The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1879-08-22
THUNDER STORM.

II was morning IN the mtudlo OF
August. The little girl had been
passing some days at my fathers
house, and she was now to return
home. Her path lay across the fields,
and gladly I became the companion
OF her walk. I never knew a sum
mer morning more beautiful and still.
Only one little cloud was visible, and
thai seemed as pure, and white, and
peaceful, as if il had been the incense
smoke of some burning censer OF the
skies.
The leaves hung silent in the
woods, the waters in the bay bad
forgotten their nndulations the, flow
ers were bending their headls,. as If
dreaming OF the rainbow aud the
dew, and the whole atmosphere was
of sncl, soft and luxurious sweet.
ness, that it st emed clond of roses
scattered down by the hands of Peri.
from the tar-off garden OF Paradise.
The green earth and the blue sea Law
around, IN their bonndlessness, and
the peaceful sky bent over and kissed
them.
The little creature a. my side was
in deiirium of happiness, and her
clear, sweet voice came ringing upon
the air as often as she heard the tones
of faxorite bird, or found some
strange and lovely flower in her frolic
wanderings. The nnbroken and al.
most supernatural stiffness of the day
continued until noon. Then, tor the
first time, the indications of an ap
preaching tempest became manifest.
On the summit OF mountain, at
the distance of about a mile, the folds
of dark cloud became suddenly
visible, and, at the same instant, a
hollow roar came down npon the
winds, az ii it had been the Sounds
of waters in rocky cavern. The
cloud rolled ont like banner unfold.
ell upon the air, but sill the a,mos-
phert was as calm, and the leaves as
motionltss a before; and there was
not even a quaver among the sleep.
ing waters, to tell of the coming hur-
ricane.
A few minutes, and the storm was
upon us. During the height of its
fury the little girl lifted her finger
toward the precipice that lowered
over ns. l looked, and saw there a
purple light. And the next moment
the clouds opened, the rocks tottered
TO Their foundations, roar like the
grnan OF the universe filed the air,
and felt myself blinded, and thrown
knew not whittier. How long re-
manned insensible, | can not tell but
when consciousness reInrned, the vi
olence of the tempest was abatiny
the roar OF the winds Was dying in
the tree-tops, and the deep tones
of the thnnllrr clouds came in fainter
murnurs from the eastern hills.
rose, and looked tremblingly and
almost leliriously around. She was
there, the dear idol OF my infant love,
stretched upnn he green earth. After
a moment of irresolution. | went mp
and looked upon her. The handker-
chief upon her neck was slightly rent,
and a single dark spot upon her bo-
som told where he pathway of death
had been. AT first, | clasprd her To
my breast with crv of agony, aud
then laid her down, and gazrd upon
her face almost with feelings OF calm
ness.
Her bright, disheveled hair clus-
tered sweetly around her brow the
lock o, terror had faded from her
lips, and infant smiles were pictured
there: the rose tinge upon her checks
was as lovely as life; and, as press
ed them TO my own, the tonn,ai o'
tears were opened and l wep, as if
my heart we're waters. | have but
dim recollection Of what followed. l
only know that | remained weeping
and motionlrs> till the coming twi-
light, and was taken tenherly by
the hand, and led away wher. | SAW
the conntenances OF parents and sis
tiers -Pa1ntice.