The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-09-29
Cnrrfspon dsnre.


All day long the south wind blew furious gale
that bent the tall trees noble forms in graceful
distance. The air for many hours seemed
filed with mist and haze, and soft delicately
tinted line rested upon the just grown green
ness Of the newly clad earth. Still the gale
continued rafting window blinds, sending
numerous doors together with bang, and
opening them with will and whistle of tn-
umph. II pulled boldly in the faces Of trav-
eler-, making streamers of bonnet-ribbons
wells, &c, aud tapped their garments as unccre
moniously, as though they had been banners
hoisted fifty feet into the element. or clothes
hung out for q sign at furnishing store. But
It made itself most conspicuous in its wild how.
lings about the house corners, and its unearthly
sighings aud groaninss down the chimney-auc.
Every loose easement and papered crevice was
wind harp. and every flower and weed nod
ding plume. The fruit trees were brilliantly
beautiful with the bountiful supply of blossoms
with which they were caparisoned, but the
wanton wind shook furiously their decorated
branches, and scattered their sweet delicate
blossoms, like ow-fakes, rpon the waving
grass. The slender naples that wear 80 grace
fully their coronet of leaves, swayed to and
fro as if in wild excitement, every leaf quiver-
ing. and turning its slvery edges TO meet the
on-coming gust Suddenly dark cloud rose
out of the west. quickly succeeded by, anothe
and another, and they swept on through srace 40
though upon some urgent mission. They would
veil for short time, with their thick laden
folds, our glorious Luminary, and it seemed
that pail had settled upon all the beautiful
things Of earth and then he would burst upon
rs again in all his dazzling brightness. This
continued but short time and then all indi-
cations Of storm seemed to have passed away.
The farmer, who had been with his flock of
sheep and lambkins, to cleanse their soft fee
ces in the neighboting pond, trod leisurely
homeward the milkmaid sat in dreamy con.
tentment, watching the foaming pure white
milk as it rose higher and higher in the pail,
children were having hoisterous, jolly play
| time before the evening shadows Should close
round them, and bid them seek their pillows to
rest the little limbs that had been 20 active all
that day, and here and there pedestrians, in
groups or singly, loitcred by the way.
While all had been busy, and few, il any,
had been watching the aspect Of the weather !;
two clouds. black and heavy, had risen from
opposite directions and met in mid.air. Flash
after fash of lightning, blinded every eye !;
peal after peal Of thunder burst upon every
ear; and "sho fountains Of The upper deep we're
broken up" the pcnt-up waters did not fall
gently, drop hy drop. but poured down in an
overwhelming liquid sheet the wind lifting it
like snow, and whirling it here and there in
drifting eddies Few houses were 90 tight that
no water penetrated them, and few travellers
20 we'll protected that they escaped being thor
oughly drenched. Feeble goslins and chickens,
who had not wise and prudent mothers to put
them early to bed; We're either drowned or but
barely made their escape from 80 dismal tate.
Cattle stood with their backs to the storm, and
every living thing was mute and solemn, as If
keith the clouds his chariot and rideth upon the
wings Of the wind"
Every hollow was a mimic lake, and Ii tie
rivulets rushed down every hillside, bounding
over stones and sticks, until they carried upon
their bosoms, white foam and Offering bub-
blcs. and seemed. ITO one who had visited Nj
4 ngan,) a tiny Dngueneotspe of that mad.
rushing rives, - it4sass aAaG elasfnl, laAp-the
Fall. There is an awful m3csty in such a
storm-a soul-stiring sublimity anil grandeur in
Nature when she is thus deeply moved. Men
seem like pismies, and the works of men like
efforts ola puny arm, when cont'asted with
the mighty throcs that at times conyulse the
Earth. Men may build mansions for themselves
and families to dwell ih-bavt,s, aid store them
with the wealth of the farlu-bHt one vivid
fash from yon dark cloud, may come, and in
an hour destroy them all. Men can build ships
and steamers that walk the waters proudly,
and seem gifted with life-but sudden storm
can pile high the liquid element upon which
they float, and engulf with ease tho noble beau.
ties and their precious burdens ; and the yawn'
ing waves will still seek grcedily for thous-
and more. Men can create q powerful iron
stecd, that almost annihilates distance /: with
lungs 80 capacious, that his breath mounts
above him like cloud, and whose scream pen
the valleys far away-they may attach him T.
a pondcrous train and send him &essh across
the plain looking, strong. pa~erful and males
tie-but the Wind can gather sufficient force to
lift thosi nom their iron pathway and hurl them
4 down the embapkment. Men can build cities
End erect lofty towers that seem to reach al
most to heaven; but the bursting of volcano
OF a fearful earthquake will destroy them
tspcedily.
Calm and sunshine, as well as storm and
tempest. belong 10 us here, and we but learn To
appreciate and admire the one, when we wit
ness the other: An hour after the storm have
been describing, all was tranquil and delight
fal-and the s,1h. his days journey ended, stood
quietly at the doorway Of the west, while COR
geous clouds that his bright rays had gilded
lowered over him like guardians, lingering Ions
to see him enter. They had surely lighted thu
evening lamps in that far of palace, bcyont
those open portals for soft mellow ligh
streamcd out upon the sky. long after he hal
disappeared and every tiny leaf let quivere'
with the joy and rapture that the lovely seem
, inspired. MARY.
Mssasa Editors Permit me, through TIKI
. medium Of your press. to address those profes
J sing christians, who have thrust ct me the dag
7 ger Of Islander. To those, would say. ven
all your spite on the tas it might save it from
| shoulders less able to bear than mine y blazol
J forth my misdeeds in unblushing colon to tn
sun. ! can truly say Inever shrank from meet
ing Tie Consequences Of my misdeeds face +