Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-09
TIE ANGEL OF TIME.
BY j. X. PAULDING.

he Angel OF lime being commission
ed by the Supreme Governor ofthe world
made proclamation that he had hum
dred thousand years of additional life to
bestow on the inhabitants Of the earth.
His trumpet echoed far and wide, pene-
trating the valleys, the cities, the noun
tains, and reaching the uttermost parts of
the universe. The people focked ca
gerly from all points of the compass, to
prefer their claims to a portion of the
beneficent gift but it was surprising TO
see that the crowd consisted of the aged
alone. The children were enjoying
their youthful sports and paid no atten-
tlon to the proclamation; the youths and
the maidens were wandering in the lab
arynths Of love; and the men and women
OF middle age were too much engaged
in the pursuits of life to think on death.
The first who preferred his petition for
few additional years, was an old man
of fourscore and upwards, bent almost
double with age.
"Thou doubtless wishes to live little
longer for the sake of thy children, and
the. companions of thy YOUTH" said the
angel.
"Alas" cried the old man, ''they are
all dea d."
"Thou art in possession of wealth and
honorsi"
"Alas, no! ] have lost my good name,
and am miserably poor. Yet wish to-
life 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 tremb-
ling
The next applicant for heightened
years was a feeble old man, who was
carried on litter. When he preferred
his request the angel replied
81 understand. Thou art cnamored of.
the charms of woman, of the beauties of
the earth, the waters, and the skies, and
wishest to behold them yet few years
more"
''I am blind these ten years. said the
old man.
"Thou art delighted with the music of
the birds, and the murmurng of the war
ters, the echoes Of the mountains, and the
harmones of the universe, and wishest
to enjoy them little longer'"
"l am deaf, and can scarcely hear the
sound of thy trumpet"
Thou art fond of the delicacies Of
food?"
"Alas! my feeble health Will not per-
init such lndulgencies. | have lived on
milk and crusts Of bread these seven
years past, and more. | am a mVera-
bic sickly old man."
"And thou wishest still to lengthen
out they misories. What pleasure doest
thou enjoy in this lifei"
"The pleasures Of living" said the
old man; and the angel granted him
few years more.
The third who approached the foot
stool oi the angel was decrepit female,
almost bent to the earth, and trembling
with palsy. Her teeth were gone
her eyes buried deep in their dark blue
sockets-her cheeks hollow and flesh
less, and she could hardly prefer her re-
quest tor an incessant cough, which
drowned her voice and almost cboked
her. II
al am come," said she, "to beg
score Of years, that ! might enjoy the
pleasure Of seeing the cypress trees
have planted over the graves of my hus-
band, my children, my grand children,
and the rest of my dear relatives, spring
up and flourish before | die. am be-
reft Of all that were near and dear to me;
i stand alone in the world with no one to
speak for me; / beseech thee, oh bencl-
icent angel, to grant my request" N
"Though Igrant thee lengtheend days,
] cannot remove thy infrmities and suf-