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very heavy work, but it makes first-rate food for horses
cows and pigs. The stalks are full of nutriment, and
the cattle are very fond of it. I think we could fatten
cows and heifers on it. About two o'clock or rather before, a
fearful thunderstorm broke over us. I never saw such an
one before. The heavens all round were black as pitch
I was at dinner. It became so dark that I could not tell
what was on my plate, even by looking closely, except now
and then, when a flash of lightning burst upon us. About
half an hour after the storm commenced, the vividness
and intensity of the lightning was awful. Flash after flash
as quick as one came and went, another followed. I went
out and stood under a shed. The lightning seemed to me
to roll along the ground every few minutes, and now
and then it would go for yards like a ball of fire. The
thunder was one continuous roar, and the wind howl'd
and whistled 'twas a glorious storm. All nature seemed
to have ran mad. I am sure you would like to have
seen it. I have since heard, that one horse, three barns,
and many haystacks were fired by it, but only one man
killed, and one yoke of oxen. Sunday. Went down, only
self and Uncle Katesville to prayers with Bentley's, and
another family there. Monday. Ploughing, This was my