Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1844-06-13


1.-The said almond pees. which formed q
beautiful clumps on 90 ascent upon the.
other side OF to- glen. sheliering the. best
lof Autonio's see hives, and composing .
pretty dowry for the pretty Maria. which
the fstherfonged to see in the possession
Of The Pashy young citizen.
One morning. after very sultry night.
as The poor youth sa:endeavoring to catch
glimpse OF her in this direction. be OF.
served that the clouds gathered in very
unusual manner. over the country, and
then hung low in the air. heavy aud i'm
movable. Towards Messina the sky
looked 80 fiery that al FIRST he thought the
CITY wssjon fire, ill az unusual heat al
fecting bis own skin. aud smell OF sui
phur arising, and the little river al bis feet
assuming tinge 81 muddy ash-color,
be knew that some CONFUSION Of the earth
was at hand His immediate impulse was
10 cross the ford. and, with mixed anguish
and delight again fad himseltin the cot.
tage OF Antonio, giving the father and
daughter all the help in his power. a
ire N endous burst Of thunder and lightning
startled him for moment !, but be was
proceeding to cross, when bis ears tingled.
his head turned giddy. and. while the
earth heaved beneath bis own feet, be saw
the whole opposite side Of the glen lifted
up with=a horrible, desfening noise, and
then the cottage itself, with all around IT,
cast, as be thought, 10 the ground. and
buried forever. The sturdy youth, for the
first lime 10 bis life, tainted away; and
when bis senses returned, found himself
picked back into his own premises, but
not injured, the blow having been broken
by the vines.
But, on looking in horror towards the
site of the cottage up the hill. what did be
see there ? And what did be see. form.
ing a new mound, furlongs down the side
kof the bill, almost at the bottom Of the
sleE, and in his own very homestead
EAntonio's cottage. Antonio's cottage.
with the almond trees, and the beehives,
and the very cat and dog, and the old nan
himself, and the daughter, both sense.
lessl al come, as it. in the fathers words,
to beg him 10 accept them! Such awful
pfeasantries so to speak, some times take
place in theemiddle Of Natures deepest
tragediess and such exquisite good ma
spring oatof it.
For il was so in the end, If not in the
intention. The old man was together
with Ibis daughter. who had only been
.stuuned by tefForJ supersiitio usly frighten
ed by the dreadful circumstance, if MOI
afeclionately moved by the attentions o
the soE Of bis Oh friend and the deligh
and religious transport of his child. Be
sides, he thought the cottage, and the
almond trees, and Me bee-hives had al
come miraculousIy safe down the hill, {,
phenomenon which has frequently occur
red ia these extraordinary landslips,) lh,
! flower-gardens. on which his bees fed
were almost all destroyed; his property
was !essened. his pride lowered. and wher
the convnsion was well oyer. and The gui
lars we're again playing in the valley, he
consented toibecome the inmate for life
Of the cottageE Of the enchanted couple.
/ He coult never attain, however, 10 The
inmate dellcacy ef his child. and he woulc
Sometimes With petulant sigh, intimate
al tsble, what pity il was THAI she bad
not married the rich and high-;eeding Ct
ltizen. MAI such times as these, Maria
would gather one, Of het husbands fee
between her own under the table, ant
with a squeeze Of il that repaid hin Ter
fold for the modification, would steal
look at him which said, ~ possess al
which it is possible fpr me 10 desire"