midnight
An aged man was leaning on his staff , the vigor of life had departed , his locks were thin and scattered , his palsied limbs would scarce perform their office . His eye was dim -- no longer beaming with intelligence , and he muttered to himself , as he groped his way along , worn out with the cares , sorrows and perplexities of a busy life , deep furrows were upon his cheeks , and his whole appearance bespoke a weary , way-worn child of earth . He took his solitary way , down a retired path , thickly shaded with fir , holly and yew , through whose thick foliage the struggling moonbeam scarce could penetrate , and the air was filled with humid vapors , gloomy silence as of the tomb reigned around , but exhausted nature sank , and the aged man pillowed his head upon the bosom of earth , and closed his weary eyes to rest , for he was a homeless wanderer . It was deep , solemn midnight ; a dense cloud had obscured the sky , and hid the refulgent light of the moon ; the wind howled in fitful murmurs , the thunder rolled in the distance , lightnings glared , and nature wrapped herself in the sable shroud of midnight , and seemed shrieking a death-wail in her many voices . Beside the gray haired man stood a pale visitant from the spirit land , to summons him away ; he laid his icy hand upon his waning pulse , and chilled the current of his struggling breath . No friend was nigh , but his spirit passed gently away , leaving his countenance placid and serene in death . Such is the end of human life .