Freeman's champion., 1857-09-10
l PRAIRIE CITY, KANZAS THURSDAY SEPT: 10, 1867, @

.... .-l.-l-, Iii,
passing some days at my fathers
house, and she was now to return
home. Her path lay across fields,
and lgladIy became the companion
of her walk. never knew summer
morning more beautiful and still -
Only one cloud was visible, and that
seemed as pure, and white, and peace.
ful, as if it had been the incense smoke
Of some burning censor of the skies.
The leaves hung silent in the woods,
the waters in the bay forgot their un-
dulating, the flowers were bending
their heads as if dreaming of, the
rainbow and dew, and the whole at
mosphere was Of such q soft and lux
urious sweetness that it seemed a
cloud of roses scattered down by the
hand of Peri, from the far off garden
of Paradise. The green earth and
blue sea lay abroad in their bound
lessness, and the peaceful sky hung
over them. The little creature at my
side was in delirium of happiness,
and her clear, sweet voice came ring
ing upon the air as often as she heard
the note of some favorite bird, or
found some strange and lovely flow
er in her frolic wanderings. The
unbroken and almost supernatural
tranquility Of the day continued un-
til noon. Then for the first time,
the indication Of an approaching
tempest was manifest. Over the
summit Of q mountain, at the dis
tance of about a mile, the folds Of
large cloud became suddenly visible,
and at the same instant, hollow roar
came down on the winds as if it had
been the sound of waves in rocky
cavern. The clouds rolled on like
banner unfolded upon the air, but
still the atmosphere was as calm and
the leaves as motionless as before,
and there was not even culver upon
the sleeping waters to tell Of the COM
ing hurricane. To escape the tenn
pest was impossible. AS the only re-
sort, we fled to mighty oak that
stood at the foot of a tall and rugged
precipice. Here we remained and
gazed almost breathlessly upon the
clouds marshalling themselves like
bloody giants in the sky. The thun-
der was not frequent but every burst
was so fearful that the young creature
who stood beside me shut her eyes
convulsively, chung with desperate
strength to my arm, and shrieked as
if her heart would break. In few
minutes the storm was upon u.s.
During the height Of its fury, the
little girl lifted her finger towards the
precipice that lowered over u.s.. |
looked, and saw an amethystine peak
and the next moment the clouds
opened, the rocks tottered to their
foundations, a roar like the groan of
the universe filled the air, and felt
myself blinded, and thrown, l knew
not whittier. How long / remained
insensible, cannot tell, but when
consciousness returned, the violence
of the tempest was abating, the roar
Of the winds was dying in the tree
tops, and the deep tones of the thun-
der-cloud came in fainting murmurs
from the eastern hills, | rose and
looked tremblingly and almost deli
riously around. She was there, the
dear idol of my infant love, stretched
out on the green earth, After mo-
ment of irresolution, | went up and
looked upon her. The handkerchief
upon her neck was slightly rent, and
q single dark spot upon her bosom,
told where the pathway of her death
had been.
AT first l Clasped her to my breast
with a cry Of agony, and then laid
her down and gazed upon her face
almost with feelings Of calmness.--
Her bright disheveled ringlets clus-
tered around her brow; the look Of
terror had faded from her lips, and in
fant smiles were pictured there the
red rose tinge upon her cheek was
lovely as in life, and Ipressed 1t to
my own, the fountains Of tears were
opened and Iwept as if my heart were
water, Ihave but dim recollection
of what followed; know that l re-
mained weeping and motionloss till
tho coming twilight, and | was taken
tenderly by the hand and led away
where l saw the countenances of pa
rents and sisters. t"Ni VvVF
Many years have gone by on the
wings Of light and shadow, but the
scenes | have portrayed still como
over me at times, with terrible dis
tinctues. The oak yet stands at the
base Of the precipice, but its limbs