"Heywood, you do yourself injustice. A steady course of life, as it
will remove the cause of your depression, (for your mental malady is
nothing more,) so will it the effect, and I feel confident that it
requires but exertion to regain all you have lost, and even to surpass
your former excellence. Come; be a man. Call your philosophy to your
aid--rouse from your lethargy, and start once more upon the race of
honor." He placed one hand upon my shoulder, and pointed forward with
the other: "Behold," he said, "yon blasted pine; its giant limbs have
been snapped in twain, and its lordly trunk clove from the summit to
the root by the forked lightning,--while around it in the green hues of
health, full of pride, vigor and beauty, are congregated its glorious
brethren of the forest. Bid that stricken tree drink in the life sap,
shoot out its rough red boughs, clothe them with their feathery
foliage, erect its noble crest, and stand once more pre-eminent in
loftiness and grace; and what would be its answer, as its shattered
body creaks to the passing breeze? 'There is no other spring for me.'
And that reply is mine. Therefore torture me no more; for it is torture
to me to recur to the past, or dwell upon the present. _One_ favor I
will ask of you. When I am dead, and I feel a certainty that time will
soon arrive, if you are near and survive me, bury me in some private
place, and do not raise even a mound, much less a stone, to mark the
spot; but let the grass grow over and conceal it--for even as lonely
and obscure as my latter days have been, so would I have my grave. Will
you promise me this?"
"I will--I do," I replied, much affected.
The remainder of our walk was passed almost in silence; and when
Heywood left me, which he did immediately upon our return to town, he
pressed my hand to his heart, and sobbed, "God bless you."
The next day upon my inquiring for him, I found he had left town early
that morning, saying that it was uncertain when he should return. This
I regretted extremely; for although disappointed in my first attempt, I
was not without hopes I might still succeed in bringing him back to the
paths of virtue and of honor, from which he had so unfortunately
strayed. I determined at all events to remain where I was until I had
again seen him, and make another appeal to his friendship and his
pride. Days and weeks passed however, and he came not. It was now the
latter part of the month of May; the weather was delightful. I got
tired of the solitude of my chamber, and walked out to enjoy the
balminess of the air and the freshness of nature, as yet unscorched by
the ardent beams of the summer sun. I took the road that led to
Drayton's, and when I reached his gate, paused, as I had many a time
before, to admire a noble oak that formed one of the gate posts. This
splendid tree was at its base full five feet through, and its trunk
shot up a height of forty feet before it gave out a branch. Thence its
boughs spread out to an immense distance, forming a canopy over the
road, beyond the opposite side of which they extended, and mingled with
those of the trees growing there. It looked like a patriarch of the
primeval forest, and seemed destined to stand while all around might
decay. I sauntered along a mile or two, until I reached a favorite and
secluded spot, well known to me when I was a boy, and which remained
unchanged, while all else was changed or changing. There I seated
myself on a moss covered rock, under the shade of a thick leaved birch,
and while the bright waters rippled at my feet, passed in review before
my mind some of the scenes of a busy and adventurous life. About an
hour had elapsed in this pleasing melancholy of reverie, when I became
conscious that a change had taken place in the weather. The refreshing
breeze had died away, and the air become close and sultry, with that
heavy suffocating feeling I had observed in high southern latitudes, as
the invariable precursor of the coming hurricane. I made what haste I
could to reach my home, which was full three miles distant, by the
shortest path I could choose. I reached the upper part of Drayton's
enclosure, where there was an open field on either side, and paused as
well from fatigue, as a desire to ascertain whether I could probably
outstrip the approaching storm, or should be compelled much against my
inclination to seek for shelter at Drayton's abode.
