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


looked with brow Of daring. have stood
In the front of battle, when swords were
cleaning and crciing round me like the fe.
ry serpents of the air-I have sat on the
mountain pinnacle, when the whirlwind
was rendlng its oaks, from their rocky
cletts, and scattering them piecemeal to
the clouds have seen these things with
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
unmanly weakness-I have called pride
to my add have sought for moral cour-
age IL the lessons of philosophy-but it
avallS me nothlng-at the first low moan
ing of the distant cloud, my heart sinks,
qulvers, 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 a little
cousin-a girl of the same age of myself
who had been the constant companion of my
childhood. Strange that after lapse of
almost a score of years, that countenance
should be so familiar with me. can see
the bright young creature-her large ewes
flashing like 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 a birds,
and when she bounded over the wooded
hill or the fresh valley, shouting glad
answer to every voice of nature, and
| clasping her little hands in the very costa.
cy of young existence, she looked as If
breaking away like freed nightingale
from the earth, and going off where all
things were 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 to
return home. Her path lay across the fields,
and | gladly became the companion of her
walk. never knew a 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 undulations, the flowers were bend
ing their heads as if dreaming of the
rainbow and the dew, and the whole atmos.
phere was of such luxurious sweetness.
that II seemed a cloud of roses, scattered
down by Peri from the (ar-off gardens of
paradise. The green earth and the blue
sea lay abroad in their boundlessness, and
the 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 favorile
bird, or found some strange, lovely flower
in her frOliC wanderings. The unbroken
and almost supernatural tranquility of the
day continued until nearly noon. Then
for the first time, the indications of an ap,
preaching tempest were manifest. Over
the summit of a mountain, at the distance
of about 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 wave,
in rocky cavern. The clouds rolled on
like banner fold upon the air, but still the
atmosphere was as calm and the leave.
motionless as before, and there was no
even a culver upon the sleeping waters, t
tell of the coming hurricane.
To escape the tempest was impossible
As the only resort, we fled to an oak tina
stood at 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 burs
was SO fearful, that the young creature
who stood by me, shut her eyes so convul
sively, chung with desperate strength II
, my arm, and shrieked as if her hear
would break. A few minutes and thu
y storm was upon us. During the heigh
of its fury, the little girl raised her 6nge
9 towards the precipice that lowered above
f lus. | looked up, and the next moment thu
: clouds opened, the rocks tottered to thel
foundations, roar like the groan of al
u universe, filled the air, and | felt m,
6 self blinded and thrown knew not viii
E Their. How long remained insensible
: cannot tell, but when consciousness re
}. turned, the violence of the tempest wa
Q abating, the roar of the winds dying in tn
r tree-topS, and the deep tones of the storm
coming in fainter murmurs from the easter
hills.
i | arose, and looked trembling and a
h most delirIously around. She was thet
II the dear idol of my infant loVe-stretct
g ed out upon the wet green earth. A(ler
At moment of irresolution, went up an
y looked upon her. The handkerchief VI
|. on her was slightly rent, and a sing
r. dark spot upon her bosom, told where 1t
J. pathway of death had been. AT first
he clasped her to my breast, with a cry
agony, and then laid her down and gazG
Ill into her face, almost with feeling
ne calmness. Her bright, dishevelled ringle