Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-27


fractions to beauty. :.
eve next consider our race in their maturl'
ty, or summer. The faculties Of the mind are
advancing to their perfect state; Judgment, OF
the power of deducing conclusions and princl'
Piles from observation, predominates over the
memory, and the mind is capable OF the mos'
intense application to any pursuit his Is the
season for exertion; the time for providing iu'
ture subsistence; for attending 20 the education
of our offspring; as we'll as for fixing our own
habits Of thinking and acting. II is the season
for comforting benefits OIL our fellow-crealures
by the employment of our leisure, and winning
that influence which is necessary to the more
eHectual discharge of the debts we owe to So
ciety. At this period, the body, which has
ceased TO grow in height, acquires greater de,
gree Of breadth and fulness. The soft and de-
licne texture Of the solids gives place 10 a
greater rigidity of fibre, and the strength o. the
limbs is in full vigor. This period endures for
variable lapse Of time, modified by tempe
rance, exercise, climate, anc occupation
| "Next, autumn comes, the season OF the "sere
and yellow leaf" The supPleness and nobility
Of the limbs diminish; the senses are less acute
and the impressions of external objects are less
| remarked. The fbres OF the body grow more
| rigid; the emotions Of the mind are more calm
and uniform,-the eye loses OF its lustrous
keenness Of expression; the skin hangs loosely;
the teeth generally begin TO fail, if they have
no, previously, and the digestion proporlionally
declines. The mind no longer roams abroad
with its original excursiveness, though tits still
capable Of intense and advantageous applica-
ton to particular studies. The power OF ina
giEa,ion is in great degree lost. Sad expe-
rience has robbed external objects OF their IL
lusiveness; the thoughts come home: it is the
age Of reflection! The flight Of time is also
marked by the change Of the firm tone OF man
hood for on occasional Earring and dissonant
note, and the head either exhibits the venerable
SHOWS Of age, or the hair falls off from the
place it has so long protected and adorned
At this season we reap the full fruit OF our ear
~ labors, and live over again In the persons OF
descendants. 1t is the period in which we re-
ceive the just tribute Of veneration and conf
dence from our fellow men, if we have lived TO
deserve it, and are entitled 70 the respect and
confidence Of the younger part OF mankind, in
exact proportion to the manner IN which our
own youth has been spent, and our maturity
improved.
"Last comes the lean and slippered panta-
Loom" The marks Of decline and decripilude
become more perceptibe. The teeth are gone
the jaws approach each olher-the face is
surk-the eye quenChed in rheumatic voice
feeble, unequal, and whisling-the muscles
wasted-the gait tottering-the sight and near
ing rapidly fail-and the other senses are al
most ob!iterated. The mind lives not in the
present--the memory acts not upon things OF
today. The green hills, the joyous gambols,
the pure friendships Of childhood, all thrill
through the heart. The ancient man sits IN
the midst of generation thrice removed from
his own: he appears inSensible 10 those around
him-he is deaf aud participates not in their
lows: he beholds their sorrows with cold un-
feeling eve But why does he, al times, con-
vulsively grasp his staf-and why does an I'M
needed tear occasionIy trickle down his turrow-
ed cheek? He is looking back-beyond the eX-
istence efthe present generation:-perhaps' me
image Of her who has slept in dust for hall
century-she in whom his youthful heart was
"garnered up" appears before his memory as
once she bloomed:-percbance the mother who
watched or wept DER his cradle, and enhanced
the oyousness Of his early life, is breathing in
his ear--or the bosom friend and companion OF
his youthful wanderinss smiles upon him, with
the truth and ardor he has SO long been stran
ger 10. Where are heyS-Anolhe people has
grown TO maturity since their graves were sod
ded. Their memory has persisted, except in
the aged man, whose long dried fountains o.!
sensibilty gush forth afresh as such recolec.
tions rise within his mind.
"The approach Of death from slow-coming
decline and in6rmity Of nature, is marked by
the eventual obliteration Of all the faculties OF
mind and body. The breathing becomes slow
err, and slower; the heart intermts its pusa-
lions; the blood loi,ers along the veins; the ex'
tremities grow cold, and the feeble flame OF life
lessons until it ceases to be perceptible, except
at the centre, where il family glimmers for
time, and then is gently extinguished without
sigh or groan-wilhout a trace OF emotion or
Of pain "
This is afaithful description Of human life
drawn by masters hand, & alas! as melancholy
a faithful Had time and place permitted, we
should have been better pleased to have seen
the decrrpit old man thus brought to the brink
Of the grave. and left there pl,iabe, helpless,
hopeless spectacle, carried one step beyond IT,,
and introduced to those regions Of endless bliss
to which every pious christian is taught to look
forward with hearl-cheering ard unwaverIns
confidence IN T. E. Post.
Communicated for the Natiosal Journal.
tloS