Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-05-27
The Thunder Storm,

hS'bi was man VI ltbulC
There are few scenes either of human or
elemental strife, upon which | have moi
looked with brow of daring. have stood
in the front Of battle, when swords were
cleaning and circling round me like the fe.
ry serpents Of the air--l have sat on the
mountain pinnacle, when the whirlwind
was rending its oaks, from their rocky
cletts, aud scattering them piecemeal 10
the clouds have seen these things with
a swelling soul, that knew not, that rocked
not OF danger; but there is something in
the thunder's voice that makes me tremDle
like child. have tried 10 overcome this
unmanIy weakness-l have called pride
to my add have sought for moral cour-
age IN the lessons of philosophy it
ayals me nothing--at the first low moan.
ing of the distant cloud, my heart sinks,
quiyers, gasps and dies within me.
My involuntary dread of thunder had its
origin in an incident that occurred when |
was child of ten years. had n little
cousn-o girl of the same age of myself,
who had been the constant companion of my
childhood. Strange that after lapse of
almost score Of years, that countenance
should DO so familiar with me. can see
the bright young creature--her large eyes
flashing like a beautiful gem, her free locks
streaming as in Joy upon the rising gale,
and her cheek glowing like ruby through
wreath of transparent snow. Her voice
had the melody and joyousness of birds,
and when she bounded over the wooded
Hill or the fresh valley, shouting glad
answer to every voice Of nature, and
clasping her liule hands in the very costa.
cy Of young existence, she looked as if
breaking away like freed nightingale
from the earth, and going of where all
things we're beautiful like her.
1t was morning in the middle of August.
The little girl had been passing some days
at my fathers bouse, and she was now 10
return home. Her path lay across the fields,
and | gladly became the companion of her
walk. never knew summer morning
more beautiful and still. Only one little
cloud was visible, and that seemed as pure
and white, and peaceful, as If it had been
the smoke OF some burning censor Of the
skies, The leaves hung silent in the
woods, the waters of the bay had forgotten
! their fluctuations, the flowers we're bend.
ing their heads as if dreaming of the
rainbow and the dew, and the whole atmos.
phere was Of such luxurious sweetness.
that IL seemed a cloud of roses, scattered
down by Peri from the far.off gardens Of
paradise, The green earth and the blue
sea lay abroad in their boundessness, and
tho peaceful sky bent over and blessed
them. The little creature at my side was
in delirium of happiness, and her clear
sweet voice came ringing upon the air, as
often as she heard the notes of a (ayorite
bird, or found some strange, lovely flower
in her troic wanderings. Tho nnbroken
and almost supernatural tranquility of the
day continued until nearly noon. Then
for the first time, the indications of an APP
preaching tempest were manifest. Over
the summit Of a mountain, at the distance
of about a mile, the folds Of dark cloud
became suddenly visible, and at the same
instant hollow roar came down upon the
winds, as if it had been the sound of waves
in q rocky cavern. The clouds rolled out
like banner fold upon the air, but still the
atmosphere was as calm and the leaves
notionless as before, and there was not
even culver upon the sleeping waters, to
tell of the coming hurricane.
To escape the tempest was impossible.
As the only resort, we fled TO an oak that
stood al the foot Of tall and rugged pre-
cipice. Here we remained looking breath
lessly upon the clouds, marshalling them.
selves like bloody giants in the sky. The
thunder was not frequent, but every burst
was SO fearful, that the young creature
who stood by me, shut her eyes so conyul-
siycly, chung with desperate strength to
my arm, and shrieked as If her heart
would break. A few minutes and the
storm was upon MS. During the height
Of its fury, the liltle girl roised her finger
towards the precipice that lowered above
US. looked up, and the next moment the
clouds opened, the rocks tottered to their
foundations, roar like the groan of an
universe, filled the air, and felt my
self blinded and thrown knew not viii.
Their. How long remained insensible
cannot tell, but when consciousness 70.
turned, tho violence Of the tempest was
abating, the roar Of the winds dying in the
tree-tops, and the deep tones of the storm
coming in fainter murmurs from the eastern
hills.
arose, and looked trembling and al.
most delinousIy around She was there
the dear idol of my infant love stretch
ed out upon the wet green earth. After
moment of irrcsoluton, went up and
looked upon her. The handkerchief up.
on her was slightly rent, and single
dark spot upon her bosom, told where the
pathway Of death had been. At first Il
clasped her to my breast, with cry Of