The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1851-05-26
T,r tie ii-fsld.
AN OLD MANS SUGGESTION
TO YOUTH.

do the youth realize, while passing
(con'emp'uously) the old man who is
bowed down with the in,irmi,ics OF
years that this old man WI. once
young, lis senses quick and true. firm
OF nerve. strong Of muscle, with fuil
check, an unwrinkled brow. pursuing
his daily avocaiions, without pain OF
wcnrincss Of the flesh, aud enjoying oc-
cnsional seasons Of picasurable cxcuf-
sions and bounding spirits, blessed with
4 bold benrt, Icsoluic will and a Wig.
osous understanding. Now his eye i.
JinmSd, lie ear dullcd, bis natural
strength aba.sd, his land iremLlcs. his
siep totters, hIs nature timid and faint,
hs supports his walk with Il staff, the
freshness Of mornin, las le!. his cheek,
and dull shadow is cas-. on his once
bright countenance. Time has plowed
deep !uryows on his brow, the animated
spirits flag, the changes oc the outward
man has been accompanied with equal
failure Of tho inward; the heart fails,
the will fa!tcrs, the mind cannot grasp
what it once could; il is weak and en-.
silly confused, it prefers to occupy itself
on what is obvious and superficial; mem.
ory is ireacherous to itself, and fails 10
retain its impressions fancy and mag.
'nntion cannot conjnrc up the enchant.
mcn's of their vivid picture; childhood
has returned with It's delights in trilles
This is not peculiar TO any one man, bu,
a oorn!non heritage TO the man of three
score and ten years and upward. Thi.
gradual decay Of the whole man, appears
IS in accordance with the uncrring law
of nature, and the whole man n, length
Is succeeded by cessation of vital ac
ton Of the body, and the apparent sus
pension or extinction Of intellectual and
mortal being,
Man give,h up the ghost and where
. he.' These are grave consideration.
and the most solemn that are presented
to hc.human mind. We need scarccl,
remark. that as n general principle, i
is desirable to live again after the dis
solution Of this mortal body. No vir
,uous and thinking mind can endure tt,
,boughs Of annihiiaion-i. is gloomy
Every moral being hopes to be repewed
and TO enjoy state Of nncnding puri,,
and blessedness beyond the tomb Tn,
openly vicious, though they may antici
patio The consequences of their sinfu
course. still desire future existence
md risk the fearGu! consequences The.
would prefer con,inued existence upol
almost any terms, 10 the darkness, cold
ness and unbroken silence Of everlas,in;
death Of body and soul. Man instinct
ivoly desires Immortality.
Whence springs this pleasing hope
this fond desire, this longing after i'm
mortality; or why this secret dread
and inward horror OF falling into naush,
Why shrinks The soul back on itself, ain
s,artlts at destruction
Although man was fotmed Of the das
Of earth, the creator WAS pleased 10 II
fuse into him the breath Of immor'alii,
TO kindlc in the sonl flame Of hraycr
ly aspiration, and we are to enquire .
above, Whence this pleasing hope, c
secret dread" All desire harpincs'
and may We 40, all attain 10 i! ii "
would employ the appointed means b
moral effort, such "a We are capable I
making.
The ennobling desire Of endless beir
lies deep in the soul OF man, and for Il
plsin reason tha, he is immortal or b
an immortal spirit that will eAis, aft
this tabernacle Of flesh shalt Be dissol
ed in earth, and the sublime hope
meeting and iningiing with our dear d
parted relatives in that spirit land, W
e'er long be realized. "TLe soul L
easy and confined a. home, rests a.
expa,ia,es on life to come"
When enldn~ss wraps ,his sUfirrns eli
Al ss,,her ssrsys ths Immortal n'oe
T.. c.
Castleton, June 8,h. 1851.
DJ- 4 correspondent Of the b
Il