Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-11

the drapery Of ones couch rather than
the scnurging to nne's dungeon. And
this, think, Is the reward Of growing
old gracefully"
"Ah, but where will you find the
teachers, Smith ?"
"There are those who are naturally
noble; they would complement shame
and show the mass, who are naturally
weak, the compensations Of each age.
Indeed, | think men would of them
selves choose the correct course We're
they not lured by the songs of the Siren
of Hope and her daughter.
"Hope. | thought White Handed
Hope was towering angel girt with
golden wings. And who is her daughter,
pray"
Yes, ana men wait to sec her hover
and are lost in amazement al the sheen
Of her flight, and luug to kiss those
white hands, and all the while the
clocks are ceaSelessly ticking. her
daughter is Reconstruction, whose sire
was Faulty A beautiful mother and IL
more beautiful daughter. But they sing
of success and never effect il. Why,
twhen was 90 was always dreaming
Of what ! would do when | was 30, and
consequently saw no harm in waiting.
At 30, Hope proposed an adjournment
until 40 this was seconded by her dutl-
full child and carried unanimously.
NOW at 40, | feel, as | said, as if |
were 20, hence there is every prospect
Of this programme being repeated, 50
that at 50 | shall be just where am
now. OF course there are stumbling
blocks, like Barton was ut the reunion
One hcsitatcs to read biographies lest
the subject shall prove to have been a
reproying youthful phenomenon, Pitt
and Napoleon and Hannibal and Alex
ander become denominations i'll ones
sight, and one secretly rcjoices that the
boy never escaped from the burning
deck. So when | consider life am apt
to feel confused
| 81 think you also said sad!"
"Oh, as for that" replied my friend
Smith, conlplacently, There is plenty
Of time. Before reach my prime some
of my suggestions for reform will be
adopted, and then we shall see whether
the tortoise cant get away with tho
| hare every time Tho trouble is every
man has pet mental likeness Of him
sell taken at his very best, which never
changes nor fades, and SO he imagineE
he continues to remain. You, yourself
old fellow, to be personal for the SAKE
Of d friendly argument, doubtless think
that you are as trim and slim as whcl
you pulled bow oar on the class crew
While as matter Of fact You AT,
actually fat, and
"Fat!h exclaimed, rather nettled
81 can wear the very best dress suit
was married i'll. Physician heal thy
self, There's mirror over there, 3
and for once really look at yourself.
Ny friend smith rose and stood bcfor
the pier glass. He gaAcd long am
earnestly and he sighed. And yet Sinitl
is II well-prescrved man, rs the phras
goes. True, there are crows feet an,
the hair is rather retiring over hi
brows, but he is straight and buoyant
and have heard ladies that they dcarl
loved an iron-gray moustache. Pei
haps, though, in the depths Of hi
melancholy cyes-Smth's eyes are al
ways melancholy, even when he's mos
whimsical--he saw reproachful memo
rias, for he sighed and came and stoo
j by my chair.
"Why smith," cried. "Sit dowl
: The night is as young as We are, and
81 think | shall 90 home to my cas-
chair snd slippers" said my frtcn
{ Smith. "Good night, old man, l VOL
say boy, good night"