Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-09-02
THE ANGEL or TIME.
nv !. K, PAULDING.

ton that he had hundred thouoa"u "
titional life to bestow on the lnhaoitdnts oi "e
earth. His trumpet echoed far ana wide' pehe
trating the cities. the valleys, the mountains anu
reaching the uttermost extremes OF 'he UNIVERSE
The people flncked eagerly from all points Oh t,le
compass. to prefer their claims 10 por.'oh OF .'e
benehcent gift but it was surprising 10 see 1nat
the crowd consisted of the aged alone. Inc
children were ENJOYING their youthful sports ana
paid no attention to the proclamation; ,he youths
and maidens were wandering IN the laoyrintns
of love; and the men and women Oh hiuu'e
age were too much engaged in the pursuits OF
life to think on death.
The frat who preferred his petition tor few
additional wears. was an old man of four-score
and upwards. bent almost double with age.
.s'rhou doubtless wishest to live little longer
for the sake of thv children, and the companions
of thy YOUTH" said the angel. :,
Alas" cried the old man, I" they are all
dead.''
Thou art in possession Of wealth and honors:''
ALAS, no! have lost my good name, and
am m,serabIv poor. Yet wish to live till am
an hundred. and enjoy life yet little longer"
The angel bestowed upon him the privilege OF
living an hundred years, and he went on his way
rejoicing and trembling.
The next applicant for heightened years, was
feeble old man, who was carried IN litter
When he had preferred his request, the angel
replied
IL understand. -Thou art enamoured OF the
charms of woman. of the beauties OF the earth,
the waters, and the skies. and "lshest TO behold
them yet few years more!'
81 am blind these ten years." said the Old
man.
Thou art delighted with the music of birds,
and murmurng of the waters, the echoes OF the
mountains, and all the harmonieS OF the universe,
and wishest to hear them little longer:'
81 am deaf and scarcely hear the sound OF
thy trumpet"
Thou art fond of the delicacies Of food:"
"Alas my feeble health will not permit OF
such indulgencies. have lived on milk and
crusts of bread these seven years past and more.
am miserable, sickly old man."
.'And still thou wishest to lensthen out thy
miseries. What pleasure dost thou enjoy in this
lite?"
.sThe pleasure of living" said the old man:
and the angel granted him few years more:
The third who approached the footstool OF the
angel, was decrepid female almost bent to the
earth, and trembling with palsy. Her teeth
were gone-her eyes buried deep IN their dark
blue sockets-her cheek hollow and feshless, and
she could hardly prefer her request, for an nces-
SAINT cough, which drowned her voice, and almost
choaked her.
II ann come" said she" to beg score of years,
that may enjoy the pleasure of seeing the cy-
prcsf trees have planted over the graves OF my
husband, my children, mr. grandchildren. and
the ;est of my dear relatives. spring up and Hour
;sh before die. I am bereft of all that were near
and dear to me; stand alone in the world, with
no one to speak for me; beseech thee, Oh! be-
ne6cent angel, to grant my request"
Though grantthee heightened days, cam
not remove thy nfirmlies and suferIngs. They
will increase upon thee" answered the angel.
IL care not, since | shall know they cannot
kill me before my time"
flake thy wish" said the angel, smiling; " go
and be happy"
.sStrange!'' cried learned man, who had
come to petition for few years, to complete an
explanation of the apocalypse and had witnessed
the scene. Strange" cried he, curling his lip
in scorn, .that the most helpless and miserable
of human beings should still covet life Invested
of all its enjoyments"
"Silence, fool" replied the angel. in voice
of inetfable contempt, 1T rather becomes thee,
ignorant mortal. to adore the goodness OF ProvI-
denCe, which hath ordained that men should live
to be old, mercifully decreed at the same time
that the love of life should supply the absence OF
all its sources of enjoyment. Go! take thy wish,
and finish thy commentary on the apocalypse"
~e37esas-
Privileges and Prerogatirss Of The King Of
Engiaad.-At the present moment, the follow
ing brief abstract of the prerogative and powers
of the Monarch of those realms may not be unln-
teresting to our readers.
The King of England takes an oath at his coro-
nation to preserve the rights and privileges OF the
church, the prerogative of the crown, and the
laws and custums of the realm. He has the pow
er. by his prerogat,ve alone. of making war or
peace, concluding leagues and treaties, &c.-
He convokes and dissOves parliament; and may
refuse his assent to any bill passed BY both Houses,
without giving ms reason for it. But this aPpa-
rent'y important prerogative has not been exer-
cised in this country for long period, other
means being usually resorted to, to prevent such
an ungraclous and generally unpopular step IN
monarch. He may increase the number OF
Members of either House at pleasure, by creating
n