"Well, perhaps he was," said Mat; "but then Joshua was wrong."
This incident of the total eclipse was, many years later, turned to account in Parley's Magazine, in the following dialogue between Peter Parley and his children:
Parley. Come, John, you promised to write something for this number of the Magazine; is it ready?
John. Well—* * *—not exactly.
Jane. Oh, Mr. Parley—'tis ready—he read it all to me, and it's real good, if anybody could understand it.
P. Bring it here, John. (John comes up gingerly, and gives Mr. Parley a piece of paper.)
John. There 'tis—but you mustn't read it aloud.
All the children. Yes, yes, read it! Read it! Go ahead!
P. Well, I'll read it—it looks pretty good. Now let all be perfectly still. (Parley reads.)
The Old Hen and the Philosopher: a Fable.
PART I.
REFLECTIONS OF A HEN WITH CHICKENS DURING AN ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.