The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1857-12-24

that seemed NJ pure, % Whites suo Pesoo-
full, a. il had been the incense smoke of
some burning censor Of the skies. Tho
leaves hung silent 10 the woods, the
waters in the bay forgot their undulating
the aowers were bending their heads ~
if dreaming of the rainbow and dew, and
the whole atmosphere was of such soft !
and luxurious sweetness that It seemed
cloud Of roses scattered down BY the band
Peri, from the r-of garden Of Paradise.
The green earth and blue sky lay abroad
in their boundlcssuess, aud the peaceful
sky over them. The little creature at
my side vas in delirium Of happiness,
and her clear sweet voice, came ringing
upon the air as often as she heard the
note of some favoritc bird or found some
strange or lovely flower 10 her frolic
wanderings. The unbrokcu and almost
supernatural tranquility Of the dag con-
tinued until noon. Then, for the 6rst
time, tho indication Of an approaching
tempest was manifest. Over the sum
NIT Of mountains, ut the distance Of
about 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 a rocky cavern. The clouds
rolled on like banner unfolding upon
the air, but still the atmosphere was a
calm and the waves in rocky cavern.
The clouds rolled on like banner un-
folded upon the air, but still the atmos'
phere was calm and the waves as mo-
tlonlcss as before, and there was not
even a quiver upon the sleeping waters
10 tell OF the hurricane. 10 escape the
tempest was impossible. AS the only
resort We fed to mighty oak that stood
at the foot of tall rugged precipice
Here we remained and gazd almost
baea,blessly upon the clouds marshalling
themselves like bloody giants iu the sky
The thunder was not frequent; but
every burst was so fearful that the young
creature who stood beside me shut hel
eyes convulsivcly, clung with wild, des
perate strength 10 my arm, and shriekec
as if her heart would break. In a lev
minutes the storm was upon US. During
the height Of its fury, the girl lifted hel
finger toward the precipce that lowered
over US. l looked and saw an amethys
tine peak and the next moment th,
clouds opened, the rocks tottered to thei1
foundations, roar like the groan Of thu
universe filed the air, and | felt mysel
blinded, and thrown, l knew not with
er. How long | remained insensible,
cannot tell ; but when consciousness re-
turned, the violence of the tempest bat
abated, the roar of the winds was dyns
away on the tree tops, aud the deel
tones of the thunder cloud came in faint
ing murmurs from the eastern bills.
rose and looked tremblingly and almos
deliriously around. She was there, tn
dear idol of my infant love, stretche
out on the earth. After moment Q
irresolution, / went up and looked upo
her. The handkerchief upon her nee
was slightly rent, and single dark spo
upon her bosom, told where the pathwa
OF her death had been.
Al first I clasped her to my brtss
with a cry of agony, and then laid he
down and gazcd upon her face almos
with feeling of calmuess. Her brigh
disheveled ringlets clustered around he
brow; abe look Of terror had faded fror
her lips, and infant smiles were picture
there the red rose tinge upon her chee
was lovely as in life, and pressed it
my own, the fountain of tears were open
ed, and l wep: as if my heart were wa
ter. l have hut a din recollection 0
what followed; know that remaine
weeping and motionless till the comin
twilight, and | was taken tenderly b
the hand and LED away where ] saw tn
countcnancc of parents and sisters.
Many years have gone by on the wing
of light and shadow, but the scenes
have portrayed still come over me will
terrible distinctness. The oak yet stand
at the base OF the precipice, but its limb
are black and dead, and the hollow trunl
looks upward to the sky, as if calling +
the clouds for drinh, as an emblem Of de
cay. One year ago I visited the spo,
and the thoughts Of by gone years cam
mournfully back to me. thought {
the little innocent being who fell by m
side like some beautiful trco of spring
rent up by the whirlwind in the midst {
its blossemiDg. But i remember, an
oh there was JOY in that memory, th'
she had gone where no lightnings slun
ber in the folds Of the rainbow clou'
and where the waters are broken only |
the etorm breath of omnipotence.