The mountain Democrat., 1863-06-06

silent thanksGSViDG, ->
dfnIOst nGPPy, sHey eHfGEF themselves
into the arms of the old man, who had in
the meantime regained his accustomed
! serenity, although he felt that the hopes
he had awakened in the hearts Of the
youthful lovers we're very feeble and un-
certain. They yielded to their excited
fAncies, and their imaginations pictured
to them the brightest visions Of future
happiness. -
When FrancoiSe LEFT them, however,
the young man gave himself up 10 .melan
chOly forebodings. The fcte in the city
still continued; j0yOUs bands traversed
the streets carrolling songs Of joy, little
thinking that near them was one whose
heart responded not to their bursts Of gai-
ETY.. So it was, however; poor German
remained buried in his sober mood and it
was not until the streets and squares of
the city were brilliantly lighted up with
the many-cOlOred fambeaux; that he
aroused himself and Joined the convivial
throng.
Scarcely, however, had no quilted his
own doorstep; when he was borne back
violently by the frightened crowd, surging
to and fro in frantic terror. Above the
din wild cries and shrieks rose on every
side The enemy which menaced them
shook the nerves Of the braveSt and hardi-
est It was the autumnal hurricane. Its
approach, unheeded by the thoughtess
jewellers, had been announced by Eght
puffS Of wind, like the evening breeze,
which gently kisses the white and dim
pied shoulders of youthful maidens, so
Night that it was scarcely observable. A
small reddish cloud, the certain forerun-
ner Of a tempest, floated. gradually rising
from the as yet calm horizon. Gradually,
slowly it increased, becoming Of deep
blood-red hue. Others joined in it from
every side. The wind rose rapidly; the
numerous gaily dressed boats which COW
cred the river, hastcned to gain the port
Before they reached it, however, the tenn
1t howled and whistled like chorus Of
demons.
One who has not witnessed a storm in
the North Sea, can form no idea Of that
which burst over Antwerp on the evening
Of the 22d Of October, 1920. The water
Of the Escant, heaped up by the hurri-
cane, leaped laundering through the city
in foaming waves. The sky was hung
with leaden clouds, vivid lightning flashed
and leaped along them, and deafening
thunder rolled necessarily above. Night,
black. dismal night. was upon the city
The river rose from its bed, and in an in-
credibly short time the greater part of the
town was submerged.
The cathedral floor was overhowed, at
the docks masts cracked, and heavy ca
bleS snapped, and vessels were broken up
and buried beneath the bowling waves.
With horrible fracas, torrents poured from
the rocks into the streets below, swelling
the food which rushed along. All trace
Of recent revelry was soon effaced by the
nocturnal hurricane. The trembling citi-
zens crouched in frantic prayer, and many
saw in the angry waters the emblem of
what their new Emperor was some day
| to be.
Some days elapsed, and the streets of
Antwerp became again passable. The in
defatigable exertions Of the citizens had
/ forced back the waters to their former
level, and the sun beaming forth, soon
pumped away the moisture which had
remained in the narrow lanes and the by.
WAYS.
The inhabitants, however, did not so
soon regain their ,habitual gaiety. With
the exception Of the docks and some few
Streets in which carpenters and masons
were busily repairing the damage caused
by the inundation, Antwerp was placed
in silent sadness. The few who ventured
forth, looked up at the spire of their ca.
thedral, gazing sorrowfully at the iron
cross, which had suffered much from the
hurricane.
In those days of profound faith and true
patriotism, each city had its peculiar and
cherished ediice, which it valued as its
jewels, and esteemed as the crown of
pearls upon the young brides brow
Thus Brussels had its princely gardens
and palaces, Ghent its beIfry surmounted
by the Grecian dragon conquered by the
Crusaders, Louvain glOried in its Univer-
sity and its Gothic town.hall, Bruges had
its Guildhall, erected in 1879 by Count
Louis de Male, Antwerp admired its won.
drous spire, completed two years before
by Applemans. 1t was, beyond doubt,
the most beautiful and gigantic monument
in Europe.
1t was source Of wondrous pride to
the honest burgherS, and therefore, when
they saw that the iron cross which sur
mounted the pinnacle, had been nearly
bent double by the storm, their chagrin
was the greater, as it seemed almost i'm
possible to repair it.
In the first place, the iron had to be
made red hot, and the man who was suf-
ficiently bold to step even upon the mar
row lodges Of the tower, far below the
cross, would do so at the risk Of life
The most intrepid mariners, who the day
Of the tempest lay extended on the sway
ing yards, shuddered at the very idea oI
climbing to such height. So in spite oi
the love and pride with which tine good
people regarded their natal city, despite
the promises Of the magistrates to who
ever would repair it. no one had presented
himself to claim the reward.
The burghers were assembled on the
open space in front of the cathedral, cal
culating sadly its immensity, when four
heralds rode into their midst, again pro-
claiming the promised reward Three
times they sounded their trumpets, to
which were suspended the arms of the
city, and the king alarms, uncovering,
spoke as follows:
The burgomasters and worshipful al.
dermen Of the rich city of Antwerp, in.
form the citizens thereof, that the magis.
trates accord recompense of five hundred
forms to whoever will repair the cross
having been violently bent by hurricane
on the day Of the coronation of our mar.
quis and prince, Charles, Count of Fland.
ers. Duke of Brabant. King of Snain and