As I looked up, I perceived that the heavens were embossed with dark
clouds that hung heavily in the atmosphere, scarcely moving their
stations, or varying their forms, so completely stilled was the
breeze--not a leaf trembled on the slenderest twig. Presently, on the
extreme verge of the horizon to my right, a small, jagged cloud arose,
that rested as it were a moment on the summits of the trees, and then
darted high up the sky and emitted a brilliant flash of lightning,
accompanied by a quick, sharp crash of thunder--as if this had been a
signal summons, from all quarters of the heavens, seemingly by
voluntary impulse, the hitherto inert vapors rushed with eagle speed to
the spot, like mailed warriors to the battle field; concentrating, and
condensing their huge forms into one, vast, deep, substantial looking
body of impervious gloom, heaving to and fro with a mighty sound, like
unto the rush of liberated waters that have broken down their rocky
barrier. As I gazed in horror on this awful sight, there gradually
descended from the centre, mass on mass of clouds, as if enormous folds
of blackest velvet had been lowered down, narrowing in their descent
until they almost formed a point: and then amid the lightning's
incessant flashes, and the music of its own appalling roar, that
drowned the loudest thunder; and the groans of the forest, as its
mightiest trees were uprooted, or twisted from their stems, as a child
would break a straw; the tornado marched on its appointed path of
desolation. No words, at least none I can command, avail to describe
its horrid majesty, its incalculable power. It was as if the very demon
of destruction had clothed himself in robes of hellish grandeur, and
came in the pride of his unimaginable strength, to strew with ruins the
world's fair orb, and revel amidst his fiendish sport. I have in the
course of my journey through life, encountered many a peril, and looked
on many a sight that might strike the coward with despair, and blanch
the cheek of the bravest. The appalling cry of fire has broken upon my
ear, when my bark was rolling in the midst of the wide spread ocean,
and the apparent choice was to leap into the wave, or perish by the
flames. I have been with a crew, when the match was held by a resolute
hand that would in an instant have hurled us in the air, rather than
become the prey of the remorseless pirate. The storm upon the sea, the
hurricane on land, and the terrors of battle upon both, I have beheld;
but never did there weigh upon my heart such a feeling of unmixed
dread, such a consciousness of utter helplessness, as now--still, I was
not entirely deprived of my presence of mind--I was aware that the
force of the tornado, although it might be extended to many miles,
would probably be confined within narrow boundaries; and if I could
ascertain its course, I might place myself beyond its influence. At
this moment, however, it was difficult to conjecture to what point its
fury would be directed: for as I have said, it was a perfect calm; the
winds seemed to be enclosed within the lurid bosom of that horrible
prodigy. Its approach was certainly in a line towards myself, but how
soon it might swerve from that route, I could not tell; so that I dare
not trust to flight. While I stood thus hesitating how to act, a
horseman passed me at full speed. My attention had been so fully
absorbed, and so deafening was the voice of the cloud, that I had not
heard his approach, and barely caught a sufficient glimpse of the face
to recognise it as that of Willis, and that it was overspread with an
ashy paleness. He had not passed me a hundred yards, when as if by
magic a strong wind burst from the north west, encountered the tornado,
and turning it from the direction it had hitherto pursued, drove it
obliquely in front of Drayton's house at about a quarter of a mile from
it, and immediately towards the gate and the oak, I have spoken of. It
now moved with immense velocity from me, and feeling that all personal
danger was past, I could observe its appearance and effects with
greater accuracy. The interior of the lower part was illuminated by
_flames_, I may call them, of lightning; for so incessant and
continuous were the flashes, that they appeared as one; and I could
distinguish in the centre, large limbs of trees, and trees themselves
suspended, tossed, and whirled about like feathers. Its wake was
defined by the upturned ground, as if many ploughshares linked together
had passed over it. Whatever lay in its track was instantaneously
destroyed. It drove full upon the giant oak, and the forest Titan on
whom many a storm had harmlessly broken, whose noble head was scarcely
bowed in recognition of the furious gale, was wrenched, and severed
from its trunk, and dashed upon the ground; that trembled as it
received the enormous weight, as if an earthquake shook it. The
destroyer passed on, and I stood watching it, until its noise was lost
upon my ear, and its form had faded from my sight. Slowly then I bent
my steps forward, mentally returning thanks to a gracious providence,
for my escape from so imminent and appalling a danger. Suddenly, the
recollection of Willis rose upon me, and a strong presentiment that he
must have been overtaken by the cloud pressed upon my mind, and filled
it with horror. The presentiment was destined to be realized. I
quickened my steps, and as I approached the gate, I found the road so
much impeded by the broken boughs and scattered fences hurled about in
every direction, that I was compelled to make a considerable circuit in
Drayton's field, to enable me to overcome the various obstacles that
obstructed my passage. As I saw no trace of Willis, I began to hope he
might have escaped, although it seemed scarcely possible; at all
events, I thought it would be but proper for me to step to the house, a
distance of some five hundred yards, and see if he had arrived in
safety. I had, it is true, no respect for him, and perhaps his death
could scarcely be deemed a calamity; but he was one of the great family
of man, and what right had I to sit in judgment on my fellow creatures?
