The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-09-17
SuNSET
BIZ Baird Mitchell

IT HERE Is no more suggestive or beautiful sight,
i than that of an aged couple, who, hustnsiy and
lovingly, together have walked the rugged ways Of life.
from youth to old age; and now, hand IN hand. and
heartto heart, are patiently and hopefully waiting
upon the hther shore of time for the sound Of the
boatnans oar that shall bear them across the Silent
River.
We look back along the dim vista Of years to the
halcyon time of lifes sunny morning. We witness
their pighed vows at the altar; aud see them 90 FORTH
in the pride and glory of their young welded lives to
the tolls and struggles of existence.
Many Godspeed and kind word of cheer fall upon
ttair ears as they go out from beneath the parental
roofhee that is to shelter them no more forever Be
fore them lies "a new world of expe1ences-of joys
and sonows-of successes and failures
But strong of purpose and resolute of will and
with Iifes sky rose-tinted with the flush of dawn they
move on and enter upon this, to them, an all unex-
plored world of experiences. We see them establish
ed in their new home. Perhaps it is log cabin in
the Wilderness with neighbors few and far; or maybe
cosy little cottage in the home town. he husband
is bravey bending every energy to the task of master
ing the hard conditions of life-of carving out a
home and a name IN the world, and securing it posi-
bc that independence that shall relieve them from the
possibility of want
And then comes Joys. added cares and heart-aches
as the years glide away We see them, with stream
ing eyes and pleading lips, bending the couch Of
their loved one, as its little life futers away in the
short gasps Of dissolution and its eyes grow dim under
the touch Of Deaths icy fingers. But anon, time pours
its gentle balm into their wounded hearts, and the
bitter trial and loss which they thought they could
rever endure fades away into tender memory Years
pass and again we behold them, and as in the long
ago they went forth nbo the world, now their noble
sons and daughters burdened with the unsolved preb
lens and untried responsibilities of life, follow in their
footsteps and soon their home is left unto them desc
ate, save in the companionshp of their chastened
souls. Well for them now. if they find within them
selves treasures Of culture and character that shall
supply their dearest need We'll for them, if schooled
in the philosophy Of that man, who above all men bad
learned fe's lesson, that enabled him to say, Il have
fought good fight have finished my course have
kept IL. faith they too, can feel in their souls that
they have done the best they kneW, and that now they
will trust the good Father Of all men for all that IS
to come.
The shadows stretch away in frightening lines to
ward tie east; and now they are calmly catching
the gories of the coming SUNSET-the Sunset Of
Wcll-Spent Life How grand they seem. in the
frutiOn Of their years, with their syered hair glowing
in the Sunsets Golden Clean. Their faces arc
radiant with divine hope that behind the bars OF
the shining west the beckoning hands of their loved
ones are outreachng towards them to welcome them
to their Home Of Eternal Rest and Love; and that
in few more days or years at most, they will pass
on as one weary with the burdens of the day. gathers
the drapery Of his couch about him and lies down to
pleasant dreams" For has been etcrnally decreed
that SUNRISE SHALL ALWAYS. FOLLOW
SUNSET!