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Friends and Neighbors by Unknown
page 81 of 320 (25%)
to think the bitter thoughts of misery,--left "to clasp a phantom
and to find it air." For often has the adversary pressed me sore,
and out of my arms has slid ever that which my soul pronounced good:
slid out of my arms and coiled about my feet like a serpent,
dragging me back and holding me down from all that is high and
great.

Pity me, dear one, if thy sweet sympathies can come out of the
glory, if the lovelight of thy beautiful life can press through the
cloud and the evil, and fold me again as a garment; pity and plead
for me with the maiden mother whose arms in human sorrow and human
love cradled our blessed Redeemer.

She hath known our mortal pain and passion--our more than mortal
triumph--she hath heard the "blessed art thou among women." My
unavailing prayers goldenly syllabled by her whose name sounds from
the manger through all the world, may find acceptance with Him who,
though our sins be as scarlet, can wash them white as wool.

Our hearts grew together as one, and along the headlands and the
valleys one shadow went before us, and one shadow followed us, till
the grave gaped hungry and terrible, and I was alone. Faltering in
fear, but lingering in love, I knelt by the deathbed--it was the
middle night, and the first moans of the autumn came down from the
hills, for the frost specks glinted on her golden robes, and the
wind blew chill in her bosom. Heaven was full of stars, and the
half-moon scattered abroad her beauty like a silver rain. Many have
been the middle nights since then, for years lie between me and that
fearfulest of all watches; but a shadow, a sound, or a thought,
turns the key of the dim chamber, and the scene is reproduced.
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