Ah! there is nothing like youth--not that after-life is valueless.
Even in extreme old age one may get on very well, provided we will
but accept of the bounties of God. I met the other day an old man,
who asked me to drink. "I am not thirsty," said I, "and will not
drink with you." "Yes, you will," said the old man, "for I am this
day one hundred years old; and you will never again have an
opportunity of drinking the health of a man on his hundredth
birthday." So I broke my word, and drank. "Yours is a wonderful
age," said I. "It is a long time to look back to the beginning of
it," said the old man; "yet, upon the whole, I am not sorry to have
lived it all." "How have you passed your time?" said I. "As well
as I could," said the old man; "always enjoying a good thing when
it came honestly within my reach; not forgetting to praise God for
putting it there." "I suppose you were fond of a glass of good ale
when you were young?" "Yes," said the old man, "I was; and so,
thank God, I am still." And he drank off a glass of ale.
On I went in my journey, traversing England from west to east--
ascending and descending hills--crossing rivers by bridge and
ferry--and passing over extensive plains. What a beautiful country
is England! People run abroad to see beautiful countries, and
leave their own behind unknown, unnoticed--their own the most
beautiful! And then, again, what a country for adventures!
especially to those who travel on foot, or on horseback.
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