Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1847-03-18

Who love us accustomed to descend
Through the deep clouds, DER rocky Arrarat:-
How my heart beats !"-Byon's Heauen and Earth.
The sickly rays of the melancholy moon beamed
lazily through the unchinked crevices of misera-
BILE little howell in the county of Mayo, in Ireland
Ever and anon the starry host dived into the azure
vaulted Heavens, and then appeared again, as if
they would, but could not contemplate, without I'M
uterable agony, the scene presented to their view
The bleak winds, which sighed mournfully over the
blighted heaths, whispering they glided by the
funeral requiem of thousands seemed to render
more intense the death-llke silence of the night
The atmosphere was dim and haZy, and it would
not have required mind Of extraordinary imagina-
ton to have dscried amid the "dim obscure - CO.
lumn of superior brilliancy and spendor, shooting
up to the Heavens, mathematical Of the countless
prayers that were ascending in simultaneous
outburst to a throne Of Mercy, imploring an allev-
alton Of that Distress which has thrill of an
gush to the hearts of whole nation, and enlisted
the commingled sympathy of the civilized world
The land for miles around was one unbrOken sheet
of barrenness and desolation not single blade
of grass envening e.dreary prospect. The little
rill which once leaped in cheerful gayety before
the cottage door, now mutered but the dread fore
boiling Of direr times to come. Anon the moon
rides forth in all her queenlike majesty and splendor
smiles sadly the blighted fields of starving Ire
land, and then conceas her sorrowing face beneath
the gloomy mantle of some blackened cloud. ALL
yes, all nature is ill-silen-clohed in one uni
versal garb of melancholy gloom. But bark! what
sound sweet as the mingled melody of Heavens an
geic choirs,
"Breaks the dread silence Of the cherries night,
And trembling, res.s on every passing brcczc?''
The little streamlet catches with eagerness the
Heavenly melody, and one bright wave fights mad
ly with another, secure it as the partner of IFS
] Enhn nIvo bocly tbne f.
In the distance, sweeter and more meodious still,
a single sentence finds its way to Heaven-'.Father
thy will be done"
Such was the scene without. At the picture
within humanity shrank back abashed. In one
corner Of the wretched hut. upon couch of dirty
| straw, lay the ghasty skeleton of woman appa-
rently wrapt in the sleep Of death Beside her lent
the angel form of a little girl, upon whose lovely
cheek the Demon of Starvation had stamped his
dreadful seal. believing with chrystal tears the
inanmate body of her darling mother. Though
wasted away by the cravings of hunger, she still
retained evident traces of superior beauty. Dis
ease had planted his iron heel where loneliness
once reveled in unrivaed brilIiancy, and sorrow
roted, where gayety once reigncd-n the silent
chamber of her broken heart. She cast her languid
eye upon the emaciated form of that beloved moth
er, who, In happier days, had fondly nestled her
upon her bosom, and wiped away each tear which
sorrow conjured to her eye; but all was stl-si-
lent as the tomb, and the little girl laid down be-
side her mother to die. She looks like she was
almost across the threshold of eternity; her coun-
tenance assumes an expression of heavenly beati-
tude, and smile of angelic sweetness settles on
her and hollow cheek
clark they whisper! angels say
Sister spirit, away -
But stopl the picture is incomplete. In another
part Of the room the wretched Father slept In one
hand he cutched with all the energy of despair the
crust of little oaten cake. Hunger had brutalized
him. All day, all night had the little girl implor
ed one crumb of bread to sustain the life Of his wife
her mother But no! he only grasped it tighter
than before. But she did not cease. Twas for het
mother-to save her darling mother from an awfu
death-she craved one crumb Of bread until weariet
| with her opportunities, her Father fell asIeep
The little girl lay by her mothers side and went
She thought her mother was dead, all was 81
still and quiet. Hush she hears stiIled sich
| She feels her mothers heart beat almost imper
/ ceptbly against her own. Something seemed tc
say, "she is not dead, but sleepeth." She starts
her eyes sparkle-her lips quiver-her whole frame
is convulsed. "Her father sleeps" Chow hsi
heart beats" There lays the little oateu cake. how
temptlngIy it looks towards the little girl as if 70
preaching her for not saving her dying mother
! IT'S done Her father or her mother one must die
She cares not for herself but rising from her s1uac
couch Of straw, she neared the little cupboard AMI
seized the keenest knife. Yes, she selected in,
keeneSt knife-she wished her Father to die so easy
! She approached hlm--how soundly he slept-bov
tightly he clenched the crust that was to save he
mother. No! she could not get it without awaIpt