The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1879-08-27
mo-. /.
TIE OLD MANS VISION.
Is not this an exquisite pen pic.


Is not this an: exquisite pen pic.
ture by NJ. Quad:
An old man died the other night
died in bis bed. Thepapers said he
was,a. peos.~old IMAM, friehdless,-lix-
ing onscharity and thatshfs life bad
been drear and full Of Bitterness
The old eman died alone, the dark
ness Of night hiding the darkness Of
death until his eyes opened to the
brightest, fairest vision human eyes
ever; .beheld. There was a tcnder
smile on his pale face when they.
found him dead..aMen ,:wondered-.at
it, knowing how sadly and hopeless
ly be had fought the battle of life,
and women whispered to each other:
perhaps an angels hand smooth
ed down his gray locks as the damp
ness of death gathered on his wrin.
killed. forehead:''''iSs ,is:f
There were wotnen 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
Ibis white face shocked them, They
had, mot stopped to think that one
could not 60 on fighting hunger and
poverty forever. The old mans
heart was like a flint: didenos
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 up.
on the dead, they aforgave him eve
|;rything, forgot everything, and said:'
"He was poor old man, and we
sorrow that his life Was not full Of
Sunshine" -. ,r,
/ It 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 beene wronged by,men,, followed
by hunger and driven to:despair, he
cannot dieswith that burden ION his,
soul. Heavens gates mustbe open.
ed a.little toilet the glorious light of
1 paradise shine into the dying mans
4 eyes. and soften his heart until he
j viii say, aMen lave not dealt by me
B as they should, but I forgive each
]: and ALL = ..s.so 1850 $
q When the old man awoke in the
Z 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 end rest at
Hast. Then the angels, three back
the gates, and the light, came. They
came. with it, singing SO sweetlyl aud
tenderly, that the old man tenderly.
that the old man started up in fear
THAT he might lose a single note.
They walked around him they
laoated above him, and all tile while
: his hard Heart was growing softer,
and filling with such feelings as IL
! HAD not known for years. h''1isal' 's'i'
Men have snrecred at your gray
! locks and trembling limbs, but you
must forgive them,", whispered the
angelsi s's'. ...si ae:7fi lsai r,sl.ss ..l,i
81 can-1ldo!". he replied II lsi
, Poverty has oppressed you mis-
fortune has. walked with you--woe
, and sorrow have been your compan.
lions, bit you must not, blame your
companions, but you must notSblame
the world they whispered, :.
ri forgive all mem" be answered.
!, "Behold The light from heaven heaven {.
listen to the music which Il never
heard outside the golden gates, e y.
, cept BY the dying look yonder and
tell US what you see" -
Peering into the, glorious light
while While the film Of death gathered over
This eyes, the old man read:
IL "None SO old ssd poor and hope.
!. less that heaven gates arc shut
against Them e',i.s15 > n .t.aisaN
] oAsspirit' SCARED away and IL was
! only clay which The men and women
a flooEedFupona nsxs day, End wondered
y at the tender smile they saw on tie
t Invite face. a}ag'a;'1a Z; 's.iA G'2ss.> ai4'
q fYstG l---.. .s< ~. - Z fssf'
) -THE Wheeling Register gives I'D
: account Of d woman zho had lauae-
q numed herself in The eighth war;"
r We don't think We eve met a verb
9 that we were 80 taken with i. trsi
: sight. 3 There is something yery
y winning about / laudanum, Thou