Year: 1869

The 18th day of May 1880, was
memorable one in the annals of New
England, on account Of thick darkness
that overspread the land, like funeral
pail. 1t was day long to be remem-
bered and talked of by those who wit
messed the strange, and at that time, fear
full phenomena.


There was much writing upon, and
discussion of the subject at the time, and
afterwards, but l believe that no salts
factory conclusion was ever arrived at,
as to its cause. There We're some who
thought it must have proceeded from a
total eclipse of the sun, that had, from
some cause, escaped the calculations of
mathematicians and astronomers, but
that was easily shown to be impossible
by facts and figures. Public sentiment
at that time was strongly tinetured with
the superstitions that were so common in
times previous, which, though considera-
bly, modified, had not by any means dis
appeared, and thus, every phenomenal
occurrence that could not be at once ex-
planned and demonstrated, was by many
believed to be direct and special man.
Hesitation of divine or diabolical power,
giving warnings, omens, and "portents
Dire" but it is not strange that this oc-
currence, this day of darkness and
gloominess, day of clouds and thick
Darkness should have made a strong
impression. There were many who firm
ly believed that it was the beginning of
the end of all things, that the sun had
withdrawn his light and the stars had
ceased their shining" that the reign of
chaos and old night" had begun in earn
est. 1t was then the darkest and most
hopeless period of the war of the revo-
luton, and it was thought by many of
the desponding and discouraged to be
significant of the end of that which then
appeared to them hopeless struggle
Some of the more sanguine insisted that
as the hour before the dawn was always
the darkest, SO this STANCE and porten-
tous gloom was but the prelude to the
bright dawn of Liberty and Indepen-
dence that was soon to follow.


The father of the writer was then a
boy Of about thirteen years and was at
work in the field with his father and
brothers, planting or preparing the
ground. 1t was dull, hazy, morning,
and as the time passed, it gradually
thickened and by ten o'clock the increas.
ing darkness began to be 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 over
head, but made no remark until he di
rected the Oldest boy to go to the barr
and turn the horse and all the cattle thai
were inside, out into an open lot, and tc
close and secure every door and window
ltappeared that he was apprehensive tina
some sudden and furious gust or squal
would soon manifest itself, and though
that the animals would be in less danger
out in the field than inside of the build
ing. Still the darkness grew thicker ant
deeper, till presently he said they nigh
as well quit work for the present. o
reaching the house the mother and sis
ters were about their usual duties, pal
and silent, little was said except an oc
casional remark or direction in low tone
No one seemed inclined to conversation
or demonstration of any kind. Soon din
ner was ready, with candles lighted tn
same as at night, bnt not morsel wa
eaten. a dead silence seemed to pervad


all nature, broken only by the occasion
al bleating of lamb, or the distant low
ing of the kind, which wandered abou
restless and uneasy. The domestic fowl
seemed to be inclined to come to the con


clusion that if it was not night, the


could put no other construction upon i
so, after clucking over the matter for


while, they went to roost. And thus tn


long and dreary hours passed away
|. Along in the afternoon the veil was lif
r ed in some degree, and at the time {


sunset it was about the same as in an o.


binary dull and cloudy day.


6 The night which followed, was, it wa


said, as dark proportionately, as was tt