Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1865-09-16
The Thunder Storm.
BY GEORGE D. PRENTICE.

never was a man OF feeble courage.
There are but few scenes of either human
or elemental siriie upon which | have not
looked wIIn brow Of daring. / have
stood in battle, when the whrlwind was
Iendlng oaks iGom lhelr rocky cliffs, and
scattering them 10 the clouds. | have
seen these things with a swelling soul
thai knew noI of danger; bat there is
something in the thunder's voice that
makes me tremble like a child. have
tried TO overcome this unmanly weakness.
have called perdI to my aid; have even
sought to strengthen my mora courage in
The lessons OF philosophy, but It avaIls me
nothing. A lhe hrsI low moaning of the
distant cloud, my heart shrInks, qulVers,
and dies within me.
My dread of thunder had its origin in
an Incident that occurred when was a
boy OF ten years. had cousin, girl
Of the same age as myself, ho bad been
the constant companion OF my childhood.
Strange that after the lapse OF so many
years, that countenance should be familiar
to ne. | can see lie bright young crea-
turp, her eyes flashing lks a beautiful
gen, her free locks streaming as with Joy
uppn the rising gale; her cheek glowing
.las ruby through transparent snow.
aar gc.re had the melody and joyOusness
e{ rl,J'- and when she bounded over
tae 500. land hlti, or fresh green valley,
shouting glad answer to every voice of
ua.urs,aad cIaPpIug her h1le hands,In The
very tssIacy OF young eXistauce, she look
3 y a. It breaking away, Tree nightingale
from The earth, and going oil where all
things are beautiful and happy like her.
/, was mornIag IN the DlddIe of August.
The little girl hal been passing some days
nv fathers house, aud she was nov 10
relurn home. Her path lay across the
Ids, and gladly became The compan-
,,a OF her walk. never knew a summer
morning more beautiful aud su,l. Only
one cloud was visible, and that seemed as
pore, and white. and peaceful, as if 1t had
been the incense smoke OF some burning
censor of the skies. The leaves hung ST.
lent IN Ihe woods, The waters in The bay
forgot their undulaung, the flowers were
bending their heads as If dreaming of the
rainbOw and de ", and the stmos phere was
such a soft and luxurious sweetness that
u seemed a cloud of roses scattered down
by The hand of Peri. from the far-oh
garden of Paradise. The green earth and
blue walters lay abroad il lheir boundless
nesS.snd the peaceful sky hung over them.
The hile creature al my side was in a
dehrum of happiness, and her sweet voice
came ringlsg out upon the air as often as
she heard the note of some favOri,e bird
or tound some strange and lovely flower
IN her irolic wanderlngs. The unbrokeu
and slmos, supernatural tranquility of the
day lasted niI noon. Then, !or The first
time, IndlcsIIons OF an approaching TEN.
past vas manifest. Over the summit of
mountain, at distance Of abou, mile.
the folds OF large cloud became sudden.
" visible, and al the same inslarta hol.
law roar csme down on the winds as ii il
hsd been the sound OF waves in rocky
cavern. The clouds rolled on like ban.
nsr unloldeJ upOn the air. bul suil the
atmosphere was as CAIN and The waves as
mOilonless as before, aud there was not
even culver upon the sleeping waters 10
tell Of the hurrlrane. The tempest was
lreTllable. As the oniv resort. We fed 20
mighty oak that stood at the foot Of the /
pFeclplce. Here we remained and gazed
efeaIhlessly upon the clouds marshailinQ
themselves like bloody giants in the sky.
The thunder was not frequent, but every