The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-12
The Old Mans Vision.

Is not this an exquisite pen picture by
an. Quad"
An old man died the other night-died
in his bed. The papers said he was a
poor old man, friendless, living on charity
and that his life had been drear and full
of bitterness. The old man died alone,
the darkness of night hiding the darkness
of death until his eyes opened to the
brightest, fairest vision human eyes ever
beheld. There was tender smile on his
pale face when they found him dead.
Men wondered at it, knowing how sadly
and hopelessly he had fought the battle
of life, and women whispered to each
other:
"Perhaps an angels hand smoothed
down his gray locks as the dampness of
death gathered on his wrinkled forehead" "
There were women there who had Civ
en- him money, and women who had fed
him. They knew that he was old and
weak and poor, but they had not thought
of his dying, and his white face shocked
them. They had not stopped to think
that one could not go on fighting hunger
and poverty forever. The old man S
heart was like flint. He did not seem
thankful for the food given him, and some
times he was harsh to the children as they
blocked his path. But when the women
and children walked softly in to look up
on the dead they forgave him everything,
forgot everything, and said:
"He was poor old man, and we sorrow
that his life was not full Of sunshine"
1t was not strange that the face OF the
dead wore that smile When the human
heart had been embittered against the
world-when an old man has been
wronged by men, followed by hunger and
driven to despair, he cannot die with that
burden on his soul. Heavens gates must
be opened a little TO let the glorious light
of paradise shine into the dying mans
eyes, and soften his heart until he will
say, "Men have not dealt by me as they
should, but ! forgive each and all"
When the old man awoke in the dark
ness and felt the touch of death at his
heart, there were no tears in his eyes, and
he grimly reioiced that his aching limbs
would find rest at last Then the angels
threw back the gates, and the light came.
They came with it, singing so sweetly
and tenderlv, that the old man started up
in fear that he might lose single note.
They walked around him-they foated
above him, and all the while his hard
heart was growing softer, and filling with
such feelings as it had not known for
years.
"Men have sneered at your gray locks
and trembling limbs, but you must for
give them," whispered the angels.
81 can-I dom he replied
poverty has oppressed you-misfor-
tune has walked with you-woe and Sor-
row have been your companions, but you
must not blame the world" they whis-
pered.
~ forgive all men," he answered
"Bchold the light from heaven-listen
to the music which is never heard out
side the golden gates, except by the dying
look yonder and tell us what youisee'
Peering into the glorious light while
the film Of death gathered over his eyes,
the old man read
"None SO old and poor and hopeless
that heavens gates are shut against them
A spirit scared away and it was only
clay which the men and women looked
upon next day, and wondered at the ten
der smile they saw on the white face.