Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-01-16


On New Years night, just before
the striking of twelve, 1 stood upon
the street and listened to the tolIing
bells-all over the great City the bells
were tolling; involuntarily there came
with the sobbing bells the words Of
Poe, over whose grave the bells were
ringing,
Hear the tolling Of the bells
Iron bells
What 4 world of solemn thought their mOnody
cOmpels
In the silence of the night.
How We shivcr with alright
AT the melancholy menace of their tone"
Up above the earth the silent stars
the sentinel stars-watched the
march of time. and there was no sign
nor sound in all the heavens to tell of
death or birth of years, and then as
the iron hammer slowly struck twelve
all the bells of the City rang out glad
ly, cheerfully, triumphantly-
Golden bells!
What world of happiness their harmony fore
tells.
Through the balmy air of night
How they ring out their delight!
From the mOltell-goldcn notes
And all in tune
What liquid ditty floats"
And above the bells the mighty roar
of loud-mouthed cannon. the blare of
tin horns and the tramp, tramp, tramp,
of thousands homeward bound after
watching the Old Year out and the
New Year in.
The Watch Meeting of the Young
Mems Christian Association was more
largely attended than have ever seen
it before, and it was in the best and
fullest sense of the words "a good
mceting.' 1t commenced at ten
O'Clock with song service, lasting
until ten thirty. DIR. Thomas occupied
the next half-hour i'll considering
Goods deliverance in the past, our
assurance for the future,'' basing his
remarks upon Deut., seventh chap,
IL to 25th verses, and First Samuel,
seventeenth chap, 33-37 verses
Rev. Geo. L. i'urves spoke from II
to 11.30 on Carrying out Good Res
olutions''-II Chronicles, XXNI. 20
81 verses; Luke XIV, 1920. From
11.30 to 11.45 was occupied by the
secretary. and various testimonies
from men who had been turned from
darkness to light were read, and the
balance of the time was spent in
prayer, so that the New Year found
the congregation on their knees. re-
ncwing their vows and praying for
strength for the years work. The
Year Text for 1858 is, H1nd IN erery
'cOrk; thGt he began an the Sercice Of the
LOpSo nf- Go,1 Lo <T;,J - a,:II III = :,
heart and pro&pered.' -
New Years day passed off with
comparative quiet upon our streets
there is always more drunkenness on
that day than on any other here, but
/ think it lessons each year. It's
strange way for man to begin year
drunk. It's a strange occupation
for young ladies-that of making men
drunk, on New Year day. But it's
the custom. To very many of us
every New Years day brings with it
thoughts of the past; we stand as it
were uplifted for the moment and look
back over the way we have been led.
not knowing whittier we were going;
and there are some who / think with
me will enjoy recalling those beautiful
lines of Oliver Wendell Holmes,
| There is no time like the old time, when Won
and were young.
When the buds of April bIossomcd and the birds
of spring time sung!
The gardens brightest giOries by summer sun
are nursed;
But, Oh the sweet. sweet violcts, the flowers
that opened first
There is no place like the old place, where you
and were born.
Where We lifted up our eyelids ON the spIendors
Of the morn!
From the milk-white breast that warmed, from
the ciinging arms that bore,
Where the dear eyes gliStcned DER US that win
look on Us no more.
There is no friend ike the old friend, who has
shared our morning days!
No greeting like his welcome, no homage like
| his praise"
There is a touching and tender pathos
about these-words that Will find an
echo in many hearts, for though the
"dead past bury its dcad,'' yet out of
the dimness shadowy faces smile upon
US and the voices we loved to hear
whisper lovingly through the gloom,
but out of the year just past we hear
the voice of the Poet whose last hours
were spent on earth in 1882, that poet
of whom we can say in his own tender
and beautiful words,
80 He the sweetest of all singers,
| All the many sounds of nature
borrowed sweetness from his singing