Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-03-03

thoughtful, and matter-of-fact. 1t was most
amusing to witness their occasional collis-
sions on subjects which brought into play
their respective tastes and qualities and in
teresing TO note, that the effect was invaria-
bly, to raise the one in the others estimation,
as ifthey mutually priced most the qualities
of the other. Young n had spent two
days in London-thc greater portion of
them, need hardly say, al my house-about
week before and he and his fair friend
had disputed rather keenly on the topic of
general discussion-the predicted event OF
the 10Th of July. If she did not rcpose i'm
plicit faith in the prophecy, her belief had,
somehow or another, acquired most dis
turbing strength. He labored hard to dsa-
buse her o! her awful apprchensions and
she as hard to overcome his obstinate incre-
dulity. Each was little too eager about the
matter: and for the first time since they had
known each other, they parted with little
GOODNESS: yes, although he was to sci off the
next morning for Oxford In short, scarce
y anything was talked of by Agnes but the
coming 10Th of July: and if she did not an
ticipate the actual destruction of the globe,
and the final jud gment of mankind, she at
least looked forward to some event, mystic
rious and tremendous. The eloquent, en-
thusiastic creature almost brought over my
placid wife to her way of thinking.
To return from this long digression-
which, however, will be presently found to
have been not unnecessary-aftcrs staying
few minutes in the parlor, retired to n,yli-
brary, for the purpose, among other things,
of making those entries in my Diary, from
which these " Passages are taken: but the
pen lay useless in my hand. With my chin
resting on the palm Of my left hand sat at
my desk, lost in reverie; my eyes fixed
OH the tree which grew in the yard and over
Swallowed my windows. How still, how mo-
uonless was every leaf! What sullry, OPP
pressive, unnatural repose How it would
have checred me to hear the fainiest 'sough'
of wind-to see the breeze sweep freshnng
through the leaves, ruslling and stirring them
into life l opened my window, united my
neckerchief, and loosened my shirt collar
for felt sunocatcd with the heat. l heard
at length a faint pattcring sound among the
leaves of the ;ree-and presently there fell
on the window frame three or four large Om-
nous drops of ram. After gazing upwards
= the sky, once more settled down TO writing ;
and was dipping my pen into the ink-stand,
. when there blazed about me flash of light
ming, with such gas,ly binding splcndor,
as defes all description. 1t continued, !
think, six or seven seconds. 1t was follow
ed al scarce an instant's interval witha crash
ofthunder, as if the world had been smitten
out of its sphere and was rending asunder
hope these expressions will not be consid-
cred hyperbolcal. No one, l am sure. who
recollects the occurrence am describing
will require the appeal May Inever see
or hear of the like again. The sudden shock
almost drove me out of my senses. l leap
ed from my chair with CONSERVATION ant
could think of nothing, at the moment, bu
closing my eyes, and shutting out from my
ears the stunning sound Of the thunder. Fol
a moment stood literally supplied. On re-
covering myself, my first impulse was tt
spring 10 the door, and rush down stairs il
search Of my wife and children. heard, OF
4, my way, the sound of shreking proceed fon
Y the parlor in which had left them. In
Q moment had my wife folded in my arms
and my children clinging with screams rount
my knees. My wife had tainted. While
q was endeavoring to restore her, there cam
I a second flash Of lightning, equally terribl
d with the first and second explosion o
S thunder, loud as one could imagine the dis
: charge of thousand parks of artillery di
ii recly over head The windows, in fact tn
whole house, quivercd with the shock. TIL
+ noise helped 10 recover my wife from he
! swoon.
10 .Kneel down, love husband! = she gasp
ed, endeavoring TO drop upon her knee
r, Kneel down--pray for us. We are VI
E done = After shouting till | was hoarse, an
1t pulling the bell Repeatedly and violently, on
D, of the servants made her appearance, but
rl state not far removed from tina, Of her mi
Id tress. Both of them recovered themselvt
a in few minutes, reused by the cries Of II
IL children. 'Wait moment, love- said
IN and will fetch you few reyiving drops
w stepped into the back room, where | gel
to orally kept some walls of drugs, snd pourt
x out few drops of sal-volatile. The thong
l then for the first time struck me, that Mi
er P-was not in the parlor had Just qui
Ii ted. Where was she? What would S
'r- say to all this Bless me, where is she 2
DIV thought with increasing trepidalion.
m 'Edward-Edward, Il exclaimed to ser
on ant who happened to pass the door Of {,
tie room where l was standing, where is M
Ie- P-l'
ed Miss p, sir Why,-I don't-O
ut yes he replied, suddenly recollecting hiI
IRE self, 'aboul five minutes ago saw her RI
'e, very swift up stairs, and | havn't seen Il
N, since, SIR 'Wha, exclaimed, with
i'll creasing trepidaSon, Was i. about the liz
ing that the frs, fash of lightning Gamer ~
il was, sir.'-'Take this into your mstre
:o' and say Ill be with her Immediately said
ing giving him what had mixed. rushed
w. stairs, calling out as WENT Agnes, A
Jay mes, where are your l received no answ
the At length l reached the floor where her be
Gus room lay. The door was closed but
oil shut. ..f|
- Agnes! Where are you = enquired W
sed agitaiedly, at the same time knocking at
the door. received no answer.
UGH agnes! Agnes! For Gods sake, spes
,rIy Sneak mr. | shall conro min vour ronm 7