The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-10-25
The Tempest.
BY GEORGE d. PRENTICE.

There are few scenes OF either human or
elementary strife, upon which | have not
looked with brow of daring. | have
stood in front of battle, when swords were
cleaning and circling around me like fiery
serpents in the air--l have sat upon the
mountain pinnacle, when tho whirlwind
was rendng its oaks from their rocky clefts
and scattering them Piecemeal to the
clouds. have seen these things with q
swelling soul. that knew not, that rocked
not Of danger; but there is something in
the thunder's voice that makes me tremble
like child. | have tried to overcome
this unmanly weakness; have called
pride to my aid; have sought for moral
courage in the lessons of philosophy, but
1t avails me nothing, al the first low moan
ing OF the distant cloud, my heart dies
within me. ,..-,.,s ..,... s...s......s
My involuntary dread OF thunder has its
origin in an incident that occurred when
Twas child Of ten years. had little
cousin, girl OF the same age as myself.
who had been the constant companion of
my childhood. Strange that after the lapse
OF nearly score Of years. that counte.
nance is so familiar to me. | can SEQ the
bright young creature, her large blue eyes
flashing like beautiful gem, her free
locks streaming as in JOY upon the rising
gale, and her cheek glowing like ruby
through wreath of transparent snow.
Her voice had the melody and ioyousness ss
of birds, and when she bounded over
tho wooded hill or the fresh green valley.
shouting glad answer to. every voice OF
nature, and clasping her little hands in the
very ecstacy OF young existence, she locke d
as il breaking away like freed nightin-
gale from the earth, and going off where
all things were beautiful like her. s.
II was a morning in the middle of Au-
gust. The little girl had been passing
some days at my fathers house, and she
was now to return home. Her path lay
across the fields. and gladly became the
companion of her walk. never knew q
summer morning more beautiful and still.
Only one little cloud was visible, and that
seemed as pure, and white and peaceful
as if it had been the incense smoke oi
some burning censor of the skies. The
leaves hung silent in the woods, the waters
Of the bay had forgotten their undulations.
the flowers were bending their heads as il
dreaming of the rainbow and the dew,
and the whole atmosphere was Of such a
soft luxurious sweetness, that it seemed a
cloud Of roses scattered down by the
hands Of Peri. from the far off gardens
Of Paradise. The green earth and blue
ssa.wero abroad in their boundlessness
and the peaceful sky bent over and blessed
them. The little creature at my side was
in delirium of happiness, and her clear
sweet voice came ringing upon the air as
often as she heard the tones of a favorite
bird, or found some strange or lovely flow.
er in her frolic wanderings. The unbro-
OF the day continued until nearly noon
Then, for the first time, the indications OF
an approaching tempest were manifest
Over the summit of the mountain, at dis
tance of about mile. tho folds of dark
cloud became suddenly visible, and at the
same time a hollow roar came down upon
the winds, as if it had been the sound ol
waves in a rocky cavern. The cloud rolled
like banner fold upon the air, but still
the atmosphere was calm, and the leaves
as motionless as before. There was moi
even a quiver upon the sleeping waters to
tell OF the coming hurricane. To escape
the tempest was impossible. As the only
resort we fed to an oak, that stood at the
foot of tall and ragged precipice. Here
we remained and gazed almost breath.
lessly upon the clouds, marshaling them
selves like bloody giants in the sky. The
thunder was not,frequent, but every burs
was so, fearful that the young creature,
who stood by me, shut. her eyes convuls
lively, clung with desperate strength to my
arm. and shrieked as if her heart would
break. A few minutes, and the storm va.
upon us. During the height of its fury,
the little girl lifted her finger towards the
precipce, that lowered above US. / looked
up, and an amethystne flame was quiver.
ing upon its grey peaks, and the next mo
ment the clouds opened, the rocks totter
ed to their foundat roar like the groar
Of Universe. filed the air, and felt my
er. How long | remained insensible !
cannot tell; but when consciousness re-
turned, the violence OF the tempest wa.
abatiDg, the roar Of the winds dying in the
tree tops, and the tones of the thunder
coming in fainter murmurs from the east
ern hills iJof!'iR hea gionds gs,!i %
atI arose, looked tremblingly, and almos
deliriously. around She was there-ths
dear idol of my infant love. stretched upor
the wet green earth. Alter a moment O
irresolu,ion, went up and looked at her
The handkerchief upon her neck wa!
slightly rent, and a single dark spot.upor
her bosom told where the path of deall
had been. At first | clasped her to my
breast with cry Of agony, and then lait
her down and gazed into her face, almos
with feeling or calmness. Her bEgh
disheyeled ringleis clustered sweetly a
round her brow, the look of terror hat
faded from her lips. and an infant smil
was pictured beautifully there; the red ros
tinge upon her cheek was lovely as iniife
and as pressed tito my own. the fountain
of tears was. opened, aud wept as if m.
head were waters. have but dim rec
ollection of what. followed. / only know
that remained weeping and motionles
I'LL the coming on Of twilight, and that
was taken tenderly by the hand, and le,
away where. ! saw the countenance Of pa
rents and sisters.
n L l. - Al - -