The cheerful scythe-swinger

My very favorite epitaph; from the Old Burying Ground, Shutesbury, MA

Erected by the town of Shutesbury
In memory of Ephriam Pratt
Born in East Sudbury Nov 1, 1686.
Removed to Shutesbury soon after its first settlement
Where he resided until he died May 22, 1804
In his 117 year.
He was remarkably cheerful in his disposition
and temperate in his habits. He swung a
scythe 101 consecutive years and mounted a
horse without assistance at the age of 110.
An hundred years in prospect long may seem
when view'd in retrospect a transient gleam
They live, in life, tho' long or short may be...

[The rest was illegible, being beneath the ground.]