Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 1).djvu/239

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Ferdinand found among the books the works of many excellent authors, and therefore was at no loss to beguile the time, and indeed had reason to be thankful for his situation, as before night the snow was at least two feet deep on the ground. About the time of retiring the snow ceased, the moon broke through the clouds, and a cold, sharp wind arose denoting a severe frost. When he came into his apartment, the reflection of that resplendent orb induced him to go to the window, and he sat down by it for some time admiring the appearance of the trees and under-wood, which being covered with the snow, exhibited a hundred fantastic shapes to engage the attention.

Lost in the recollection of past events, he sat a long time without thinking of the hour, until suddenly the same faint shrieks broke upon his ear, that he had heard the preceding night. He started up, and opened the window, the voice ceased; he listened attentively a long time, it was no more repeated. Convinced, however, that it was no illusion of