The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-03-18
Our Life Time.

When the world was created, and ail
the creaturs assembled to, have their II fe.
tiifsIo aPpoin.e-a, the ans first advanced, and =
asked how long he had to live, -
~" Thirty years replied Nature; wiz
that be'agreeable to tbcss"ssss -
"Alas" answered the ass, "'tis long
while! Remember what q wearisome exist
ence mine will be, from morning until
night shall have to bear heavy burdens,
dragging corn-sacks to the SSill, that others
may eat bread, while I shall have TO en-
coragement, nor berehreshcd with anything
but blows and kicks. Give me but q port b,
ion of that time prayr'! = 3 q
Nature was moved with compassion,
and presented him With buteighteen years.
The ass wentaway comforted, and the dog
was the next to come forward. q % n -
"How long dost thou.fsquire to livel"
asked Nature; "thirty yeats were too many
for the ass but witt thou be content with
them?" a,5t .stlt tN. .gES
as it thy will that / sliould." replied
the dog. Think how much I shalIsshave
to run about my feet will not last for so
long a time; and when shall have lost
my voice for barking, and my teeth for
| oiuhS,, "hftt Slsc Shsil' De HL IOf Out to-
lie in the corner and growl |" ''a
Nature thought he was right, and gave
him twelve years. 'E a,tE . so
The ape then approached. ~. =
Thou wilt, doubtless, willingly live the :
thirty years" said N dure,, |. thou wit nos,s
have to labor as tile ass and the dog. ISfs
will be pleasant TO thee '''of - 80 : =
"Ah, mol " cried he, g. so il NAV sectrr'
to Others, but"it VIII not be Sho1Id pup2;
dmgs ever rain down, I shall have no.
spoon l snail play merry tricks and excite,
laughter by my grimaces, and then, Be-
rewarded with a sour apple, How often
sorrow lies concealed behind ySsei- r
shall not be able to endure thirty years. "
Nature was gracious, and he receiNettbus
ten. At last eanie man, healthy and strong,
and asked the measure Of his days, -,
D 's"Will thirty years content thee r..
t Hew short n timet exelanqE nIanT
{ "when Ishall have bEiftanF Eotte,h =; ~
, kindlei a fire on my hearth--when, the
trees shall have planted are about to
bloom and bear fruit--and when life shall
seem to me most desirable, Tsball die. Oh
: Nature, grant me longer perid !"
the ass besids." ,f ...a...
. THAT is not yet enough" )" replied man.
Take likewise thetwelye years of the
dog" 1t is not yet enough reiterated
t man, give men, I" give at is not yet
o enough" reiterated man, give men more" :"
II give thee, then' the ten years Of tho
ape, in vain. wilt thou crave more. {
Man departed unsatisfcd. -.
Thus man lives sevetty years. Thus
y first thirty are his human years, aud pass
: swiftly by. He is then healthy and happy
i --he laborS cheerfully and rejoices in his
+ existence. The eighteen years Of the ass
4 come next, and Burden upon burden in
heaped upon him he carries the corn that
: is to feed others; blows and kicks are the
Q wages of his faithful service, The twelve
. years of the dog follow, and he loses his
i teeth. and lies in q corner and growls.
When these are gone, the apes ten years
torm inc CONCLUSION. Then IRsn. wcal
' and silly,rbccomes the sport Of children.