The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1855-11-08
From the Saturday EUe'aang Post.
Threescore and Five.
By FRANCES DANA GAGE.

It was a beautiful autumn sunset
The God of day had laid aside his daz
cling splendor, and sank to rest with
clear, broad face, glowing and benevolent
as if he would express his regret that 81
soon the chill winds, which were piping
through the trees and screaming round
the corners, shaking every scar leaf frou
the climbing creeper, or stray trumpet
from the honeysuckle, should watt the
frost to cut down the beauty of the gar
den, the wood and the prairie. 1t was
autumn, late autumn. 1t was the last wan.
ing day of the moon, too, and, with hel
great disk, she seemed answering the
half-regretful smile of the sun, as be went
down; for well she knew that she must
ere long give place to the flippant horn,
at which the young maids could look O.
yer their right shoulders, and breathe out
the silent aspiration for the success OF
their loves. Yet the earth looked cheer
ful, though it was autumn. The diahilas
were in their full splendor, and the Pc
tuuias and verbenas seemed resolved to
look beautiful to the last. The full moon
was cheerful, though tomorrow it would
be no more. The katydids were cheerful,
though every surge of the chill wind
threatened their destruction. The swal
lows upon the house-tops were cheerful,
as they held the@ family gathering, per-
chance for the last time. And the winds
themselves, as they toyed with the leaves
OF the locust and catalpa and Lombardy
poplar, seemed helping US play hide-and-
seek, as we looked through them at the
stars, as they came glinting out in their
places, one by one, to bid the departing
glory of the day goodnight.
The old man was cheerful too-the old
man of "threescore years and FIVE, ,"-as
ho sat in his arm m-chair, looking out of
the west windows at the departing sun
light; watching the twirling leaves, and
listening to the piping winds. Aye,
cheerful was he, as he played the old
tunes of his boyhood on the child's accor-
dion, a soft smile played over his face,
his eye undimmed by the survice of life,
looked out clear and brilliant; his lips half
moved, and his toe patted time to the
music.
when did you learn to play the ac
cordion," said VIII, as BE watched the
time-worn yet nimble fingers.
"Only three years ago, my boy, only
three years ago, and deal of comfort it
is to me, to be sure, to sit, at twilight,
when my work is done, and play these
tunes-it takes me back to my boyhood. :"
"Did you learn these tunes them"
"Aye did l. While l was an appren
tice, my master used to take me to the
houses of the wealthy and grand; as l
worked in the parlors, hanging the cur
tains, and putting up the papers, the pic
lures and the mirrors, l often heard the
young Misses playing upon the piano,
the guitar and harpsichord. l worked
all the more merrily to their cheerful
voices and instruments, and laid the tunes
away in my storehousc, where they have
rested many a year, while have fought
life's hard battles. But now the garner
ed treasures of my boyhood cheer my old
age, and almost make me feel young a.
gain. And the old man placed the in
strument upon his knee, and his youth
full face shone out from beneath his silve-
ry locks and brow, as he touched off, with
apparent glee, the merry airs of the old
en- time.
'Did you ever sec such an old man
playing music, mamma, said little Bette,
IL think it's so funny. Why grandpapa
Jones won't let me play and sing bit
when he's in the house. He says he don't
wont our nonsense. l wonder if Mr..
johnson thinks it's nonsense? May l
ask him."
"Oh, yes, child, I would like to hear
bis answer"
The golden-haired spring blossom, that
had felt the dew and sunshine ofsix sum-
mers, bounded to the old mans side.
He caught her eye and suspended his
tune.
"What is it puss!"
"Do you think playing accordions and
singing pretty songs, and playing and
jumping and dancing is nonsense. My
grandpapa says it is"
"Hoot toot," answered the old man,
with hearty chuckle, "nonsense-no
it's the spice of life, darling; your grand
pa has gone into his grave before his time.
Why the merry song of the birds, the
humming of the insects, the piping OF the
frogs, and the sweeping surges of the
winds, all show me that God meant we
should be cheerful and merry. Who ev-
er heard of black bird too old to whistle
"a wren that could not ehirp and futter
because of bis yearsl And Why should
old men turn aside from that which made
youth joyful and happy. 1t is as right
to sing songs AID play the accordion at
sixty five, as a! sixteen, provided We have
the ability 30 10 DO; which I'm of the O.
pinion we shcild more frequently have,
if we were OF taught to suppress the
buoyant life within US because We are
growing oil. | learned to play when |
was an old man; am threescore and five,
and many a hard days toll has been
rounded off; and made delightful by a
little mrth and music, | au sure l am
all the better, aud believe others arc
too. For the children wolcome me where