They imitated the Millerite meetings in their drunken sprees, and learned Mr.
Hankins's arguments by heart.
The sun of the eleventh of August rose gloriously.

People pointed to it with trembling, and said that it would rise no more.

Soon after sunrise there were crimson clouds stretching above and below it, and popular terror seized upon this as a sign.

But the sun mounted with a scorching heat, which showed that at least his shining power was not impaired.
Then men said, "Behold the beginning of the fervent heat that is to melt the elements!" Night drew on, and every "shooting-star" was a new sign of the end.

The meteors, as usual at this time of the year, were plentiful, and the simple-hearted country-folk were convinced that the stars were falling out of the sky.
A large bald hill overlooking the Ohio was to be the mount of ascension.
Here gathered Elder Hankins's flock with that comfortable assurance of being the elect that only a narrow bigotry can give.