midnight
This I did not find at first so easy as I could wish -- I wanted mechanical skill ; but I persevered ; and before evening I had written ten pages . I partook of some bread and water ; and , before I went to bed that night , I had completed fifteen pages of my life of Joseph Sell . The next day I resumed my task -- I found my power of writing considerably increased ; my pen hurried rapidly over the paper -- my brain was in a wonderfully teeming state ; many scenes and visions which I had not thought of before were evolved , and , as fast as evolved , written down ; they seemed to be more pat to my purpose , and more natural to my history , than many others which I had imagined before , and which I made now give place to these newer creations : by about midnight I had added thirty fresh pages to my `` Life and Adventures of Joseph Sell . '' The third day arose -- it was dark and dreary out of doors , and I passed it drearily enough within ; my brain appeared to have lost much of its former glow , and my pen much of its power ; I , however , toiled on , but at midnight had only added seven pages to my history of Joseph Sell . On the fourth day the sun shone brightly -- I arose , and having breakfasted as usual , I fell to work . My brain was this day wonderfully prolific , and my pen never before or since glided so rapidly over the paper ; towards night I began to feel strangely about the back part of my head , and my whole system was extraordinarily affected . I likewise occasionally saw double -- a tempter now seemed to be at work within me .