Street, were illuminated; as were the houses and grounds of Messrs. Harrison Bliss, Joseph Chase, Governor Lincoln, Thomas Earle, Lyman J. Taft, Rev. T. E. St. John, H. H. Chamberlain, Charles B. Whiting, and "numberless others." Fireworks were sent up from many localities, flashing and sparkling in every direction. Chinese lanterns helped to turn the night into day. The day came to an end, according to the design of the committee, in a "blaze of glory."

The celebration, in every part of its complicated plan, was most successfully carried out. It marked the close of a contest which had inaugurated a great historical epoch; it expressed the joy of the people in the achieved results, and it set forth, in a peculiarly gratifying manner, the gratitude of the citizens towards the soldiers who had represented them in the field.

CHAPTER XVI.

DEATH OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. - UNIVERSAL MOURNING.

By a singular and providential concurrence of events, the loyal people of the United States kept a solemn fast, according to the appointment of Fresident Lincoln, the day before he was struck down by the hand of the assassin. The proclamation had been issued before the opening of the spring campaign, but ere the appointed day arrived, the capture of Richmond, and the surrender of General Lee, had caused universal rejoicing. When the day came, the people felt more like giving thanks than fasting. But it was deemed not unfitting the condition of the country to look to God with humiliation and reverence, in view of the national guilt, and the divine mercy. A proper observance of the day was adapted to make us, as a people, bear our prosperity without pride, and to enforce the conviction that our deliverance was due to the interposition of our fathers' God.

Moreover, events took such a turn, that the observance of the National Fast had an effect which was not designed nor anticipated. It prepared, to some extent, the people to endure the great bereavement which soon filled all hearts with grief. A nation which had just risen from its prostration before the Almighty, felt a sacred confidence that the same beneficent Power which had carried it safely through such a war, would be gracious still, and notwithstanding the murder of the beloved and respected Chief Magistrate, would secure to us lasting peace with liberty.

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With great propriety, therefore, do we rehearse the services of the National Fast, before describing the scenes that followed the death of Mr. Lincoln.

Thursday, April 13, was quite generally observed, by abstaining from secular pursuits, and by a large attendance on public worship. It is remembered that the prevailing spirit was rather of thanksgiving than of supplication.

At the Salem Street Church, Rev. Mr. Richardson delivered a characteristic discourse, founded on Jeremiah 50: 46. "At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations." He contrasted the fall of Babylon with the fall of Richmond, and said that the overthrow of the Confederacy was the fall of false institutions and ideas, which has prepared the way for the elevation of the millions of the South, and has given new impulse to the progress of liberty throughout the world.

Dr. Sweetser, at the Central Church, discoursed from Hebrews 13: 16. "But to do good, and to communicate, forget not; for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." The duty of the people of the North to God, ascribing all praise and honor to Him, for the glorious triumph He has granted our arms; the duty of cultivating a Christian spirit of forgiveness towards those who have been our enemies; our duty to the colored race, providentially placed under our charge; the duty of imparting to the South, the institutions of religion, industry and learning, which have blessed and elevated our own people; and the duty of confidence in our government, and trust in our future, were presented as prominent among the many ways in which the people of New England can do, and communicate good.

At the Church of the Unity, Rev. Mr. Shippen spoke from Isaiah 1: 27. "Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness." The occasion called for thanksgiving rather than fasting; but the work was not yet done, and the armor should not be put off till absolute justice and righteousness ruled the land. The two prominent dan

gers before the people were, first, that the re-action of kindly feeling towards the rebels should go to the extreme of indifference to the guilt of their treason; and secondly, that the faith in Divine Providence, so wonderfully educated during the last four years, should go to the extreme of fatalism, bidding us to stand still and see the salvation of God. The rank and file of the southern army should be treated with magnanimity, but the leaders must not be indulged in their desire to escape from justice. He urged the granting of the elective franchise to colored loyalists.

The text of Rev. Mr. St. John was from Revelation 19: 6. "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluiah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." He first rapidly sketched the progress of the war, and said that the dawning of peace was a reason for turning our thanksgiving to praise. Our sins, North and South, had involved us in When we struck at slavery, God gave us success.

war.

At the Union Church, Rev. Mr. Cutler took for his text, Isaiah 33: 6. "And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure." His discourse was spoken of by the reporter as "excellent and very able." He urged the duty incumbent on all citizens to discriminate more clearly in favor of upright and Christian men for our offices of trust and honor. He eulogized Abraham Lincoln, and expressed his belief in the necessity of making notable examples of the originators and leaders of the rebellion. The question of extending the right of suffrage to the freedmen, was treated in a way very friendly to their enfranchisement.

Such was the observance of the day in Worcester; and such was it, substantially among the loyal millions of the land. On the evening of the next day- the fourteenth - the good President who had summoned the people to humiliation and worship, was fatally shot by the murderer, - John Wilkes Booth. He lived insensible, during the night, and died early on the morning of Saturday. The woful intelligence was

flashed over the country, as it were in a moment, as the "lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west." All over the land the tolling bells turned the morning sacrifice of praise into mourning.

SECTION II. Action of the City GoveRNMENT.

Word came hither in the night that the President was shot, and that his life was despaired of; early in the morning it was reported that he was dead. His Honor, Mayor Ball, immediately issued the following notice:

"MAYOR'S OFFICE, April 15, 1865.

The overwhelming news from Washington, of the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward, bewilders our judgment; and that the people may consult together on the sad event, it is advised that all business be suspended for the day, and that the city be draped in mourning; and a public meeting is called to be held in Mechanics Hall, at ten A.M., to consider and advise upon this terrible affliction, which has so suddenly, from some present unknown cause, fallen upon our land. Our citizens are earnestly called upon to mingle no passion with their grief, but to calmly wait events, and be prepared to meet the demands of the hour, in the spirit of equity and wisdom. Let all good citizens counsel together for the public good, that confidence in civil government and good order may be maintained, and to refrain, in the spirit of true Christian manliness, from all passionate displays of revengeful and embittered feeling.

All the clergymen and public speakers in the city are requested to meet in the N. E. ante-room, in Mechanics Hall, at half-past nine o'clock, and take seats upon the platform. The city council are notified to meet at their respective rooms at seven o'clock, A.M.

PHINEHAS BALL, Mayor."

One of the many interesting incidents of the solemn and anxious night, after the word came that the president had been mortally wounded, was the following. While it was yet dark, great numbers, including many of the most prominent gentlemen of the city, had gathered in front of the office of the Daily Spy, fearfully waiting for further news, when the dispatch came that the good president, Abraham Lincoln, could not survive. It seemed as if the mourning throng simultaneously felt the need of the Almighty's arm to lean upon, and, by