Midnight
One more second , one more instant , midnight sounds -- and the year 1000 begins . In the expectation of that fatal instant , the most hardened hearts , the souls most certain of salvation , the dullest and also the most rebellious minds experienced a sensation that never had and never will have a name in any language -- Midnight sounded ! ... The solemn hour ... . Midnight ! The year 1000 began ! Oh , wonder and surprise ! ... The dead did not leave their tombs , the bowels of the earth did not open , the waters of the ocean remained within their basins , the stars of heaven were not hurled out of their orbits and were not striking against one another in space .