ss terror. All that now remains of the
head that formed, the hand that executed, and the bosom that relished
this once happy scenery, is now, alas, only a heap of dust."

She seated herself on a little hillock, under a weeping willow, which
stood near the cemetery, and watched the rising shower, which ascended
in gloomy pomp, half hidden behind the western groves, shrouding the low
sun in black vapour, while coming thunders more nearly and more awfully
rolled. The shrieking night hawk[A] soared high into the air, mingling
with the lurid van of the approaching storm, which widening, more
rapidly advanced, until "the heavens were arrayed in blackness."

[Footnote A: Supposed to be the male whippoorwill; well known in
the New-England states, and answering to the above peculiarity.]

The lightning broader and brighter flashes, hurling down its forky
streaming bolts far in the wilderness, its flaming path followed by the
vollying artillery of the skies. Now bending its long, crinkling spires
over the vallies, now glimmering along the summit of the hills.
Convolving clouds poured smoky volumes through the expansion; a deep,
hollow, distant roar, announced the approach of "summoned winds." The
whole forest bowed in awful grandeur, as from its dark bosom rushed the
impetuous hurricane, twisting off, or tearing up by the roots, the
stoutest trees, whirling the heaviest branches through the air with
irresistible fury. It dashed upon the sea, tossed it into irregular
mountains, or mingled its white foamy spray with the gloom of the turbid
skies. Slant-wise, the large heavy drops of rain began to descend.
Melissa hastened to the mansion; as she reached the door a very
brilliant flash of lightning, accompanied by a tremendous explosion,
alarmed her. A thunder bolt had entered a large elm tree within the
enclosure, and with a horrible crash, had shivered it from top to
bottom. She unlocked the door and hurried to her chamber. Deep night now
filled the atmosphere; the rain poured in torrents, the wind rocked the
building, and bellowed in the adjacent groves: the sea raged and roared,
fierce lightnings rent the heavens, alternately involving the world in
the sheeted flame of its many coloured fires; thunders rolled awfully
around the firmament, or burst with horrid din, bounding and
reverberating among the surrounding woods, hills and vallies. It seemed
nothing less than the crash of worlds sounding through the universe.

Me