Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1858-09-03

grass stirred, not leaf waved on the trees
yet ever and anon a low, sullen sound-whicl
could only be likcncd to the hoarsc roar o
distant breakers surging round a rocky shore
issued from the ncighboring forests. In
the west the blood-rcd sun was rapidly setting
in mass of swollen purple clouds, which
came rolling up with equal velocity, and soon
submerged the orb of light in their gloom y
folds. As his rays departed, lurd shadow
seemed to creep over the earth, covering it
as with a pail. An involuntary tremor, such
| have often experienced when the atmos-
phere has been highly charged with clectri-
city, pervaded my frame, and knew that a
thunderstorm was at hand.
Putting spurs to my horse, thought to
fly before the coming tempest. The clouds
accumulated in solemn piles dense darkness
overspread the Garth; and now and then the
thunder muttercd threatningly. Yet rode
on over the hard road in safety and qulctncss
until within few miles of Gundagai.
Suddenly the intense gloom was dispelled
by vivid flash of lightning, and terrible
! peal of thunder awoke the slumbering echoes
of the valley. My frightened horse snorted
and plunged violently, then stood trembling
in the road. Another binding flash, anoth-
er loud peal quickly followed, and the terri
fled animal started forward in full gailop.
And now the rain came down in such force
and volume, that it was AS if the flood gates
of the deep had been opened. The wind
| howlcd among the tall gums, and swept in
fierce gusts athwart the path, leveling many
goodly tree, and denuding others of their
branches. The lightning flashed with scarce
| ly moments intermission now in broad
sheets of livid flame, and now in red and jagg-
ed darts And the awful thunder
Bowling my head nearly to the horse S neck :,
| gave him the rein, lie needed no other
bidding than that of fear to hurry onwdrds
With straning cyeballs and ears laid back
he sprang onwards at the top Of his speed,
and in Il few minutes stood painting at tho
stable door in Gundagai.
] found Esther anxiously awaiting me, and
much agitatcd. II was the greatest thunder
storm she had witnessed since our arrival in
New South Wales ; and think that nothing
in my subsequent experience tall equals it.
For myself, will candidly admit that was
appalled,, and my efforts to smile We're such
miserable and transparent failures that laban-
doned the attempt and could only reply to
my wiies whispered fears by silently press
ing her to my breast,
That storm, as is usual in Australia, trav-
elled in circle, passing from West to North,
thence east, and round again. Sometimes it
would nearly die away in the distance; then
! suddenly the dark clouds would wheel up
again with wondrous rapidity, and over
spread the vault Of heaven. Again the angry
glare of the lightning would usher in such
tremendous thunder-shocks that the very
earth seemed to quiver with the conclusions,
Meantime the rain poured down incessantly.
in one unbroken discharge The elemental
din was deafening. The bowling of the
wind, the rattling of the rainfall on the
shingle roof of the cottage, and the roaring
Of thunder, all combined, We're So entirely
overpowerng, that the human voice, at its
utmost pitch, failed to be heard at the dis
tance Of twelve or fourteen feet.
In the midst OF this uproar u more than
usually heavy thunder clap was followed by
sudden and profound calm. The rain
ceased to fall, and the wind to blow. Step
ping out into the verandah, perceived that
the clouds hung motionless whilst in the
southeastern horizon was Il clear space,
wherein twinklcd few silvery stars. The
storm rack heaped up in portentous masses
and | fully anticipated more violent out
break of the tempest, thus arrested as it were
in mid-career but presently the dark clouds
moved back on the track they had so lone
pursued, and with gradually accelerated
motion drifted northward. \ few pal'
flashes, feebly cleaning from the gloomy can
Opy, enable me to perceive that some stron!
force, as yet unfct on the earth, caused th'
clouds to pursue this retrograde course. Th
surcharged masses seemed to tumble owe
each other in their flight, and the hrish
stars were one by one unveiled. At this mo
ment the scene was sublime.
Presently, Il soft breeze from the souti
stirred my hair 1t increased and soon blew
hard-so hard, indeed, that | was glad to re
turn to my own tirc-sidc, and, snugly scate'
in my easy chair, to listen to its fury
BY degrees distinguished another sound
50 alike and incorporated with that OF tn
rushing wind, that, only half convinced,
once more issued into the open air 1t wa
the roaring of the Murrimbidg River, an
of numerous extemporzcd feeders, for til
suddenness and force of the storm had tempo
rariy converted every gulley into torrent
BY the light of the stars could perceive tina
the stream had overilowed its banks; but thi
circumstance created little surprise, inasmuc
as slight floods were Of frequent occurrence i
and around Gundagai during the wintc
months. | therefore felt no alarm, but listene
to the song of the turbulent current wit
positive pleasure Shortly afterwards W
: retired to rest.
fell into deep slumber-a perfect obi,
G ion of the senses. By sudden transition
d the terrors of the day We're repeated in m
a dream, and with increased effect. First
! dreamed of the deluge. | was climbing
% perpendicular rock, and ever as | climbed Il
d waters rose equally, so that it always coyerC
NJ my shoulders. Presently my muscles relaxe
my nerves failed | lost my hold and fell-it
,s down unmeasured depths. Then, witho
II warning, was in the midst of battlefield
=. the rattle of firearms, the dull heavy soul
s of distant artillery, the shouts of armed me
: the shrieks of the wounded
" At length my wife aroused me. The SCUM
r, Of my dream still rang in my ears, and it W