The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-03
THE TEMPEST.
BY GEO. d. PRENTICE.

NEVER u Indu VI le6Dle courage. lHSTe
are few scenes of either human or ele-
mentary strife, upon which | have not
looked with u brow of daring. l have
stood in front of battle when swords
were cleaning and circling around me
like fiery serpents of the air; l have sat
on the mountain pinnacle, when the
whirlwind was rendiIg its oaks from
rocky clefts and scattering them piece
meal to the clouds have seen those
tt ings with swelling soul that rocked
not of danger, but there is something in
the th,nders voice that makes me trem-
BILE like child. 1 have tried to over
come this unmanly weakness; I have
called pride to my aid, have sought
for moral courage in the lessons of phi
losophy, but they avail me nothing-at
the first low moaning of the distant
cloud my heart sinks and dies within
me.
My involuntary dread of thunder has
its origin in an incident that occurred
when was ten. had q cousin, girl,
of the same age as myself, who had been
the constant companion of my child
hood. Strange, that after the lapse of
a score of years, that countenance is 80
familiar to me. l can see the bright
young creature-her large eyes flashing
like beautiful gems, her free locks stream
ing as in joy upon the rising gale, and
her cheek glowing like ruby through
wreath of transparent snow. Her
voice had the melody and joyousness of
q birds, and when she bounded over
wooded hill or the fresh green valley
shouting glad answer to every voice of
nature, and clasping her little hands in
the very ecstacy of young existence, she
looked as if breaking away like freed
nightingale from the earth, and going
where all things were beautiful and
happy, like her.
1t was morning in the middle Of
August. She had been passing some
days at my fathers house, and was to
return home. Her path lay across the
panion of her walk. 1 never knew a
summer morning more beau iful and
still. Only one little cloud was visible
peaceful as if it had been the incense
from burning censor of the skies. The
leaves hung silent IN the woods, the
waters of the bay had forgotten their
undulations, the flowers were bending
their heads, as if dreaming of the rain
bow, and the whole atmosphere was of
such soft and luxurious sweetness, that
it seemed of roses scattered down by
the hands of Peri, from the far-off
gardens of Paradise. The green earth
and blue sea were abroad in their bound
lessness, and the peaceful sky bent over
them. The little creature at my side
was in delirium of happiness, and her
clear, sweet voice came ringing upon
the air as often as she heard the tones
of favorite bird, or found some strange
or lovely flower in her frolic wanderings.
The unbroken and almost supernatural
tranquility of the day continued until
nearly noon. Then the indications of
an approaching tempest were manifest.
Over the summit of a mountain about a
mile away, the folds of dark cloud be-
came suddenly visible, and at the same
moment hollow roar came down upon
the winds, as if it were the sound of
waves in a rocky cavern. The cloud
unrolled like banner-fold upon the
air, but still the atmosphere was calm
and the leaves as motionless rs before /;
there was not even a culver upon the
sleeping waters to tell of the coming
hurricane. To escape the tempest was
impossible.
As the only resort, we fled to an oak,
that stood at the foot of tall, ragged
precipice. Here we gazed almost breath
less upon the clouds, marshaling them
selves like giants in the sky. The thun-
der was not frequent, but every burst
was so fearful that the young creature,
who stood by me, shut her eyes con-
WI. .sively, clung with desperate strength
to my ar n, and shrieked as if her heart
would break. A few minutes and the
storm was upon US. During the height
of its fury, the little girl lifted her fin
ger toward the precipice that lowered
above u.s. l looked up, an amethystine
flame was quivering upon its gray
peaks, and the next moment the clouds
opened, the rocks tottered to their foun-
dation, a roar like the groan of a uni
verse filled the air, and l felt myself
blinded and thrown, I knew not whittier.
How long l remained insensible can
not tell but when consciousness re-
turned the violence of the tempest was
abating; tie roar of the winds dying
in the tree-tops, and the deep tones OF
the thunder coming in fainter murmurs
from the eastern hills.
/ arose, and looked trembling and al
most deliriously around. She was there
the idol of my infant love-stretched
upon the wet green earth. After a mo-
ment of irresolution, went up end
looked upon her. The handkerchief
upon her neck was slightly rent, and a
single dark spot upon her bosom told
where the path of death had been. At
first / clasped her to my breast with a
cry of agony, and then laid her down
and gazed into her face, almost with a
feeling of calmness. Her bright dis
hevelled riaglets clustered around her
brow, the look of terror had faded from
her lips, and an infant smile was pic
tured beautifully there-the red rose
tinge upon her cheeks was lovely as in
life -J-- IT'D ---
I have but dim recollection of what
follo~ed-I only know that l remained
weeping and motionles' till the coming
on of twilight, and that ! was then
taken tenderly by the hand and led
away where 1 saw the countenance OF
parents and sisters.
Many years have gone by on their
wings of light and shadow, but the
scene l have portrayed still comes over