Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-10-15
Charities that SWeeten Life.

Charities that SWeeten Life.
Pleasant words! Do you know, kind
reader, how potent spell lies in pleas
ant word? Have you not often thought
Of it's power to soothe-to charm-to
delight, when all things else faila AS
you have passed on through the jour
ney Of life, have you not seen it smooth
ing in many ruffled brow, and calming
many an aching bosom2 Have you not
noticed it in the house and by the way
at the 6reside and in the place Of busi-
ness2 And have you not felt that pleas>
ant words are among the "charities that
sweeten life?'" Ahf yes, and their infiu-
ence has come over your own soul.
Not long since, when you went bending
to the earth, oppressed and weary with
ife's manifold sorrcws-when dark
clouds have hovered over you, and the
blackness of darkness covered you
when you were ready to yield in des-
pondency the pursuit Of happiness, and
give yourself up to unmitigated gloom
when no object Of life seemed desirable,
and even the friendship of earth was
worthless in your eyes-when you
would fain have passed the companion
Of your childhood unnoticed, and you
met him by the way-oh! you can tell
how, in such an hour, the sound Of a
cheerful voice-one pleasant word, has
dispelled the gloom, and given you to
the world again--a hopeful, trusting
man. You can tell lhow like an angel
whisper was the kind enquiry Of that
companion, and how the tone of cheer.
full sympathy sent the dark clouds roll
ing from your sky, and revealing the
bright light Of day, showing you that
earth is not all Wilderness, nor man q
being utterly deserted to wretchedness.
Or. when you come from the counting
room or workshop care-worn and weary
when your brow has been furrowed
and your thoughts perpIexed-when
troubles of the present and anxieties for
the future have crowded every peaceful
feeling from your heart, and when you
almost dreaded to return to your own
fireside, lest the sight of dear ones there
should increase your distress tell us
what has been the influence of a pleas
ant word at such time. Tell US how
that. ere you opened your door, the
sound Of glad voices reached your ear,
and a. you entered, how the troubles OF
your soul were laid at rest; and cares,
for the present and for the future. fed
before the pleasant words of your smiling
children and the gentle greeting of your
wife. ...
Or, when the ire of your spirit has
been reused. and indignant feelings have
reigned supreme in your breast-when
the angry threat was just raising to your
lips, or the malignant wish about to
burst from your heart, what mighty spell
caused the storm suddenly to subside,
and spoke the turbulent waves SO quiet
ly to rest? Was it the whisper of a
pleasant soord that restored calmness to
your tempest.tossed soull Did the soft
Gsstser turn away your wrath?
Reader, we might write volume on
this delightful theme. Go where we
will, abide where we may, we feel its
mower. In every place we find some,
who have but to speak, and gloom, un>
bidden, unwelcome guest, departs in
haste. and the raging waves of passion
are hushed, as by his voice who once
said t'Peace, be still" But they are
few. Among the multitudes of the earth,
how small the number, who habitually
and from principle speak pleasantly. You
Aare met them. Now and then they
have crossed your path, and doubt not
your whole soul has blessed them as il
ought, for the words were balm to your
wounded spirit. And did you not wish
you were like thema Did you not feel
that earth would be paradise indeed
if all the tones OF that matchless instru-
ment; the human voice, where in har.
mony with the skind thoughts of a tho-
roughly kind heart? But, friends, while
you thus wished. did you resolve to add
one to their numberl Did you deter
mine to initiate their example? Would
| could persuade, you that it is your duty
80 TO- do--that henceforth you should
makeait q. study. You think it a small
.mattersfequiring little effort. But | as
sure you il might cost many d struggle
ere you could learn to speak in pleas,
antnsss TO all ltwhom you might chance
to meet, even in one short day; and if
yon accomplished it, perhaps il would
be a better day's work than ever you
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