Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-02-09
For the Herald ana Tribune.
THE FETeST GRAY HAZE.

CHANGE is an ever active agent. 1t
leaves it's footprints upon all things. Even
Man that is born of woman is of few
days and full of trouble. he cometh forth
like flower and is cut down: he heeth
also as a shadow and continIeth not" As
the flower, he cometh forth beautiful and
delicate but the unlocked wheels Of time
bear him onward, and the inviting future
looms up before him. With heroic am
bition he climbs the rugged sleeps Of life,
his eye fixed on the goal which he expects
to attain. Health reddens his check and
hope beams from his eye The more he
gains and the higher he attains, the more
vigorous he becomes, till finally he stands
upon the acme of earthly glory. But
alas how short is his stay. y few revo-
lutions of the king of day and it is declar
ed unto him that he is blooming for the
tomb. The first gray hair has appeared.
Tnfirmity forces its claims upon Kim and
and he is reminded show vain are all
things here below" He has crossed the
meridian of life. No longer shall he hope
for higher positions in the courts Of earth,
but adown times rugged pathway he must
hasten with trembling steps. HIS ener-
g;es falter; the lustre. which hope had i'm
parted to his eye gives place to dimnoss Of
vision and the plow-shar of time lays wide
its furrows in his face. His earthly hopes
depart, but the welfare Of his children
becomes the desire of his heart. With
what interest lie watches the rising pro-
gress of that hopeful son! How he trem-
bles at the thought that temptations are
liable to entrap him in their snares and
drag him down to ruin. Hear his admo-
nitions, his warnings, his prayers! And
is it possible that any son can be so heed
iess--so wicked, as to grieve or disobey
HIS pious, silver locked father. or his de-
voted gray haired mother? IF any thing
on earth will move the sympathies of man,
it must be the words, and tears, and
| PRAYERS of an aged mother. Among the
many thousand blessings for which We
should be thankful to God, good moth
er should call forth the purest gratitude
of our hearts. Next to the teachings OF
the Bible, are her pious counsels.
Age begcts reverence. A gray haired
father, a good oil mother, the very thought
is prompted by respect and veneration.
But a wicked old man, an ungodly old
woman. Shuddering thought Though
sin is the author of gray hairs, let them not
whiten the locks of the wicked. Our orig
inal parents first wore them, yet we be-
lieve it was good old father Adam, and
faithful mother. Eve. Notwithstanding
sin has passed upon the human race and
gray hairs among its fruits, yet individual
sins hasten the hoary head.
The drunkard's head soon whitens be-
cause he continues long at the vine. The
murderer's head is soon hoary because he
remembers the blood which crieth against
him and breads the punishmeuts that
awaits him. So too, with the miser. the
gambler, and all classes of sinners. Their
| heads bloom, their frames totter, and un-
less they repent speedily they must go
down to the grave without one ray of
hope and in torments lift up their voices,
bcwailing their helpless condition.
Not so with the good old man. Per-
haps he may be servant of Christ.
Though his frame may be feeble and his
locks prematurely white-the result OF
much labor in his masters vineyard-yet
when he comes to die, he can say with
Paul, Il have fought q good fight, l have
finished my course, have kept the faith ;
IIenceforth there is laid up for me a crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge shall give me at that
day and not to me only, but to all who
love his appearing" M.
| HoIston Male Institute, Jan. lolS7l