But perhaps the crowning scene of that day’s festivities was the effigy of the fallen Emperor of France, seated on a chair, secured prominently upon the roof of Ben Thompson’s cottage, in an attitude of sorrow, with his Hessian boots to the knee, his cocked hat on his head, the uniform of a superior commanding officer, with white handkerchief to his eyes, and looking the picture of fallen greatness, no longer to dictate laws to an infatuated and misguided people, whose time of reckoning had come. The spring of 1854 was remarkably dry, no rain came during the months of March and April, many farmers could not get their corn in, and those who did so it could not germinate, by reason of the long continued drought. It was a serious onlook when the grass by the roadside was covered with dust and withering; the wind fresh and sharp from the northeast, week after week, sometimes a little moisture came resembling mildew, and altogether we seemed to be in a serious plight; in this emergency on one calm evening in the early part of May, I went into the field just across from my dwelling, turned to the fence where the railroad has since been made, and there knelt down and besought the Lord that he would be merciful to our transgressions, be favourable to our land, forgive our iniquities, though we had sinned against Him, yet spare us good Lord, O send us the so much-needed rain, and be not angry with us for ever. The wind began to freshen and blow from another quarter, the vanes of the windmill began to creak and turn round, the sails thereof quickly went about from the north east to the south, and in the short space of twenty four hours, which was on the 9th of May, the earth was abundantly watered. Here then was manifested the bestowment of a great blessing in answer to prayer. I had noted it down as a _glorious rain_, and I will also add the position of the mill was changing before I rose from off my knees. But I have always considered there were many others who were so engaged, whose petitions moved the hand that moves the world.