Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-10-29
Snnoap Reaoing.
From the N. Y. Observer.
The Thunder Storm.

the parlOr, where she had been reading to hel
mother
"Yes indeed" was the reply, "a that is mag.
ni6cent exhibition" as brilliant fash of lightning
burst from the rolling cloud, and was almost in
stantly succeeded by tremendous peal of thunder.
The darkness increased, and the rain soon fell in
torrents, while the lightning glared and the thuu-
der roared with hardly moments interruption.
Alice sat pale and trembling, with her head up
on her mothers shoulder, and her eyes closed,
wondering at the composure of her mother, who
was enjoying with subdued and solemnized emo
tions, the sublime scene. The poor girl was really
afraid to speak, until the room became brighter,
even to her closed eyes than the MONDAY sun, and
at the same instant crash which was almost deaf
ening, shook the honse as if there had been an
! earthquake, when she gave loud shrek, and
burying her face In her mothers lap, burst into
| food Of tears.
is it possible" said Mrs. Ferguson, that you
have so little confidence in the protecting care of
your Heavenly Father, as to be thus alarmed by
display of his powerH You are twelve years old,
and have been slI your life taught to lore as well
as fear Him who rides upon the whirlwind, and
directs the storm, and now that in mercy he has
sent refreshing shower to water the thirsty earth,
and the thunder to cool and purify the air. His very
| kindness terrifes youF'
But mamma" said Alice, 1--WE are in danger
Of instant death. We read in every paper of the
destruction caused by lightning and We may be
killed as well as Others"
1--WE are every moment of our lives exposed to
instant death, my dear child, and it is the wonder
full forbearanee Of God that preserves our life, bur
we are nst as safe In the midst of raging tempest,
as in the clear sunshine. If God designed TO cut
the thread Of life, he could do it by breaking a
bloOdvessel, or by dePositing some slight impedi-
ment in your wind-pipe, or he could in some mys
teriOus, and to US unaccountable way, call you in
the twinkng of an eye into his immediate presence
He requires no strong wind, no forked lightning
to fulfill his word, He has but tospeak, and it
will be accomplished as easily as when he said
Let there be light and there was light
Mrs. Ferguson proceeded to instruct and at
tempted to comfort Alice during the progress of
the storm, which continued more than an hour
with undiminished violence. Alice was not easily
mother as a child of God might discern behind
the cloud, the smiling face of reconciled Father,
she could only consider the storm as a manifesto
tion of His wrath who is angry with the wick
ed every day." Her heart palpitated with terror
she could not overcome, and the thought of her
want of preparation for death, and the possibility
that the next thunderbolt might hurry her into a
world of woe, was almost insupportable.
The mother thought this a favorable opportuni-
ty to impress upon the mind of her child the neces
sity of always being ready for the arrow of DEATH
and after assuring her again. that she really
much exposed to death every hour, she then was,
though the danger to her view was greater then; ex
hOrted her to lore with all her heart Being of
such majesty and power,
"I know" said Alice, her voice tremulous with
agitation, " that ought to love Him, because He
has commanded US to do so, but how can love an
angry God who does not love ?" And here she
burst into tears, and sobbed aloud This was a
moment Of intense interest to Mrs. Ferguson, who
sent up an ejsculatory petition for aid from above
and Alice will never forget the tearful-eye, full of
love, that beamed upon her. or the sweet tones of
er said, tenderly kissing her, " He does love you,
my darling child and to prove that love, he has
sent his only and dearly beloved Son to die for you
and if you will only look at this unspeakabe gift
as it is-unspeakab!y precious-and accept it as
your own, you will be accepted in the beloved
and will be adopted into the family of the best of
Beings. 1t is the love of compassion which he
fualof br ubap 1riv tha ha5f
affections Of your heart, and with deep sorrow for
past disobedience, determine to live in conformity
to his will he will exercise the love of complancen-
cy and you will be forever one eff the lambs of his
flock.
These words were never Obliterated from the
heart Of Alice but before she had time to answer,
fash oflightning, and abrupt peal Of startling
thunder burst at once upon her eye and ear,
and almost in an instant the rapping cry Of
fire FIRE was heard rising above the roaring
Of the storm. 1t was soon apparent that barn
only few rods from Mr.. Fergusons dewlng was
enveloped in fame The coachman was seen TO
enter the barn only few minutes before, and it
WAS feared he had fallen victim to the fury of the
storm. He was soon found near the door, surroun-
ded by smoke and burning cinders, insensible,-
but as it proved only stunned by the shock, so
that he was soon restored to consciousness. The
barn was consumed, but the efforts Of an efficient
FIRE department, in addition to the copious rain,
saved the dwelling.
In all the confusion and excitement Of the scene,
| Mrs. Ferguson never forgot the precious child
for she was precious indeed to her doting mother :
and while she was packing her valuables, to be re-
moved in case the house should take fire, she was
often repeating passages Of Scripture. He thun-
| dereth with the voice Of His excellency." "GOd
thundereth marvellously with His voice" He
made decree for the rain, and way for the light
ming of the thunder" "NOt sparrow falleth
without His notice, and" she added, {" He directed
| the lightning to our property. He has destroyed
it in wisdom and in love, and we shall one day see
that there is mercy in this catastrophe" for
What we know not now, we shall know hereafter
There is kindness in this trial, and even if we are
made houseIess and homeless, we will trust Him.
Let us say from the heart Though He slay me-
/ yet will trust Him"
| Such an example Of submission and serenity IN
| trouble, was worth volume OF sermons to Alice,
/ tLa ,racapkH that affQrnOOn