258 
Memoranda of an Excursion 
paired our hut with tufts of the different Carices that 
grew hard by, and pitched my tent; and, throwing off 
our dripping garments and kindling a fire, we endea¬ 
voured to make ourselves as comfortable as we could 
in our present circumstances. Fortunately we had a 
few potatoes with us, which, not knowing how long this 
weather might continue, we divided una voce into three 
small portions, so as to afford us two meals for the 
morrow. The rain continuing to descend in torrents, 
swelled our little rivulet to a large stream, causing me 
to fear that the little level spot on its banks, on which 
we were now encamped, would soon be overflowed. 
Day-break this morning found us much the same as 
day-light last evening left us—with water on every 
side. The past night was one not likely to be soon for¬ 
gotten. The heavy rain and rattling hail which un¬ 
ceasingly poured down—the vivid lightnings and hollow 
sounding thunder reverberating awfully in never-ending 
echoes among the hills—the angry winds which furi- 
riously rushed in fitful roaring blasts through the an¬ 
cient forests, rocking and creaking and lashing the 
monarchs of centuries as so many saplings of a year, 
stripping their “ leafy honours” and cracking off' their 
branches hurled them to the earth—the hooting of owls 
and shrieking of parrots, which flew affrightedly about 
seeking shelter—all united to declare, in a voice too 
plain to be misunderstood, the great commotion Nature 
was undergoing; fit knell for the departing year. The 
bard might, indeed, truly say— 
“ A thunder storm! the eloquence of heaven, 
When every cloud is from its slumber riven ; 
Who hath not paused beneath its hollow groan, 
And felt Omnipotence around him thrown ? 
How stirs the spirit while the echoes roll, 
And God, in thunder, rocks from pole to pole!” 
Monty. Omnip . of Deity , part, r. 
