Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1844-12-05

twelve successfully, of the largest
sharks ever saw, floating in circle
around me, like divergent rays, all ma
dramatically equidistant from the rock,
and from each other; each perfectly
motionless, and with His goating, fe
ry eye, fixed full and fierce upon me-
Basilisks and rattlessaks, how the fire
Of their steady eyes entered into my
heart! was the centre Of circle,
whose radii were sharks! I was the
inspiring, or rather the unchewed game
at which pack of hunting sea-dogs
were making dead point
"There was one fellow that kept
within the circumference Of the circle.
He seemed to be sort of captain or
leader Of the band; or, rather he acted
as the coroner for the other twelve of
the inquisition, that We're summoned to
sit on and eat up my body. He glided
round and about, and every now and
then would stop, and touch his nose
against some one of his comrades, and
seemed to consult, or to give instruc-
tons as to the time and mode Of oper-
alton. Occasionally, he would seull
himselftowards me, and examine the
condition of my flesh, and then again
glide back, and rejoin the troup, and
flap his tail, and have another confab-
ulatlon. The old rascal had no doubt
been out in the highways and byways,
and collected this company ofhis friends
and kin-fsh, and invited them to sup
per. must confess that, horribly as
| felt, could not help but think of d
tea party Of demure old maids, sitting
in solemn circle, with their skinny
hands in their laps, licking their ex-
pecting lips, while their hostess bus
ties about in the important functions of
her preparations. With what an eye
have seen such appurtenances Of hu-
mainly survey the location and adjust
mentofsome especia! condiment, which
is about to be submitted to criticism
and con sumption.
"My sensations began to be now most
exquisite indeed;but wiIlnot attemptto
describe them. | was neither hot nor
cold rightenednor composed;but hada
combination ofall kinds offeelings and
emotions. The present, past, future,
heaven, earth, my father and mother, a
little girl | knew once, and the sharks,
were all confusedly mixed up together,
and swelled my crazy brain almost to
bursting. l cried and laughed, shouted
and screamed for Tim Titus. In fit of
most wise madness, I opened my broad
bladed fishing knife waved ii; as tn tide
continued TO rise my extra vagance OF
madness mounted. At one time be
came pursuaded that my side wait ers
were reasonable beings, who might be
talked into mercy and humanity, if a
body could only hit upon the right text.
Sol bowed, and gesticulated, and threw
cut my hands and talked to them as
friends and brothers, members of my
family, cousins, uncles, aunts, people
waiting to havetheir bills paid. l scold-
ed them as my servants; | abused them
as dums; irnplored them as jurymen, sit
tirg on the question ofmy life; congrat-
ulated and fattered them as my com
rades, upon some glorious enterprise; ]
sung and ranted to them now as an actor
in play house and now as an elder in
a camp meeting; in one moment, roar
ing
"On the cold finty rock will lay down my
head"
and in the next, giving ont 70 my atten.
tive hearers for singing hymn Of Dr..
Watts so admirably appropriate to the
occasion:
con slippery rocks see them stand,
While fiery pillows roll below"
"What said I.-what did / not say?
Prose and poetry, scripture and drama,
romance and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
| Quamdiu, Cdt;lina, aostra patentia
obutere ?'-I sung out to the old cap
tain, to begin with My brave asso-
ciates, partners of my toil'-so ran the
strain. Con which side soever turn
my eyes Gentlemen Of the jury
III come not here to steal away your
hearts You are not wood, you are
not stones, Hoh!-'Begin, yeI
tormentors, your tortures are vain
Good friends, sweet friends, let me-
not stir you up 10 any sudden food
che angry flood that dashed her groan-
ing Sides Ladies and gentlemen
my very noble and approved good
masters avaunt! and quit my sight;
let the earth hide ye'-'lie lightly on
his head, o earthp-sO heaven and
earth, that it shonld come TO this!'--
she torrent roared, and we did buffet