The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1864-12-08
" That Old Man"

Not many weeks since, when miHglisg in
a crowd, Composed Of persons Of all ages,
some one near me- pointing in a certain
direction, asked, ''Who is that cid manf'
| took a glance over the company, for some
hoary headed man, bending under the
weight Of years. At length | said Whom
did you mean T. when being pointed again
to the individual recognized near friend,
one whom had alvays regarded aa young,
With whom | had mingled q thousand times
in childhood's sports aud psstimes.
With lightning speed, ny mind travelled
back to those scenes Of sunny chi lhood
thought of the fields ana woods where we
had played together, and Of the old school
house where we used to assemble at Che
call of orr teacher; and the hand sleds, and
the many and many hours of fun and frolic
that wa had erj)yed together in the bright
moonlight nigAtson the ponds, and on COM
ing home at late hour silly seeking our
beds lest we should be detected. For few
moments how active was busy memory.
| repeated TO myself That Old Man."
That single word, how it thrilled my whole
frame st was like thunder clap from
cloudess sky. And what caused tbis SEN
sation ah that xpression from strang-
er had lifted looking glass before nae,
which showed me that [ too was growing
old. In one seBge, the one referred to was
not old, for his form w0s yet erect, his step
wss firm, his face was fash but there were
those grey hairs, those silver locks, which
had come unbiddsn, those marks where
tune had laid his fingers, gave upmisteka.
aepidsuee tAss5 t1e noOH-time OF life had
passed, and that lies evening shadows had
already begun to lengnthen.
could but notice theae cure precursors
of the winter Of age. Aud then, too what
changes had been wrought within my brief
memory! The woods and forests bad re-
treated fer back improvements had gone
forward, rude dwellings, had given way to
stately mansions; those that once regard
led as in LIES decline, had one after an
other gone dom to the honse appointed for
all the living the graveyard which once
contained bat a few solitary graves was
now full.
"Well !" said I, 81 too ana growing old"
''That Old Man" would he admit ita-
Hardly. No truth is more unwelcome, none
more slowly believed. OF how many may
it be said, as of old, '"grey hairs are upon
bin, yet he knoweth it not -
That old man is not here only, but he is
seen almost at every turn in life; he is be-
hind that counter, on that railcar; they
tbrong the cities end villages; they seldom,
if ever, stop amid LIES busy whirl, and con-
template that they are growing old. All!
those grey hairs man of business, they
have lesson for you. Ye who are toling
to plant your feet on the dizzy pinnacle of
fame, heed the silent admonition.; ye who
are painting to heap up fortune. how many
long and weary years has this been your
aim; already your step begins to falter.--
Whas mean those deep burrows. in your
cheek That form begins to bend already;
some unconscious stranger says. Who is
that "Old Man" or"O.d Womsna" Pause
now and admit the truth, that you are
growing old, and seriously ask yourself,
what have you done to meet LIES great
end have you left such an impress on the
age in which you live, as you will be pleased
to review in that day when the strong men
shall bow themselves Z