The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-08-03
OFFICE IN HooPER's BRICK
score and unvard. bent almost double with

score and upward, Dent almost uouoi0 "''
age, a., ,,.,.
.Thou doubtless wishcst to live little
longer for the sake of thy children, and the
COMPANIONS of thy YOUTH said the angel. :,
Alas" cried the old man, 'they arc oil
dcad.'
Thou art in possession Of wealth and hon.
orr
ALAS, no! have lost my good name and
am miserably poor. Yet wish to live TIL
am hundred. and enjoy life little
longer =, -. -,..,,..
of living hundred years, and no went o"
his way rejoicing and trembling.
The next applicant for heightened years,
was feeble old man who was carried on q
litter. When no had preferred his request
the angel replied:
II understand. Thou art enarmoredef the
charms Of woman, of tho beauties ct the
Garth, the waters, and the skies, and wishest
to behold them vet few years morei !,
Il am blind these ten ycars, said tho old
man.
Thou art delighted with tho music OF tho
birds, the murmuring Of the waters, the
echoes of the mountains, and oil the harmo-
nies of the universe, and wishest to hear them
a little longer? .
Il am deaf, and scarcely hear the sound of
thy trumpet.
Thou art fond Of the dclicacies of food?'
ALAS! my feeble health will not permit of
such indulgcnccs. l have lived on milk and
crusts Of bread these seven years past, and
more. am q miserable, sickly old man.
And still thou wishest to lengthcn out
thy miseries. What pleasure dost thou en-
Joy in this lile?'
THE pleasure of living said the old man !;
and the angel granted him few more
years.
The third who approached the footstool OF
the angel was decrcpit female, almost bent
to the earth, and trembling with palsy. Her
teeth were gone-her eyes buried deep in
their dark blue sockets-her cheeks hollow
and feshlcss-and she could hardly prefer
her request, for an inccssant cough, which
drowned her voice, and almost choked her.
Il am come said she, ito beg score OF
years, that might enjoy the pleasure OF
seeing the cypress trees have planted over
tho graves Of my. husband my children, my
grandchildren, and the rest Of my dear rela-
tiyes, spring up and flourish before die.
am bcreft of all that were near and dear to
me; Il stand alone in the world, with no one
to speak for me; bcscech thee, oh, benc6-
cent angel, to grant my request
Though grant thee heightened days, l
cannot remove thy inirmities and suilcrings.
They will increase upon thee, answered the
angel.
i care not, since shall know they can
not kill me before my time ..
Take thy wish,' said the angel, smiling,
go and be happy :,
'Strango!' cried q learned man who had
come to petition for a few years to complete
an explanation to the Apocalypse, and had
witnessed the scene. Strange, cried he,
curling his lip in scorn, shat the most help.
less and miserable OF human beings should
still covet lifc divcsted Of all its enjoy
ments -
'Silcncc, fool" replied the angel in voice
of ineiFlblc contempt; ut rather becomes thee,
ignorant mortal, to adore the goodness OF
Providence, which having ordained that men
should live to be old, mercilully decrecd at
the same time that the loyc OF life should
supply the absence Of oil its sources ofen-
joymcnt. Go! take thy wish, and finish thy
commentary on the Apocalypse