Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-01-10
For THE HERALD.
NOT A SOUND WAS HEARD


Save number of discordant snap
OF lire crackers, reports of guns in the
distance. and shouts ofhalf-inebriated
men and youth.
No echo Of the deep tolling bell dis
turbed the stiffness of the midnight
air; nor, did it send forth the solemn
knell to announce the requiem of the
dying year ; or, to adm0nish the
th0ughtless ofthe uncertainty of their
living to see the termination of an
other.
What was the matter with our citi.
zens, particularly the ministers of
the city, that they failed to follow the
ancient custom of" Tolling the Bells"
at that moment, of the old year, in
which was shrouded the Deeds Of the
past; and at which deceased mothers,
who are Angels now, would have
wept, were there such a thing as sor-
row in Heaven, or vent for tears?
The cannon belches forth its roaring
to announce victory over some defeat
ed political party; during which, it
also gives sad token of their removal
from high station and lucrative Office.
If the roaring cannon of poliric-
al party is essential and indicative
OF SO much joy to one, and sorrow to
the other. / ask why shall we not he
apprised, in our mirth and sometimes
dehauch, by the solemn token of the
bell, as it reverberates upon the mid
night air, that the old year is about
to give to the Recording Angel the
fulfillment of its mission I?
The inhabitants Of ourcity were bless
ed with opportunity for mirth: there
were Fairs and Balls, Festal-boards,
flowing bowls" the enchanted cup,
and debauch: yet, to the reflective
mind, there were sorrows to counter
balance it.
The year in its termination, and
solemn stiffness ofthe midnight hour,
gave proof of the uncertainty of life,
and frailty of all earthly things.
Many of those whom we knew, for
years, have passed away; many upon
whom fortune smiled, are now in
poverty; or, fell from rank and in
fiuence to dependence on others.
If we confine ourselves to the small
district in which we move, how fire.
quent are the changes we see? The
body reminds us Of our illness, that
activity has decayed; and our mind,
that we have been the subjects of mis-
fortune, the loss of dear friends; and
to the deception Of those we trusted.
If we look in the mirror, what do
we behold? sunken, pallid, and fur
rowed cheeks, the hoary hair: the
eye, too, does not display that radi-
ance, as in days of yore. All these,
steal irresistibly upon us, and leave
niught, but the shadow of departed
manhood yet, with the visible APP
proach of Death, we seldom think of
it, or our actual duty: But, oh! the
deep tolling bell! In the silence of the
gloomy midnight hour! Tolling re-
QUEEN for the dying year! Sad, and
slow, to and fro! How doleful its
sound rests, on the listening ear! And
what thoughts it engenders in the
heart; which, if retained, would sell
dom permit us to go astray. Then,
let us not forget the ancient, and time
honored custom: that, the loud and
solemn sounds of bells announce to
the inhabitants the end of the year,
reminding them of their coming disso-
luton and duty to God.
| AS no DellS pealed 1Ortn 10 awaken
me from my reverie; only one re-
miniscence of the dying year remains.
Whilst passing certain church, as
the Town Clock struck. Twelve
(i2), the last tidings of the old
old year | heard the soft and gentle
voice ola female as she sang: "Jesus,
keep me near Thy Cross" / paused
to listen and conscience whispered:
what a contrast between that and the
voice of her at the " Festal Board"
1884. Midnight. 1885.
Martinsburg, w. Va. G. FLYNN.