Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-12-09
miscellaneous.

BY GEORGE D. PRENTICE.

was never a man Of feeble courage
There are few scenes either of human or ele-
mental strife, upon which have looked with
a brow Of daring. | have stood ia the front
of the battle. when swords were cleaning and
circlng around me like fiery serpants OF the
air--I have set on the mountain pinnacle,
when the whirIwind was rending its oaks from
their rocky cliffs aud scattering them piece
meal TO the clouds have seen these things
with swelling soul, that knew not, thai reck-
ed not danger but there is something IN the
thunder's voice tina, makes me iremble like
child. have tried TO overcome this unman-
ly weakness have called pride TO my aid
have sought Tor moral courage in the lesson
OF philosophy--bul it avails me nothing--at
the first low moaning of the distant cloud, my
heart shrinks, quivers, gasps, and dies within
me.
MY involuntary dread of thunder had lis
origin in an incident, that occurred when
was boy OF ten years. | had little cousin
IA girl of the same age with myself, who had
been the constant companion OF my childhood.
Strange, that after the lapse Of so many years,
that countenance should be so familiar to me.
can see the bright Young creature--her large
eyes 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 aud joyousness of birds, and
when she bounded over the wooded hill or the
fresh green valley shouting glad answerto ever
Voice Of nature. and clasping her little hands
10 the very ecstacy OF young existence, she
looked as if breaking away like freed night
lingale from the earth, and gong off where all
things are beautiful and happy like her.
| 1t was morning in The middle of August,
The little girl had been passing some days at
my fathers house, and she was now 10 return
home. Her path lay across the field, and
gladly became companion OF her walk. l
never knew summer morning more beaut-
1 full and still Only one little cloud was visible,
and that seemed as pure, and white, and
peaceful as If it had been the incense smoke
| of some burning censor of the skies. The
leaves hung silent in the woods, the waters in
the BAY had forgotten their fluctuations. the
| flowers were bending their heads as If dream
ing Of the rainbow and dew, and the whole
atmosphere was OF such soft and luxrIous
sweetness, that it seemed cloud OF roses
scattered down by the hands Of Peri, from the
far off gardens of Paradise The green earth
and the blue sea lay abroad in their bouodess-
ness, and the peaceful sky bent over and bles-
sed Them The little creature al my side was
/ in delirum of happiness, and her clear,
sweet voice came ringing upon the air as Of
len as she heard The tones ola favorie bird, or
| found some strange or lovely flower in her
1 frolic wanderings. The unbroken and almost
supernatural tranquility of the day continued
until nearly noon. Then for the first time the
indications of an approaching tempest Were
! manifest. Over the summit OF mountain at
/ the distance Of about a mile. the folds of dark
cloud became suddenly visible, and al the
same instant, hollow roar came down upon
4 the winds, as it had been the sound of waves
| in rocky cavern. The cloud rolled out like
banner-fold upon the air, but still the at
mosphere was as calm and the leaves as mo-
tionless as before, and there was not even a
culver upon the sleeping waters to tell OF the
coming hurricane.
! To escape the tempest was impossible
/ AT the only resort, we fled TO an oak, that
stood al the foot OF a tall and rugged precipice.
1 Here we remained and gazed almost breath
I lessly upon the cloud, marshalling themselves
/ like bloody giant IN the sky. The thunder
was not frequent, but every burst was so fear
4 FIJI that the young creature who stood by me,
shu, her eyes convulsively, chung with despe-
rate strength TO my arm, and shrleked as if her
the storm was upon us. During the height of
its fury, the little girl lifted her finger towards
the precipice that lowered above US. looked
up and an amethystine fame was quiverng
upon its gray peaksl and the next moment
the clouds opened, the rocks totered 10 their
/ foundations. roar like the groan OF Uni
verse filed the air, and | felt myself blinded
and thrown-I knew not whittier. How
long remained insensble, / cannot tell, but,
when consciousness returned, the violence of
the tempest was abatng the roar Of the winds
dying in the tree tops, and the deep tones OF
! the cloud coming in fainter murmers from the
eastern bills.
arose, and looked lrembngly and almost
deliriously around. She was t!iere--the dear
idol Of my infant love, stretched out on the
wet green earth. After moment OF irresolu
lion, went up and looked upon her. The
handkerchief upon her neck was slightly rent
and single dark spot upon her bosom told
where the pathway of her death had been.
/ AT first clasped her to my breast with cry
/ of agony, and then laid her down and gazed
/ upon her face, almost with a feeling of calm
! ness. Her bright dshevelled ringleis cluster
ed sweetly around her brow, the look of terror
\ had faded from her lips, and infant smiles
were pictured beautifully there; the red rose
tinge upon her cheek was lovely as in life.
and as pressed it to my own, the fountain of
tears were opened, and wepl rs II my heart
were waters have but dim recollection of
wha, followed only know. that, remain
ed weeping and motionless till the coming of
twilight, aud that was then taken tenderly
by the hand, and led away where saw the
,comntenance of parents and sisters.
Many years have gone by on the wings Of
light aud shadow, but the scenes have por-
trayed still come over me, at times, with
terrible distnciness. The oak yet stands at
the base Of the precipice, but its limbs are
black and dead, and the hollow trunk, looking
upwards to the sky as if sealing to the clouds
Tor drink" is an emblem Of rapid and noiseess
decay. A year ago visited lhe spot, and the
thoughts Of bygone years came mournfully
back 10 me--thoughts Of the little innocent be-
ing who fell by my side like some beautiful
tree Of spring. rent up by the whIrlwnd in the
midst Of It's blossoming. But Remembered
and oh there was JOY in the memory !--that
she had gone where no lightnings slumber in
the folds of the ram bow cloud, and where the
sunlight waters are broken only by the storm
breath Of Omnipoience.
NV readers will understand why shrink
n terror from the thunder. Even the con
seriousness Of security is no relief 10 me--my
fears have assumed the nature of an instinct,
=. ~ e.o,,, ,udaa1 mart AZ mig oxtsfonco