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

me to sing godly hymns on Sundays un-
der the trees of our orchard. There were
two brothers, twins, five years younger
than myself, to whom now performed the
same office; and beautiful creatures they
were, if can trust my memory. as ever
were sent into the world to be recalled in
the bud of life; fair, round-faced, ruddy,
good full Of perpetual flow of
spirits, and in look. gestures and DISPOSE
ton, the exact copies of each other. And
as they were alike in birth and mind, and
outward semblance. so they were alike in
their lives, and in their deaths moi divided
was their constant companion, and
sometimes our sister, who had now grown
to maturity. would leave her sedate occu-
pations and join our sports. a2 ..5
"My mother was of a delicate frame,
and quiet and somewhat sad turn Of
mind. The calamity by which her family
had perished made deep impression up
on her, and disposed her heart toreligious
affection. Her eyes would sometimes fill
with tears, as she looked at us in the midst
Eof our pastimes. and she would often mild
/ ly check our boisterous mirth. She was
our catechist, she made us read our bibles.
and taught US our little hymns and pray
erS. Aap4 10 a7ffte} 5" a "S
"My father was, it was thought, an un-
1regenerate person; but he was what the
world calls good moral man, and much
respected by his neighbors. He was of
ain even, quiet temper, never greatly ex.
hilarated by good nor greatly depressed
/ bs,h e. I ID
seeing him apparently better pleased than
when his children were noisiest in their
play-when he would sit looking at us
with great complacency, and tell our moth
er how much he was like us at our age.
He was what is called silent man; he
said but little, and, indulgent as he was
that little was law to US. The neighbor
hood also treated him with great Difference;
his opinion was consulted in all difficult,
cases; he was made town clerk, and then
sent Representative to the General Court
and finally received commission Of the
peace. ih'.
'.My father, as have already told you.
was originally seafaring man, and his
profession had made him familiar with all
the appearances of the heavens. To his
knowledge of this kind, acquired on the
ocean and the coast Of the Atlantic, he
now added that gained by a daily obser-
vation of the aspect Of the sky. He was
looked upon gass sort of oracle on the
heavens in the interior, until he became
Ecelebrated in those, parts for his skill in
discerning the face Of the subject Of the
weather, and his predictions were rever-
enced even more than those of the alma.
mac. II was not always that an opinion
could be extracted from him. but when
i obtained, it never failed Of being verified.
His hay never got wet while lying green
upon the ground. nor do believe that he
was often overtaken by a shower in any oi
his excursions from home. ii He would pass
whole hours in gazing at the sky and watch
ing the courses of the clouds. An obser-
vation Of the weather was his first business
IN the morning, and his last at night; and
if the msnly placidity of his temper was
ever on any occasion disturbed, it was
only when the weather was more caprici
Gus than ordinary; when it refused to con
form to fixed rules, and failed to fulfil the
promises it held forth. In this | think he
was wrong. as questioning the providence
Of God, exerted in the great courses o.
nature; but who is without his errors? ~
) "The country in which we lived wa.
high and hilly. The streams by which il
: was intersected flowed in deep, narrow
t glens, unpleasant from their chillness
r shade. and mists at morning and evening
: and the. farms and dwellings lay on tn,
3 broad, elevated country bet~een them
! Thus an ample sweep was afforded 70
the winds, which blew over the countr,
:, with as little obstruction as on the sum
5 mits Of mountains. The snow was offer
o piled in the winter to the roofs Of the houses
: and you might see orchards in which eve
/ ry tree leans to the southwest, bent ant
$ made to grow in that position by the stronl
> and continued gales. ,..s. -.
2 sin the last year Of my residence il
: this pleasant abode. we had, about tn
Y setting in Of summer, several weeks o
: uncommon heat and drought. God seal
j. ed up the fountains Of the armament ant
s made the heavens over our heads brass
s and the earth under our feet ashes Cloud
$ Aoated over the fiery sky and the brook q
the bottom oi our garden. where a slende
$ thread of heated water still crept along
$ the sound Of which fell on my ear with
: Observation-Disclosures. There was no cloud
}, not speck, nothing but that thick. whitis
! haze to be seen in all the sky. 1t brough
d no rain; the atmosphere was filled wit
I. a dull. dry haze, as if the finer dust of tn
d ground had risen and mingled with i
8 Out Of this haze the sun emerged at morn
II ing, and again dipped into ii at evening
h hiding his face long before he reached tn
IS horizon The grass Of the field ceased t
d grow, and became thin,- and white, an
y dry, before it ripened. and Kissed mourn
h fully whenever breath Of air passed owe
p it. The birds chirped feebly in the tree.
rs the cattle. lowed family in the meadow.
sr and gathered about the moister spots
o soil. ALI this while the winds scarcel
of blew, or but softly, nor with strengt
= enough to detach from the cherry trees b.
III fore our door the loose leaves that put o
l. the yellowness Of September. and droI
a ped of their own accord. one by one, spir
e. ming round as they, descended to the eartl
~ had never known my father so uneas
IN and idgetty as at that period. He woul
IS stand for hours considering the aspect
~ tho heavaps ond ,avan oAa.- tha twiliu