Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-06-02
THE DARK DAY.

England, on account Of thick dark
ness that overspread the land, like q
funeral pail. 1t was a day long TO be
remembered and talked Of by those
who Witnessed the strange, and at that
time fearful phenomenon.
There was much writing upon, and
discussion of the subject ut the time,
and aflerward, but believe no salts
factory conclusion was ever arrived at
as to It's cause. There were some who
thought il must have proceeded from
total eclipse of the sun that had,
from some cause, escaped the calcula-
tions Of the mathematicians and as
tronomers, but that was easily shown
to be impossible by facIs and figures,
Public sentiment at that time was
strongly tinctured with the supersti-
tions that were so common in times
previous, which, though considerably
modified, had not by any means dis
appeared, and thus, every phenomenal
occurrence that could not be at once
demonstrated, was by many believed
TO be direct and special manifestation
Of divine or diabolical power giving
warnings, omens, and "portents dire, .
but il is strange that this occurrence,
this "day Of distress and gloominess,
a day of clouds and thick darkness" +"
should have made strong impression.
There were many who firmly believed
that IL was the beginning Of the end
of all things, that "tbe sur had with
drawn bis light, and the stars had
ceased their shining" that "the reign
of chaos and old night had begun in
earnest. 1t was then the darkest and
most hopeless period of the war of the
revolution, and il was thought by
many OF the despondng and discour-
aged to be significant Of the end OF
that which then appeared to them a
hopeless struggle. Some of the more
sangnine insisted that as the hour
before the dawn was always the dark
est, so this strange and portentious
loom was but tho prelude to the
bright dawn Of Liberty and lndepend.
nce that was soon to follow
The father of the writer was then
boy of but thirteen years, and was
Z work in the field with his father
nd brothers, planting or preparing
he ground. 1t was a dull, hazy
lorning, and as the time passed,
tradnally thichcned, and by 10 o'clock
thu inprqaainU dark nose hanon ia no
quite apparent. They kept on with
their work, and as the gloom increased
they observed that he would pause
once in while, and look intently all
around the horizon and overhead, but
made no remark until ho directed the
Oldest boy TO go to the barn and turn
the horse and all the cattle that were
inside, out into an open lot, and TO
close and secure every door and win
dow. 1t appeared that he was appre-
hensive that some sudden and furious
gust or squall would soon manifest
itself, and thought that the animals
would be in less danger out in the
field than inside of the building. Still
the darkness grew thicker and deeper,
till presently he said they might as
well quit work for the present. On
reaching the house the mother and
sisters were about their usual duties
pale and silent, and little was said
except an occasional remark or direc-
ton, in low tone. No one seemed
inclined to conversation or demonstra.
ton of any kind. Soon dinner was
ready and candles lighted the same as
at night, but not morsel was eaten.
A dead silence seemed to pervade all
nature, broken only by the occasional
blcating of lamb or the distant low
ing of the kline, which wandered about
restless and uneasy. The domestic
fowls seemed to be inclined TO come
TO the conclusion that il was now
night, they could put no other con
struction upon it, so, after cluckine
over the matter for while, they wen
to roost And thus the long anC
dreary hours passed away. Along il
the afternoon the veil was lifted il
some degree, and at the time of sun
set it was about the same as in al
ordinary dull and cloudy DAY.
The night followed, dark as was tn,
day. 1t was the perfect "blacknes
of darkness" not the faintest outlin'
Of any object could be discernc'
against the sky. A light would penc
trate it but little way, and theI
seemed TO disclose but a solid wall O
blackuess around. Many persons VIII,
were out became bcwildered and los
for the time. 1t was an anxious nigh
of watching in many q household, bu
the dawn at length broke bright an,
beautiful, and never was the face @
the broad bright sun more joyful.
greeted. My mother, then child Q
nine years, had perfect recollection
of many Of the incidents of that mem
orable day, particularly that Of th
sudden appearance in their midst 9
two venerable maiden sisters, Susa
and Mary Stevens, better known q
Aunt Susie and Sister Mollie, VIII
lived by themselves in the cold house
near by Solitary and alone they ha
endured the perils Of the hour, unit
they could bear il no longer, whc
they "cut and run" seemingly in
pressed with the idea that il safety
comfort and consolation could any
where be found amid the impcndin
! "wreck OF matter rand crush OF worlds,
il must be in the presence and unde
the roof OF their kind friend and goo
neighbor Proctor, and his family.
doubt not there are some readers {
the Advertiser who remember the vcr
erable mansion of the sisters, with il
i diapidatcd roof and shattered cas,
ments, where
, "winicrs snow ana autumn's driving rain,
l Gained free admission through each broken pane
I 1t stood for many years abandoned
desolate, in the midst OF Susie's fiol
at the "hut"
. The Dark Day has passed into hi
tory, and the world has continued
! wag on as before, as Il probably wi
, for an indefinite time 10 come.-Cdi
Ann Aipcyfiscy.