Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1848-09-29

heart shrnks-quyrrs aud dies within me.
Ny involuntary dread Of thunder had us ori.
gin in an accident that occurred when was a
boy of ten wears. had liule cOusin-a girl
Of the same age with myself, who had been the
conslanlcompaniono Of my mychildhOud. Strange,
that after the lapse Of so many years, that cOun-
ienance should be so familiar To me. can see
the bright young crealure-her eyes flashing
like beautiful gems, her free lCcks streaming Us
in JOY upon the rising gale. and her cheek glow.
ing like ruby through wreath Of transparent
snow. Her voice had the melody aud Joyous
ness Of birds, aud when she bounded over the
wooded hill, or fresh green valley, shouting
glad answer to every voice Of nature, and clap
ping her little bands in The very exstacy Of
young existence, she looked rs If breaking
away like freed nightingale from the earth,
and going off where all things are beautiful and
happy like her.
Ii was a morning in the middle Of August
The lule girl had been passing some days al
my fathers house. 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, ard
that seemed as pure, and white, and peaceful as
if il had been the incense smoke Of some burn.
ing incense Of the skies. The leaves hung 81.
lent in the woods, the waters in the bay had for.
gotten their undulatons, and flowers were ben.
ding their heads as if dreaming Of the rainbow
and dew, and the whole atmosphere was Of such
soft and luxuriant sweetness that il seemed a
cloud Of roses scattered down by the hands Of
a Peri, from the far off gardens Of Paradise
The green earth and the blue sea lay abroad in
their boundlessness, and The peaceful sky bert
over and blessed them. The little creature al
my side was in dolirum Of happiness, and her
clear sweet voice came ringing upon The air as
often as she heard the tones Of a lavorite bird,
or found some strange and lovely flower in her
frolc wanderings. The unbroken and almost
supernatural tranquility of the day continued
until near noon. Then for the first time The in.
dcaon Of an approaching tempest was mani.
fest. Over the summit of mountain, at the
distance Of about mile, the folds Of dark
cloud became suddenly visible, and al the same
instant, hollow roar came down upon the
winds as if il had been the sound of waves in a
rocky cavern. The cloud rolled out like ban.
ner unfoded upon the air, but still the atmos-
as before; and there was not evena quivcr upon
the sleeping waters TO tell Of the coming hurri.
cane.
To escape the tempest was impossible. As
the only resort, we hadt an oak that sloodatlhe
foot Of a tall aud rugged precpce. Here we
remained and gazed almost brealhlessly upon
Inc clouds murshaIling themselves ike bloody
gauls in the sky. The thunder was not fre.
luenI, but every burst was so fearful that the
young creature who stood by me, shut her ears
conVuSively, clung with desperate strength to my
arm, and Shrieked as if her heart would break.
A few minutes, and the storm was upon U.s.
During The height of its fury, the ule girl lifted
her finger towards the precipice that lowered
over US. looked, and saw an amethystine
peak! and The next moment the clouds opened,
The rocks tGlered To their foundations. roar like
the groan Of the universe filled The air and felt
myself blinded, and thrown knew not with
er. How long remained insensble | cannot
te u; but when consciousness returned, the vio-
lence of the tempest was abating, the roar of
the winds were dying in The tree tops, and the
deep tones of the thunder cloud came in fainer
murmurs from the eastern hills.
liriCusly around. She was there--,he dear idol
of my infant love-siretched on the green earth.
After moment Of irresolution, 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 feel,
ings of calnness. Her bright dishevelled rin.
gIets clustered sweetly around her brow; the
look of terror had faded from her lip; and in.
rant smiles were pictured there; the red rose
tnge upon her cheeks was lovely as in life as |
pressed it 10 my own; the fountain of tears was
opened, and | wept as if my heart were waters.
| have but dim recollection of what followed
Il only know that remained weeping and mo.
tonless ill the coming twilight, and was taken
tenderly by the hand and led away where saw
the countenances Of parents and sisters.
Many years hOvegone by the wings of light
and shadow; but the scenes have portrayed,
still come over me at times, with terrible dis.
hnctness. The oak yet stands at the base Of
the precipice; but its limbs are black and dead,
and The hollow trunk, looking upwards TO lhe
sky, as if scaling TO the clouds for drink" is
an emblem of rapid and noiseless decay. A
year ago visited The spot, and the thought Of
by.gone years came mournlully back to me. |
thought of the little innocent being who fell by
my side like some beautiful Tree of Spring, rent
by the whirlwind in the midst of bossoming.-
But remembered-and OF there was Joy in
that she had gone where no lighIniDgs
slumber in the folds of the rainbow cloud, and
where the sunlight waters are broken only by
The storm breath of Omnipotence.
My readers will understand why shrink in
error from thunder. Even the consciousness
Of security is no relief 10 me-my fears have
assumed The nature of an instinct, and seem in
deed part of my existence.
GOLDEN THoUGHTs.--I never yet found pride
in noble nature, nor humanity in an unworthy
mind. OF all trees, ! observe that God has