Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1854-11-16
U
frsr tie F'Faf Press,
An oI.D MANS soLiLoouF
THE WAYS or LIFE
Sr,I D. JOHNSON.


II vas twilight Of December's day
clear aud cold the sun had declined, ana
night in dreariness vas drawing around her
frigid form the mantle Of darkness quietly
the evening ssnk to repose, aud not sound
was heard save the signing Of 2 low sad
wind amid the russell leaves.
twas at that lone hOrr, an OctogeRerian
from his chamber window gaxed ont through
the fast gathering darkness upsn the world,
chained Is il was BY Winters icy hand. lie
hent his aged ear t. catch once more IA.
lures cong. but heard il not. Tor Tue s .s.a
]hLsStani VAS flushed
could see the old mans brow contract,
and bis pallid lips culver, as though be was
contending with some mental strife terrific
to his soul And, ever and anon as twi-
lights feeble rays displayed his corrugated
features, tear Of sorrow would bedew his
furrowed cheek, and cause his decrepid form
To shake with grief As he stood there he
seemed to grow faint at bis own .retrospec.
ton, for il was with trer1lous steps he
gained bis chair, and in interrupted accents
exclaimed . Thus it IL ever with life's ev,
anescent dream 1t is too true; that the
willing hand Of age is upon me now, for
the frosss Of eighty-ons winters have whiten-
ed my locks once dark with the gloss Of
youth, and the heat Of four score summers
has dried the skin upon my frame, and mar.
rowed the ehannelsn life's stream, and llfes.
changes have wrecked me on the ocean Of
existence. Yes, the memory Of my early
years rolls back like a hurricane upon my
mind and chills the warmth of my passing
soul for all, all has fitted by, and nought
remains but the impress Of their gladness or
pain. And alas, as my mind reverfs to
those long gone scenes it animates memory,
and seem to exist again in manhood's
prime, for it is with electric speed recollec-
ton moves from one period of my life to
another, until varied panorama confuses
my vision and bids me know myself But
retrospection lis at hand, and find myself
10 youths academic field, with my ambitious
steps resting upon the Arst round of Fame's
ladder, and again following Newton into the
recesses Of the earth, or wandering with him
in his aerial fights beyond the blaze Of the
Georgium Sidus; closely seem to follow
the footsteps Of Euclid, comprehend his
mystic diagrams, and solve with the alacRity
of youth his intricate problems SIT in fancy
BY the side of Homer, and listen enchanted
to his lyric tales, and feel my soul expand
beneath the voice Of 0ssian, as be breaths
forth his passion stirring poems, All in
my erudte youth descended the hill of Sci
ence with a slow and steady step, and as
gained the topmost mound, looked down,
saw with amazement tue broad expanse
q TIE @dd mad E aHa sa q
road which led to human perfection. l as
ISOLATED with the most profound Of men,
ramtled with them in their mental tours,
aud WAS instructed by their wisdom poT-
trayed in words; but O, Heaven, my heart
stays its motion when Memory recalls my
social sphere. for have tasted joy and dis
appointment, lifes immunities and its liabil-
titles, its pleasure and its pain. l have been
the happy husband and the miserable Wild
over, the exultant father and the childless
man l have nurtured bliss and saw it van
ish before the decree Of tate / stood by the
sick couch Of the being most dear to me Of
all earthly gifts, and watched the Pickering
fame of life until it ceased to burn. and
clasped in bitter tears the cold hand that
once grasped my own with all the warmth
Of Womau's love, and looked in death upon
those eyes that once conveyed more than fe-
LEFTY to my soul; sat BY the cradle Of my
lovely infant boy, who promised to be the
solace of my declining years, and felt With
an anxious hand the cold damps OF death
gather upon his sweet brow, land saw those
eloquent eyes of my only daughter that IN
lifeis hcalthful moments spoke more than
recompense for an had suffered, bedimmed
by deaths resistless cloud, and o, God |
heard the harsh sound Of Ahe cold cledssas
thew shut out from my view all that held
most dear. aud as the sephulchral noise fell
upon my bereaved ear | turned heartbroken
from the spot; sickenet to anguish, and wor-
ried by the frailties of human life, leftthe
lone graves Of my hearts dearest treasures,
and sought my once happy home to com
mune VITA poignant thoughts, and to spend
the remnant Of my iIfrmity in gloom and
reflection. for obdurate Pate had sported
with nv destiny, imbittered the cup Of en-
joyment, and laughed at my repining Yes
grim, terrible and petulent winter is upon
the earth, and It's cold dark frown has chill
ed all save the torrent Of my melancholy
feelings Night, too most dreadful in her
DISPLAY. has thrown her sable mantle over
natures rigid form, and conceals all from my
gre except the miscries Of the past, which tell |
be over, for feel death ) sss.--., ill soon
and ere another year will hare rolled past,
my heart shall have stilled its motlon and
my fenfeebied body commingled with the
DUST
The old man hushed, with quiycring lips
be turned his sunken eyes sufused with
tears towards Heaven, and lifting bis
hands trembling in age, duplicated Al
mighty God to dispsl the gloom which over
Swallowed bis grief-worn soul.
Harpsrs-Fsrry, 1854.
~ The Albany KnickerbOcker states