The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-04-06

the vegetable world. remember feel
ing uneasy at the depth and continu-
ance Of that silence, broken only by
The gurgle of the brook. My father went
often during the day and stood anxiously
looking at the atmosphere, while l silently
crept near him with my two little brothers.
There was something in his manner that
made us afraid, though of what we knew
not. My mother. too. appeared sadder
than usual. Once, when my father return
ed into the house, he told her that this
was just such weather as had preceded the
water-spout that overwhelmed the fishing
boat off the coast of Cape Cod. thirty
years before, and drowned all on board.
eel fear greatly" said he, 'that some
mischief is brewing for us or our neigh
bors; but I'hope, a, least, tina. it will steer
clear OF all our houses"
! "The night at length arrived, and no
evil had as yet come nigh US or our dwell
lings. My mother saw us all in our beds.
and made US say our prayers, and bade
US goodnight, in ihat mild, affectionate
voice, which shall never forget; but, for
my part, could not sleep, agitated as
was with the vague and awful apprehen.
sions with which my fathers looks and
words, and the strange appearances Of
nature. had filled my mind. and which
were struggling to clothe themselves with
images. Sleep at length fell upon me, a
deep sleep. and with it brought the visions
of the night. imagined that the profound
silence was suddenly broken with strange
end terrible crashings, and masses Of earth
and portions of sky were mingling and
whirling and rolling over each other.
awoke with my limbs bathed in sweat, and
it was long before my fear would suffer
me to move them. When the usual cur
rent Of my sensations was restored, was
comfor,ed to find myself still in my own
familiar couch, though in the midst OF Ut
ter darkness. and that awful lifeless silence.
so deep that could hear the clicking of
my fathers watch in the next room. IN,
s.The sun rose as usual the next day,
and the same calm and silence contin ued.
My own apprehensions had passed away
with the night, though observed my faith
er watching the cloudless hazy skies with
the same air of anxiety. About twelve
o'clock I was in the orchard back of our
cottage, amusing myself with gathering
the largest Of the unripe apples which the
drought had caused to drop 10 great num-
bers from the trees, intending to carry them
to- my q two little brothers to play with.
NV fatherhad left his occupations in the
| field on account OF the heat, and was then
in the house. Suddenly heard crack.
ling sound to the southwest. as of a mighty
fame running among brushwood, and
blown into fury by a strong wind. Look
ing toward that quarter, beheld small
dark cloud, enlarging, blackening, and
advancing every instant, and under it the
Fl wood agitated with violent motion, the
tree-tops waving and tossing. the trunks
swaying to and fro. bending low and then
erecting themselves suddenly, as if wrest
ling with a furious gust. Birds were fly.
ing in all directions from the scene of the
commotion, and cattle running affrighted
from the wood in which they had sought
shelter from the MONDAY heat. Then
saw broken branches, and green leave.
from the tree-tops. and withered ones from
the ground. and dust from the dry earth
lifted together into the air in vast column
F and whirled rapidly round, and heard the
crash of falling trees. and the swapping o
the shivered trunks. as if the Prince of The
Power OF the Air, having received permis
sion. had fallen in great wrath upon ths
forest to destroy it. Before that advanc
ing whirlwind the trees bowed to tn,
. ground, and the next moment were raiset
again by the power of the gale. and draw
: into the vortex. and twisted off by th,
) roots, and whirled with all their branches
into the air. and tossed 10 the one sid
, and the other, upon the SUBMITS of tn,
surrounding wood. 1t was but for a mo
: ment, brief moment of establishment ant
i terror. that stood gazing on this specta
y Gle. turned and made for the house will
my utmost speed. and, as ran, heart
\ the roar Of the whirlwind behind me ant
. was sensible of sudden shade passin,
& over the heavens. When arrived at tn,
house, and opened the door. | saw my
4 father. who had been engaged in reading
/, lust rising from his seat. and going towart
/. the window, with the book in his hand, I,
!, learn the cause OF the tumult without
= That book was the Bible-and the recol
), lection Of this single circumstance form
= ground of consolation and hope, in tn
!. recollection of his sudden and unforewarn
+ ed DEATH which | would not be deprive,
!, Of for worlds. tet"
h HE gave single look, the book drop
ped from his hand, and, before had tim
to utter word, he called out in his stron
!. voice: 'Run-run for your lives-leav
the house this instant-the whirlwind j
e upon u.s. '''o9 s.'' 1889 '@.
o GAS he spoke. the sound of the gust wa
d heard bowling about the dwelling, and tn
l. timbers cracked and groaned in the might
,r blast. My mother had hastily gathere,
5; the children, and was putting us befor
!. her to 60 out of the door, when all at ono
,fI a terrible crash was heard over our heads
y the walls shook, the windows were shiver
h ed in pieces, the floor heaved under ou
= feet, and the ceiling bursting upward il
n several places, showed US the roof raise
}. and borne off by the wind. The wall
l. and partitions Of the house were swaye
h. to and fro like curtain. My father wa
" man Of great bodily strength. Of tn
ID middle hight. but brawny and muscula
of beyond most persons | have known
hi When I Iast sa w hin, ha hod mt h;