The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-03-25
Selected.
The Last Day Of the Year 1000.

1t was believed in the middle ages that
the world would come 10 an end at the ex-
pirltion of Que thousaud years of tie
CHRISTIAN era. This expo citation ia Chris
tian countries WAS UNIVERSAL The var
1000 was period OF suspense, terror, aud
awe. The histories Uf this dark period,
give vivid accounts and incidents OF the
state OF the people under the lnnEcnce OF
|, awful apprehension. A writer III Sun
day aS Home rcpr6duccs the pic urr win
much dIstincness, and relates an incidrui
of the manner that the hours were mum
hered on the supposed final night OF the
year, which might apply suggest dfamat
&c suDjec for poet.
When the last day of tie year 500
dawned, the madness had attuiueJ lis
height. All work OF whatever kind was
suspended. The market places were de-
srrtt d. The shops were saut. The tables
WEI not spread iof meals the very house
Mold hr,- remained anilghrod. Men when
they net in The streets scarcely saw or
spoke 10 GA another. Ter eyes had
wild st;.Ie in h til, a. thou. h they expect
ed cNer} uomehl some ternbe manifesto
tiun to cake pace.
Slencr pfevai'ed everywhere, except il
thv cha. ch,s, Which We're already ,hrouged
WITH ta&'r Gcsofoes, Who pro, rated them-
selves before thr shiiues ol their IuVptltc
sd, =, iupiorifg thfif PROJECTIONS during
the tcafiai sefnes which tdey Supposed
Nctr ht GU 10 he disp.aAfd
A the day wer, or, the nuniOcr of tno-c
";'u =, u4ht idiGis.l II GGeW greater ana
crater, ural eNeS cotaer Of the sacred
cd flee, laf.e a.. fa.se "rr', ivaS dcusely
ciu,,, Il. an L ,. clne Impossible ~ find
Room lot more. But the multitude outside
sim sr0se and clamor,d Ipr admission,
liiug the ppIches ana doorways, and
climbing up tn bultfosaes TO find refuge
GA the roofs When ihsy could not obtain
Inside.
strange ard sol, mn commentary on
The tex. which binds nieh to watch because
"tary huoW not whether he master OF the
aouse will colne ~ eyeu, or al midnight, or
AT the cb-croHlug, or in the morning"
was prcstn O. by the mulltudts which
He'd the churches ltat night.
Watch n very truth they did. Not an
eye was CLOSED throughout that leng thened
vigil; IL / II knee bun VAS bent III humblest
SUI piicIilun; not voice but jliued the
peniten,iat Giant, or put upa iervent EN-
treaty for hep aud protection.
There were 10 clocks in those days, but
The IL gnt ol the hours was marked by
great wuXen tapers with metal balls at.
tlcned at intervals to them. These fell,
one alter another, AS the flame reached the
Strings by which they were secured, into II
oruzch basin beneath.
AT The recurrence Of each Of these warn.
ing sounds the awe OF the vast assembly
seemed to deepen and intensity as each in
tcrrible suspense supposed that between
HIM and the outbnist OF diviue wrath only
the britiest interval now remained.
Al last TN nlgn,, hong H. II Was, began
10 draw to an end. The emil watch pre-
ccdcs daylight pefvdded Tic ar, and III the
eastern sky TIE first pale gl,am OF morning
Oe4ao to Show Itself. The light grew
strong III the heavens, aud the ndme of
the caLdie' paes before it, aud ut last the
rays of he risiug sun slIcancd through
the wiuGows on the white aud auXiuuS
faces OF the watchers lne night had
passed away A new day, anew wear, a
Jew century had begun. The text that
says "that M man knoweth the day nor
the hudr," lad Il lew meaning.