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52 Juvenile Letters.

ed with bark. I pitied some of the poor children; for they were extremely ragged. I hope they do not suffer for food, as well as clothing. The inhabitants are very obliging. 

This town is situated on Onion river, forty miles from its mouth, as you will see by the map; and is surrounded on every side with high mountains. Yesterday, in the afternoon, we were overtaken by a violent thunderstorm, in a situation where we had no house to flee to; our only shelter being the top of our chaise. The thickness of the cloud, and of the forest, rendered it almost as dark as night; and the rolling thunder and blazing lightning filled me with terror. The shower of rain, falling upon the thick foliage of the trees, together with a strong wind, which severed the limbs from their trunks, made a tremendous roaring. At this moment, these lines came forcibly to my mind.

" Be calm, my soul, these thunders harmless play
" Thy God commands, thy God directs their way.
" Tho' tempests howl, though liquid lightning flies, 
" Yet still be calm, these reach not to the skies.

"There

Juvenile Letters. 53

" There fix thy portion, it shall rest secure,
" And to external ages shall endure."

It is but ten or twelve years since the first settlers established themselves in this town; and already we see a handsome building for an academy, nearly completed. It is pleasing to see such early attention paid to the education of youth.

When we came to the river this morning, to my great surprise, there was no bridge; and we were obliged to ford it, though the water, owing to the heavy rains yesterday, was unusually high. It came several inches over the shafts of the chaise; and by its rapidity had nearly swept the horse and carriage down the stream. I will not tell you whether I was frightened or not.

Yours, affectionately, 

SOPHRONIA BELLMONT.

Miss Caroline Cortland.

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