{"character_count": 2428, "word_count": 437, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9908999800682068], "ccnet_perplexity": [2277.89990234375], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
IHE EFFECT OF FEAR.-Some years since,
while an American vessel of war was stationed
at Norfolk, Virginia, DR.. D, an amiable and
intelligent man, who acted as physician and sur


geon to it, used frequently to lodge on shore at


the house of respectable lady, to whose only
son, child Of four or five years old, the Doctor
had become strongly attached, from having dis
covered in him an extraordinary degree of preco-
city, and an interesting disposition. After some


months, the vessel was again ordered to sea, and


Doctor D parted. with his little favorite with


great regret. More than year had elapsed,
when the same vessel returned to NJ, when


the Doctor repaired to the house of his landlady,


to see his little protege. The child flew to his
embraces, delighted to see him. After the first
caress was over: why, my dear boy said Dr..
D, patting his head as he spoke, who has
been powdering your hair?' mo body replied
the child, whose Joy was changed to the most ex-
travagant grief, and bursting into passion of
tears, ne Quilted the apartment. DIR. D.


sat In silent amazement, for the boys hair was
as white as the mountain snow. In a moment
after, the mother entered, and when the first gra-
tulations were over, he inquired the meaning of
the late scene. Saying to her, swhat have YOU
been doing to your sons hair?' Nothing sob
bed she, and following the child's example, she
weeping left the room. The next time he called,
sne was better able to account Tor the MYSTERY;
and informed him that short time ago she had


been aroused at midnight by the loud and piercing
shrleks of her child; and on Fastening to his bed,
found him sitting up in it, his countenance wild
with horror, and the whole surface of his BODY
dripping with cold perspration. On being made
sensible of her presence, in confused and inco-
herent manner he told her that he had been visited
by a frightful dream. The next day it was dis
covered that his hair was bleached, as white as
though he had lived century. This mystery
for such it certainly may be considered not
perfectly understood till about three years since,
when, by the dying confession of relation, who
was to inherit the property of the child at his de-
cease, it was confessed that on the night when the
boy imagined he had been visited by dream. he
had himself made an attempt to strangle him, but
was deferred from the commission by the terrific
screams of the child.