Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-09-10

the eminences around for safety. Yet still the wa
ter rose around them, till all through the valley
nothing but little black islands of human beings
were seen on the surface. Oh, then, what fierce
struggles there We're Tor life among them! The
mother lifted her infant above her head, while she
strove to maintain her uncertain footing in the wa
ters; the strong crowded off the weak as each
sought the highest point, while the living mass
slowly crumbled away till the water swept smooth
and noiselessly above them all. Men were heard
talking of the number of lives lost and the amount
of wealth destroyed and that such food had not
happened in the remembrance of the Oldest man.
No one yet dreamed of the high grounds being COW
cred, least Of all the mountains. To drown the
world, it must rain till tho ocean itself was filed
above Its level for miles, and so men feared 1t not,
and sought amusement within doors I'LL the storm
should abate. Oh, what scenes OF vice, shame,
brutality and revery did that storm witness in the
tmonged city, and what uuhallowed songs mingled
IN the pauses of the blast that swept by.
But at length another sound was heard that sent
paleness TO every cheek and chained every tongue
in mute terror. 1t far distant roar, faint but
fearful, vet sounding more distinct and ominous
every moment, till it filled the air. The earth trem
bled and gfoaned under it as if an earthquake was
on lis march, and ever and anon came crash as if
! 4" the ribs of nature were breaking Nearer and
louder and more terribiUTc grew till men, forget
ting alike their pleasure and anger, rushed out in
the storm Whispering" The flood, the flood and
|
seen before, came rolling over the crouching earth.
Stretching from horizon to horizon, far as the
eye could reach, losing itself like limitless wall
in the clouds above, it came pouring its green and
massive waters onward, while the continued and
rapid crash of falling forests, and crushed and up
torn mountains that fell one after another in its
passage, and the successive shrieks that pierced the
heavens, rising even above the deaening roar OF
the onrushing ocean, as city alter city, and king
dom after kingdom disappeared, made scene of
terror and horror nconceivable, ndescrbable.
THE fountains Of the great deep Cere broken up J"
Bot the last cry Of human agony was at length
hushed ocean met ocean in its flow and the waves
swept on without Shore Oh, what a wreck was
| there the wreck of two thousand years, with its
cities, its cultivated fields, and mighty population.
Not shivered masts and broken tmbers, the wrecks
of some gallant vessel, were on that turbulent
surface, but the fragments of crushed and brok
en- world. 1t was noble wreck -splendid cities
and towers, gorgeous palaces, gay apparel, the &C.
cumulated wealth and luxury of twenty centuries
strewlng the bosom of the deluge, like autumn
leaves the surface of some forest stream.
| But amid the sudden night that had wrapped the
EARTH and Ne frenzy of the elements and utter
throw and chaos Of all things, there was heart
that beat as calmly in sleep; one brow over
which no breath of passion or of fear passed for
in the solitary ark that lifted to the heaving billow,
the aged patriarch knelt in prayer. Amid the surg
ing OF the fierce his voice may not have been
heard by mortal ear, but the light Of faith shone
round his aged form, and the moving lip spoke
repose as tranquil childhoods on the bosom of
maternal love. The patriarch's God ruled that wild
scene, and Noah felt his frail vessel culver In eve
nv timber, without one tremor himself Upborne
on the flood the Heaven protected ark rose over
the buried cities and mountains, and foated away
on the shoreless deep. Like single drop OF dew
this round sphere of ours hung and trembled-a
globe of water in mid heaven. have often Won
dered what the conversations were during the long
days and nights that lonely ark was riding on the
deep. As it rose and fell on the long protracted
swell, massive ruins would go laundering by, whole
forests sink and rise with the billows while ever
and anon uptorn hill, as borne along by the re-
sstless tide it struck; buried mountain, would
loom for moment like some black monster over
the waves, then plunge again to the tathomless bot
TOM Amid this wreck and these sights the ark
sailed on in safety How often in Imagination
have pictured it in the deuge at midnight To
spectator what object of interest it would have
been Round the wide earth the light from its SOL
tary windows was the only indication of life that
remained. One moment 1t would be seen far up
on the crest of the blllow, mere speck of flame
amid the llmitless darkness that env!roned 1t, and
then disappear in the CULTS below as if eXtinguish-
ed forever. Thus that gentle light would sink and
rise on the breast Of the deluge, the last the only
| hope of the human race. Helmless, and apparent
ly guideess, ITS wreck seemed inevitable but the
sea never rolled that could extingush that starke
beam, that told where the ark still foated. Not c.
ven the strong wind that the Almighty sent over
the water to dry it up driving 1t into pillows that
stormed the heavens, could sink It. Though 1t
shook like reed in their strong grasp and foun-
dered through the deep CULTS, 1t passed unerrlngIy
on to the summit Of that mountain on which 1t was
to rest and at length struck ground and ceased
its turbulent notion Noah waited week and
then sent forth raven 10 explore the deep. AL
though the waters still swept from mountain to
mountain, the myriad carcasses that hoated on the
surface furnished both food and resting place, and
he returned no more. He then sent forth dove.
1t darted away from the place Of It's long contne-
ment, and sped on rapid wing over the flood, now
turning this way and now that, looking IN vain with
its gentle eye for the green earth and at last turn
ed back towards the ark of rest The tap OF It's
snowy wing was heard on the window, and the pa
triarch reached forth his hand and took it in. The
fierce painting Of its nlotled breast ano It's droop-
ing pinions, told too well that the earth gave no
. place of repose. But the second time it was sent
it returned with an olive leaf in Its mouth showing
that the earth had risen from its burial and was
sproutng out in verdure. Then the patriarch went
ii forth with his family and stood on Mount Arrara
and 10, the earth at his feet, but how changed.
, Cut into gorgas where the strong currents swept
and piled into ridges 1t bore IN every part, marks
f of the power that had raYaged It, Noah and his
family were alone in the world, and he built an al
tar there on the top of the solitary mountain, and
! lifted lis voice in payer and the Almighty talked
/ with him as friend taketh with friend" bidding
him 90 forth and occupy the earth. And as the
flame of the sacrifice arose from the mountain tor
bearing the pariarch's prayer heavenward tie prom
Use was given that the earth should never again bt
swept by deuge, and 10, Gods sgnet ring appear
ed in the clouds, arching the man OF God, and was
q shown as a warrant that the covenant should never
f be broken.
Baptsed by the flood -consecrated by the altar
y illumned by the first fresh rainbow, Mount Arara
. stood a sacred mountain on the earth.
Fl Coon GovERNMENT.-Whatis the object of al
n government? The object of all government is roas
mutton potatoes, stout constable, an honest jus
G tice a clear highway, a free school What lrasl
/ to be bawlng 10 the streets about the Green Isle
q the Isle OF the Ocean! the best anthem of Erin q
J, Bagh! A better anthem would be Erin go brea