down into the deep abyss. I looked down with a sensation of wild delight, and a strange fancy seized me that there was the shade of Ledura. And I said, with her will I revel beneath the boiling, surge.' I ran up the steep and turned, to make one mighty bound, into the depths below. But as I came to the brink, an invisible hand stayed me back, and I could not spring. I tried again, and again was stayed. A frantic rage took possession of my soul.-There I stood--clenched my fists in anger--my veins boiling within me. And O! for an object on which to vent my maniac wrath!, I looked around, and I saw, standing upon a neighboring cliff, a red man of the forest.--He was large and muscular, dressed in the Indian's garb of war, and seemed to stand fearless before my demon-like curses, as the mountain oak before the raging elements. O, passion! how strong thy power, when seated in the maniac's brain! I sprang towards the Indian.--He met me firm, and as wild I rushed toward him, he with one mighty blow of his brawny arm, levelled me to the ground. Instantly I caught him by the feet, and his huge form fell at my side: but he sprang upon my breast with the giant's force, and with the hellish grin of the savage, gazed up-, on my face. I could not endure it. I struggled--released myself, from his grasp, and we fought, reckless and mad--the one the maniac--the other the savage. At length we were rolling upon, the brink of the precipice. He saw the danger--sprang from his hold. to regain the stand above: At that instant I darted against him, and he fell headlong over the precipice, and with a wild tremendous shriek, sunk into the abyss below. Years rolled over my head, and darkest scenes alone can, I re-, member. Others have gone, like the dreams of the past, to the land of oblivion. Age spread over me the frosts of its winters, and still I roved about the world, sometimes among the habitations of men, but more amid untraversed wilds and boundless forests. I * * * * * Hear and believe, my Son, for thus it seemed to me. But alas! weep that I cannot describe the scenes which presented themselves to my maniac vision. I lay in a reverie of sleep on the very top of one of your highest mountains. It was a barren rock--no tree to obstruct the sight, or hide the prospect. Far as the eye could ex-, tend, all was the wide open world--till the plains were skirted by the distant horizon. Scattered villages, varied groves, flowing streams, fields glowing with richest verdure, and yon beautiful lake, extending from north to south till lost in the distance of vision, lay Like in bright and delightful variety between that tower of nature on which I rested and the glowing west, where hung the evening sun. the lion in his lair, or the wild hawk at rest upon the lofty elm, I lay alike heedless and senseless-that rock my couch, and the canopy of heaven my shelter. Suddenly I thought, as I gazed upon the broad circle spread out above me, the heavens were changed to a vast ocean of blackness, where mighty waves, piled in midnight terror, rolled over and over, in fearful mountains. Presently came howling tempests and clouds which seemed like vast chariots of flame drawn by fiery dragons, and they flew like the vivid lightning over the black extended sea. Then I heard distant rumblings like the voice of thunder; but instantly they were changed to the most terrific howlings of huge unearthly monsters, which rose, each vast as the mountain on which I rested, from the tossing waves, and rushed onward, rolling forth their hideous, astounding yells. The mighty surges of the dark and boundless liquid still dashed backward and forward; and coming nearer earth, I thought soon they would strike the mountain, and wash me into the bosom of Death. I looked-and beheld a cloud of fire coming toward me from the west, which seemed like the sun; but I thought it was the demon of the elements. Swiftly it soared over my head with its broad golden wings waving amid the stormy elements; and it cried, "I am the Spirit, who commandeth the armies of Heaven." Then with a wand it touched the swelling ocean, and the waves rolled back, and vanished from my sight. I looked-and the broad canopy of heaven, studded with its golden gems, lay again spread out before me. But anon the spirit cried, and forth came the armies of the upper world. The stars were changed into frightful fiery monsters, which rushed forth from the regions of space, and, as vast armies cover the battle-plain, they clouded the broad circuit above,- far away beyond my extended vision. Brazen shields glittered through the dashing hosts, and I heard the peals of warring armies, a thousand times more tremendous than the roar of cannon, or the rumbling thunder. Balls of liquid fire shot through the heavens swifter than the lightning's dart; and from the far-off east to the distant west, planets