Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1924-04-10
Throngs Celebrate Tooth
Birthday of Local Man
hou Shalt Rise up Before the Hoary Head, and
Honour the Face of the Old Man.
Leviticus 1892

five thousand baskets of fragments
were taken up after the needs of all
had been supplied.
! 1t will be remembered that since
the death of Uncle Riley's wife some
twenty five years ago, he has made
his home with his son Thomas and his
wife, who have treated the aged ia
ther with the utmost tenderness and
kindness, No father in all this noun
tain section has been treated with
greater degree of respect at the hands
of his child than that which Uncle
Riley has enjoyed. Long life and bles
| sings are promised this son, for it
was thundered from Sinai's flaming
crest by God Himself, Honor thy
! father and mother"
Let US believe the resisting of pa
rental authority, and irreverance for
father and mother by the child, will
call down the righteous indignation
of God upon it.
The aged occupied prominent
place in the social and political sys-
tenn of the Jews. In private life they
were looked upon as the depositaries
of knowledge, Job. 1910; the young
were ordered to rise up in their pres
ence, Lev. 9:32; they allowed them
to give their opinion first, Job 1924;
they were taught to regard gray hairs
as a "crown of glory" Prov. 1881;
2O:29.
Uncle Riley was born and has lv-
ed for one hundred years in the Land
of the Sky where the landscape pre-
sents scene of rare beauty; where
the hills and valleys intermingle in
every conceivable manner; where the
summer foliage is rich in changing
tints of green and brown; where in
autumn it becomes a flower garden
of most varied and beautiful colors;
where in winter the pure snow flakes
and ice on the trees, glitter in the
ouilllSLC, IeSeiiipliilS ptidSe vi pun
est crystals The incessant flow of
New River, a bright and sparkling
stream winding among the hills on
its way to the gulf, symbolizing the
ever widening flow of the rapid and
rushing river of time into boundless
and endless eternity.
| Amid the splendor and beauty of
| his surroundings Uncle Riley learned
to comprehend the harmony of col
ors and the beauty of proportions.
Instead of lying around public pla-
ces feeling of the public pulse and
listening at the wind of opinion, Un-
Gle Riley chose the sacred precincts
of home, where he could radiate
peace and sunshine among those he
loved. OF such a man the Psalmist
speaks, "He shall be like a tree plan
ted by the rivers of water, that brin
geth his fruit in his own season,
his leaf also shall not wither, and
whatsoever he doeth shall prosper"
Uncle Riley believed that much more
could be accomplished with all the
appetites under control, all forces di-
rected to right thought and action,
all desires harmonized and focused
on worthy objects. From this belief,
burning deep in his soul, he has
taught us all how to live.
He has never been known to worry,
find fault, scold or give way to ha-
tired, stubborness, and passion, but
has cultivated sunny mirthful, self
respecting disposition. Now he ap-
proaches the sunset of life with a
clear conscience and a warm heart.
Uncle nlley has followed in the
path of the Master, conscious of his
ore-ness with the Infinite. On his
long journey God has helped him to
climb the heights, blessed him with
length of days, and crowned him
with respect and honor as he reach
es the summit. Such Christian man
should not look upon death as ira
gedy, but rather the tender lips of
love sent to kiss down the eyelids
still into that peaceful sleep that in
tervenes between the twilight of time
and the dawn of eternity.
In the morning of the resurrection
may the Master find us all regenerate
grace-filled, and faith-crowned, need
, ing only the touch of His Infinite
, love to clothe US with Immortality.
z. T. WATSON
| pronGc,Ia NJ n