The Southern herald., 1885-11-21
oLD AGE

Why should cid age alwsys Be 70.
garded viii such dismay and distrusti
"AlEzy'' is TIE right word. for who
does not shrink from the thought even
IL ones private ehamber9 A lady said
on this subject (and I think gentlemen
are equally aaected); Il suppose the
fact that We. ourselves. are really old.
always comes % us with a pang. very
well remember how il came to me. and
the shock l received p consequence. ]
was admitted to a friends door BY
little girl. who ran to announce my ar.
rival to my friend in the next room; and
I distinctly heard her say. in loud
whisper; It's an Old woman. Imusi
confess. ladies, il came TO me with .
force that / shall never forget Ii
seems to be q universally conceded
fact, but IS it really necessary, this
aversion? Is there not beauty and a
glory in the ripening process Of age, il
we look at it Alright? And should we
not cultivate this view Of an inevitable
doom, or growth. rather? How rever-
entity we look upon beautiful old age
Youth has passing beauty-mOre than
that-sn almost divine glory, at its
best; but face crowned with soft white
hair, beautiful with lines of experience
that have developed all the Christian
graees of faith, hope and charity; face
that seems to have known, borne and
conquered many joys and many sor-
rows, and at the last rises triumphant
over all, singing, as it tnears the horizon
Of hfe's boundary.
20, grave. where is thy victory2
o, death. where is thy stingY'
Such face is Joy forever. Then we
who have been early friends all travel
together into the region Of age. Who
would wish to remain stationary while
all bis eompeers journeyed on? WhoP
1t isn't going down there comes our
troublei because our steps falter we
look at the grave, while we should
rather rejoice that the fainting of the
earthly releases us from the sordid clay;
little by little we throw it aside prepar.
atory to its loosening altogether and
setting us free to roam the fields Of
light While the eye becomes dim and
DINNER to earthly vision, the eye Of
faith should become brighter and
brighter. When earthly sounds
become indistinct then with a
quickened spiritual ear we dis
Germ near and more near the ravishing
strains issuing from the temples Of
the New Jerusalem. This loosening ol
the clay seems to be merciful provis-
ion, to save us from the too sudden
shock of death. When he comes SC
gentle, taking this. and removing that,
from our path, that no obstacle shall
hinder our going, and one falls like the
ripened grain in its season, there
is no unnatural terror, as when
one suddenly falls without
note or warning The trembling
hand and faltering step are loosening
the spirit and preparing it for its wings,
1t has outgrown these earthly helps
that are becoming hindrances; even a:
the growing child disclaims to creeT
when it can walk; or if it returns to it
creeping, bungles at it, and laughs a
its own pretty folly. Old age shoulC
not be sad as its liberation approaches
joyful, rather that the time Of its re
lease is at hand. Do we mourn whei
the ripened fruit falls to be gathereC
for our delectaionP Is it not NOR
beautiful, as well as useful, than whel
in all the glory and perfume Of It's flow
ering season we beheld it with raptur
and anticipation Look at the reverent
and beautiful heads Of Bryant an,
Longfellow. In all their youthful prid
and promise do they compare wit
theseP The discipline Of right livinI
and right thinking, Of right doing an,
right being, makes beautiful the hoar
head and aged face. 'Tis a culminatio
Of the beautiful and best in life, and
preparation that insures an entranc
into that building Of God, that hom
not made with hands, eternal in tn
heavens.
" Fill up each hour with what will last;
Buy up the moments as they go;
The life above, when this is past,
Is the ripe. fruit Of life below"
Chicago Interior.