Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-31
FOrths Daily ssn-nsi
The Last OF lsaA
rs nidnights holy k6ur, and silence no.
Is breeding, Ike gentle spirit, Ger
The still and pulseless EorId.n

rs nidnshs's holy h6ur. and silence nov
Is erooding, Ike gentle spirit Ger
The stu and p1iseless s0rld-"
The old town clock chimes forth the mystic
hour that bids long and last sdeu 20 The oId
year aud ushers IN the new one.
There IS 20 me always a solemnity about ,bs
midnight hour. but TO night the feeling upon me
IS awful. lis the FIRST hour OF the new wear
and / shrink back appalled, when think of the
many horrors that this same new year may bring
TO many OF Us. Peace and plenty smile not uDon
Its birth. and BE alone that holds the destiny of
nations in His hand" can..tell on what scenes its
parting glance will rest.
Sadly sweet are the memories that the mid
night bell awaken. Old scenes and friends come
crowding around. and find myself smiling as
each dear familiar face rises before nv mind :
eye. 1t seems such short time since light
hearted merry group gathered about the festive
board, TO psTtake OF the good cheer" placed
before US; laughter, song and Joke made the
hours pass unheeded Not cloud rested on the
days horizon. shade of sadness rested on
any brow. For thcn no war desoaied our fair
Western World. The vail of stricken parents
the cry Of heart-broken widows, nor the sob Of
friendless orphans was not borne to Us upon every
breeze Brothers did not then bear the stamp
OF Cain upon their brow, bor the blood of each
other upon Their hands Neighbors we're not
wranging and disputing then. Nor were the pa
pers filed with appeals for food and raiment for
hungry and naked thousands All, no I we
could afford TO laugh and be merry then. for
the great woe had not yet come upon the ma
ton. Throughout the length and breadth
OF the country peace snd plenty" reigned su-
the Atlantic washed shore OF the East
I, to the Gulf bound shore OF the South.
onward to where the Pacific lashes its fury
against the golden shore of the West, the glad
cry OF happy, happy New Year, resounded. 1t
was heard 10 our fair northern homes. and echoed
again in the palatisl homes Of the sunny South.
From East to West the greeting bounded over
the magic wires, until il had sounded in every
ear. gladened every heart. aud made the face of
the humblest American beam with joy. North
and South, East aud West, caught up the words
as they passed from lip to lip. until it swelled in
to one grand chorus. happy New Year. hap
| py, happy New Year.
But, an sad, fearful change has swept
over our loved land, and friends meet each other
"wI,h smiles that might well be tears,
| SO sad and faint their besming."
Four years of fierce and bloody war have
wrought great changes. Our smiling, fertile val
! leys have been converted into fields OF carnsge,
( and where once the farmer sowed aud reaped an
abundant harvest the bones OF loved ones lie
| bleaching. On the hill and through the dell.
where once was heard the music of light laugh.
ter and the prattle Of merry childres. now echo
4 to the tread of contending armies. Lovely
homes, that graced the " hillside and the plain. >
are now heap of ashes, while the inhabitants
many have fed. God only knows whittier, while
Others " sleep the sleep that knows no waking "
| The flower of our manhood " have persisted
The unity and strength that made us an indie
pendent people exists no longer while that free
dom-,hat the proud boast of every Amer
can. has slipped between our fingers, and now il
would seem that the great and glorious merican
Republic will soon be numbered wit the things
tia, were.
Toll on. old bell. toll 90 No wonder your
strokes fall with dirge like music on the ear. -
since you seem but sounding forth the death
knell Of American greatness and liberty, while
the low winter winds that sigh so mournfully
through the leahess trees. seem chanting low.
sweet requiem DER the new made grave.
MACON
EdiDburgh. Dec 81. 1854