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oratory, that ſaid more, much more, than any ⟨tongue⟩ could utter. The firſt ſounds proceeded from ⟨the⟩ mouths of the moſt patient of Nature's creatures from the melancholy cow that had loſt its calf, ⟨and⟩ with frequent lowings invited its return; from ⟨the⟩ brother eves, that with frequent bleedings recall their lambs, which were friſking out of ſight, conſcious of danger and unmindful of food: ⟨and⟩ which ſolemn and pathetic invitations, after ſuch ⟨a⟩ night, the contemplation of ſuch a ſcene, and ⟨the⟩ diſpoſition of the mind to receive pathetic impreſſions, came home with full effect to thoſe who had ſuffered, but who wiſhed not to complain! If the diſtreſſes of the feathered tribe be taken into the deſcription, their natural timidity, their uncertainty of food, of ſhelter, and domeſtic protection, ⟨tho'⟩ duly conſidered trifling as theſe obſervations ⟨may⟩ appear, they certainly help to ſwell the ⟨catalogue⟩ of diſtreſs, to awaken the ſigh of ſenſibility, and ⟨they⟩ teach us that their exiſtence and their end are ⟨in⟩ the hands of the ſame Creator.
The morning of the 4th of October preſented ⟨us⟩ with a proſpect, dreary beyond deſcription, and a moſt melancholy beyond example; and deformed with ſuch blaſted ſigns of nakedneſs and ruin, ⟨and⟩ calamity, in its moſt awful and deſtructive moments, has ſeldom offered to the deſponding obſervations of mankind. The face of the country ſeemed to be entirely changed: the vallies and the plains, the mountains and the forests, that were only the day before most beautifully clothed with every venture, were now deſpoiled of every charm; and ⟨there⟩ an expected abundance and ſuperfluity of gain, ⟨in⟩ a few hours ſucceeded ſterility and want; and ⟨every⟩ proſpect, as far as the eye could ſtretch, was viſibly ſtricken blank with deſolation and with horror. The powers of vegetation appeared to be an ⟨once⟩
