Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-05-24
ON GROWING OLD.
Not Everybody Knows How to Do it
With Much Grace.

With Much Grace.
Growing old is not a pleasant exper-
fence, we are obliged to confess. 1t
comes like a shock 10 us when we first
wake up to the reality. We wonder
now long it may have been since others
nave noticed and commented upon it.
When some friend invites us to "a
grandm0thers' tea with the apology
Il knew you have grandchildren, we
are aroused to the consciousness that
perhaps We do not see ourselves as
others see us. We arc constrained to
take our bearings by comparing and
contrasting our feelings and our ex-
perlences with our younger friends.
We rebel inwardly, even though we
should die and make no sign, when
we see ourselves set aside and the
younger ones taking our places. We
know there is q great deal said and
written about burrows on beautiful
brOws. wrinkle hands that have done
LIES duties well, and all that tt may
sound very we'll on paper, but the act
ual facts are cold and hard ones for
We know that something sweet
Followed youth with flying feet
And it never comes again.
We are told that gray hairs and
wrinkles count for nothing so long as
the heart is young and as long as we
keep in touch any sympathy with
youth and lile's interests and occur
rences. But few and far between are
the voyagerS on the ocean OF time who
have sailed through unrufied seas.
For the many the pillows have been
high, the waters deep and the current
swift, and even il after the storm
comes calm, the mariner is weather
beaten and the journey mas left its i'm
press.
When we find our minds continually
running backward instead OF forward
i'm anticipation Of pleasures and hon
Ors that never come, we may safely
conclude that we have reached the hill
top and henceforth the journey lies
down hill.
One of the hardest things in life is to
submit to the inevitable and 10 learn
to let go. Often it is through q discip-
line that is Mountaineering tina we do
learn how. All our lives We have seen
the children OF others grow up and 60
ont into the world, and have thought
Of il as one Of those "ineyitabies, but
when our own nestlings spread their
wings and take fight from the parent
nest-ah, then we know We never
realized that some day ours would no
longer need or want our help, and that
they were stronger even than us.
We can only cover our longing and
our loneliness with a cheerful exterior
and feel hopeful that they may still be
able to sing though we may never heeY
them.
Then, too, we see our cherished de-
lusiOns one after another vanish into
the air. Once we believed they were
facts, but as they no longer comfort or
amuse us, we are constrained TO be-
lieve that they were only fancies, or
creatures of our imagination. What
was truth yesterday is falsehood TO-
morrow. As we move onward every
days experience and revelation shat
ter our faith I'm something or some one.
All along the way there are milestones
that mark berayals and disapp0int-
ments. and other stones. too, under
meath which are dear friends and COM
paGions, who in the beginning started
with us cheerfully and confidently.
They have wearied with the march Of
life" and laid them down to rest.
But our experience is only the COM
mon one. We had our roses and our
May and in the natural order Of
things sooner or later must enter upon
December.
JOY made us glad. let sorrow find us
true;
Cod blessed our roses; He viii bless
our rue. Omaha Bee.