Year: 1863

visible but the white-capped waves as they rolled
on the shore; the music still entranced me, and
while thus gazing into the unknown and dark
suddenly the air began to grow damp and chill,
the darkness increased, angry clouds gathered in
the sky. and the ocean boiled with agitation white
foam dashed against white foam, and the troubled
spirit was on the waters. Hours passed on, still
remained at my window, w,--the storm increasing in
violence; ever and anon from out the darkness
sudden fash of electric light would illuminate the
scene, and the roar Of the thunder echoed through
the darkness like the booming of cannon on the
hotly contested field: thus hour after hour passed.
and even amid this tempest and storm could
hear the soft and heavenly harmony of this mystic
singer. Firmly resolving to discover if possible
this strange and wonderful mystery, seated my
self in the window, watching and listening, think
ing that perhaps aided by the light of some flash,
the cause of this magic spell might be revealed
1t was approaching "the midnight hour, when
churchyards yawn and hell itself breaths forth
contagion to the world" I thought not of church
yards, although with sorrow be it said, that many
a noble youth and patriot has found his grave far
away from the churchyard where his fathers sleep:
the other place, breathing out contagion to the
world, banished from my mind, although living
in the land of foul treason, and on soil desecrated
by slavery and oppression.


While thus musing, having almost resolved to
close the window and lie down to pleasant
dreams, "a sharp, quick and clear sound startled
me, it was only o nearer approach OF the storm,
which now had full sway DER land and sea. l
closed the window and lay down to sleep; alas!
no angel Of Somnus came with gentle hand to
close my eyelids: felt something prompting
me to again rush to the window lit may seem
strange to the reader but in this world, with its
subtle Influences and mysterious laws nothing
should be startling; mankind must be schooled in
the wonderful, and even expect daily some grand
revelation open it's mystery before them; many of
the sublime and majestic movements in the uni
verse are wrought by the almost infnitesimal in
fuance of aunversal power, eternal as the Divine,
and as intimate. Again / stood at the window,
fully determined to learn the cause Of this pecu-
liar influence on my spirit; could not resist the
spell that bound me to tina. spot, although 1 suf-
cred from the storm beating on my brow, and at
times almost binding me by its fury: it was now
twelve o'clock midnight, and 1 must confess
felt kind of quaking fear and remor each crash o.
thunder as it echoed from cloud to cloud made
me start; one moment only mused, had better
remain alone at this hour or summon M COM
panions to the scene? perhaps they would laugh
at my cowardice, or sneer at my folly: yet again.
if there was reality about this mystic singer,
they would be witnesses, and could testify of what
they had seen. resolved to awaken them and
in q few moments they were present; oil testified
to the peculiar sounds which echoed through the
chill air and storm. The fury of the tempest
soon abated, and my comrades one by one left;
one only remained, q stout robust and muscular
mau-a man of firm will and strong nerves-he