Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-04-04

Life 4 shrrt.

B1A&AA 0AAANMs ApKA1 <nu, lyVks--
Reader, has IL ever occurred TO You how
short ID the period allotted to man on
earths How swiftly he passes from one
stage Of life to another, until the decrep-
itude Of old age steals upon his weak
ened frame and exhausted nature sinks
beneath the power Of DEATH
To-day, you behold the prattling in
FAINT, beautiful in It's infantile innocence.
unacquainted with the trials and troubles
Of life, happy In its ignorance and inno-
cence. We contemplate the sight with
pleasure; but behold Q new scene pre-
sents itself 10 view. There Ii a young
man just entering upon the arena of life.
The sports which are attendant upon
the days of childhood have passed away;
and although he has many sources of
pleasure, yet duties press upon him, and
he frequently has to contend with disap-
pointments and difficulties, and he often
wishes, rs his mind wanders back, that
he could be q child again. Now, we sec
Q man passed the meridian Of life; his
brow Ii covered with wrinkles; he has
bid last farewell to much loved friends:
he has been betrayed by those in whom
he confided he has been buffeted by the
storms of misfortune; many crosses and
losses has marked his pathway. Again,
the scene changes, and we see an old
man, his hair white as snow, his strength
and vigor gone. The rosy hue Of health
has left his cheek, and every feature.
every movement shows that he is fast
nearing his eternal resting place
Again the curtain rises, and we see the
hearse bearing its inanimate burden to
the grave-the last home of all that is
left of him whom we saw but few short
years ago-rejoicing in the amusements
OF youth He has acted his part in the
drama of life and passed of the stage,
to make room for others. Such is the
life Of mani
Life Is short and uncertain. To-day,
we see q man rich in all the vigor of
health and strength. Tomorrow, death
seizes his prey, and he is borne to ais
last resting place. How important, then,
dear reader, that we should improve
each passing hour. II we would pause
occasionally and consider that we have
immortal souls; If we would look beyond
this earth and sec what beautiful home
is awaiting our coming; il we would
permit our hearts TO be true to them
selves; to feel that there are sweet COM
Partnerships to be found there-perhaps
some loved ones-what happy change
would be wrought in our natures How
much better fitted we would then be to
enjoy the blessings of life! But we sell
dom think of those things until some
loved one is borne away from our side
TO the land of shadows: until we feel
that one link in the chain of association
has been broken But better this harsh
stroke, il it reminds us of our duty, han
wait until death is ready to seize its
victim.
Mans death and burial creates NO sad
thoughts beyond the circle of home.
where he was most intimately known.
The hearse and the funeral pass by.
Perhaps few of our fellows may stop
and inquire who il dead; then pass on
again forgetting that heart has ceased
to beat forever. Even the mourners'
tears that flowed SO freely are soon dried
up, and the crepe, the dark badge of
death, is cast aside, and the lireless
clod of the valley is soon forgotten.
Such is life! If we die to-day, the sun
will shine as brightly and the birds sing
as sweetly tomorrow. Not wheel in
the machinery Of the business world will
cease to move, and scarce a voice of
mirth be checked. Such is life! How
short 1t is! And how soon we are for
gotten! HoT Box.