THE OLD MAN AND THE YOUTHS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1462, 22 November 1879, Page 23

THE OLD MAN AND THE YOUTHS.

L-. '■ (From the French of Lafontiinel)- = A. man of eighty years w*s planting trees ; "Ha! ha!" laughed out' three '-striplipga from the village, l " " Planting: at eighty ! Had hit task been tillage, Or building houses, or aught else you vlease, The folly might hay» passed as leas worth noting ; But— planting trejes ? He,mus£ indeed, ba doting ! I Why, ia the Dame of all that's odd, old neighbour, Wh»t fruit can such as you expect to gather From' this' ridiculous and drHtless labour? ' You. who already nre a great-grandfather j What ! do you think to'rival in his' years Methuselah? For shame!. Do penance rather,. I"or your pait errors ! Mourn your eins.wlth tears ! Abandon hopes and plans that so ill suit 'your Age and gray hairs f Give oyer looking wildly Oat thro' the vista of a boundless future ! All theae are but far us and such as we." -. „,, "They are not even for you," replied the old man, mildly. • , 11 Youth may be just as nigh eternity As age. What tho'. tho pitf.llx of existence Be covered o'er with flowers in lieu of snows, Who shall fomneasur'e the brief distance Between tbis dim o ream's birth aud close 1 The wingei bolts of death are awif t to strike life in its dawning aa decline ; ■ r The pallid Parcse play their game alike With your days and with mine. , Who knows which of us four shall be the ene To gaze laaton tlfe glory of the ran? ■ i Holeit me not, then. Leave me to employ The hours thatyet remain to me. ' I love ' To think my great-grandchildren will enjoy The shade and shelter of this embryo grove. Meantime I live, breathe, and I nuy even Share, for some years to come, the gifts of Heaven. f Alas I even I may Bee the morning; light Sbiae' more ithan once, 'young men; upon 'your graves I" The old man spake a truth which time revealed : Bo&ting toon after on a stormy night, One of these youths was burled in the waves— A second was cut off upon the battle-field— A third fell ill, and in four fleeting weeks , His bier was dresied with' Death's pale plumes : Bo died the three— thug early fated ! And. while the tears rolled down his cheeks, The bid man sculptured on then* tomba The story I have here narrated.; , v .;