St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-01


you ever thought that sooner or
later all Of us can expect to be
afflicted in some way? It may be
only the feebleness that comes
with old age, but come it willw
Then one by one, each one told
how blest they thought they were
for at least, all of the group dis
covered they were not really at
flicted at all, but simply growing
older as gracefully as they could.
Ellen B. was saying, THE only
thing I notice that I can really
say is different about my former
years is the fact that I cannot
sleep nights like I did when I
was younger"
My sister, who is ten years older
than I am, drives her car every
where she wants to go, goes out
to our church or social affairs and
is as wide awake as anyone there
when the affairs are over and most
of our new acquaintenances think
she is the younger sister. She even
looks younger than I do. 1 am
proud of her but I do not care for
those things like I used to. I am
perfectly happy to have my hus-
band do the driving and when I
am out, if I get sleepy, nod for
a few minutes until I get wide
awake again. really enjoy my
life and I don't fret one bit be-
cause my age Is catching" up
with me. I look around and see
so many, so many years younger
than I am who cannot get about at
all. Yet, they are as happy as they
can be to be so blessed. They en-
joy having been privileged to
live longer than their allotted time
and If you can be thankful for
ALL Of your blessings, you will
find them increasing. Have you
noticed thAt?"
Another, Helen F., said she was
at one of the parks last summer
and she noticed a little boy cry
ing. She asked him why he was
crying on such a beautiful day
and he said, the kids had ice
cream cones and he dropped his.
She gave him the price Of another
one and she said the heavenly
smile he bestowed on her was
worth ten times the nickel she
had given him." Later, we learned,
she made a habit of watching for
small boys and girls who seemed
always to be losing their candy
money. She said she allowed" so
much change for this purpose and
1t made her happy to see the
bright eyed youngsters as they
grabbed the pennies and ran for
their treat.
Hadie, though handicapped, did
not despair. There were few days
that she did not suffer but the
days she felt fairly well were
spent trying to make others
little happier than they were and
with her handicap, she found the
children loved her because she was
so cheerful.
They begged to take turns push
ing her wheel chair on the walk.
They also showed her the flowers
along the way and she took the
time to tell them all she could
about each flower. Despite bodily
ills, Hadie has grown up with sew
eral generations of children, who
do not think Of her handicap. They
love her because she is so kind.
Growing old gracefully is being
done every day. No one knows
whose hair is gray, now. The
young tint their hair gray. One
young lady tinted her hair gray
because she heard someone say,
how distinguished Mrs. So and
So looked with her gray hair and
youthful face" Lillian tinted her
hair gray, went to big party and
realized what a mistake she had
made because some of her closest
friends did not know her, she
looked so old.
Be yourself at all times and no
matter how you look, If your heart
is young and you can smile, you
will have friends, whether you are
six or sixty!