I found Drayton at home, standing at the front door, surveying the
ravages committed on his estate. He greeted me, and commenced a
harangue on the terrible phenomenon he had witnessed, which I cut short
by inquiring if Mr. Willis was within--"within! No he had not seen him
for several days." As briefly as I could, I then informed him of
Willis' passing me on the road, of the obvious danger he had incurred,
and requested he would accompany me with some of the servants, with
axes and other implements, that might be necessary in prosecuting our
search. He hastened to comply with the request, and we soon set forward
with some dozen assistants. We commenced our disagreeable undertaking,
at the gate on the lower side of the prostrate oak, which lay obliquely
across the road, endeavoring every now and then, to peep through the
confused mass of tangled and shattered boughs that lay in heaps about
us. Presently, one of the negroes uttered an exclamation, and pointing
with both hands, cried out that he saw a man under the tree. We
immediately gathered around him, and looking in the direction
indicated, could perceive not only the object he had discovered, but
also the prostrate body of a horse. There was now little doubt that
Willis had here met his wretched fate.
The sun, which had come forth, was about an hour high, but we had great
difficulties to overcome before we could reach the spot, where the body
lay. One of the men was despatched to the house for further assistance,
and we soon had all the efficient laborers of the estate at work; while
the boys and women, whom curiosity brought there, were employed in
holding torches, for the evening shades had fallen, before we got half
through with our labor. At length, we succeeded in freeing Willis's
body from the superincumbent load that pressed upon it. Life was
totally extinct; his death had doubtless been instantaneous, for his
bones were broken in many places, and the scull driven in, until its
sides almost met. We hastily constructed a hand-barrow on which we laid
the mangled remains, and were about to move off, when one of the boys
came running to us from the wood on the opposite side to the gate, and
with terror in his looks, informed us there was another man lying dead
there. We hastened to the spot, which there was little difficulty in
reaching, for the individual lay just on the skirt of the prostrate
trees, and had probably been struck down by an upper bough as it fell.
His face was towards the ground, and his hands outstretched. The back
of the head had received a severe wound. We gently turned the body
over. My heart sunk within me and a faintness came over my senses, as
the light of the blazing torches revealed to my view the pallid face of
Heywood. I soon recovered, however, and stood and gazed upon the
features of the corpse, those features that I had so often seen lit up
with intelligence, now rigid in death. Those eyes, whose piercing beams
once reached the very hearts of men, and gazed upon their secret
motives, had lost their "speculation," and those lips whose surpassing
eloquence once filled his hearers with deep delight, ruling them with a
master spell; now rousing apathy into action, now stilling passion in
its wildest mood; were hushed in eternal silence. Before us was the
motionless form of clay, the immortal spirit had ascended to its God.
Both the bodies were removed to the house. The remainder of that night,
I sat by the corpse of Heywood. The next day, I procured a plain
coffin, and taking with me a couple of assistants, proceeded to the
place where I had reposed after my walk on the preceding afternoon. At
the foot of the birch tree we dug his grave, and heaped the earth upon
the coffin to the level of the plain, and over it we spread the verdant
turf: and there, in his "narrow and obscure bed," sleeps the misguided
son of genius; while a splendid mausoleum marks the spot where the
bones of Willis lie, and a marble slab records his thousand virtues.
For the Southern Literary Messenger.
The study of poetry has been to me its own exceeding great reward: it
has soothed my afflictions; it has refined and multiplied my
enjoyments; it has given me (or at least strengthened in me) the habit
of wishing to discover the good and the beautiful in all that meets and
surrounds me--_Coleridge_.