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6th We had a find Rain this morning which will almost insure us
tolerably fair crops of Corn and Tobacco
7th This Has been a Memorable day all over the United States as
the sun was totally eclipsed this evening The day was clear and pleasant
and nothing denoted that anything unusual was transpiring in the Heavens.
I was at Church when looking from the about 4 P. M. I could see the
Horizon assuming a death appearance Shadows began creeping over the
earth and surrounding objects began to look like the sun was setting
I judge it was near Five O'clock when the shadows began to grow faster
the heavens around assumed an inky Blackness I left the Church in time to see
I the sym about hal.f Covered over and watched this great Phenomona untill
the Eclipse was over as the moon covered the sun it grew darker untill
it was quite dark the whole congregation was outside the Church and it
was truly a novel and interesting sight their forms seemed to assunie
a weird an unearthly appearance some lookei amused while the more
timid were badly frightened the whole scene was one that cannot be
described and one can only see a total eclipse of the sun and say within
his heart wonderfull and mysterious are msg: thy works Oh God when
the eclipse was passing off the rays of light as they flashed upon the
darikzened world was Majestically Beautifull I thought of Poor sinfull
Man viewing this mighty and grant spectable and then go carelessly
away as if there was no god
I thought of the Moral Darkness that clouds the mind of Man and hides
him from his god I thought of the Gospels Rays as it clears away this
moral darkness and as the darkness Passed from the face of the sun
I thought through Grace and a final Perseverance po0f“Mortal might
one day stand unclouded ind the Presence of his god oh how sad the feel-
ing as I thought that this was the first and only total eclipse of the sun
that any of us would mma: see whether that little congregation would all
be able to stand in the Presence of the creator of both Sund and Moon
8th I was at Church to day Elder Lacy Preached the Funeral
V Sermon of James D Smith there was a large congregation to day and
I for one was well Pleased with the sermon for who could be otherwise
than rejoined in the death of the christian since death has passed upon
all men and we are forced to follow our friends to the grave oh what
a blessed hope that we may if Faithfull meet them where the christian finds
his great reward I felt to day solemn indeed for as I pass in review
m y own actions it seems that I am so unfaithfull that I have lived so far
from my god that I sometimes fear that I am not what I Profess to be
but then again when reflection Brings repentance I thank god for the
little hope I have that through Grace I can look up to Calvarys Cross and