despair she leaped from the place, and fell
franlicallv grovellng on the ground be-
side it. A strange, unnatural scream was
that such as shall ring through my
brain when aye or disease may have made
my ears impervious; and it rose in loud
and louder waves of piercing sound, till
it filled the four corners of the vast am
phltheatre, and was. sent back in echoes
and reverberations to lacerate anew the
hearing, quashing the tumit of the alarm
ed and excited audience, as the crash oil
thunder in tempest browns the turmoil
of the waters.
All was confusion and uproar, amaze
ment and terror, among the pleople; wo-
men tainted, and many of the children
were crushed and trodden upon, and they
struggled hither and ,hither apparently
without any object-a strong panic SEEM
ing to have taken possession of them,-