Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-03-08
z4s4e. = l4a From the Ladies' Keepsake.
!, A LIFE PICTURE.
BY C D. sTUART.

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There are pictures in life, as on canvass,
which once seen are never ,forg often. |
remember one suchs /, was years ago, on
a. hot afternoon, that saw an old man
leaning against lamp post. which he left
in saafew moments, evidently wearied out,
for AN, iron hydrant, on whose square top
he sat- himself down to rest. There was
something SO sfnournfuLin his. look, that |
threw openthe blinds Of The window where
[ had been sitting, and leaning over The
easement watched him with an intensity Of
feeling akin to anguish and tears. Over a
brow, on which, should judge not less
than seventy " inters had pressed their feet,
and as many summers their parcting hands,
and down the sidestof which struggled q
fow white hairs, was drawn a faded hal,
scarce shadowing his hollow cheeks, while
his body was gurbed sin ., covering which,
thoagh ceanly looking, bore unmislak able
marks Of q past age. His feet were cased
in poor apology for shoes; and thus ac>
coutred, with 'ssilvery beard unshorn,' in
the very suns eye, sad, yet vacant. looking,
as; though no bound of earth elained, and
no mortal friend cared for him, he. sat silent,
immoyable os the seat on which he rested.
There is TO me no sight more teiderly
touching than that Of old age reverence
the Chinese, in that they reverence old
ages Even though comfort and happiness
surround it, and youth and childhood smile
lovingly upon ii, it suggests sto me more
than the ripest joy Of sear.h. So near the
verge of, life, .it.seems to me only SO much
nearer, heaven, and the great mystery Of
the grave, and il fills me with solemn ten
der thoughts. Slrdnge thought il maybe,
see my kin, my nearest and dearest, and
even my own selfsimnged in il, and ! could
no; more treat it irrevern,ly than could
mock at immediate death. But old age9in
Wnni, suffering BY the way>side, what so
touching as ,hata 1t might be my father,
or my mother; a wife, brother, or sister; if
one suffers thus, may. not all? And what
if ones mother were shivering with cold,
or dying, with hunger, or suffering from
pain, with no heart 10 beat tenderly toward
her, and no hand 10 shield her grny hairs;
can q sight more touching appear upon
earth? Not 10 me! = a.'' g *. : 20 .s5g5F
so WdlCueu .tH0 Olu HAL IoI db uOuis luIi
Of reflections like the sbove, when ven>
tured out 10 speak word with him, 10, in.
qnire into bis history, and, Il he had them,
his sorrows and griefs, tryouth is rever-
entfold age seldom repulses il. There is
childhood q, either end Of life, and the two
mingle ,whenthey meet. So found it. -
Freely sto. my question g Friend, are you in
waniln he replied that he was way-worn,
and tired, and nigh starved; an oui>cast or
cas,-out from his own home which in other
years., he had reared 10 shelter and make
happy those images of himself who now
had. 50 foully turned him forth TO beggary
and death. was poor enough in this
worlds goods, but Infinitely rich, Itrust in
The sympathy that divides what it has with
the suffering, and ! gave him that which |
had. ItWaabui little, yet have thouss
and times felt, and now feel, the fearful
gratitude Of that old nnn, for SO small a
kindness, sweeter 10 me than 'fstrained
ahoney,'' The3memory flows into my heart
like a rich odor. = 49, -. E-t- IL
Could have done less for him, though |
could do no more? Could I have passed
by sucir sorrowand suffering, without drop
ping if only one eeasoling word! The
breath of kindness is sometimes both tha
breath and water Of life. Nay, ! could not
have done less. Within me arose the sug.
ges;ion, jet. little lille, Q, child, how
blest hhssuf6ciency, and Thy head will be
silyered, land nay be as poorly sheltered as
! this old mans. Thou, TOO, nayst have
children who will turn thee from thy home
1t was a reciprocity founded on The possi>
bility Of events for of. swelling within me,