The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1854-08-30
SeIeet MliseeIlanp,
From BIAekwo ood's Mag azine
THE GREAT BROUGHT.

In the spring and summer of IS45
rain beged to fail, and the first things
t,,st perished for want of water died
that year. But the moisture of the
earth was still abundant, and the plants
which took deep root found sustehance
below; so that the forest trees showed
an abundance of foliage, and the har-
vests In some kinds was plentiful. To-
wards the autumn rain returned again,
and every thing appeared to be recover
ing it's former order; but the dry winttr,
the dry spring, dry summer of the next
year, told upon the face of creation
Many trees put forth small and scanty
leaves, and many perished altogether
whole species were cut off; for instance,
except where they were arti6cially pre-
served, one could not find living ash or
beach-few were kept alive by means of
man, for water began to be boarded for
the means of life. The wheat was
Ratered, and where such a thing was
possible, the hay fields also; but num-
bers of animals died, and numbers were
killed this year-the first from thirst,
and the last to reduce the consumers of
TIE precious element. Still the rich
commanded the necessaries, and many of
the luxuries of life; and the arts which
required consumption of water were
carried on as yet, and continued in prac-
tics even longer than prudence warranted;
so strong was the force of habit, and the
pressure of the artificial necessities which
they supplied. The railroads we're as
yet in activity, and when water failed
along the line, it was brought from the
sea by the rich companies concerned in
the traffic; only the fares were raised,
and trains which run for pleasure mere
ly were suspended. But, in the midst
of business and interest, there was
deep gloom. Projects which affected
the fortunes of nations were in suspense,
because there was no rain. Cares for
the succession of crowns and the forma-
tion of constitutions, might all be futile,
if there should be no rain: and it SEEM
ed as if there never would be any; for
this was now the third year, and the
earth had not received shower. And
now, ceasing to be supplied from their
usual sources, the springs and rivers
withered and shrank Water became in
many places not only dear, but unattain-
able. The greatest people of the land
left it, and used their wealth in chasing
the retreating elements on the face of
the earth. In some cases, among these
luxurious spirits there were scenes of ex-
travagant revelry still; they had no en-
ployment except tolive, and they endeav-
ored to make the act of living as excit-
ing as their old amusements had been.
But accounts of foreign countries came
more rarely to England; for when the
fourth rainless year arrived, drought
and famine had slain three fourths of its
inhabitants, and commerce and agricul-
ture were alike suspended. When a
vessel came as far up in the mouth of
the river as the sinking waters permitted,
it brought tidings of desolation from
whatever port it had left. Stories be-
gan to spread of dry land in parts of the
ocean wheFs it had never been seen be-
fore marks which had stood in the deep
of the sea might now be walked round
at all times of the tide, and thick crusts
Of salt were beginning to spread upon
tracts of the great deep. These tidings
from foreign lands came at great inter
Yals, and at long intervals was ship sent