Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-09-03
"CrOwsfeet "---Tbeir Meaning.

"This old looking-glass OF mine It's a
friend I've known and consulted since first
arrived at the dignity of room of my own
and it used to show me smooth, rosy face
plump and fair-not very beautiful, perhaps,
but pleasant to look upon, or so some people
said. But it is ten years since | looked into
it, and now Just see the lines distinctly
traced along the forehead, and the little crow
quills under the eyes, the wan, colorless
cheeks, and-father, why need people grow
old 2"
81 wouldn't talk about growing old Just
yet, daughter, because the face that looks at
you from the glass is more matronly than it
was wont to be in those girlsh days when
the old house was your only home, or be-
cause your recent illness has thinned and
paled the rosy cheek, and the cares and re-
sponsibilities of wifehood, motherhood and
housewifery have begun to register the years
that are passing. They have written slight
lines as yet, which to some eyes make the
face fairer and more expressive than ever be
fore. But growing old Look at my face
and see the wrinkles there"
81 But that's Just what mean. Every one
giows older and older, and since came back
have been constantly panied by noting the
difference in the faces of all my old friends.
Why cannot people continue beautiful to the
very last and die as the day does-more
beautiful at its close than at its beginning ?"
-" But the beauty of its close is not the
beauty of its beginning, and maintain that
in the majority of old faces which you see
the lines are curves of beauty, rendering
them much more attractive, even as
closely-printed page is more attractive than
a blank sheet You've heard of the Rosetta
stone? Well, I've lately heen reading of
cuneiform inscriptions and cuttings ON the
solid rocks, which have for centuries seemed
unmeaning if not deforming lines. Recently
the sardns have found the key for decipher-
ing them, and they prove to be full and
minute descriptions of the marches of con-
quering armies, mingled with praises of the
heroes of antiquity and historical data much
needed as missing links of our knowledge
OF those times. | have thought that such
runes were on the faces of our friends: let
us try to decipher some of them.
Z" There's Senator Bradley; cannot you
read in the deep valley separating those
broad temples the massive brain-work which
mapped out those legislative enactments that
have so changed our national laws and Gus
toms? In Professor Landon's face, drawn
into Fuckers and cross-wrinkles, | see the
microscope and the patient research which
has eliminated in those immortal mono
logues so vastly extending our knowledge of
the insect creation; and one can almost
enumerate the catalogue of DIR. HIS novels
in the lines running across his brow. The
ugly red mark on the side of Mr.. Blanchard's
face tells the story of his bravery in saving
poor old lame Mr.. Newcomb from the fire as
plainly as the bayonet cut reminds us that
General Greene fought nobly through all the
battles of the Peninsula. Then there is that
beautiful Miss Payne-you remember her as
such in your childhood-who married the
missionary she had loved for so many long
years, went to Fiji with him, and came home
last year, the widows white-bordered cap
surrounding face scanned with the water
courses of tears, yet illuminated with the
quiet sunshine which comes from a will able
to say Thine, not mine, be done sup
pose Mrs. Spooner looks to many young peo-
pie like wrinkled old woman, but to me
she is even more beautiful than in the days
when had she 50 wiled she might have been
the mother of my children, for in every cross
line, every deep furrow in the hollow cheeks
aud sunken eyes, read the record of the
patiently borne sights and insults of dis
sipated husband and the agonizing cares and
fears OF mother subjected to seeing her
BOYS, led by this evil example, wandering
away from her into the dark shadows of sin.
But across these are other runes telling of
loving patience and persistent PRAYER that
never ceased its importantly till all the loved
ones were in their right minds, at the feet
of Jesus
"And read in the burrows and crows
feet of my dear fathers face the story of a
life given to God in the ministry of his Son
a husband, or house-band, iudiciously keep.
ing all together in a large family with small
salary, instant In season and out of season
alike in his chosen work aud in the care and