"Mysterious Night! When our first parent knew
Thee from report divine, and heard thy name
Did he not tremble for this lovely flame,
This glorious canopy of light and blue"
(JB White)

The hour of midnight was fast approaching when I had finished reading. Fatigue and weariness did claim mastery over my exhausted body, but I was reluctant to go to bed, as I had not yet taken my accustomed stroll under the wide roof of the sky, glittering with numerous lamps. I felt in my heart a strong desire to go and probe into the secrecies of the still starry night.

Streaks of bright light from electric bulbs shining through the door fell full upon the little path in front of my house, which I followed to the main road. Gusts of breeze, chilly but soothing to my body were blowing softly on me. The air smelt sweet and delightful, for there was no dust from the deserted road or smoke to pollute it, only the sweet scent of the wild flowers to perfume it. With hands folded across my breast, I took a deep breath and instantly I found myself in a lively and light vein.

Darkness seemed to envelop the whole of mother earth save here and there a few patches of faint light from the windows of houses that lined the roadside. The sleeping houses, the motionless trees and the deserted road all served to accentuate the tranquility and solitude of the night, though occasionally broken by the barks and whims of distant dogs. At first it seemed that apart from the few barks the whole place was soundless, but when I picked up my ears the whole atmosphere was filled with the most pleasant and sweet music produced by the croaking of frogs, interlarded with the rustling of worms and cries of other nameless insects. What man-made music could be compared with this!

The whole firmament was lit up by the innumerable twinkling stars; some large and bright, others small and lurid. At this late and lonely hour of the night, they all seemed very friendly and familiar. They were as though looking intimately at me, and beckoning me to be always near and dear to them. As I fixed my eyes at a bright star, I became aware that there was something brilliant in the distance, waiting to be claimed. That was my promising future! Though it seemed inaccessible, I felt myself getting nearer to it as every second passed. Thinking that it would be there forever, I became confident that I would never miss it. I was certain that I would be hampered by difficulties and hardships; but I would muster all my strength to overcome them.

Just then, I could hear distinctly a clock chiming the hour of midnight. I was returning to my house when suddenly I remembered a few lines from Stevenson's Requiem:

"Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Gladly did I live and gladly die."