Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-06
Cheerfulness Of Old Age.

You don't feel the horizon pressing you
too closely. You have space in which to
stretch yourself. A little will do, if your
mind is healthy. Nor is the lookout, in fact,
so much shorter. All you have had of life
is so much saved out of the fire. You were
never sure of it till you had lived it. You
never could count certainly on day ahead
at any time, however early in your life. And
you are in no worse condition now. The
possible time before you is much less, doubt
less but you hope for the best; you look
for the best. There is better, doubtless
but you know what mean. The consent
Of wise and good folk, free from morbid and
transient moods, has concluded that long
life is blessing. 1t cannot be the greatest,
or it would not be denied to so many. 1t
may be a kindly-permitted illusion that it is
blessing at all but il is well the illusion
is permitted, if it be one. And as for aver
ages, we disregard all such calculations in
our own case. You fancy yourself to be such
an exceptional being that you look (most
have remarked this decidedly in men who,
in fact, are wiser than men in general. Be
sides that, the short lookout contents that
we can enjoy the golden and brown au-
tumn leaves without intruding thoughts of
the bleak, vet winter boughs besides the
fact, too, that transience sometimes adds a
singular enjoyment as well as beauty
which is all its own; the healthy mind lives
in pervading atmosphere rather than de-
fined conviction that the end is not so near
after all, and cheerfully calculates on good
long time yet. A little since, talking with
dear friend who had been lifted high, my
friend Brown said something implying that
they both must soon bid the beloved work
and the beautiful surroundings farewell.
"Not at ALL" said the energetic and health
full pillar of the state, al look forward, please
God, for another twenty years" And Brown
was corrected. For even after the twenty
years the pillar OF the state would be only
seventy-four; and wherefore count on an
abridgment of honor and usefulness Brown
was six months the younger but by being
overworked and worried he had got into the
four years would see the last of MIN. And
indeed, there are those who early in Septem
Der feel as though the winter were upon
them and who at thirty-fve talked of them
selves as old. But this is wrong as well a.
depressing Some cannot help it. Johr
Foster was great man but his ways o.
thinking on most matters were essentially
morbid. Never more so than in the griey
Gus fashion in which he anticipated need
lessly soon the winter which he specially
dreaded. ~ have seen fearful sight to
day." he once said; 81 have seen butter
cup" He could not enjoy the present green
ness and warmth for intrusive fears of the
coming cold and desolation. He was wrong
far wrong. You don't blame him you pity
him. But, body and mind, he never knew
brisk health. There are great many
thoughts which it is quite fit that we reso
lutely put away. A mischievous mortal, de
string to overcloud the blink of sunshine il
which others are rejoicing, does not need t.
tell them anything that is not true. Yol
remember Mr.. Croaker and his frequent sen
timent "Heaven send we all be as well thi
day six months" Then a shadow would fal
upon the faces of the middle-age folk a
when meddling idiot asks them what the
are to make of their boys. Those things ar
thought of quite often enough, be sure
without the idiots inopportune Interference
-Fraser's Magazine.