The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1870-12-22
From the N. Y. Methodist ]
Happy Old Age.

Nothing so smooths out wrinkles from
the brow as a sound Christian experience.
When the heart is full of peace, the face
is apt to be full of smiles. The counten-
ance, as a faithful index of the soul cannot
do otherwise than manifest the Joy which
reigns within. The best way to make a
good face is to cultivate a good heart 1t
is one of the compensations for the decay
of nature, that age can derive a serenity
and lustre from the radiant spirit of piety,
which renders it so attractive as to forbid
all thought of diminished power and
every feeling of repulsion Everything
is beautiful in its time If the glory Of
young men is their strength, the beauty
of old men is the gray head. "The gray
head is a crown of glory when it is found
in the way of righteousness. All things
young and tender draw by their sweetness
and promise-innocenc is associated with
them, and there is a charm in original
freshness for the hardest nature; hence,
all men delight in young children and
young animals; but equally, age which is
ripened by large and healthful experiences,
mellowed by happy and generous views
of God and humanity, is an object of
universal recognition and pleasure. The
happy old man is never envied or hated,
but always congratulated and loved. Hav-
ing passed the rivalries and strifes of life,
he usually receives the full measure of
consideration which is his due
We say the happy aged man is never
envied; yet truly, if any mans state is to
be coveted, it is his. Better is the end
of u thing than the beginning thereof.
A journey safely ended, work well fin
ished, battle fought and the victory
won: surely to end life with a good con-
science, to arrive at advanced years with
character unimpeached faith undim-
med, and a spirit unbroken-this is a
consummation of all others most to be
desired. We look at a child, and while
we are drawn towards its simplicity and
are impressed with its promise, yet cold
shudder creeps over us as we think of the
possibilities of evil which the little nature
congresses within it, What an uncertain
path it must tread To how many dan.
gers it must be exposed So that, in the
presence of the joy inspired by childhood
there obtrudes tho terrible misgivings as
to its future and ultimate safety. But nc
such doubts come when we look into the
calm eyes of the veteran Christian, whose
habits of goodness have become so fixed
as to make his final salvation almost il
not wholly moral certainty. Wewould
think it a great privilege to see angels
who have been in heaven Angels are all
about us. These aged saints Of God, who
if they have not already been there, are
quite as sure to be as if their feet had al
ready touched the pavements of gold, d,ano
the crowns of glory had already pressed
their victorious brows. One Of Gods bes
gifts to his Church is, that he allows sucl
to linger among his people in every com
munity whose names are household words
synonyms of piety, and whose presence il
a holy fragrance in the congregation ant
in the home.
If there is a peculiar satisfaction in con
templating age purified and gladdencc
by piety, there is an equally intense pain
in looking at an old person who is desti
tute of the comforts OF religion. It's bat
enough when such an one, however amia
Bile and thoughtful, is Indifferent to spil
itual truth; to see an aged man, who's
days are few, insensible to its claims is
sad sight; but to see him not only insen'
ible, but wicked and frivolous, is bot
painful and pitiable. There is somethin
50 far removed from good sense, as we