The Eastern World
A moment’s pause, a breathing spell, a stay of the strong arm dealing death, and sowing broadcast the seeds of disease and affliction, seems to have again occurred in the history of the world, and never was mortal called upon to contemplate a more truly mournful spectacle than is here, in the interim of rapid changing events, in this the nineteenth century presented.
War, famine, and pestilence, a terrible firm, have indeed been busy, and myriad’s of victims, of every character, complexion and tongue, have been borne down by the breath of the destroyer, until nations are bowed in mourning humiliation and prayer, and the lamentations of a chastened people resound throughout all Europe and unite with the wail of distress on our own Atlantic shores.
That dreaded scourge which has visited nearly ever section of the eastern world, and converted the blooming fields of our beloved native land into places of sepulture, sullenly relaxes its fearful grasp, as a huge serpent unfastens its deadly coil, and the glutted monster returns on the charnel horse track, marked by its earlier scenes of carnage, or perhaps to survey fresh fields of slaughter.
It is gradually disappearing from America, without having visited her western shores in that malignant form, or with that fatality which marks its course elsewhere, and never were a people more especially blessed, nor given a truer cause for devout thankfulness to the Almighty, than the inhabitants of ???nny Pa’slos, the swarming population of the south-western coast, or the thousands assembled in this promising land of wealth, under the free flag of our country.