Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1852-12-14
8:
THRILLING INCIDENT.
The Thunder Storm.
BY GEORGE D. PRENTICE.

/ - SGSIAsE
neverwas man of feeble courage. Thereare
but few scenes of either human or elemental STRIFE
upon which have not looked witha brow'of da-
rIng. Ihaye stood in the front ofthe battle, when
the swords we're cleaning and circliDg around Tny.
like fiery serpentS in The air. have stood ON the
mountain pinnacle, when the whitlwind was
Iendng the oaks from their rocky cliffs and scatter
| ing them to The clouds, have seen these things
| with aswelling soul, that knew not, that rocked
not of danger; but there is something in the thun
Idersvoice that makes me trembie like child. j
have. tried to overcome this nnmanly weakness. :
have called pride to my aid; have sought formor
al courage in the lesson of philosophy, but it aYas
me nothing. AT the first low moaning Of the dis.
tant cloud myheart quivers, shrinks and dies with
| in meT 4IGL 55 -el- .f95rs-,,,y- I..ze5 ss
Myinyoluntary dreau of thunder had its origin
IN an incident that occurred when was a boy OF
ten years. hada cousin, of the same age Of my
SELF who had beenthe constant companion of my
childhood. Strange, that afterthe lapse fsomany
years, that countenance should be so familiar to
me. can see that bright young creature, her eye
Flashing like beautiful GEM her free locksstre9m-
Ilng asif IN Joy suponFthe rising gale; her cheek
lglowing Ike Tubys thIougha wreath of transparent
snow. HerYoice had the melody and ioyousness
Of BIRDS, and when she bounded over the wood
land hill, OF fresh green valley, shouting glad an
swerto every voice ot tnature, and clapping herlit-
tle hnndsin the very eestacy Of Young existence.
she looked as if breaking away freed nightingale,
from the earth. and going OF where all things ale
beautiful and happy like her. g ~ iatEtea .
hi ltwas morning in the middle of august. The
little giIl had been passing some lsysatmy fatheIa
house, and she was. now TO return home; her patti
DAY across the fields and gladly became lie com.
panion oflher;walk. i never knew summer NOR
ming more beautiful. 4, Only one little clondWas
visible, and that seemed as spure and white and
peaceful asi it had been heincense smoke of some
burning censef Of the SKIES The leaves hung silent
in thelwoods the atefs lin The bay forgot their
,the flowers were binding their heads as
if dreaming Of the rainbow and dew, and the who'll.
| Infrhhgnhefn
that itseemed cloud Of roses scattered down BY
the hand ofaiPer, from the faroff garden Of Para.
disc. The green earth and blue sea lay hbIoadin
| their boundleSSneSs and the peaceful sky hung
over them. The little creature at my side was iii
delirium of happiness, and her clear sweet voice
came ringing upon the air often as she heard the
notes Of some favorte bird, or found some strange
and lovely flower in her frolic wandenngs. The
unbroken and almost Supernatural tranquility If
the day continued till noon. Them for the fra
timer the Indication of an approaching tempest was
manifest. Over the summit Of a mountain, at the
distance of about'a mile, the folds of large cloud
became suddenly visible, and at the ssme instanta
hollow roar came down on the winds as ie 1t had
been the sound of waves in a rocky cavern. Tie
clouds rolled on like banner nnfolded upon tie
air; but still, the atmosphere was calm and the
leaves as motiouless as befoie, and there was not
even quiver upon the sleeping waters 10 tell of
the coming hurricane. To escape the tempest wR4
| impossible. As the only resort, we tei to mighty
oak that stood atthe foot of tall and rugged pre-
cipice. Here, we remained and gazeu nlrno9t
bTeathleSs upon the clouds marShaling themselves
| like bloody giants in the sky The thunder Wax
not frequent; but every burst was fearful that the
young creature who stood before me shut her eyt
conyulsively, clung with desperate strength to my
| arm and shrieked rs If her heart would break. IN
a few minutes, the storm was upon US. During the
height of fury, the little girl lifted her fingers to-
ward the precpce that lowered over US. looked
and saw an amethystine pea b. and the next moment
the clouds opened and the rocks tottered to their
foundationsj a roar like the groan of the universe
filled the air, and felt myself Blinded and thrown,
| 1 knew not whittier. How long remained in
sensible cannot tell; but when consciousness Tc4
turned, the violence of the tempest abating, tie
roar of the winds was dying in the treetops and the
| deep tones OF the thunder-ClOnd came in fainter
murmufs from the eastern hill. rose and looked
| trenblipgly and almost delirousy around. Slrc
was there, the dear idol love, stretched
out on the green earth After moment of irreSO-
luton, / eit up and looked upon her. The hand
kerchief upon her neck was slightly rent, and a
single dark spot upon her bosom told where tlh,
pathway of her death had been.
Il AT first ciaSped her hand 10 my breast with 4
cry OF agony; and then laid her down and gaZed Ip
on her lace almost with feelings of camness. Her
bright disheVeled rnglets clustered sweety around
her brow; the look Of terror had faded from her
lips, and infant smiles were pictured theIe; I
red rose tinge her check was lovely inlilG.
and Ipressed ittumy own; the fountain Of tears
was opened, andl wept as If my, heart were waicEs
1 have but a dim recollection of what followed:
know that remained weeping and motonIess til
the coming twilight, and Twas taken tenderly by
the hand and led away where saw tue countet
nance ofparents and steIs. - . III.
Many yearS have gone on the wings of light and
shadow, butt1e scene / have portrayed still comes
over meat times, with terrible distnctneSs. The
oak yet stands at the base othe precipice, but lis
limbs arc black and dead, and the hollow trunk
looks upward 10 the sky as fcalling to the clouds
for drink-an emblem OF rapid and noiseleSS de-
cay. One year ago Ivsited the spot, and Thoughts
fbygone years came mournfnlly back to me. :