Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-04-01

A VERY OLD LADY, recollect returning
from school one evening when child, and find
ing myself, as I entered the ''dooryard' al
home, ia the midst of group Of visitors, who
were taking leave of the family. A very old
lady, in a neat black "scoop shovel bonnet
was leaving on the arm of her daughter, who
was also an aged woman. Several others were
standing about-my own dear grandmother
among the rest-and all of them seemed to me
old enough to be the daughters Of Methuselah.
[ stood pccring at them curiously, sun bon
net in hand, when the very old lady came slow,
| ly towards me.
II old are you, little girl ?" she asked
Are you? I was six years old hundred
years ago.
| How started and looked up wonderingly
under the deep black bonnet She smiled as
she added, My dear child, am hundred
years older than you are;' and as she kissed
my forehead, and laid her thin hand tenderly
| on nv barehead telt even then that it was
| benedlction.
How honored we all felt by her presence J.
No one else was spoken of for week; and we
children all felt that it would be very pleasant
to live hundred years longer, and to be still
good-naturcd, and have everybody very proud
of US. Let me live to an old age, but let me
not outlive the free use of all my faculties,
should be the prayer and aspiration of every
child Let US point him to that goal, and bid
him seek to win the race. Heaven often forces
us to answer our own prayers; and we must I'M
doubtedly do so in this case, or they will remain
unanswered. We ought to live for old age just
in the spirit we are constantly eXhorted to live
for heaven, that is, to think Of it, take meas
ures to attain it, and make provision for it.
do lot mean merely the laying up of much
goods" for the ''many years. An honest old
age has right to be independent, and to be no
more Numbered with 'much serving" It
often needs change Let the old man be free
to leave his home occasionally, and with lis old
the world and enjoy it. They may thus add
stock of happiness, and more still to the vigor
and restoration Of decaying faculties After
three-score years and ten OF robust work, either
with brain or hands, society owes the veteran
competence, and every rational enjoyment which
it will procure; and it is all wrong if he has
not been able to obtain this.-At1anhc Monthly
tor April. .....
A SINGULAR Casa gentleman who
resides in Wilkes county, and was returning
home from Augusta on Thursday last entirely
lost the power Of speech soon after he left
Augusta. We heard him attempting to talk
soon after he got on the train, and in few
moments he could not articulate word. He
was in the possession of all other faculties, but
his lips were literally sealed His distress was
very touching and he wrote replies to ques-
tions addressed him by the passengers and
RI 30 Ioo~ L
He said that he had been on spree. He
hoped it was only species of detium and
would wear off with rest and sleep. He said
he had once been partially deprived of his
speech before, for short time, in Virginia.
His case attracted much attention among the
were satisfied that he was not using deception:
His case was a most forcibe illustration of
the summary and terrible manner in which
nature sometimes Furnishes violation of her
laws.-Athens Ga.) Banner.