Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-03-09

the advocates of progress 10 those very
dark ages, whose ignorance and barbar-
ism they contributed more than all OF her
causes TO dissipate and destroy. An honest
man who resorts to those laws which are
founded in the first principles Of justice,
for the recovery Of that which is neces
sary to his comfort, perhaps his very exis.
tence, or for the purpose of Furnishing
some prohiga,e spendthrlft for defraudlng
him, is now denounced by phllanthropic
Legislators, and mawkish moralists, as a
dealer in human flesh, Shylock demand
ing his pound Of flesh, and whetting his
knife for performing the sacrifice. The
murderer--tbe cool, premeditated mur.
de.er, is delica,eIy denominated AN un-
fortunate man. lest we should wound his
fine feelings. Our sypathies are invoked
when he is called upon 10 pay the penalty
of his crime, while the poor victims, living
and dead, are left, the one without pity,
the other without relief.
mot only this" continued the worthy
old gentleman, who gradually Waxed
warmer aud warmer as he proceeded
mot only this, but as if to give the last
most unequivocal evidence Of do,age, we
have become pufftd up With the idea of
this being the most enlightened Of all the
nges Of the world, for no other reason,
that can perceive, than that we are be-
cume very great mechanics, and have, IN
consequence Of the wonderful perfection
to which machinery has been brought,
deprecated the value OF human labor,
until it has become insufficient for human
support, and heggared ourselves and our
posterlty, in making canals for frogs 10
spawn in, and railroads from interminob'e
forests to flourshlng towns that never had
exlstence. Ii is perfectly evident to me,
that matters are speedily coming TOD cr'-
sis, aud that a world, 10 which there Is nc
other pursuit bu, money where all sy mpa-
thy is monopoiz- d by guilt aud where
common sense and common honesty are
considered as relics Of the dark ages, can
not last much longer, unless added he,
with a peculiar expression OF his eye,
''unl, IS Congress takes it in hand. and
brings about radical reform, by specti.
catuu. The truth is, il owes su much
more than II can pay, that the sooner il
winds up lrs concerns the better"
Saying this, my worthy and excelen,
friend, after predicting hard winter, left
me to cogItate alone ~ my old arm chair,
very much inclined 20 nap, as gener,
ally am after listening to a long harangue.
1t was in quiet back room, where could
see nothing but the smoke OF my opposite
neighbours chimney nothing disturbed
me but fly which, Notwithstanding the
world was wide enough for us both, |
should have utterly extermnated, if |
could and ! continued to ponder over
the subject, TIL, by degrees, sleep over.
powered me, and the following vision
passed over my bewldered brain.
Methought the eve Of the first of April
hso come, and with it every indication
that the prediction Of the prophe, WAS II
bout to he fulfilled. The waters of the
rivers, brooks and springs became gradu-
ally warmer and warmer, until some OF
them began to boil /; but currents Of AR
ISSUED from the assures of The earth,
whose surface became heated SO that the
bare looted urchlns rather danced than
walked upon it; u thick, dun colnr,'d
vapor, by degrees, involved the world
from the horizon 20 The skies, and there pre-
vailed n dead, oppressive cain, without d
single Surfing breath of air. The earth
became, AS II were, one vast heated oven.
The air was dry and parchlng; turkeys
lay sprawling on their breasts, with ex-
pandlng wings; the dogs strolled wstiul-
~ around, seeking some cool retreat, pant
ing and lolllng out their tongues, the little
BIRDS hid themselves in the recessts Of the
woods, aud ceased to sing (; the leaves oi
the trees and flowers wlltcd and shrlvelled
up under the excessive heat OF the burn
ing sun-and the world ceased TO revolve
either from suspension OF the laws oil
nature, or for fear Of dissolvIng in a pro-
fuse perspratlon.
Other fearful auguries proclaimed that
the hour had come. The sun was like "a
red ball Of living FIRE; the whole 6rma.
ment rocked and trembled, as if painting
with the throes OF sufiocotion ever and
anon, long flashes of zig gag lightning
| shot athwart The heavens IN dead silence,
| for no thunder followed and all rational
aud irrational, animate aud lnanlmate,
seemed awaiting in death like silence the
hour of their final dissolution, as predict.
ed by the prophet.
M,thought wandered about in thai
unhappy and distracted state Of MIND
which generally ensues when we are
haunted by some din, half visible spec
tire Of underlined misery, whose presence
we feel, bu; whose prosecutions we cauno,
avoid. Ii seemed that | stroled TO The
river side, in the hope of inhaling the
cuol refreshing breezes from It's bosom
but 1t sent forth nothing but scalding va.
por, like that from a steam engine. The
fishes lay SPRAYING and painting and dying
on its surface and hungry hawk that hac
plunged down for his prey, beng exhausted
by the consuming heat, lay flutterng help.
lessy on the waters. From The noun
tains Of the opposite shore, columns o
blood red smoke and flashes of sulphur
Gus fire issued with an angry roaring We
hemency, and in some Of the deep ts
sures OF the rocks, methought could see
the raging fires, as through the bars Of Q
T. r