Democratic Sentinel, Volume 12, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1888 — One Grandfather. [ARTICLE]

One Grandfather.

There is one glory of youth—another, like the sun shining in his strength, of wise maturity; still another mild, chastened, beneficent—of old age. It is beautifully symbolized by the silver crown that refines the plainest features. “Mamma!” asked a serious-eyed child, looking up from her favorite “Sunday-book,” “Pilgrim’s Progress,” “Did you ever know anybody w ho lived in the Land of Beulah?” “Yes, dear,” dropping her voice that it might not reach the patriarch who watched the sunset from the porch, “Grandpapa does!” From a letter written in his ninetyfirst year, four pages in length and transcribed in clear characters—the following extract is taken: “As I write, a blue-bird begins to sing in the lilac bush outside of my officewindow. I have always loved birds and flowers. On this bright EasterMonday, I am thinking how unlikely it is that I shall be here when the next comes. Ah, well! if not, then, where ‘everlasting spring abides.’ The dark river has dwindled to a summer brook, so narrow that I fancy, sometimes, I hear the birds sing "on the Other Side.” The most significant phrase in the quotation is “my office-window.” This man, never especially hale in body, found, at the top of the hill of life, fertile level lands in which he dwelt and wrought until one week before he stepped over to the near and familiar Other Side. He was necessary to his household so long as he drew mortal breath. The key of his continued vitality was given (had it been needed by those who knew him) in his last message to his absent sons, uttered ten minutes before his tongue was stilled forever: “Tell them to take good care of Jim.” “Jim.” aged seventy, was a faithful colored servant who" had driven or walked with his master to “the office” evf ry day for over a quarter of a century. It is self-absorption that carves wrinkles in the face, and streaks the hair with gray. Kindly -thought and labor for others dependent and beloved —the living out of and not in the petty round of personal and individual interests—keep heart and energies fresh. “I have been too busy to count the years. I suppose some have slipped by unnoticed, and so I have made a miscalculation by a dozen or so,” was the explanation given by a grandmother when asked “how she had kept herself so preposterously young?” Forget the years, or register them by blessings, and they will forget you. —Home-Maker. The Celtic language prevailed in England A. D. 1; the Latin was introduced about the same time; the Saxon prevailed from A. D. 450 to 1066; Latin reintroduced by missionaries, 596; the Norman-French combining with .English, 1066 to 1220; early English, 1250 to 1500. . ■ \