she took no note of years, but daily stood before the window, watching for his coming. In this mental state she remained young. Having no appearance of age, she literally grew no older. Some American travellers saw her when she was seventy-four, and supposed her a young lady. Not a wrinkle or gray hair appeared, but youth sat gently on cheek and brow. Asked to judge of her age, and being unacquainted with her history, each visitor conjectured that she must be under twenty.
This instance of youth preserved furnishes a useful hint that a Franklin might work upon, with more certainty than when he coaxed the enamored lightning from the clouds. Years had not made her old, simply because she had taken no cognizance of those years, nor said, “I am growing old.” Her belief that she was young proved the results of such a belief on the body. She could not age while believing herself young, for the mental state governed the physical.
Impossibilities never occur. One instance like the foregoing proves it possible to be young at seventy-four; and the Principle of that proof makes it plain that decrepitude is not a necessity of nature or law, but an illusion that can be avoided.
Never record ages. Time-tables of birth and death are so many conspiracies against manhood and womanhood. But for the error of measuring and limiting all that is good and beautiful, we could enjoy more than threescore years and ten, and yet maintain our vigor, freshness, and promise. We should continue beautiful and grand, if Mind should so decree. Each succeeding year should make us wiser and better, in looks and action.
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