Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1922-04-20
Human Life, or, the First and Last
Minutes

father, man child is born unto
him. Minutes pass. The child has
been blessed by a parent, whom it can
not recognize, and pressed to that bos-
ON to which instinct alone guides i,
! for substance. The young wife too
has family answered to a husbands
questions and felt his warm kiss on
her forehead.
HOURS PASS.-The low meanings
from the closely covered cradle, tell
OF the first want Of its infant occu-
pant. The quiet tread OF the nurse
speaks OF suffering around her, while
her glad countenance says that the
very suffering which she is trying
to alleviate, is source Of Joy, and
the nameless articles which, from time
to time, she arranges on the hearth
tell OF new claimant for the courte-
sizes and attention Of those who have
progressed further on the pathway of
existence.
DAYS PASS.-Visitors are throne-
ing the chamber; and the mother,
pale and interesting after her recent
illness, is receiving their congratula-
tons, and listening proudly to their
praises Of the little creature whish lies
asleep in the rocking bed at her feet.
The scene shifts, and the father ia
there with her alone as the twilight
deepens around them, while they are
planning the future destiny of their
child
WEEKS PASS.-The eyes OF the
young mother are sparkling with
health, the rose blooms again on her
cheek, and the cares of pleasure and
home engage her attention, and the
father is once more mingling with the
world; yet they find many opportuni-
ties each day to visit the young in
heritor Of life, to watch over his dream
less slumbers, to trace each others
looks in his countenance, and to pom
der upon the felicity Of which he is
the bearer to them.
MONTHS PASS.-The cradle is de.
serted; but the chamber floor is strew-
ed with play things, and there is a
little one lettering among them, whose
half-lisped words, and hearty laugh,
and sunny countenance, tell you that
the entrance Of life is over a pathway
OF flowers. The cradle is empty, but
the last prayers OF the parents are ut
tered over the small crib, which stands
BY their own bedside, and their latest
attention is given to the peaceful
breathing of the occupant.
YEARS PASS.-Childhood has
strengthened into boyhood, and boy
hood has gamboled along into man.
hood. Old connections are broken,
parents are sleeping in their graves,
new intimacies are formed, new home
is about him; new cares distract him.
He is abroad struggling amid the bus
mess of life, or resting from it with
those whom he has chosen from his
own generation. Time is beginning to
wrinkle his forehead, and thought has
robbed his looks of their gaiety, and
study has dimmed his eyes. Those who
had begun life after he had grown I'D
are fast crowding him out of il, and
there are many claimants upon his in
dustry and love for protection and
support
YEARS PASS.-His own children
have become men, and are quitting
him, as he also quilted the home of
his fathers. His steps have lost their
elasticity, his hand has become famil-
lar with his cane, to which he is oblie-
ed to trust in his walks. He has left
the battle which fatigued him. He
looks anxiously in each DAYS papers
among the deaths, and then ponders
over the name Of an old friend. and
tries to persuade himself that he ia
younger and stronger, and has better
hold upon life than any of his cotem
poraries.
MONTHS PASS.-He gradually d.
minishes the circle of his activity. He
dislIkes to go abroad, where he finds
SO many new faces, and he grieves TO
meet his former companions after 4
short absence; they seem to have grown
so old and infirm. Quiet enjoyments
only are reiiShed. n I;t,Ia co,,o-,.
ton about old times, sober game of
whist, a religious treatise and his
early bed, form to him the sum total
of his pleasure.
WEEKS PASS.-Infrmity keeps him
in his chamber His walks are liz,