t moral postulate of Principle
will be totally hid from view. In consequence of this early passage of
the darkest shadow that is ever cast by Interest, the passages of the
respective shadows of ambition, hatred, jealousy, and all the other
minor satellites of Interest, will be invisible.

"The country principally affected by this eclipse will be the Republic
of Leaplow, a community whose known intelligence and virtues are perhaps
better qualified to resist its influence than any other. The time of
occultation will be 9 y. 7 m. 26 d. 4 h. 16 m. 2 s. Principle will begin
to reappear to the moral eye at the end of this period, first by the
approach of Misfortune, whose atmosphere being much less dense than that
of Interest, will allow of imperfect views of the obscured postulate;
but the radiance of the latter will not be completely restored until the
arrival of Misery, whose chastening colors invariably permit all truths
to be discernible, although through a sombre medium. To resume:

"Beginning of eclipse, 1 A. M.

Ecliptic opposition, in 4 y. 6 m. 12 d. 9 h. from beginning of eclipse.

Middle, in 4 y. 9 m. 0 d. 7 h. 9 m. from beginning of eclipse.

End of eclipse, 9 y. 11 m. 20 d. 3 h. 2 m. from beginning.

Period of occultation, 9 y. 7 m. 26 d. 4 h. 16 m. 2 s."

I gazed at the brigadier in admiration and awe. There was nothing
remarkable in the eclipse itself, which was quite an every-day affair;
but the precision with which it had been calculated added to its other
phenomena the terrible circumstance of obtaining a glimpse into the
future, I now began to perceive the immense difference between living
consciously under a moral shadow, and living under it unconsciously. The
latter was evidently a trifle compared with the former. Providence had
most kindly provided for our happiness in denying the ability to see
beyond the present moment.

Noah took the affair even more at heart than myself. He told me, with a
rueful and prognosticating countenance, that we were fast drawing near
to the autumnal equinox, when we should reach the commencement of a
natural night of six months' duration; and although the benevolent
substitute of steam might certainly in some degree lessen the evil, that
it was a furious evil, after all, to exist for a period so weary without
enjoying the light of the sun. He found the external glare of day bad
enough, but he did not believe he should be able to endure its total
absence. "Natur' had