To call this dying is an abuse of language."
Death to the aged is natural, therefore as pleasant and easy as any
other natural office of the body. Indeed, it is far easier than the
operation by which we even get our teeth in youth. If we, then, are able
to forget that greatest shock of pain so quickly as we do, why shall we
dread a little sinking of the breath, and the unwilling battle of a body
that is tired and
LITERALLY WILLING AT HEART
to surrender? "In expectation of a better, I can with patience embrace
this life," says Sir Thomas Browne, "yet in my best meditations do I
often desire death. For a pagan there may be some motive to be in love
with life; but for a Christian to be amazed at death, I see not how he
can escape this dilemma--that he is too sensible of this life, or
hopeless of the life to come." We are now of the earth; but all the high
reason which has taught us to master fire, and water, and the
thunderbolts themselves, has also instructed us that we are only
sojourners on this little planet.
[Illustration: THE EVENING OF LIFE]
OUR MINDS ARE AS BROAD
as the range of stellar systems.
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