The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-11-20
THE WHIRLWIND.
FROM EoU"IiTNG IT IN TIE bush, BY MRS MooDl

rends, and J. T. had taken a grist of
he new wheat, which he and Noodle had
hrcshcd the day before, to the mill was
consequently left alone with the chldrcn,and
nad double portion of work to do. During
heir absence it was my lot to witness the
most awful storm ever bcheld, and a vivid
recollection of its tcrrors was permanently
liked upon my memory.
The weather had been intensely hot during
the three preceding days, although the sun
was entirely obscurcd by blueish haze,
which seemed to render the unusual heat of
the atmosphere more oppressive. Not breath
of air stirred the vast forest and the waters
of the lake assumed leadcn hue After pass
inc SlccpleSs night, | arose, little afterdav
break, to superintcnd my domestic affairs
E. took hi breakfast, and went Oft to
the mill, hoping that the rain would keep off
until his return.
1T is no Joke" he SAID being upon these
lakes in small canoe, heavily laden. in
storm"
Before the sun rose. the heavens were COW
cred with hard looking clouds, of deep blue
and black cast. fading away to white at the
cdgeS, and in form, resembling the lonr. roll
ing waves Of heavy sca-but with this diff:
ference, that the clouds were perfectly mo-
tionleSs, piled long curved lines, one above
the other. and so remained until four o'clock
in the afternoon. The appearance of these
cloudS. as the sun rose above the horizon. was
the most splendid that can bc imagincd,tin
up to the zenith with every shade Of saffron.
gold. rose color, scarlet and crimson. failing
away into the deepest violet Never did the
storm frnd shake in the face of dav more
g"rgron~ banner; and, pressed as was for
time, | stood gazing. like one entranced upon
the magnificent pageant
As the day advanced, the same blue haze
ohsrurcd the un.which trowned rcdlv throuch
his misty veil At ten o'clock the heat was
Sutlocating and extingui>hrd the fire in the
cooking stove, determined to make our meal,
upon bread and milk rather than add to the
oppressive heat The thermometer. in the
shade rangcd from ninetv-Six to nnctv-cioht
degrees, and | gave over nv work and retired
with the little ones to the coolest part of the
honSe. The Young creatures stretched them
selves upon the floor. unable to iumn ahoni
or play; the dog lav painting in the shade
the fowls half buried themselves in the 1uSt
with open beaks and Out<trctched winus All
nature seemed to droop beneath the scorch
ing heat
Unfortunately for me- gentleman arrive(
about one o'clock from Kingston. to tran>ac
some business with my husband. He had no
tasted food since six o'clock, and was oblir
ed to klndle fire to prepare his dinner.
was one OF the hardest tasks ever pcrforme,
u almost tainted with heat. and most unhos
rltablv rcioced when his dinner was over
i, and | saw him depart. Shortly aftcrwar,l.
, my TREND Mrs -, and her brothe
called in. on their way from Peterborough
GLOW do Won bear the heat 2" asked Mr.
! -. This Is one of the hottest lavs
: remember to have experienced in this pa,
: OF the province. I am afraid that it will en-
IN hurricane or what the Lower Canadian
5 term Il. Orage'"
About four o'clock they rose to 20. lure
: ed them to stay longer "No." said N,
- 1.-The sooner we ret home the bette
g think we can reach it before the stor,
. breaks"
/ took Donald in nv arms. and my c,do
: boy by the hand, and walked with Them
: the brow of the hill, thinking that the a
would be cooler in the shade. In tb;S 7 W.
mistaken. The clouds over our heads hmm
so low, that the heat was 50 great, that W,
s soon glad to retracc nv steps.
The moment turned round to face r,
: lake, was surprised at the chance that h,
$ taken place in the appearance of the heaven
/ The clouds that had before lain so motionle
were now in rapid motion. hurryino ar
chasing each other round the horizon # W
+: strangely awful sight. Before I felt = brea,
OF the mighty blast that had already burst {
e the other side of the lake. branches Of ,rae
: leaves, and clouds of dust were wb;rIed aero
: the lake, whose waters rose in lono sbarn e.,
rows. tringed with foam. as if moved in n.
# depths by some unseen but powerful agent.
e Painting with terror, I Just reached the do
5 OF the house as tie hurricane swept up IL
l. hill, crushing and overturnine everything
G its course. Spell bound. stood at the onf
door, with clasped hands. unable to snea
rendered dumb and motionless bv the terrih
grandeur OF the scene while little DonaI
who could not utter many ineligible word
" cr'pt to my feet, appealing to me for prote
'on' while his rosy cheeks paled even
marble whltcness The hurrying clouds ga,
10 the heavens the appearance of point.
= dome, round which the Ii ightning PLAYED
'Toad ribbons Of FIRE. The roaring OF Il