Age and the Founding Fathers

Last night my blog was all about the ages of some of the Founding Fathers. Tonight it is about You! What can you learn from their lives. Here is a poem to express that just a bit:

“You are old, Father William,” the young man cried.
“The few locks that are left you are gray.
You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man;
Now tell me the reason, I pray>”

“In the days of my youth,” Father William replied,
“I remembered that youth would fly fast;
And abused not my health and my vigor at first,
That I never might need them at last.”

“You are old, Father William,” the young man cried,
“And pleasures with youth pass away,
And yet you lament not the days that are gone,
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”

“In the days of my youth,” Father William replied,
“I remembered that youth could not last;
I thought of the future, whatever I did,
That I never might grieve for the past.”

“You are old, Father William,” the young man cried,
“And life must be hastening away;
You are cheerful, and love to converse upon death,
Now tell me the reason, I pray.”

“I am cheerful, young man,” Father William replied,
“Let the cause thy attention engage;
In the days of my youth I remembered my God,
And he hath not forgotten my age!”
–Robert Southey

Read it, ponder it, and act accordingly!

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