Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-02-22
From the Alexandria Gazette.
AN OLD MANS SOLHkOQUY.
BY }. u. JOHNSON.


1t was twilight of December's day.
Clear and cold, the sun had declined, and
night in dreariness was drawing around
her frigid form the mantle of darkness.
Quietly the evening sank to repose, and
not sound was heard, save the signing
of the waiful wind amid the russet leaves.
At that lone hour, an octogenarian from
his chamber window gazed out through
the fast gathering darkness upon the world
chained as it was by winters icy hand
He bent his aged ear TO catch once more
Natures song; but he heard it not; for the
cold blasts had congealed her voice, and
her anthem was hushed
| could see the Old Mans brow con-
tract. and his waited lip culver, as though
he was contending with some mental strife,
terrific to his soul; and ever and anon as
twilight's feeble rays displayed his CORFU
gated features, a tear would bedew his
furrowed cheek, and cause his decrepid
form to shake as with grief. AS he stood
there he seemed to grow faint at his own
retrospection, for it was with tremulous
steps he gained his chair,and in interrupt
ed accents exclaimed: "Thus it is ever
with life's evanescent dream. 1t is too
true, that the willing hand of age is upon
me now, for the frosts of eighty one win
ters have whitened my locks, and the heat
of four-score summers has dried the skin
upon my frame, narrowed the channels of
lite's stream, and life's changes have
wrecked me on the ocean of existence
Yes, the memory OF my early years rolls
T1U mind and
chills the warmth of my passing soul; for
all, all have gone, glimmering with the
things that were, and nought remains but
the impress of their gladness or pain. AS
my mind reverts to those long gone scenes,
it animates memory, and l seem to exist
again in manhood's prime; for with electric
speed recollection moves from one period
of my life to another, until a varied pano-
rama confuses my vision and bids me know
the pain of sickening grief. RETROSPECT
ton wields her hand, aud | find myself IN
Youths academic field with my ambitious
step resting upon the first round of Fame S
ladder. and again following Newton into
the recesses of the earth, or wandering
with him in his aerial flights beyond the
blaze of the Georgium S'dus. Closely
seem to follow the footsteps of Euclid,
comprehend his mystic diagrams, and solve
with the alacrity of youth his intricate
problems / sit in infancy by the side OF
Homer and listen enchanted to his tales,
and feel my soul expand beneath the voice
of Ossan rs he breathes forth his passion
stirring poems. Ah! in my erudile youth
ascended the hill of Science with steady
step, and as l gained the tOpmost round
looked down and saw with amazement the
expanse my mind had traversed' and
thought l had arrived at human greatness
but alas! when l looked forward Deyonc
what knew, my spirits would sink within
me to think of the Wilderness of the gulpt
which separated me from human pertec
ton. associated with the most protount
of men, rambIed with them in their men
tai tours and was instructed by their wis
dom portrayed in words. My heart was
in nv hand to all the world, and 1t reclp
rocated my frankness by generous oe
stowal of its transient honors: but I
Heavenl my pulse stays its motion whel
memory recalls my social sphere; tor
have tasted Joy and disappointment, life
immunities aud Its liabilities, its pleasur
and its pain. [ have been the happy nus
band, and the miserable widower, the ex
ultant father and the childless man.
nurtured bliss, and saw it Danish befor
the decree of fate. l stood by the SIC
couch of the being most dear to me OF al
earthly gifts, and watched the tiickerlnj
flame of light until it ceased to burn an
clasped in bitter tears the cold hand Whlc
: : once grasped my own with all the warmt
of Woman's love. thought then OF a
her charming goodness, and far over III
e varied past of our pleasant intercourse
my thoug ghts wandered, and all holmes
: followed them. AS my mind retracea I'll
}; path we trod so calmly together 1t passe
to pluck the many fragrant flowers whlc
> beautifed its course, and presented D'
uuet of rarest buds, for recollection
> contemplate without regret; and as
s looked on those dear eyes that once col
n yeved more than felicity to my soul,
thought all womanklnd was dead. 8
a by the cradle of my lovely infant boy, wi
= promised to be the solace of my decl!niI
20 years, and felt with an anxious hand u
cold drops of deaths damp gather up'
r. his sweet brow. saw the eloquent Ia
e, of my only daughter, that in life's heait
t. full moments spoke more than recompen1
l. for all | had suffered, bedimmed by dea'f
resistless cloud; and o God! l heard I
ut brash sound of the clOds as they shut Q