is an emblem of human life. Behold how swiftly the sands run, and how rapidly our lives are drawing to a close! We can not without astonishment behold the little particles which are contained in this machine, how they pass away almost imperceptibly, and yet, to our suprise, in the short space of an hour they are all exhausted. Thus wastes man! To-day he puts forth the tender leaves of hope; tomorrow blossoms and bears his blushing honors thick upon him; the next day comes a frost which nips the shoot; and when he thinks his greatness is still aspiring he falls like autumn leaves to enrich our mother earth.
is an emblem of time which cuts the brittle thread of life, and launches us into eternity. Behold what havoc the scythe of time makes among the human race! If by chance we should escape the numerous evils incident to childhood and youth, and with health and vigor arrive to the years of manhood, yet withal, we must be soon be cut down by the all devouring scythe of time, and be gathered into the land where our fathers have gone before us.
Hieroglyphical Emblems Index