The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-03-13
THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR 1000.

IHE LASI DAY vi The 1EAB lVOUs
L. was believed in the Middle Ages
that the world would come to an end at
the expiration OF one thousand years Of
Che Christian era. This expectation in
Christian countries was universal. The
year 1000 was a period Of suspense, ter
Tor and awe. The histories of this dark
period give vivid accounts and incidents
Of the state of the people under the in
fueuce OF this awful apprehension. y
writer in Sunday 40 Home IeprOduCes
the picture with much distinctness, and
relates an incident of the manner that
the hours were numbered on the sup
posed final night Of the year, which
might ap5Iy suggest a dramatic subject
for a poet.
When tine last day of the year gg9
dawned the madness had attained its
height. All work of whatever kind was
suspended. The places we're de-
serted. The shops were shut. TIE
tables were not spread for meals the
very household fires remained unlighted.
Men when they met lis the streets
scarcely saw or spoke to one another.
Their eyes had a wild stare in them, as
though they expected every moment
some terrible manifestation to take
place
silence prevailed everywhere, except
in the churches, which were already
thI0uged with eager deyo-ees, who pros
trated themselves before the shriues OF
their fayori-e saints, imporiug their
protection during the fearful scenes
which they supposed were about to be
displayed.
As the day wore on, the numbsr Of
those who 5guEh. admission grew great
er and greater. un,n every corner Of
the sacred edifca, large Us these were.
WAS lenseiy CROW ded, aud became i'm
possible to ind room for more. Butlhe
multitude outside still stroye and cIa-
mOred for admission, filling the porches
and doorways, and climbing upthe but
tresses to find a refuge on the roofs
which they could not obtain inside.
A strange and solemn commentary on
the text winch binds men to watch be-
cause they know not whether the
master 0t the house Will come at even,
or q midnight, or at the cock-crowiug
or i'm the morning, " was presented by
the multitudes which filed the churches
that night
Watch i'm very truth they did. Not
an eye was closed throughout that
lougthened vigil; +; not a knee but was
bent i'm humUIest supplicatioU not a
voice bu, Joined the penitentiaI chant.
OF put up q feTyenr eutreaty for help
and protection.
TheIe were no clocks in those DAYS.
but the digL5 Of the hours was marked
Jy great waxan tapers with metal balls
attached at intervals TO them. These
fell, one after another, as the fame
reached The strings by which tEev we're
secured into brazen basin beneath.
with c.ang which Feaouuded through
the church
A. the recurrence Of each Of these
Warming sounds the awe of the vast as
sembIy seemed TO deeper anG intensity
as each I'm terrible Suspense supposed
that betU cen him and the uulbulsJ OF
D.Yus wrath only The brietest interval
now remained
At last tho ligLt. long as # was, be-
gan TO draw t1 an end. The chill which
precedes day light p-rvaFsd the air. and
IN the Eastern sky the first pale CLEAN
of morning began TO show Itself TIE
light grew stronger in tie heavens, and
the flame os the candles paIed before it,
and at last the rays Of The risen sun
strolued through the windows on the
whitaauL auz.aus faces Of the watchers.
The night had passed away. n new
day, q new year, new century, had be.
gun The text that "no man knoweth
che day non The losr, g. had a new mean.
ing