Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-02-14

foundations. as if the stays and fastenings had
burst asunder, by which it was held a compact
globe. Onward it came, as ii from far dis
tance at first scarcely audible, with dull, low
rafting like the thunder of a thousand cannon
then approaching nearer and nearer, in wild and
fearful uproar, crash upon crash-sounds that
might wake the dead.
Almighty God A hurricane!' exclaimed
Tom, starting up in terror, for at the same mo-
ment the tempest came roaring on. The nigh
ty oaks, which had dehed centuries, bent like
slender reeds, and, in one crash that stupefed
sense and soul, the whole forest fell, as if moved
by the hand of the Most High. Onward ragged
the whirlwind, onward with terrible rapidity;
for miles wide it cast the gigantic trees, like
rushes, to the grounds for miles long crushing
and desolating, it forced its aimless path; but
silence sepucnural silence, followed in its train,
and reigned over the ruins of the fallen forest
Not breath of air now stirred, and this death
like repose, after the hideous uproar of the ce-
ments, was even more terrific than the imme
diate presence of the tempest.
Bill had, as it were by miracle, escaped
without the slightest injury; covering close to
vast trunk, which lay almost PROSTATE on the
ground, an oak that fell across this served to
protect him from the smaller branches ard trees,
which fell on all sides Now, however, as soon
as the first and most urgent danger was over,
he leapcd up, and, filled with sad forebodings,
called anxiously after his brother.
Tom! brother Tom answer me-Tom -
Good God has then so fearful fate oyertaken
theeP'
No--alas, for the unhappy mamie still
| lived and his faint voice echoed from no great
distance upon the ear of the young hunter, who
listened with breathless anxiety.
| 'All-merciful heaven = exclaimed the latter,
when, after leaping over few trees which lay
in his way, with flaming brand in his right
hand, he stood before the brother that he sought.
'All-merciful heaven = he repeated, almost fran
tic with grief, and he covered his face with his
hand, for near him, pale as a corpse, his lower
limbs crushed beneath the weight of an enor-
nous oak, whose trunk had ploughed deeply
into the ground, lay is brother Tom, the play
mate of his youth, the darling of his heart.
ITS very cold p whispered the unhappy man,
as he looked up imploringly to the hunter, who,
apparently incapable of the slightest motion,
stood near him, as if carved in stone; its very
cold, Bill-can't you bring little fire here?
These words dissolved the rigid ice that con-
gealed the senses of the almost unconscious
Bill. Brother brotherp he exclaimed, and
fell weeping bitterly upon his mangled body.
bill, YOU hurt me- said the latter in tone
of entreaty, "my arm pains me-and it is so
cold.'
wait will bring you fire immediately-in
few seconds" exclaimed Bill, springing up
suddenly; lie quiet for one moment; | will
bring Goals, and then will help you up; have
patience for an instant only
And in headlong haste he ran back to the still
blazing fire. Alas, he did not remark the faint
painful smile, which crept across the features OF
the unhappy man, as his brother begged him to
have patience lIurredly he collected Goals
, and brands; the heat scorching his hunting
shirt and hands-he did not heed it, but sped
back to his brothers side. Dry branches lay
around them in abundance, and, in a few mo
| ments bright and cheerful fire blazed up neal
: the trunk, beneath whose enormous weight tn,
t hunter lay, buried alive.
: With a shudderng glance Bill now behelt
t all the horror of his brothers condition, and
e with almost maniacal exertions, he strove, witt
his single strength, to raise the tree, which
t hundred men could not have stirred one hair
!. breadth.
: Bill = cried Tom, in a low entreating tone
| come here-come, give me your hand-so, that
e right; and now, Bill, do you really love me-
4 very much"
S A convulsive grasp of the brothers hand wa
t the sole reply to this question. He was unabl
:. to speak, for tears, violently repressed, stiile
:, all utterance.
: win you then grant me one prayer?' sal
n Tom, in tone of supplcating endearmen
drawing his unresisting brother closer to him.
1t prayer! What could you ask that would nj
e do for you, if it were in my power?'
IS do you promise to grant it?
t. 'What is it you mean?' asked the hunter,
e anxious wonder.
l. Take your rifle replied Tom, with faiI
l smile, 'and put an end to my sufieringsp
<, tom cried the latter, springing up in no
ID ror
'Put an end to my sufferings' ? said the III
g happy man, mporingly. bill brother!
IL you have ever loved me- prove it now-do nj
Id leave me to lingcr here in slow torture"
ht Il will save you, should it cost me my lift
er said Bill. This very afternoon | will retul
with help
re That is impossible, replied the unhappy ma
is sadly shaking his head. 'The nearest .settl
is ment is at least fifteen miles from here, in
i'll straight line but the way you would have
er take, to avoid all the riffs and chasms wou
make it twenty-and even if you were to con
OF and bring with you fifty men-what good cou
ly they do me? Both my legs are crushed, al
ch the nearest doctor lives in Little Rock, hu
C. drcds of miles from here Bill will you lea
ch me lying here for hours only to see me attC
p- wards perish miserablyY
e. ASK my own life, Tom, and will cheerful
ly give it to you, but do not ask thing so drea
ng ful of me- can, must save you'll have IL
hatchet--l can cut this tree in pieces--l can
~ Can you heal wounds like thesep said Tol
,ir interrupting him, and he pointed with his Fl
er gers to his crushed limbs. 1t was indeed
as dreadful sight, and his brother sank shudderi
ed on his knees.
Il cannot murder your he groaned for
p family.
'And do you call it murder? Oh, Billr
od continued, ii you had the slightest idea of wi
~, | suffer, you would have compassion, you Won
rst not let me implore you in yainp
Il will give you the rifie-do not make me
,st brothers murderer cried Bill, in wild
pt guish.
III MY right arm is broken-I cannot, even
he would
rs. Tom sobbed forth the strong man, as
us cast himself beside his brother, "what is it y
lg, ask of meP'
ng What did you lately do with Ncstor, VIII
,es the bear had torn out his entrails p
ad Il shot him.
hit 'He was your favorite hound
ck Bill answered only with sobs.
ed And did you love him more than you lc
le- mep asked Tom, in a tone almost of reproa
'Oh, why did not listen to your warnil
lp- when we came last evening to this unhap
ry, spot? Why did not fly from those withel
mo- trunks which stood threatening evervUh Ia