The banner-enterprise., 1883-11-24
GROWING OLD. GRACEFULLY.

WV "A4No wa 0As<ASA~A SAA<4'
1t is said that the greatest vigor ofmiad
and body are attained at about The age ef
35. From this time until the sge Of ~ {,
we remain at the height Of our strength,
and then we begin slowly to descend The 9
hill towards old age, losing little BY ittIs,
the gracefulness and elasticity Of youth,
and the elearness and strength Of mind
and muscle that characterize The pripeof
life.
What man is ct 40 he genenaily viii y
be more or less all bis lite a lsast there :
is little hope of q change for the better.
The hsbits are then formed and fxed d.
most beyond the hope Of change i the lpEu
tune made, If it is to be made ct ah the
social and family relations decided for bet
ter or for worse; and the charSsteFof de
individual almost lrrevocably stamped for ,
time and for eternity.
IL has been said that If . man is not
handsome at twenty, wise at thirty, rich
at forty, and honored at fifty, he will new.
er be handsome, wise, rich or hon0Fed,
and the same is true of woman. ln early
life the years 90 slowly, in middle life
they pass more quickly, and as We sd-
vance they seem to fly more and more
rapidly, till year seems no longer to US
than once seemed a month or week.
For those who have passed the meridi-
an Of life, certain suggestions may be use
full ss means Of prolonging life and use
fulness.
|. Take time to rest. The intervals Of
repOse must be more frequent and periods
Of labor less severe and prolonged as lite
goes on. Certain duties must be given
up to the younger members Of the family.
1t may be little hard to give them up
but as the years go by we must be con-
tent to do less, to take less active part
and less conspicuous place in the scene
Of our former labors.
We must give up work. Exercise Of
the faculties is necessary to keep them in
good order. Nothing tends to make one
grow old faster than to give up altogether
the customary business or occupation.
Interesting employment for the faculties
is as essential to health and happiness in
age as in youth, but more time must be
taken for rest, more time for pleasant
reading, and healthful recreation. and
quiet social enjoyment.
2. As strength Of brain and body de-
cline we must not only assign to ourselves
less laborious mental and bodily labor,
but we must remember that the digestive
powers are not 80 strong as formerly, and
be careful to choose such food as We have
found by observation and experience TO be
best suited to our temperament and idior
syncrasies, carefully avoiding what has
proved injurious, and choosing what Is
nourishing and easily digested.
g. Excitement, excesses and Irregular
ties Of all kinds must be carefully avoid
ed.
A bright and happy old age is always
characterized by tranquility and cheerful
ness. -.st
1t is a blessed thing that the heart nev.
er grows old. The sight may grow dim,
the hair whiten, the strength fail. the
steps totter, but our love for our dear ones
is as warm and true as ever.
Love never dies. never grows old. and
as with advancing years the number Of
loved ones not lost, but gone before, In
creases. with what joyful authorizations
may we not think Of the not far distant
time when they will be ready to welcome
us TO that beautiful world where free from
all sorrow, sin and pain We may rejoice
with them forever. There alone may we
find the fountain 80 long sought but never
found, the spring Of perpetual youth.
There every faculty and power Of heart
and brain will be renewed and enlarged.
Happy for us if we have ever loved the
good, the true and the beautiful, for our
ruling love here will there be developed,
and make our joy or misery.
Let us cultivate more and more broad
charity towards all, and firm confidence
in our heavenly Fathers love to us that
will enable US to receive with thanksgiv-
ing not only every Joy but every trial and
sorrow, knowing that whatever He sends
US is for our best good.
Look forward. and not backward, out
ward and not inward, upward and not
downward, and lend helping hand
So shall the peaceful sunset Of lite be
but the prelude TO glorious hereafter. -