Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-03-12
About Old Felix's.


nervous and disagrseable, we should con,
slider their childishness and their many
inGrmlties. We should realize that as
they grow old their senses begin to fail,
their minds begin to lose their lustre and
activity, and that they are consequently
less responsible for their words and co.
lions, than while they we're in fnll pos.
session Of their mental and physical pow>
ers.
There is a great difference in old peo-
PIC, some are fretful and fgety, they dis
like children and are averse to all pleas
ant converse with any enc, they have a
habit Of finding fault with everything and
everybody, and are accustomed to grum-
bic and fret about the most insignificant
and inconsequential things. They sirens
uously oppose all modern improvements
asd innovations upon old,time mannc
and customs, and they seem to have a firm
conviction IN their minds, that the world
is going to ruin as swiftly as its inhabi>
tants can propcl it along. If anything is
to be done when they are around, they
have many suggestions to make, and much
advice to offer, and they seem to feel
quite panied and grieved if their words
are not needed and their counsel followed.
They have a harmless way of referring to
the number of years they have lived rs
an unanswerable argument, that they
have learned wisdom by long experience.
always feel sorry for them, for while |
respect their opinions and good intentions,
| know that modern progress is doing
away with many of the old fashions that
were common in thcio better days.
There are other old people who retain
their mental powers in a remarkable de-
gree, their minds keep pace with the
progress Of the times. They realize that
the inventive genius of man is constantly
d~eyising new methods Of accomplishing
designs and purposes, that are preferable
to old-time customs. These are old pec-
pie with young hearts and big, generous
souls. They are full Of kindly feelings
for all.
There are three kinds of old people.
GrandInothers, GrandfatherS and Relics.
Many of the most beautiful recollec,
tions that we have are Of our grandmoth>
ers, and osour childish visits to the old.
fashioned homesteads where they resided.
We remember their industrious and fru-
gal ways, and recall the peerless pies and
cookies that they used to give us, when
we were blessed with better appetites
than we have now. Nor have we forgot>
ten the kindly anxiety they manifested
FOR us when in ouryoung and tender years
we were overtaken by the whooping
cough, measles, Group, and those other
similar evils that flesh is heir to. How
carefully they nursed us and dosed us
with their infalllble remedies until we
were we'll. What dear good old women
they were, and what perfect models they
also were Of neatness, patience, good.naj
ture and Christian resignation. Their
everyday lives were but living ~illustra.
tions of the lessons they endeavored to
instil into the minds Of others. They are
gone now. Their faces are seen no more.
Their homes have passed into, other hands.
Like the flowers they used to train SO
tenderly in the windows, they are with~
cred and dea6. The sounds of their
kindly voices have forever grown still.
Our grandfathers were our fayoribe
playfellows, They taught us how TO make
our tops, our kites, our bows and arrows.
White-haired and venerable old men they
were. Always ready to take us upon
their knees and tell us stories, that we
have not forgotten even to this day. One
by one the brittle threads of their lives
are being broken. Let us honor and res
we're them while they ere with us, for
they have but q little while to lingcr in
the land of the living.
BY relics l refer 10 that unfortunate
class of individuals who are found upon
investigation to be the ancient remains of
old maids and old bachelors. The un-
fortunate few who are left alone in the
world with no families to care for, no
children to love them, and no g~randchil.
oren to amuse them, Their infrmities
are too many, and their misfortunes too
painful, to be particularly enumerated.
Nothing in life is more beautiful than
a tranquil and happy old age that lovely
Indian summe that comes after the toll
and tumult Of our earthly existence is
over, when n can sit down in calm and