midnight
like the chuckle of a general in a vaudeville . There are terrible nights with thunder , lightning , rain , and wind , such as are called among the people `` sparrow nights . '' There has been one such night in my personal life . I woke up after midnight and leaped suddenly out of bed . It seemed to me for some reason that I was just immediately going to die . Why did it seem so ? I had no sensation in my body that suggested my immediate death , but my soul was oppressed with terror , as though I had suddenly seen a vast menacing glow of fire .