The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-05-19
The Decline Of Life.
"1 often think each tottering form
That limps along in life's decline,
Once held heart % fresh and warm,

The above perhaps is not an exact quota.
ton, but it embodies the idea, and it will
answer the purpose. The memory is won
derful faculty and yet it is by no means in.
fallible. And when does the decline of life
begin Who that still feels the rich glow
Of health kindling in his veins, his frame full
Of vigor, his step light and elastic, his mind
clear and buoyunt, will venture to decide
1t often happens, that age and debility steal
on, before we have attained even what is
more ordinarily regarded as the meridian OF
life. The form begins to totter, the hair to
whiteD, the imagination to dim, and the ply.
sical as we'll as the mental man to degene.
rate. This arises sometimes because of
constitutional defects and infirmities, and in
other cases, in consequence of living too
fast, and not paying due attention to the
priceless blessing Of health. There are
others again, who pass on to three-score
years and ten, and are still in possession of
all their intellectual faculties. They can
see, and hear, and think, as we'll or nearly
so, as in the prime of manhood. These
however, are the exceptions to the rule
There is time for all things, and with the
great multitude. the season is inevitable,
when life's current takes turn, so to speak
and we begin gradually to move towards
that bourne from whence no traveller returns
1t is wise law OF Providence, that we Gun.
not penetrate into the future, lift the veil,
and see the exact period, at which, in the
course of nature, we shall be compelled to
shuttle off this mortal coil. And yet, if we
study ourselves closely, if we watch our
tastes, our habits, our weaknesses, and our
in6rmities, we shall find no difficulty in as.
certaining when we have arrived at, or at.
tuined the full vigor of life, and therefore be
enabled to make enlightened calculations as
to the future. The average career of man
has been reduced to demonstration. The
tables of mortality and of assurance are full
of admonitory hints upon this point. Nay.
il we look around among our friends and
neighbors, our early companions and ossoc,
ates, those who were born in the same city,
and who partook with US at the same foun-
tains of education, we shall find that ever
and anon Death singles out one and then
another, and thus the process of gathering
in the crop Of human beings is constantly
going on. Disease is about and around US
in thousand forms. It sometimes appears
as an epidemic and sweeps away its myriads
At others it assumes a more steathy step,
and health. and strength, and life gradually
pass away. But who stops to pause or in.
quire Who, as the service at the grave is
uttered, and as the narrow vault receives the
coffin who, after the solemnities are over
the mourners are dismissed, and the busy
world again tempts with its delusions and
excitements, turns his thoughts inward, and
ponders deeply and wisely as to the proba.
bilities concerning his fate? Life even then
may be on it's decline, disease may have
planted its terminating seeds, and a few
fleeting years may be all that remain. But
trade, ambition, friendship, love, averice, or
some other exciting cause engrosses and ab-
serbs for the time, and thus it is impossible,
SO the argument suggests, to think of the
more serious matter of exhausting years, ap.
preaching debility, and another world. On
the contrary, an effort is made at selEdeceit,
and it too often happens that we persuade,
or endesvor to persuade ourselves, that the
ordinary rules do not apply to Us, and that
This is especially the case if in condition
Of high worldly prosperity. The scenes
around US are then roSe.colored and full OF
fascination, pleasure assumes many dazz.
ling form, and the idea OF sickness or OF
death is Stunned and avoided, as at once un-
pleasant and repulsive. Is it not so, gentle
reader ! Have you not turned away from
the contemplation of the future, simply be-
cause its images and its prospects were as.
sociated with the earth-worm and the grave!
Do you not repel, as something unwelcome
and painful, the still small voice that ever
and anon whispers that this world is but
temporary place Of abode, and that all must,
sooner or later, pass through the valley of
the shadow of death |! But we do not desire
to be too serious or too moody. Such pol.
icy is not to the precise course of journal
ist. Nevertheless, an occasional hint as to
the mutablity and pershing nature of all
that is human, may not be regarded ns ILL
timed and out Of place, and while we gaze
upon the tottering forms that limp along in
life's decline, let US extend to them Kindness
courtesy, assistance, and sympathy, and at
the same time remember that sooner or la
ter, we shall present similar spectacle, and
pass with steps equally feeble and infirm, to
the silent city of the dead. Meanwhile,
however, we have duties 10 perform and OBJ.
legations to discharge; and II true TO our
position and our mission, the approach of
death will have no terrors, for the change
will be from a scene Of care and anxiety, OF
t ime and trial, to one Of eternal bliss and
unending day.
-eeeeA----