Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-07-11


them refuge against the storm. Under
such good hands the work was easily &C.
complished, and the next half hour found
both under their quickly erected roof,
watching the pieces of meat broiling on
the FIRE.
"It's strange how cold it has sudden
ly turned" Tom at length broke the si-
lence ; " only look, the water has frozen
quite hard in the tin pan. and the wind
has chopped round to the north east; it
blows confoundedly sharp too"
Let it blow" Bill yawned, as he
wrapped himself closely in the folds of his
blanket; " | am tired, and want to sleep,
Tom. Lay couple of boughs on the
fire before you turn in, and the one first
awake tomorrow must rouse the other. I"
Midnight was past, and the fire had
nearly expired, but the two brothers
slept firmly, and the icy north winds that
howled over the snow-clad hills into the
valley, could not disturb their slumber.
Heavy masses Of cloud had, however,
collected together from various quarters,
darkly threatening they brooded over the
rustIing forest, and the stately trees
shook and bowed their leafess branches,
as if in timid forbodings Of the approach>
ing storm, A bright flash of lightning
suddenly burst from the black heavens,
and terrific peal of thunder almost in
simultaneously followed the messenger Of
destruction. One of the terrible winter
storms was impending, and the unchain-
ed hurricane howled and tore through
the narrow mountain ravines.
"Bill," cried Tom, springing up in
horror, Bill. get up; we dare not lie
down; see how the old trees quiver !;
and you hear, there's one of them crack
ing p
' Halo p Bill replied. as he threw off
his blanket, &c has it caught US? Hi !
Tom, lay hold Of the roof I'm blessed
if the confounded northwester won't take
it along with it.''
His fear was not entirely unfounded,
for at the same instant such furious
blast burst from the opposite valley that
1t half uncovered their resting place in a
second, and burning ashes and sparks
were carried far away into the gloom of
night. A lightning flash again burst
forth from the clouds and the thunder
deadened the sound of the bowling
storm. Then it suddenly seemed as if
the whole earth were torn from it's foun>
datiOn far, far away it came, like the
crash of thousand cannons then near
er, and nearer it roared, spreading wild
and terrible overthrow and narrowing des-
olation around
Almighty God, hurricane u Tom
cried starting up in terror, for at the same
moment the storm reached them. The
giant trunks which had withstood centu~
ries, bowed like thin twigs, and with one
blow that struck terror to the hearts of
the listeners, the whole forest was mown
level to the earth by the hand of the AL
mighty.
The hurricane ragged further and fur
ther with frightful velocity; for miles
around it overthrow the tall oaks, and
hurled them like reeds to the ground !;
it marked its path with desolation and
destruction but silence, grave-like ST.
lence followed in its track, and rested
over the widely scattered trees not
breath was string, and calmness of
death, after this horrifying outbreak OF
the elements, affected the poor heart Of
mortal with more agonizing shudder than
it had felt even in the most terrible fury
of the storm.
Bill had miraculously escaped without
even the slightest injury clinging tightly
to an immense tree that had previously
fallen another oak that had fallen
across it only served to save him, as it
guarded him from the other continually
falling branches and smaller trees but
now, as soon as the first most pressing
danger passed, he jumped up and cried,
filed with terror, to his brother:
TUm-brother Tom, do answer, Tom.
Great God has such a terrible end fall
len to your share ?"
No, it would have been we'll for him if
that had been his lot ; he still lived, and
his weak voice, at no great distance,
struck the hunters attentive ear.
All-merciful Heavens - the latter
cried when he had leaped over a couple
of trees lying in his way, and with
blazing pine torch in his hand, stood be-
fore him he sought.
All-merciful Heavens l'' he repeated
with maddening agony, and covering his
face with his hands, for close to him, pale
as corpse, with both of his thighs bu~
ried beneath an immense oak, which was
shattered from top to bottom, lay his
Tom, his brother, the playmate of his
youth, the darling of his heart:
" It's very cold." the unhappy man
whispered, and looked up imploringly to
the hunter, who apparently incapable of
any further movements, stood near him,
as if hewn out Of stone-"it it's very cold,
Bill can't you bring me little FIRE ?''
Those words broke the charm which
seemed to possess his half unconscious
brother.
"Tom, Tom T. he cried, as he threw
himself with groans on the mutilated
body of his dearest companion.
you hurt me, Bill" he said, "my arm
pains me, and it is SO cold"