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THE DARK DAY Listen , and I will tell you of the famous dark day in Connecticut . It was in the month of May , more than a hundred years ago . The sun rose bright and fair , and the morning was without a cloud . The air was very still . There was not a breath of wind to stir the young leaves on the trees . Then , about the middle of the day , it began to grow dark . The sun was hidden . A black cloud seemed to cover the earth . The birds flew to their nests . The chickens went to roost . The cows came home from the pasture and stood mooing at the gate . It grew so dark that the people could not see their way along the streets . Then everybody began to feel frightened . " What is the matter ? What is going to happen ? " each one asked of another . The children cried . The dogs howled . The women wept , and some of the men prayed . " The end of the world has come ! " cried some ; and they ran about in the darkness . " This is the last great day ! " cried others ; and they knelt down and waited . In the old statehouse , the wise men of Connecticut were sitting . They were men who made the laws , and much depended upon their wisdom . When the darkness came , they too began to be alarmed . The gloom was terrible . " It is the day of the Lord . " said one . " No use to make laws , " said another , " for they will never be needed . " " I move that we adjourn , " said a third . Then up from his seat rose Abraham Davenport . His voice was clear and strong , and all knew that he , at least , was not afraid . " This may be the last great day , " he said . " I do not know whether the end of the world has come or not . But I am sure that it is my duty to stand at my post as long as I live . So , let us go on with the work that is before us . Let the candles be lighted . " His words put courage into every heart . The candles were brought in . Then with his strong face aglow in their feeble light , he made a speech in favor of a law to help poor fishermen . And as he spoke , the other lawmakers listened in silence till the darkness began to fade and the sky grew bright again . The people of Connecticut still remember Abraham Davenport , because he was a wise judge and a brave lawmaker . The poet Whittier has written a poem about him , which you will like to hear .
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