Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1868-05-30


An old man, nearly eighty ysars old. vi
going homo, to begin his rest this Saturda
night. We knew him-many Of you di
not. He was poor. With hardly rsof
his own. and his frisnds-thsy nearly :
left him ssms years ago when povert
caught him in that terrible grasp! W
could but shed tears - hs passed by nsarl
alone. Iis had virtues but no dollars
the mourners we're fsw. IL il not stsane
what crowds will follow the coffin in whie
the clink OF gold 10 heard!
We waited the return Of the short ORE
cession. The bell had stopped its quivst
ing tolling-i's trembling robs vibrating il
tho air, too, had hushsd as II there wss n
cause to mourn, now that the good man va
at rest! The robin which sang at our win
dow had returned, and was busy prsparinI
a homo for her little ones in time - th
mourners trottsd horses past on their W.,
home. II seemed to us that no oue meusn
Cd, and we slowly walked to the lonely bss
under which slept the one who had gone
the losd Of soil on his frame less than tn,
load of sorrow on his heart 30 lately
We stood by the gravs-a long, fnl
sized one. Near il was little ons-hard
ly big enough to make decent piilsv fSI
20 sxpsnsivs . bed, for that souch vas al
We who lived gave that poor old man fol
all the work he done on earth fss eur bsa.
eft! II he has not treasure in Heavsn
Con pity him indeed
We stood by the grave-Ws lsaned
against . marble slab Z few steps away
and plain % words ever came ffom mor(a
lips they came to Us from that new mad,
grave. with such slastliag distinctnsss i
seemed as II the occupant thereof VA
neither dead nor sleeping. We listened tc
tho words. and il you would knew what
they were rsad- 8Ffa 4g
Thank you, ny cen, for coming to se,
mo. do not expect many visitors new,
for pine 10 not % attractive = nshoeauy
have no fears that tho feet OF strangsrs
will ever beat down oil the wild graso:thai
msy grow over and around my bed 70 keel
tho sun from baking the earth in which
rest. am old. | need rest. lam tired
Of the world-am sick of the vanitiss. ~
falsehoods, its corruptions, its heilow
hsartsdnsss. and thank God thai my Sos
mrdoy Night has come that may get my
pay Ones | WAS like you--young, full
blosdsd, high-hopsd and conildsnt for ths
future. I had friends, for ! had wealth
and had few friends who locked on md
with good hearts and pure motives. buiIl
houses, I bartered in business places, made
presents 10 those loved, and was snvisd
hstsd, pstted, feared. carssssd, aud inpos
ed on - others ere every dsy. In boy hood
dreamad of wealth, power and happiness,
and planned flowers to the tomb which
then seemed long way of! New il sseml
but this morning my mother held me "a
her broast and kissed tho tears from my
eyes, ss did the mother last week kiss them
from the eyes Of the little one elespiae q
few feet from me ] have been sad aud
happy-sick and well-young and Old
rich and poor. have lived IN want and
atnuencs-have suffered and seen sthsrs
suifer-have seen the young speak badly
Of the old, and the Old Of the young.
But, my boy, that which gave inc most
pain was to see and hear men AID women
speaking i'll Of each other, and to see the
young derid'ng the aged and seeking to
wound their feelings, aud to act ~ il they
would be glad to see us no more forever
have been young and was old. And lst
mo ask you to ask others 10 speak more
kindly to those who have been young, who
have toiled for years to make homes fer you
who wish we'll to all. Ii is not lcne that
oil man, or that old woman can stay with
you. And 40 ron do BY them, 90 will 9th
srs do BY you. | know, my boy, when I
was . warm bloodsd lover, I too picked
flowers for her loved, and 'asath The shad-
ows Of a tanializing moon, stole kisses from
lips Of wondrous sweetness. toilsd early
and late-I built house, resred fami-
ly-I worked and saved, and bsautifisd my
home-and gazsd on it with pride, for it
was beautiful. Aud yet this suits me bet
ter, for here am at rest No cares disturb
me. lam not in want. Ny work 10 done.
Had to do It over again, I would perhaps,
alter few Of my plans, that might be still
nearer HIx who gives me rest here, and
Heaven hsresiter a. l have been honest,
liberal. forgiving and upright in love and
chsrity while in what you call life.
And let me tell you, my boy. there is
more in life than you think for. 1t is not
all to get wealth, position or influence. II
10 in how you use these gifts, and who you
benefit. have never wrongsd man Or
child-if ever spoke cross word asked
forgiveness-if ever did wrong haste ned
to make reparation-and now my bed, tho
narrow aud dark to you, 10 easy and light to
Inc, for the lamp have Tor fcurseers years
been filing, will not enjy lAsa ne through
tho gloom. but over ths dsrk river, to oths
realms Of that light in the east, W all can
find If ws but seek III
Do not, my son, live all for yourself. A
few more days. few more Satsrday
Nights-and ysur pay On earth will esase-
you, too will come home to rest. When
you see bending form--a whited head.-a Z
face in which care 10 weaving the fabric Of
age, do not hasten Away and leave the aged
enc to die alone. The werld is wide.
There is no haste-no need for you to wish
the tottcring old form odt Of the wsy. The
trembling steps are directed here aad
the slow gait on earth d deaths gsliop =
the gravel ..-8,,..
Be net proud, ill-willsd, svsricicss, sci.
fish, unkind. sgotistioal, purse-pfeud, over
bearing. rsvsngsful, cailsas-hsartsd, con
seiencelees and Indifferent fot etbsrs. The
world 10 not oil ysurs. Toss ysass ass but
moments, q best, and 10 mAe0ef bow yeu
build, or what yosr dssigu, here isths hsms
you must live Ia I The days eono std 70.
The years como and 90. The snn wit giss
warmth. The wind give Tie u ths air- -
moon will looek down upea-shs sesro g11n-
tsn-ths grass, and plants, and fruits gro0
for others just 20 veil - thsv 10 lof you,
for yours 10 not The exleusivs right to ail
these The riches you aecumulale. ethsrs
will squandsr or hossdi The carpets you
walk On nov, others will weaf out NE
books you read. others will dsslroy. The
little keepSakee 20 dear to you, others viii
look over, and throw By, q worthless trim
kets, belonging to an old man, or On old
woman, who you will say wss fool to wor-
ship these But the time Will cone, my
son, whom you will know how ~ aged onsa
are welded to the little things ef the paso-
little islands in the hot 80 q kfe!'g -
Tho roof which shelters you Vim sAe)tR
others tho little boxss and dYawSra 4.
which the secret Of years are locked and
guarded, will be opened and rauaack0d by
the curious. The life yon kiss now1anothcr
viii isssswith equal relah ailsr yon ars.6t
rest BY my side The swelling voino van
admire on account Of their wonderful storv
Of life, others will aamito. and The NJ
words you give will souud ~ ths same ears
after you havs taken arooidsoee with thoee
Of ths silsut cty. -
The wesad is nes pears, Il = His lrhs
beautiful in Il are not for goa alepe. bat fsr
an a sssak asA >~>e~.S rx-X-s1