Life and Literature Part 3

Old age is a joy, when youth has been well spent.

44

THE APPROACH OF AGE.

Six years had pa.s.sed, and forty ere the six, When time began to play his usual tricks; The locks once comely in a virgin's sight, Locks of pure brown, displayed the encroaching white; The blood, once fervid, now to cool began, And Time's strong pressure to subdue the man.

I rode or walked as I was wont before, But now the bounding spirit was no more; A moderate pace would now my body heat, A walk of moderate length distress my feet.

I showed my stranger guest those hills sublime, But said, "The view is poor, we need not climb."

At a friend's mansion I began to dread The cold neat parlor and gay glazed bed; At home I felt a more decided taste, And must have all things in my order placed.

I ceased to hunt; my horses pleased me less-- My dinner more; I learned to play at chess.

I took my dog and gun, but saw the brute Was disappointed that I did not shoot.

My morning walks I now could bear to lose, And blessed the shower that gave me not to choose.

In fact, I felt a languor stealing on; The active arm, the agile hand, were gone; Small daily actions into habits grew, And new dislike to forms and fas.h.i.+ons new.

I loved my trees in order to dispose; I numbered peaches, looked how stocks arose; Told the same story oft--in short, began to prose.

--_George Crabbe._

45

Age is a matter of feeling, not of years.

_G. W. Curtis._

46

Men are as old as they feel, and women as they look.

_Italian._

47

May you all be as old as I, And see your sons to manhood grow; And many a time before you die, Be just as pleased as I am now.

--_Bloomfield._

48

Old age and faded flowers, no remedies can revive.

--_Chinese._

49

'Twas impious then (so much was age rever'd) For youth to keep their seats when an old man appear'd.

50

Goethe said: "It is only necessary to grow old to become more indulgent.

I see no fault committed that I have not committed myself."

51

The young are fond of novelty, The old of custom.

52

Speak gently to the aged one, Grieve not the care-worn heart; The sands of life are nearly run-- Let such in peace depart!

53

Elderly people look back upon the friends, relatives and acquaintances of thirty, forty or fifty years ago, and say, "There are no friends now-a-days like the old friends of long ago." It is natural for them to think this way, particularly when most of the old friends are dead; but the fact is, that there are friends as true now as ever.

54

These are the effects of doting age, Vain doubts, and idle cares, and over-caution.

--_Dryden._

55

Do you seek Alcides' equal? There is none but himself.

--_Seneca._

56

EVIDENTLY UNSATISFACTORY.

"When I look at my congregation," said a London preacher, "I say, 'Where are the poor?' When I count the offertory in the vestry I say, 'Where are the rich?'"

57

ALMSGIVING.