What are they? Who knows, except the dead? Do the dead know?
Unprofitable thought! Faith and hope only buoy the heart, and time
brings the end. Well, time has whitened our heads, but not indurated
our hearts, and time is now as busy as when in the joyousness of youth
we heeded not his flight, and to-morrow may bring us to the grave. Ah!
then we shall know the secret, and we will keep it, as all who have
gone before. Oh, what a blessed hope is that which promises that we
shall, forgetful of the cares and sorrows of time, meet those whom
death has refined, and be happy as they in eternity! But the doubt,
and then the fear! But why the fear? We come into time without our
knowledge or consent, fulfil a destiny, and without our knowledge or
consent die out of time. This is the economy of man's life, and was
given him by his Creator. Then why should he fear? If it is wise for
him to be born, to live, it is surely wise that he should die, since
that is equally a part of his economy. Then why fear? Reason is
satisfied, but instinct fears.
Yelverton P. King never removed from the county of his birth, nor
abandoned his profession, remaining upon the soil of his nativity and
among those with whom he had been reared, maintaining through life the
character of an upright man.
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