The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-11-09

forgive them, cheer them again by the
light of the sun and give victory to
their armies.
Many regarded the darkness as an
omen of some disaster that was about
to befall the country, nor could they
have had more fitting emblem of
Arnold's treachery which was disclosed
only four months later.
Some persons supposed that a blaz-
ing star had passed between the sun
and the earth, and many even believed
that a huge mountain had sprung up,
they were not quite decided where, and
INSTRUCTED the light of the sun.
1t is said that the Connecticut legis-
lature being in session, the members
became terrified when they could not
see each others faces, and motion
was made to adjourn, when Mr.. Daven-
port arose and said: ......
"Mr. Speaker, it is either the day of
Judgment or it is not If it is not,
there is no need of adjourning. If it
is, l desire to be found doing my duty.
move that candles be brought, and
that we proceed to business"
All the shivering, frightened people
began now to look forward to evening,
hoping that as the moon rose full at
nine o'clock, her light would penetrate
the gloom; but all the children who
coaxed to sit up and see her, grew very
sleepy, their strained eyes were not re-
warded by her beautiful beams, for at
eight in the evening the darkness was
total; one could not distinguish between
the earth and the heavens, and it was
impossible to see a hand before ones
face.
1t was the nearest approach to
the Egyptian darkness that has
been known since that day, when
"they saw not one another, neither
rose up any from his place for three
DAYS"
Then all the weary children were
sent to bed after the most honest pray
ers that they had ever prayed, and the
| Older people sat up to watch for the
light that never before had appeared
so glorious.
And never dawned fairer morning
than the twentieth of May, for the sun
that opened the flowers and mirrored
itself in the dew-drops, brought the
color again to the children's faces, and
filled every heart with confidence
The birds sang joyously, the cattle
returned to their pastures, the places
of business were opened, and everyone
went about his work more gentle to-
ward man and more grateful toward
God.
After the darkness was passed, sever
al persons travelled about to gather all
possible information concerning this
memorable day, and DR.. Tenny wrote
an account of what he learned while on
journey from the east to Pennsylva-
MIA. He says the deepest darkness was
in Essex County, Massachusetts, the
lower part of New Hampshire, and the
eastern portion of Maine (where my
great-grandmothe lived. In Rhode
Island and Connecticut it was not so
great; in New Jersey peculiar clouds
were observed, but the darkness was
not uncommon, and in the lower parts
of Pennsylvania nothing unusual was
observed.
1t extended as far north as the Amer
lean settlements and westward to Alba
ny, but its exact limits could not be as
certained.
In Boston the darkness continued
fourteen or fifteen hours, varying in du-
ration at other places.
AS it was impossible to attribute the
darkness to an eclipse, the wise people
formed many theories respecting it; be-
ing convinced that it was due to i'm
mense fires in the woods, winds blow
ing in opposite directions, and to the
condition OF the vapors; but Herschel
says: 1.-The dark day in Northern
America was one of those wonderful
phenomena of nature which will al
ways be read of with interest, but
which philosophy is at loss to ex-
plain. "-EllG Drinb1Oater, IN 81. Nich-
0IaS for November.