Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-22

al will wait his return"
Sixty years after this terrible and singular
adventure, many changes had taken place in
the village.
Margaret had closed the eyes ofher benefac.
tors. Nearly all those that had been present
at her wedding had disappeared from the earth
The children who leapcd for JOY as they ac-
conpancd the bride had become old men. A
new generation had arisen and the recollection
of the adventure of Pierre and of his disappear
ance, existed only in those traditions, which
passing from age TO age furnish food for the re-
Elections and dreams which superstition inspires
in the minds of the unenlightened.
They spoke of Pierre as of supernatural be-
ing He was accused of having made COM
pact with evil spirits. During the cold season,
when the winds chased the hoar frost through
the air, and made the dry branches of the elms
and the beeches crack or roaring in the Chin
neys, they seemed to resemble a melancholy
groan, the old women pretended that it was
Pierre who came to ask for prayers and a last
asylum. They could hear his voice in the
rumbing of the thunder storm when the snow
had left the smiling fields and the sun ripened
the grain, or tinged the vine leaves on the
hills.
In the heat of the summer when the light
vapor frightened in the air, they thought it was
Of the soul Of Pierre
~ ,Dg, ~; b;,l g tbo
leaves, the adder darting through the thick
grass, the far off howl of the wolf, all brought
terror tn the heart of the villagers when they
were obliged to quit their homes. The men at
the sound of the i'll omen FASTENED their steps
knit their brows and casting unquiet looks a.
round them as if they thought that the cold
hand of Pierre was stretched over them and
threatened their innocent ones.
Pierre was every where. Prayers were ad-
dressed TO him and wax tapers burned in honor
of him. The terrefied imaginations of the vii
layers made them regard as one intent upon in
jurng them, the shade of him who during his
too short career had only thought of doing good
TO his fellow creatures.
AT length it happened after having exhaust
ed all the veins of the mines, and all the old
parts, 1t became necessary to dig new pits in
another place. The proprietor came Upon the
grounds and his arrival was the rejoicing. He
was humane and beloved by all the miners.
For four days they had labored the young
ladies and the gay cavaliers, who had come
with the proprletors to assist in the festival o.
the opening of the mines and who danced un.
der the spreading branches, had returned to the
city; none remained but the engineers and those
interested in the mines.
On a sudden, strange noise was heard.
was low murmuring like that which announc,
the distant thunder storm. 1t was cry of vol
bells sounded loudly, every cord was in motion
He wished to leap into basket to 90 to tn,
relief of the wretches whose death he though
inevitable all had assembled and the terrified
miners were pale and trembling, cold drops o
sweat hung upon their brows.
"What is the matter cried the proprietor a
pale, as trembling as those animated spectres.
"a man an appariton ! a miracle DEATH
Such were the exclamations that escape,
from the mouths of whom fright made almos
+ cold and powerless.
Soon, however, the proprietor was enables
to collect together few words and formed al
lntellisIbe sentence out OF all those eXclama
tions OF terror.
In cndeavoring to open communication be
tween the new mines and old ones, the labo
rers had discovered place that was less dIih
cult TO work than before. The stones and TIA,
earth did not form thick masses, and the strange
substance which were found seemed to prove
that a, some time not long previous, an immenst
caylng IN of the earth had happened at thi
place. The labor was not hard. With sin
Ole blow OF the pick the miners brought dowr
large quantities Of earth. They had advanced
some distance all at once portion which wal
unsupported fell down of itself; a gas rushed
out and became flame; aud what was the sur
prise of the workmen when by the brightness
of this sudden light, they saw descend on this
strange couch, young man, who seemed TO be
asleep.
His brow is calm, his cheeks fresh and even
rosy, bot his mouth and eyes are motoness
Instead of approaching him, instead of endea'
yoring to assist him, for perhaps he needed as
sistance, the miners fed with Precipitation from
this unexpected appurition Fear, during the
short space they had to traverse to join their