Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-03-02

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which had reason to think that he exis-
ted from eternity, and that he would ex
ist for eternity. had an idea that the
sun formed the SKY for the purpose Of
moving it in to enlightcd the world. and
that there was IA vast furnace of fire in
him
OfMe loon.
| did not know that the moon was a
body moving round the earth. | per-
ceived that the face was IKE that Of a
person. It was natural for me to look
upon her as beiis mild, kind, and willing
to give us her light at night and to pro-
tect US from danger to take care Of us
while we were in bed and in order that
we might play. When she appeared in
the sky, | was clad to see he's. | was
fond Of playing in her light with nv fiv,
orite companions. | thought she must
be woman. because her face appeared
to be more like that of a woman than
that Of man. was sorry that she did
not appear for some time, but thought
she had left for the purpose of obtaining
some more light far Us. did not know
that she received her light from the sun.
Of Lightning and Thunder.
| thought that Lightning was a bright
/ flash appearing in the sky and of mo
mentary duration, oocasioned hy guns
fred in the sky. feared the lightning
so much that whenever it appeared,
was forced either to cling TO my mother.
or to cover myself with bed-c,otles in
order to preserve myself from it. which
might hurt or kill me. thought it wa.
so dangerous as to destroy houses. trees
persons, and even animals. | thought
thunder was The discharge of great
cannon in the sky. Indeed. was sensi,
bic of it. | do not recoIect of having
thought much of it, but as soon as had
| finished my education and departed fol
home, NY mother Informed me that 'vher
| was child, | was So mach frightened
by dreadful storm which happened in
the evening. that ran and lung to her
because wished 10 cling to her who couiJ
protect ne from being killed either by
thunder or Lightning. and that Whenever
| saw a black cloud moving over US.
saw and made signs to molher, saving
! that it would soon raise at the discharge
OF cannon in the sky. as | was sensible
OF the thunder. | thought it was dis
charged by the soldiers IN the sky
Of Death.
/ thought that death was a. very unplea
SAINT subject Of reflection. hated to think
OF it, but could not help thinking on il
when saw man or animal die. knew
that 1t was the extinction OF human az
well as animal life, but had no idea tina
men, animals ana vegetables must come
to an end. ! saw men and animals die
but had no feelings Of sympathy towards
them. because | thought they we're killed
by taking such things as were DESTRUCTIVE
to life. | was SO much afraid Of death
that formed a resolution of defending
myself against IFS baiefuI effects. BY
abstaing from taking some things, among
which was medicine. Ito which | was We
ry averse.) | thought should always
live while men were dying. Many CON
panions told me By signs that mrdicine
would kill man. How ignorant was
Of itssutility. do not recuIIect of ever
having taken drop Of it during my boy
hood, but remember When was taken
sick. my mother told me to take some
medicine whicl, had been prepared for
me, but | obstinate|v refused to take it
for fear that it would kill me. thought
Tor some time how | could conquer tie
great D'fstoyer. and then imagined that
fl must be careful and abstain from. tax
ing medicine and some other things that
had-kllled so many men. My mother
often told me thatE should soon die. but
said could not be oyertaken by death
because abstained from the use of med
icipe. | thought that after man had
breathed ibis last and been buried, he
would lie for some time in his grave, but
he would return from it to live again.
My idea Of the devil ard hell was We
ny imperfect, and received this idea
from my companions and pictures in
BOOKS. thought that hell was a vast
place OF lire wlere the devil and his com
panions resided. knew nothin. of the
nutnre OF The devil, but thought that he
was q beast with dreadiully formed horns
ana claws, and his tongue was very red
like fire. and that he was so strong ami
herce. that he could easily put as MANY,
men ann animals to death as be pleased
One day while playing with m, play
mates, they made signs that the devil
would soon come from hell to catch and
convey many men into his place and
burn them to death. and would then
cause the ground to be opened. Tie,
encouraged me to fv with them into the
woods to hide myself from the presence
OF the devil. This made me tremble so
that resolved to run and conceal nv
sell IN cave in the woods as soon a,
saw the devil coming TO catch me. AT
Ter waiting for some time. found that
was deceived by the boys Their
tricks aud devices were very numerous
and strange, though curious, and they
often kept me il fear.
When | was Iuformed nv nv ralln,,