and systems were in wild commotion, and stars flew reckless as the unguided comet. I gazed upon the scene with admiration, and as yet resisted every feeling of terror. But now clouds of smoke, thick, black, and commingled with fire, played in volumes around the mountain, and I thought the hosts of Heaven were arrayed in dire revenge—were about to hurl the earth from its socket, and destroy the human race. I began to tremble. The mountain rocked. Ball after ball beat upon its side. The forest shook. The trees quivered, and anon were split into ten thousand fragments. And I was struck-struck with what I now suppose to have been the scath of lightning in the raging storm. The electric flame touched in an instant every nerve, and I felt as if the cruel steel was severing my every joint. I was overcome--paralized--and for a season lifeless. * * * * The air was pure and I I awoke. The storm had ceased. The sky was clear, and the air was calm. The sun was sinking, bright as if washed by clear and liquid clouds, and the lucid moon looked out from Aurora's golden seat, and gave a tranquil smile. felt, though weak and almost helpless, that I was breathing in a new existence. Refreshing gales threw over me an influence gentle and enlivening, and I felt the sensations of gratitude and love. I thought of my Creator. I adored him--I loved him. He that commanded the raging tempest--'twas He that directed the vivid lightning--'twas He that gave me deliverance and now made me happy. I no longer raved the maniac, cursing the hand of Heaven. But even then, though bowed and weak with age, under the cold sky of evening, I sang praises to my deliverer--and calm--composed I sunk to rest with a soul overflowing with grati tude. 'Twas Morning came. I descended the mountain and sought my native home. Day after day I pursued my course, and at length came to the beach of the ocean-the land of the Pilgrims. But how great the change! I scarce knew my home, and all had forgotten me. I inquired for my friends, but they had all gone one after another to the silent tomb, and I read their names upon the chiselled marble. Long I hung around them, and read them again and again. I suddenly remembered the lovely niece that prattled on my knee, and hung around my face, in her earliest childhood. I looked for her tomb but found it not. A glow of delight was awakened in my bosom, and my heart leaped for joy--for yet, said I, she may be alive. I inquired and was directed away to this silent valley. And O! how joyous the hopes which beat in this bosom at the anticipation of meeting one I once thus loved, and of dying by her side. I marked my toilsome course over the mountains, and at length have reached this calm recluse. But who can tell the grief that wraps my sorrowing heart? Why could not my best friend on earth have lived to bless my dying moments! Why that form laid in the coffin and sunk in the grave before I arrived! And still deeper the pang, that she had but just-but just departed. But I will not murmur. For the dark wave of life has rolled on to eternity. Richest joys now await my panting spirit in a better and brighter world." The old man ceased. The cold drops of death hung upon his pale wrinkled brow, and I supported his withered dying form. few moments passed, and he suddenly opened his eyes, and looked up with a calm broken smile and in faltering accents spoke."Yes, my son, she whom you caressed as a ford affectionate mother hung around this withered form, as around an indulgent father.— That one, whose sparkling eyes in the innocence of childhood looked up to me, has watched your sorrows and wiped away the tears of your infancy. Now let me die, and bury me by the side of your mother. May a merciful Heaven reward you." And our tears flowed in unison, till no more the pulse renewed its beat, and that spirit of sorrow took its distant flight. And never-wherever I may be tossed on life's tempestuous sea, or however bitter the grief which awaits my ardent soul-never, though I be carried to the farthest clime, or be left in the distant ocean, shall I forget that aged sire, and the scenes of my last visit Home. Go back, wild winds, to the sounding deep, ADRIAN THE PRECIPICE. I. Dread Gulph! how reels upon thy dizzy verge The parted lip-the bloodless brow-the deep Reveal that spirit's might o'er all its being thrown. II. Woe to the traitor step-the trembling nerve Weak man! the brute doth mock thee here; doth fling In grasping suppliance to the rock for aid! Thou canst uot brace thy clay to this, nor bring III. Where is thy soaring, lord of lower earth? For thou dost claim the lineage of the skies: Gaze upward, trembler! madly trust thine eyes IV. Despite its terrors, 'tis a joy to stand Thus on the utter verge of all we know ; Its eager wing, with fresh awakened glow, V. Look o'er this pendant crag: -how bleak and bare |