Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1891-07-01
BEAUTIFUL OLD AGE.
An Eloquent Tribute TO the Period OF
Declining Strength.

There is such n thing as beautiful old
age. When the rosy color is all gone,
when the pretty dimples have become
wrinkles, and youths charming graces
have disappeared beneath the gnawing
tooth of time, then comes the period that
tries of What material the man or woman
is made. Alas for the old age that has
nothing left it but wrinkles and gray
hairs. Nature takes a horrible revenge
upon the life that has been given over 10
selfish pleasure seeking first and selfish
repining afterward. There are few
objects more pitiful than an old peegi,h,
discontented man or woman. with life
steadily going out ike the flame of
burned out candle, and with nothing
pleasant to dwell upon in the past, moth
ing hopeful to look forward to in the
future.
But lovely old age Draw up the arm
chair place the foot stool before it, and
bring the young people to look upon this
perfect beauty that comes when the year
has been prosperous one and the shock
is fully ripe for the garner. There Is no
other beauty like il; the beauty Of ma
tured, well rounded, harmonious life,
ready and waiting for the change that
will come as softly as the closing in OF
summer evening.
Blessed is the household that has an
armchair in it, where the closing Of life
is filed with submission and hope, with
resignation and peace and trust. A fig
ure is in my mind while | write-the fig
ure of an old lady whose hair is as white
as asnowdrift. What storms have passed
over that whitcncd head, l wonder:
Along what thorny paths has she been
compelled to go? Doubtless, troubles
have closed around her many times, until
il seemed that there was no way of es-
cape but she was led on, step by step,
and there was always the pillars of cloud
by day, or fire by night. She has come
past all the thorny ways at last, and rests
on the shores of the placid river. what
a lovely fVce, is the cry Of every one
who sees her, and people turn and look
after her lingeringly. What a lovely
facet
Blessed is the household that has an
armchair in it. Put the armchair in the
cheeriest corner Let light and pleasant
conversation and genial laughter be about
it. If YOU have cares, keep them toyour-
self. The trembling form that sits in the
armchair has borne the burden fora long
time, and now has the right TO lay it
down Some day there will be no use
for the old chair. The snowy hair viii
be smoothed down for the last time; the
wrinkled face will settle into profound
reposc. Keep smiles and sunny warmth
for trembling old age while it is here
When we come to occupy the old arm
chair how will it be with us, ] wonder;
Perhaps we. too, will find that the tears
come easily, for 50 many who started
through life with us have grown weary
and fallen by the wayside; perhaps we
will find thatwe did not fight our battles
as earnestly or unseliishly as we might
have done; perhaps feeble age and its scn-
forced inactivity will stir up al that is
bitter and rebellious in our nature. But,
ah! let us hope not Let Us live 50 truly
and nobly that when lat the last shall
come old age" it shall crown us with the
placid restfulneSs that should come at the
close of every well spent life, and may
all our doubts and struggles be answered
when we journey down to the tomb and
find the stone rolled away.-St. Louis
Globe-DemOcrat.