The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-08
wrapping himself very closely in his wide

nlght, lOm-hN IN lew branches DeiOr
You wrap your>clt up,and the one who wake
first in the morning will wake the other
IL wis past midnight, and the fire was i
most burnt out. The two brothers, however
slept soundly, and the keen North wind
which rushed over the snOw-clad mountain
tops inro the valley below, could not disturb
their slumbtrs. Heavy masses of cloud
gathering from various quarters, had nov
collected together; they hung, darkly threat
oning, over the rustling, moaning iorest.and
gently swaying, the gigantic trees shook an,
bowed their leallcss tops, rs IL in sad fore
bOdinG of the coming storm. \ bright tlasl
of lightning now darted from the heavens
and crashing thunder clap followed allnos
instantaneously the messenger Of destruc
tiOn.
One Of those terrible winter storms wa
approaching, 50 unusual in that part of tn,
country, and the unbridled hurricane rusheC
bowling through the narrow chasm OF th,
mountains.
Bill exclaimed Tom, springing up in ter
ror; 'Bill, get up! we must not lie here
look, how the old trunks bend, and-do you
hear that there is one falling already
Halo y replied Bill, hastily casting aside
his blanket, has il come? Ha, Tom, hold
ON TO the roOf-coniound mc il this cursed
Northwestern won't carry 1t or
And, in truth, his fears seemed not TO be
entirely groundlcss; for at the same instant
a sudden blast, issuing from an opposite raw
inc, rushed over them with such.yiOlence that
in twinkling il half unroOfed their camp,
and chased the glowing Goals and sparks far
out into the dark night. Again a fash of
lightning, and the thunder Outroared the
bowling tempest. Suddenly it seemed as il
the earth swayed from its foundations, Us IL
the stays and fastenings had burst asundcr,
by which it was held a compact globe. On
ward il came, rs il from far distance; at
,rst scarcely audible, with dull, low rattling
ike the thunder of thousand cannon; then
pprOaching nearer and nearer, in wild and
nrlul uprOar, crash upon crash-sounds
hat might wSke the dead.
Almighty God! \ hurricane = exclaimed
ON, starting up in Terror, for at the same
Ioment the tempest came rC4ring on. The
lightly oaks, which had defed centuries,
ent IKE slender reeds, and, in one .rash'that
;qpiasd sense ami soul, the WHOLE forest fell, !,
II niowcd by the hand of tie Most High.
inward raged the whirlwind, onward with
. rfible rapidity; for miles wide it cast the
isintic trees, like rushes, to the ground !;
IT miles long,. crushing and des)lating, it
reed its aimless path; but silence. sepul-
hral silence followed in its train, and reigned
yer the ruins of the fallen forest. Not a
reath of air now stirred, and this death.like
poses after the hldeous uproar of the ele-
,ents, was even more terrific than the i'm
,ediato prsance OF the tempest.
Bill had, as il were by miracle, escaped
'ithout the slightest Injury; covering close
IA vast trunk, which lay almost prostrato
the ground, an oat that fell across this
rived to- protect him from the smaller
ranches and trees, which fell on all sides.-
'Ow, however, as soon rs the first and most
rgent danger was over, he leaped up, and!'
lied with sad forcbOdings, called anxiously
. lter his brother.
Tom brother Tom answer me-Tom
iOOd God has then 50 fearful fate over
dken 'thee?'
Ns-alas, for the unhappy man-hc still
wed and his faint voice echoed from no
reat distance upon the ear of the young
.un.er, who listened with breatblcss anxiety.
All mercilul heaven exclaimed the lat
er, when, after leaping over few trees
which lay in his way, with flaming brand
his right hand, he stood before the brother
hat he sought. 'All-merciful heaycn' he
epeatcd, almost frantic with grief, and he
Oyered his face with his hand, for near him,
pale as corpse, his lower limbs crushed be-
\, ,l,..N nt.,l,N Of ~ whpsn
trunk had .ploughcd deeply into the ground,
lay his brother Tom, the playmate of his
youth, the darling OF his heart.
Its very cOldn whispered the unhappy
man, as he looked up imploringly to the
hunter, who, apparently incapable of the
slightest motion, stood near him, as ii carved
in stone: its very cold Bill-can't you bring
a little fire hcreY
These words dissolved the rigid ice that
CONCEALED the senses of the almost uncon-
sciOus Bill. Brother brother !! he cxclaim-
ed, and fell weeping bitterly upon his man
glcd body.
Bill. YOU hurt me = said the latter in a
tone ofentreaty, my arm pains mc-and 1t
is 50 cold
wait, will bring you fire Immediately;
in few seconds exclaimed Bill, springng
up suddenly; lie quiet for moment; will
bring Goals, and then | will help you up
have patience for an instant only
And in hcadlOng haste he ran back to the
still blazing fire. Alas he did net remark
the faint, painful smile, which crcpt across
the features OF the unhappy man. as his
brother begged him to 'havc patience llur-
richly he collected Goals and brands; the heat
scorchins his hunting shirt and hands; he
did not heed it, but sped hack to his brother S
side. Dry branches lay around them in
abundance, and, in few moments Il bright
and cheerful fire blazed up near the trunk
beneath who's enormous weight ithe hunter
lay, buried alive.
With shuddcrlng glance Bill now behcld
all the horror ot his brothers condition, and
with almost maniacal cxcrtiOns, he strOyc
with his single strength, TO raise the tree,
which a hundred men could not stir hair s
breadth.
'Billr cried Tom, in a low, cntreating
tone, 'come hcrc-cOmc, give me your hand
80, that's right; and now, Bill, do YOU
really love mc-ycry much?
\ convulsiyc grasp of the brothers hand
was the sole reply To his question. lie was
unable To speak; for tears, violently repres'
sed. stihcd all uttcrance.
'Will YOU then grant me one prayer ?
said Tom, in a tone ot supplicatins endcar'
ment, drawing his unresistInS brother closer
To him.
'One prayer = said Bill, in IA whisper
'one PRAYER What would YOU ask that
would not do for you, ii it were in my pow.
err
DO YOU promise to grant it,
What is it YOU mean?' asked Bill, in
anxious wonder.
Take your rifle replied Tom, with faint
smile; 'and put an end To my sdiIerings!'
Tom cricd the latter, springing up in
horror.
Put an end to my suilcrings = said the un,
happy man, imploringly. Bill " ii you
have ever lDNpl nr1Np III nDW-In moi