Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-10-25

air as often as she heard the tones of favor.
i,e bird, or found some strange and Iovelv
flower in her frolic wandernes. The unbro.
ken and almost supernatural tranquility of the
day continued until near noon. Then for the
first time the indication of an approaching tem-
pest was manifest On The summit OF noun
tain, al distance Of aboui mile, the folds OF
dark cloud became suddenly visible, and a,
the same instant, hollow roar came down
upon The winds as If il had been the sound of
waves IN rocky cavern. The cloud rolled on
like banner unfoded upon the air, bu, still
the atmosphere was calm, and The leaves as
motloniess, as before; and there was not
quver among the sleeping waters 10 tell OF The
coming hurricane.
10 escape The tempest was impossible. As
the only resort, we fed 10 an oak tha, stood at
the foot OF a tall and rugged precipice. Here
we stood and gazed almos, brealhlessIy upon
The clouds marshaing themselves like bloody
giants in the sky. The thunder was so fre-
quen,, and every burs. was so fearful, hat the
young creature who stood by me, shut her
eyes conrulsisely. and chung with desperate
strength 10 my arm, and shrieked as If her
heart would break.
few minutes and the storm was upon US.
During the heighth of its fury. the Inile girl
lifted her finger towards The precipice that
lowered over Us. looked, and saw an ame-
thosline peak! And the mex, momen. the
clouds opened, the rocks ,oliered to their foun-
da,ions. roar like The groan of the universe
filled the air. and | felt myself blinded and
thrown knew not whi,her How long re-
mained insensibIe, | cannot teII-bui when
oA tho IF th.
pes. was abating. the roar of The winds was
dying in the Tree tops, and the deep tones Of
thunder came in fainling murmurs from the
eastern hills.
| rose and looked tremblingly and almos,
delriousy around. She was lhere--lhe dear
idol of my infant loVe-stre,ched upon the
green earth. After moment of irresoIurion,
wen. up and looked upon her. The handker-
chief upon her neck was slightly rent, and
single dark spo, upon her bosom told where
The pathway Of her death had been. Al first, |
clasped her TO my breast with cry Of agony.
and then laid her down and gazsd upon her
face almost with feelings of calmness. Her
bright disheveled hair clustered wee,ly around
her brow the look of terror had faded from
her lips, and infant smiles were pictured there;
the red rose tinge upon her cheeks was lovely
as in life, and as pressed j, to my own, the
fountains of tears were opened, and wept as
| if my heart were waters. | have bu, a dim
| recollection of what followed only know
tha, emained weeping and mo,ionless ill
the coming twilight, and was taken lendery
by the hand and led away where saw the
counenances of parents and sisters.
| Many years have gone by on the wings Of
| light and shadow, but scenes have portrayed,
still come over me a, times with terrible dis
tinctness. The oak yet stands at the base of
the preeipice !; but its limbs are black and dead,
and the hollow trunk looking upwards TO the sky,
as if calling to the clouds for drink is an emblem
Of rapid and noiseless decay. year ago
visited the spo, and thoughts of bygone years
came mournfuly back TO me. Thought Of the
! little innocent being who fell by my side like
some beautiful tree of Spring. rent up by The
whirlwind in The midst Of blossoming But
remember-and O! there was JOY IN the men,
ory that she had gone where no lisb,nngs
slumber in the folds of the rainbow cloud, and
where the sunlight waters are broken only by
the slorm-brealh Of Omnipoience.
| My readers will understand why shrink in
terror from thunder. Even the consciousness
of security is no relief for me-my fears have
assumed the nature of an instinct, and seem in.
deed par, Of my existence.