Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-09-11
THE OLD MANS VISION.

Is not this an exquisite pen picture by I'M
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 dear 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 hu-
man 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 bat
tie of life, and women whispered to each
other:
"Perhaps an angels hand smoothed down
his gray locks as the dampness of death gath
cred on his wrinkled forehead"
There were women there who had given 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 60 on
fighting hunger and poverty forever. The
old mans heart was like flint. He did not
seem thankful for the food given him, and
sometimes he was harsh to the children as
they blocked his path. But when the women
and children walked softly in to look upon
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"
It was not strange that the face of the dead
wore that smile. When the human heart
has been embittered against the world-when
an old man has been wronged by men, fol-
lowed by hunger and driven to despair, he
cannot die with that burden on his soul.
Heavens gates must be opened 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 with me as
they should, but forgive each and ALL
When the old man woke in darkness and
felt the touch of death at his heart, there were
no tears in his eyes, and he grimly rejoiced
that his aching limbs would find rest at last.
Then the angels threw back the gates and the
lights came. They came with it, singing so
sweetly and tenderly, that the old man start
ed up in fear that he might lose single
note. They walked around him-they float.
ed above him, and all the while his hard
heart was growing softer, and filling with
such feelings as he had not known for years:
"Men have sneered at your gray locks and
trembling limbs, but you must forgive them,
whispered the angels.
81 can-I do| he replied. ~.
Poverty has oppressed you-misfortune
has walked with you-woe and sorrow have
been your companions, but you must not
blame the world,'' they whispered.
81 forgive all men,. he answered.
"Bebold the light from heaven-listen to
the music which is heard outside the golden
gates, except by the dying-look yonder and
tell US what you see" .-.........
Peering into the glorious light while the
film of death gathered over his eyes, the old
man read:
"None so old and poor and helpless 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 tender smile they
saw on the white face.