Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-09

fore" "Wiy did you nsk him, then.
How Is the old complaint" ooh"
said Disraeli. "all old people have
troubles Of some sort, and 1t peases
most Of them TO talk about them.
rarely make mistake IL I say, How
is your old complaint" It pleascs them
to recount their troubles, and It does
not hurt me-" Yes, 1t may not have
hurt Disraeli when that man talked
about his troubles, but 1t did hurt the
speaker. The easiest Of ways to tighten
the burdens Of old age is to hide them
from the eyes Of others.
FIT Them to Take Your Place.
But lastly. remark, the easiest of all
ways TO renew youth Is to try to fit
others to take your place after you
are gone. OF course take for granted
that am today talking to Christians.
Now, as aged Christians, you are near
ing to bring you to your eternal reward.
AS you are nearing heaven shall you
spend most Of your time talking about
heaven and It's eternal rewards? Oh,
no. You must spend nearly all of your
last days in fitting the young men and
women by your side to take your place.
You ru'lst I've TO your son and your
| daughter md your friends what Paul
was to Timothy. and Elijah was to
Elisha. and Christ was to his disciples.
In the anxiety to fit others to put on
your own arnor you will find your own
heart throbbing with the ambitions of
youth. You will then find old age TAX
ing on the beauties Of youth. even as
In the Indian summer the flowers Of the
late autumn start to grow again after
the forests have incarnadined the leaves
with their lifes blood
Old age should pass its twilight hours
as I would pass the few intervening
days prior to making long journey
away from home. II was to go to
! Africa or Europe or Asia as an Ameri
| can soldier would I spend my last days
here in weeping? oh, no. would
spend the few days before sailed in
preparation. + would say to my wife:
| "My dear. you do this or that or the
other thing after I am gone. l must
put enough money IN the bank In your
name to meet your wants" II I was a
merchant, I would say to my son: "Son,
you are now to take charge Of the store.
| do not want YOU to run into debt.
Keep the business going along on its
ol3 lines" II had one boy who was
| hayward son I would talk to him about
God and his future. would try--oh,
try so hard to lead him to Christ. Each
moment Of my life would be spent in
the best way could for those l would
leave behind. And in looking after their
interests I would find my life growing
in beauty and in toy. Aging men and
women. ore we spending our last earth
~ days like this? Are we trying in ev
cry way to fit those who are to take our
places to do as we'll as we have done
or even better? AS old doctors are we
helping the young physicians! AS old
ministers nre we guiding the young
ministers? AS old Christians are we
trying to make every one with whom
! we come in contact Christians? All,
This ia the chief way and the happiest
way that we can renew our youth and
prepare ourselves for the eternal Joys
IF the never ending youth Of heaven.
| When my father made his last visit
to his old c:assmnte, DR.. euydam. he
| said: We'll, Suydam, We are coming
near the end Of our earthly journey
How do you feel about it:' Some Of
US are not as old rs was my father
when ne asked that question at seven
ty years OF age. but we are all heading
toward old age. How will we feel
about il when 1t comes? We shall feel
about old age all right il we live ac-
cording to the Christ law. We will feel
about It all wrong IL we do not do as
Christ would have us do in fitting 9th
ers for life's battles and fitting our
selves for heaven. May God make the
twilight Of our earthly life the most
beautiful and the happiest part Of our
day. May the twilight Of our earthly
life. sinking behind the western hillock
of our grave, be colored with the same
beauties as is the beautiful sunrise of
heaven. which even now we can see
cleaning In the east over the hill Of
Calvary and over the central cross
upon which once hung the dying body
Of Christ who died that we might for
ever live in him and through him and
with him.
copyright. 1896. by Louis Klor.ch.J
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