The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-03-13

the night upon these and kindred sub
jects. Iconstantly excusing the errors
Of primitive times, and reminding him
that although, by philosophy we had re.
duced 10 system manywonderful works.
yet often for very terror we see moi
that God hath made every thing beau.
tiful in his time; and on the other hand,
he incredulously suggesting doubts and
urging the authority Of the divines, the
law-givers, and the common sentiment
of modern nations;-then, perceiving
the throbbing of his pulse, the fulness
of his veins, and the increasing lustre
of his eyes, | feared lest fever was
creeping insidiously upon him, and
counseIled him to sleep and to deter
the discourse to more seasonable op.
portunity." ''"
sin the morning all was1ranquil and
serene. Toward evening arose terri
bic storm. The easement shook with
the mighty winds, and the branches OF
the thick oaks were torn down and
scattered in the forests. There hung
in the apartment in which the young
man lay, a large painting, over which
was thrown linen covering. When
the storm was at its height, and the
thunder broke and rolled necessarily
over our heads, he beckon me to ap-
proach, and in low and tremulous to mes
requested me TO remove the veil. ]
did SO, and there appeared dimly in the
twilight painting of wonderful skill
and power. 1t represented the inter.
ior of a house of worship. At long
table beneath the desk, sat seven or
eight men clothed in black habiliments,
whose countenance were stern and
threatening. A few feet before them,
wrapped also in dark mantle, stood
a female of great beauty and comman-
ding figure. Each of her hands was
held by person Of mean and malig-
nant visage, who at the same time
seemed to be urging little girl to ap-
proach him, who had fallen before him
apparently in convulsions. Tears
streamed down the pale cheeks ofthe
lady, and her eloquent eyes were lifted,
in sorrowful and reproachful appeal,
to the solemn face ofa ma n, who clasp
ing to his bosom book, reclined a.
gainst one of the pillars of the desk
and looked composedly upon her a.
guish. Out of the great clouds which
overshadowed us came forth Lightning
and 6tfully revealed to us, in startling
radiance, the mournful beauty of her
Truly, thought | be-
held in 1.-THE appearance Of the likeness
Of an angels glory; but suddenly while
looked, the features Of the chief of
those who sat there, as it seemed in
appeared familiar to me. |
recognised also other faces. The
room itself was not unknown to me;
then plainly discerned that it was the
trail OF one accused of witehcraft, aud
could not doubt that one to be the
weeping woman The persons clad in
dark robes were the Justices. An off,
Ger held the prisoners hands, lest she
should affiict her accuser, the little
girl who had striven in vain to ap-
proach her, that she might be touched
by her, and thereby escape the suffer-
ings wherewith the agents Of the King
Of He'll tormented her. The leaning
figure l knew not. Then ! remember
ed the singular emblem delineated on
the hear, Of that young man, and also
a rumor ofhis origin, which heard at
his joining the college; but regarding
1t as relic OF the false days, which,
blessed be God! have passed away, |
had long since forgotten it. Also !
recollected the earnestness Of his dis
course respecting the phantoms, and
the sad conviction Of mystery, pro-
phetic sense of i'll possessed my soul.-
But combating these most distressing
I turned to the poor youth
who lay with perfect tranquility, alter
nately watching the workings of my
features and looking mournfully upon
the exquisite painting. lreframed from
further inquiry, and entreated him TO
permit me to draw the ample curtain
to exclude as far as possible the vivid
flashes, which, when he consented, |
did; and seating myself apartirom him,
truste that God would regard my
prayer and visit his eyelids with slum-
ber.
"About midnight the door of the a.
partment was opened and saw upon
The Threshold man ofmelancholy as
pect and grey locks which fell unre-
strained over long Genevan robe
The rays Of lamp which he held in
his hand streamed forth into the room
lpon the face of the sleeping youth,
which when he saw, without seeming
IN 0hserva NV presence or warning