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Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

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160 DANGER IN THE DARK.<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r, on <strong>the</strong> earth, than impiety, falsehood, hatred,<br />

oppression and <strong>in</strong>famy. Nor have I quailed before<br />

<strong>the</strong> dark waves of adversity, and cowardly fled from<br />

<strong>the</strong> conflict; when youth and vigor were m<strong>in</strong>e, I<br />

m<strong>in</strong>gled with <strong>the</strong> busy, striv<strong>in</strong>g world, and <strong>in</strong> life's<br />

great battle-field, bared my bosom to <strong>the</strong> storm I But<br />

now <strong>the</strong> frosts of many w<strong>in</strong>ters have descended on<br />

my wast<strong>in</strong>g locks; whitened and trembl<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong>y hang<br />

upon my droop<strong>in</strong>g head; <strong>the</strong> weight of years, toil and<br />

grief, bow me toward <strong>the</strong> earth, on whose cold breast<br />

soon I'll lay <strong>the</strong>se weary limbs to rest. Why should<br />

my heart any longer be vexed, behold<strong>in</strong>g human woe,<br />

wickedness and folly, s<strong>in</strong>ce I have nei<strong>the</strong>r power to<br />

prevent crime, nor alleviate <strong>the</strong> miseries that afflict<br />

humanity ~ I beheld age steal<strong>in</strong>g on, and felt that<br />

<strong>the</strong> seared leaf would soon fall to <strong>the</strong> ground-<strong>the</strong>n<br />

said I-let my sun set <strong>in</strong> peace-I will seek solitude.<br />

., '*' '*' '*' Withdrawn from scenes of strife, jarr<strong>in</strong>g discord,<br />

<strong>the</strong> abodes of suffer<strong>in</strong>g, and <strong>the</strong> dwell<strong>in</strong>g-places<br />

of unrighteousness, amid <strong>the</strong>se solitudes, when it shall<br />

be heaven's will, I trust, calmly and peacefully, to<br />

close my eyes to all of earth-commend<strong>in</strong>g my spirit<br />

to God, who gave it."<br />

Here paus<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong> Hermit seemed to glide <strong>in</strong>to a<br />

revery, and for some moments rema<strong>in</strong>ed silent and<br />

abstracted, <strong>the</strong>n, soliloquiz<strong>in</strong>gly, said, <strong>in</strong> a low tone:<br />

"Now is <strong>the</strong> dewy hour of fad<strong>in</strong>g light and fold.<br />

<strong>in</strong>g flower; I love <strong>the</strong> twilight-<strong>the</strong> pensive twilightso<br />

solemn I so holy I so still I Then th<strong>in</strong>k I of <strong>the</strong>

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