The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-01-22

that fitted. like passing ghosts, across the
face of the torrent. Below. the Wild wa
ters, in whirling, contending, tumultuating
uproar, ragged round their rocky confines,
and aiding in piling up the wavering hills
of foam that concealed the foot Of the fall.
The concave form Of the chasm causes
the confused sound Of the waters to rever-
berate with increased roar, and which, as
the breeze rose and fell, now came in ming
ling rush, and again died away upon the
ear. was alone, not living being was
listening but myself; unless it might be, the
far off loon, whose harsh cry was occa-
sionally, though family heard, as he gam.
boiled in the waves of the distant lake.
What an assemblage Of objects TO move
the soul!-a thunder cloud, the lightning,
the moon, and Niagara close at hand
could any thing be added to heighten the
scene? any new element worthy of such
a combination Of natures sublmest won
der! Yes!-there was one more added,
to crown the whole, and render this favor
cd hour immortal on the memory. have
said the moon was low, just looking out
over the bank of clouds. Her rays, just
about to be extinguished by its black shade,
fed upon the towering mist that rose from
the cataract, and the angle OF incidence
and reflection exactly suiting the spot
where stood, succession of luna rain
bows, sometimes Of dazzling whi,eness,
and then fading till they were scarce visi-
BILE, varying with the wavering mist,
seemed like spirits, the revisiting spir-
its, it might be, of many wild hun.
ter. and many dark sklnned maiden,
banished forever from their long-loved
haunts in the forest, coming back at mid
/! night, to look once moro on the spot con-
secrated by their savage triumphs or their
loves. Need tell the effect Of such
spectacle? Can it, indeed, be fully told?
| felt the solemnity OF being entranced.
As gazed, and gazed, I seemed lost to
all created things but the scene before me;
my breast heaved with profound sigh
my ewes ran down with unbidden, almost
unconscious tears. seemed riveted to
the spot, and felt as il could never leave
| it; my spirit found itself alone with God,
in the presence Of his greatest and his no.
blest works:-I felt my nothingness: felt
my siafulness: and humbled myself be.
fore him. The forgotten mercies Of long
past years came up from the abyss of men,
ory, and my whole life seemed, as in q
moment, to pass in review as tale that
is told. l would that could often pass
such night as that. my spirit within me
said lit is good to be here"
The cloud, however, soon cast its pail
over this enchanting scene, and was
about reluctantly to leave the tower, when
loud, unwelcome noise on the stairs
awoke me from my reverie, and the coarse,
loud voice Of two young fashionable En-.
glishmen were heard, sometimes singing,
sometimes whistling, while as they gained
the summit, they were threshing, with their
whang .hee canes, the iron railing of the
tower. They looked round them for some
five minutes; one observed-"Wsll, this is
very pretty" EYES," replied the other,
"but the fall is no such great things:-
Curse it, let's be off," and down they went,
the steps resounding to their iron-heeled
boots, and to the slapping abou, Of their
supple canes, ashley made their way back
to the hotel.
Oh, God! cried my inmost heart, as the
rude sounds died on my ear, how various,
how incomprehensible are the works Of
thy power! Could He, who created a
scene like this, be the father Of mind
that can thus view it with the unmoved sto-
ldity Of beast? Even the savages felt
the awe inspired by so grand an. object,
and offered sacrifice to the stream. Eve
ry human being pause to contemplate it,
and for the privilege Of the sight, pilgrims
have come TO this, as to sacred shrine,
from all the countries of the old world
The pencil has vainly striven to convey
its image, and poetry has drawn inspira.
ton from the scene. shall ever rejoice
that once saw il, and still more, that my
parting view of the eternal stream was at
tended with every adjunct and accompani.
ment that could add to its sublimity and
engrave it forever on the soul. SIGMA.