The Washington herald., 1914-03-21
"rHE FEAR OF DEATH"
DE- ALExANpER BLUME.

4
of seventy-fve winters had whitcned
his hair; the weight of the long years
had bowed his frame. But his skin was
singularly free from wrinkles and his
eyes still sparkled with intelligence and
animation. He was bedriddcn, afflicted
with malady incurable. He seemed to
feel the end was near. But was struck
with his extraordinarily calm demeanor
and the air of peace which pervaded his
room, so different from what one usual
ly associates with death scene.
One expects mental and physical
anguish, despair, cringing and rebellion
at the death bed; here was peace, hope,
faith, and resignation. ! spoke to him.
1t appeared that life had not been very
easy with him, for from childhood he
had known naught but constant toll and
struggle. Comfort he had known, but
its stay had been brief. Poverty and
sadness, too, had been his companions.
But he looked the approaching Angel
of Death straight in the eyes, unAinch-
ingly.
"Yes, | know l am about to die" he
said. "But I'm not afraid. Why should
fear and tremble? I've lived long pas,
the threescore and ten years allotted
to men. A man can't live forever And
do not imagine the gift of eternal life
would be a blessing TO mankind; never
to cease from toll, never to lay ones
head down to eternal sleep and relief
from earthly ills. | have lived long
while, and tell you. friend. my life has
not been what is termed life of luxury
But I'm not protesting. I've had the
lifelong love of good woman, to me
the dearest and best woman on earth
She's been gone long while. and I'm
looking forward to meeting her again
soon. 1t has often seemed to me as
though she were very near to me and
calling me to come to her.
"Tvc had children; I've lived to raise
them into decent men and women, and
help them build homes OF their own
yes, and I've held my grandchildren il
my arms. too.
True, if one could retain his youth
forever, his strong, virile body, his TN
tagging enthusiasm and boundless cour.
age, then eternal life here on earth
would be boon. But the body soon
withers, one loses his vigor, his blood
thins and his mind decays, often long
before life itself departs. 'Tis then the
soul longs to break its earthly bond:
and join the peaceful ocean of unnum.
bered souls that have gone before it.
I'm thankful can still sec and hear
and think clearly. but it is the dead
weight of my useless body that | fee
dragging me down. I've seen many peo.
pie die; yes, seen some die in agony
screaming and writhing, yet it is a very
strange thing that after death their face:
have remained fixed in sweet, happy
smile, as though they were. glad al
suffering was over. So why should
be afraid? I've done my duty all through
life. as | believed an honest, God-fear.
ing man should do it.
Now in my last hours | see about
me happy, respectable family of mcr
and women that I've reared. They are
a credit to the land. What more can d
man do to help his fellows? And after d
life we'll spent, what more remains but
to lay my head down to everlasting
slumbcr?"
1t was with feeling OF awe and rev.
erence that | badc this old man fare
well. Somehow things seemed much
brighter after | had left him. Life
seemed more worth while: death less
fearful. The calm and dignity of his
soul had communicated itself to me
l could not feel sorry for him, for wfa,
was there to be sorry for? After long
years spent in hard, honest toll as a
decent man, he lies ready to depart this
life, surrounded by a group of loving
children. And it seemed to me tlla,
after all he had known the secret oi
life's happiness.
The tale OF the old witch OF Nesuviiis
came to mind. She lay groveling before
the Master of the Flaming Girdlc. i'm
ploring him to grant her an additional
lease of life She was old and shriveled
yet she fought for longer life. at is not
life that is so sweet" she cried. but
death that is bitter"
What an untold blessing it would
be to mankind if the spirit and word.
of this old man could be communicated
to them. How much mental and bodily
fear and suffering would be avoided
With what different eyes and feeling:
men would look upon life. | thought oi
the many men that burn the candle oi