Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1858-12-17
EVERY WRINKLE A LINE OF
BEAUTY.
BY T. s. ARTHUR

Bile, or ugly.
sYou have been unfortunate in you
chances of observation replied lady sit
ting near her.
1T may be SO, but speak at least from
experience. All the old people it has been
nv fortune, or misfortune to meet, have been
cross in temper, and repulsive in appearance
have an old aunt who always is associated
in my mind with the Witch of Endor.--
From child have had perfect horror OF
her. doubt if she ever gave utterance to q
kind or accomplishing word in her hfe.'
you must not Judge all by this aunt, my
young friend said the lady. There are
handsome and agreeable people in the world
and not few of them either, but many
] Age does net necessarily sour the tenn
| per, nor mar the countenance. There is
such thing as growing old gracefully
and the number OF those who are thus ad-
vancing along the paths of life, am pleas
ed to say, are increasing yearly. L happen
to have an old aunt also, but, SO far from
being second Witch of Endor, heard a
gentleman, not many days ago, remark, in
speaking of her, "Why. every wrinkle in
Mrs. lder's face is line of beauty" And
so it is: for every wrinkle there was born OF
patient endurance or unselfsh devotion to
the good of others. look at ber dear old
face often and often. and say to myself, now
is she not handsome!"
Il should really like to see your aunt said
the young girl, half skeptically.
Come to our house Tomorrow, and we
will paw her visit, aaid the lady. 1T will
do both of US good
Thank you for the invitation. | will
certainly caIl.''
The next day came, and the young lady
was early at the house of Mrs. Barton.
Glad to see you, Kate was the pleasant
greeting she received. 'We are to call on
my Aunt Elder, believe
Yes, you promised to introduce me to an
old lady who, SO far from being cross and
ugly, is sweet tempered and beautiful. The
sweet temper can Imagine, but not face
wriakled and beautiful at the same time.'
you shall see,' she answered.
sAh, good morning, Mary said low,
but yery pleasant and cheerful voice, as the
two ladies' entered the small but neat and
very orderly sitting room of Mrs. Elder
my friend, Miss Kate Williams said
Mrs. Barton. presenting the young lady.
Mrs. Elder laid her knitIing upon table,
close to her open Bible, and rising, took the
hand of Miss Williams, looking earnestly
into her young face as she did SO, and s'nl~
ling so sweet welcome, that Kate did not
see wrinkle, for the beautiful light
that shone from the old lady's placid coun-
tenance.
"Iam always pleased to see young faces,
said Mrs. Elder, and to feel the warmth OF
young hearts. -
fozr=z-e= you today anntln inquired Ms
Barton.
+sNot SO we'll in body as when you were
here last. sleep but poorly
Mrs. Elder smiled as it she were telling
of enjoyments, and then added
"But this is one of the penalties OF age.
knew it must come, and long ago made up
my mind 10 be patient and enduring. These
are some of the light Affections, lasting but
a momeRt, which if borne in christian meek
ness help to work out for US that far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 10
which the apostle refers in one of his sub
lime passages"
Miss Williams looked at the old lady half
wonderingly.
s'Always doing something, Aunt Elder
said Mrs. Barton, placing her hand upon the
half-knit yarn stocking which the old lady
had put aside as she rose to take the and
OF Miss Williams "Knitting, 1 suppose,
has grown into a kind of habit. The act
brings fts own reward. Il is your pleasant
pastime.'
"No child. not my pleasant pastime, but
my useful employment" answered Mrs. Eli
der. Il can't do much in this world for
other people; still can DO little and am
thankful for the privilege; for I don't be-
lieve it is possible for any one to be happy
who is not engaged in some useful employ
ment. manage to keep the children OF
some halt dozen poor families IN warm
stockings for the winter, and that is some
thing added Ia the common stock of human
comfort"
The eyes of Miss Williams were fixed
intently upon the old lady's age-marked fea-
lures. Wrinkles went curving about her
cheeks, her lips and chin, and wrinkles
planted themselves deeply upon her FORE
head. Grey hairs were visible beneath her
cap border; her calm eyes lay back in their
hollow sockets: the symmetry of her mouth
was gone; and yetit seemed to the young
girl, as she gazed at her wonderingly. as if
every wrinkle in that aged face were in
deed line OF beauty!
sBut you must have a surer foundation for
happiness than knitting stockings" said
Mrs. Barton.
The old lady seemed thoughtful for mo-
ment. She then said, with sweet Impress
iveness-
There is only one foundation upon which
we can rest and find happiness, and that is
Gods love in the heart. The great ques-
tion for US all is, how to obtain that love!
1t will not come at our command. We can
not drag it down from Heaven. We cannot
6nd'it, search we ever SO diligently. Gods
love is God given; and he bestows it only
on those'who first have neighberly love-
This is that higher loves receptacle in the
human heart. First, love of the neighbor;
then, love of God, which is divine love in
| the soul, the sure foundation for abiding hap
piness. So you see Mary the value OF even
knitting stockings to one like me. 1t is use-
full work, and that. as the old monk said, is
worship
Miss Williams could not withdraw her
eyes from the old lady's face. It's beauty
and its goodness seemed to fascinate her,
She was girl of quick feelings and some
enthusiasm. Suddenly rising from the chair
she had taken few moments before, she
came forward and STOPPING over Mrs. Elder,
she kissed her, almost reverently, on the
head, saying she did SO:
MAY | be like you when grow old-ev-
cry wrinkle in my face line of beauty!'
Grow old in goodnes, my dear young
friend answered Mrs. Elder, taking her