Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-04-01
Supernatural.

We publish below an extract from De
Quncey's Literary "reminiscences" recently re-
published in this country. 1t contains an &C
count of remarkable adventure which beieIl
young lady residing near Ulleswater, in Eng
land, and is said to be literally true
There is, on the western side of UIIessater,
fine cataract. Tor in the language of the Coun.
try, iorce,) known by the name Of Arey Force,
and it is of Importance enough, especially in
rainy seasons, to attract numerous visitors from
among the Lakes. Thither. with some purpose
Of sketching, not the whole scene, but some
picturesque features Of t. Miss smilb hnJ gcre
quite unattended. The road TO it lies though
Cob ,rruw Park and it was usual, at that time,
to take guide from the family of the Duke of
Norfolk's keeper, who lived in Lyulkh's Tower,
solitary hunting lodge built by his Grace for
the purposes of an annual tist which he used
to pay to his estates in that part of England.
She, however, thinking herself sufficiently fa-
mIiar with the localities, had declined to en-
cumber herself with such an attendant conse.
quently she was alone. For half an hour or
more she continued to ascend and being
good cragswoman" from the experience she
had won in Wales, as well as in northern Eng
land, she had reached an attitude much beyond
what would generally be thought corresponding
to the time. The path had vanished altogeth-
er: but she continued to pick out one for her
self amongst the stones, sometimes receding
from the force, sometimes approaching it, ac-
cording to the openings allowed by the scatter
ed masses of rock. Pressing forward in this
hurried way, and never looking back, all at
once she found herselfn little stony chamber,
from which there was no egress possible in ad-
vance. She stopped and looked up. There
was frightful silence in the air. She felt a
sudden palptatlon at her heart, and panic
from she knew not what. Turning, however,
hastily, she wound herself out of this aerial
dungeon; but by steps 30 rapid and agitated
that at length, on looking round, she found her
self standing at the brink of a chasm, frightiul
to look down. That way, 1t was clear enough
all retreat was impossible; but on turning round,
retreat seemed in every direction alike, even
more impossible. Down the chasm at least she
might have leaped, though with little or no
chance of escaping with life ; but on oil other
quarters it seemed to her eye that, at no price,
could she effect an exit, since the rocks stood
around her in semi. circus, all lofty, all per-
pendicuar, all glazed with trickling water or
as smooth as polished porPOyty. Yet how, then,
had she reached the point? The same track,
if she could hit that track, would surely secure
her escape. Round and round she walked,
gazed with almost despairing eyes; her breath
came thicker and thicker; for the path she
could not trace by which it was possible for her
to have entered. Finding herself 10 grow more
and more confused, and every instant nearer
to sinking into some fainting fit Or convulsion,
she resolved to set down and turn her thoughts
quietly into some less exciting channel. This
she did gradually recovered some lfposses-
SION and then suddenly a thought rose up to
her, that she was in the hands of God, and that
he would not forsake her. But Immediately
, came second and reproving thought, that this
confidence in Gods protection might have been
t justified had she been ascending the rocks upon
, any mission of duty; but what right could she
have to any providential deliverance, who hat
} been led thither by spirit of levity and care
lessness ? am here giving her view Of thl
case, for, as to myself, fear greatly, that if he
steps were erring ones, it is but seldom indeer
: that mons uutres can pretend to be treading upJ
8 right paths. Once again she rose and support
| ing herself upon little sketching-stool tia
E folded up into stick, she looked upwards, il
e the hope that some shepherd might by chanc
= be wandering in those aerial regions; but moth
i ing could she see except the tall birches grow
n ing at the brink of the highest submits, and tn
i clouds slowly sailing overhead. Suddenl,
s however, as she swept the whole circuit of be