, 1862-08-06
AFTER THE STORM,

night whose terroTs will not soon be for
gotten. How fercely had waged the war
Of the elements through long hours to |
which darkness lent new dread. The |
lightnings flashed, following each other in
rapid succession, until the air seemed to
CULVER with incessant, tremulous light,
from which the strained eye shrank, With
out being able to shut out the vision. The
thunders reverberated round the whole
heavens, peal answering to peal, while the
giant winds were abroad and went sweep
ing over the land, heightening the terrors
end dangers Of the hour, Here fierce
tornado stopped to earth, rending aud
scattering like ebnff the rich fruits Of mans
industry. Before it, was swept away the
harvest, the wide fields Of standing grain,
houses and farm buildings. The trees Of
the orchard were stripped Of their fruitage,
or torn Up BY the roots; the forest, 1ashed
by the tempest, shrieked ard howled as if
the tabled spirits Of the wood we're in hor-
rible torture by the icnds Of air. The
hghtpings, in their fearful play, smote
down man and beast alike. Out upon the
axe the startled craft, overtaken By the
storm, bowed before it and were swept at
its mercy. It was night long to be re-
membered upon which broke the glorious
dawn Of Tuesday, August 5th-after the
storm.
Inadequate as language is to describe the
strong, rude features Of a night tempest, it
is far more difficult task to portray in
words the beauties Of such morning after
astoru. There were everywhere evidences
Of tho elemental warfare now ceased, 8
rent bough here, q torn and shattered struc-
ture there, or sadder yet the voice Of mourn
irg over the dead victims Of the tempes::,
but around and above, pervading sky and
| earth were the blessed results, the purchase
of the recent strife. The day before, the
summer air hung heavy and still with nox'
| ious vapors and earth born malarias- Men
ard beasts painted laboriously in the sultry
heat beneath the brazen sky. The fields
were parched and the arid highways beds
Of dust. The cheek Of health gathered Ian
gour, and the pulse Of the invalid fecbleness
The storm came, bred Of these clements tina
oppressed earth and its sons. aud after tht
s;o1m, health, and tile pure peace Of
cloud1ess summer morning.
After the storm. We are now IN tht
midst Of one of those storms that sweep 8
intervals over nations. Turn the pages Q
history and you may trace them aud not
how they have tossed and wres led wit
tne another, wrcnc1iug great kingdom,
from their foundations, struggling with an
orerturnipg deep seated, giant wrong
. Thus far We have filled to realize then
, we who have sat at ease under the shade
our father. planted, and seen Our nations
/ skies mantling with summer glow. I'll
. storm is upon us with q grandeur unsu
T passed in all the commotions out Of whic
/ mankind has made history. The cart
f slakcs with the tread of q million men j
= arms. Trade paused in its channels. Peae
j pa1c but fearless calls home her startle
j. dovcs. Agriculture releases its sons
: smother harvest field, red with strife. r
; ligiun in the cause Of right With olt
> awhile the trade mazims with which ST
c has toned man from the savage. There
e DO work but wal, no pursuitbu ohedien
. to the call Of country. This is the stor
e born Of causes as natural rs those whit
awake the tempest and tornado, and su
!, like these to yield the results Of purifc
r ton, progress, national health and soun
= ncss, with universal liberty the herltass
e blood bought, and blood defended, the 4
d ton haven Of shelter to the oppressed
d all the world. All this after the storl
= Let patriots wait, and pray, and hope, Al
T. amid all, work.