Evening star., 1941-01-26

THE of sixty confess thought myself approach
ing DEATH My mind seemed to have lost its alert
ness its interest in ideas and its capacity for
work; felt or imagined that felt - disturbing physi
cal indications of the bodys last wearness 1t if
veil had dropped between my eyes and all the color and
beauty of the world.
Today | am seventy-eight And the harmony now
feel between body and mind would have seemed miracle
when sixty. know it is nothing of the
know it is simple this that if the mind is young,
the body is young
i did not learn that myself; someone taught it to me-
1t is him. perhaps first of ALL that my life today.
met him at that time have spoken of, when | was
depressed and weary mentally and physically One morn
ing went for walk along country path had not
pored before. | farmhouse the fields so
peasan-looking place that it held out irresistible
invitation for the passeby. boy of nine ten out
approached, and presently sitting talking
together wooden bench beneath old apple tree.
Soon, above the boys sprighty chatter became
of another voice, coming from the cottage 1t was wo-
ans voice, querlous tone looked at the boy and he
smiled broadly. That's Mother" said he She's arguing
with Granddad."
'Why?' asked
"Oh, because he wants to go to town to see the
fire engine, and she doesn't want him to. She says he'll
lose his way be something, and she says
it's silly anyhow He gave excited little hop. But
want to go too, and Granddad'l take me, you watch
At that moment scorning further argument, Granddad
hmSelf came stepping StOuty through the
doorway. He very old yes, but with lively blue
eyes and frisky manner about him. He nodded to
pleasantly and told him had stopped to rest awhile,
if he did not mind.
"As long as you WANT he said 1T is nice place to sit,
isn't good view don't you think? I'd like to stay and
point some of the interesting things around here to
you but the boy and are off for town. and we'll miss
the old bus at the corner if we don't hurry
w AN impulse asked if might walk to the with
them Come along!' he said and off we started.
glanced back turned into the path and the
boys mother standing the cottage door. There was
expression melancholy forebodng her face and she
shook her head disapprovingy 1t occurred to me that
had seen that sort of expression somewhere else
very short time before and then the sudden realization
startled me-yes, in the mirror that very morning and
the face my
Poor woman!" the old man said, as if he knew my
thoughts She thinks should tuck my scarf around me,
sit in the like old donkey and never STIR If needed
her, believe I'd be dead in year."
When we parted, he asked me to come back soon for
another visit And did, not but many times, for
felt that had found not only friend but counselor
i and physician. He lived in a small farming section
of the country, the town he visited occasionally
not much than village he had never had the money
to travel farther But to him this small sphere wide
as the world, because he knew we'll He paused to
talk with its people and inquire about their affairs he
crossed their lives with his If he noticed that shOpkeeper
in the village had decked his store with fitting,