Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-06

The Lovly and the Loving.
"The aims most precious man can give to man
Are kind and loveful words. Nor come amiss
Warm sympathzing tears to eyes that scan
The world Alright, the only error is
Neglect to do the little good we cam
Love has often more influence than talent
The last appeals TO the reason, the first to the
affections; the last speaks to the intellect, but
the first goes straight to the heart. 1t is beau
tiful, exelaims Swedish author, TO believe
ourselves loved especially by those whom we love
and value. Yes, it is beautiful, certainly; but
wee to us we neglect the responsibility attached
to it.
It has been truly said, the loving and the I'M
selfish almost insensibly dissuade from evil, and
persuade to good, all who come within reach of
their soothing power; that no one advance
alone to the happiness misery of another
world; and little can the most insignificant Of be-
lngs conjecture how extensive may have been the
beneficial or evil effects which have attended his
own apparently unimportant conduct
in the heraldry Of heaven, writes Bishop
Horne, goodness precedes greatness so on earth
it is often far more powerful The lowly aid the
loving may frequently do more in their limited
sphere than the gifted. To yield constantly, in
little things, begets the same Welding spirit in
others, and renders life the happier We must
never forget that are all appointed to some
station, which shall fill in this life, by the wise
Disposer of events, who knows what is suited to
our various capacities and talents, much better
JNdH we 40 OurSelNcSs ana VINO WOULD not nave
placed us there IT He had not something for us
to do. How few there are who live up TO their
own power of being useful Earth is our dwelling
place, where each has his orher appointed sphere
of usefulness, their mission of love and duty, as
they pass homeward to heaven.
gentleman travelling through a part Of Wilt
shire, where he had not been before for many
years, could not help observing the peculiar
neatness and even beauty of the little cottage
gardens, which he passed, and which he did not
remember having noticed when he was there last.
No. replied the friend who had accompanied
him. has only been so within the last few years,
since Lucy D. came to reside in the village.
1t is all owing to her.
But how can one person keep all these gardens
SO scrupulouslp neat"
You must ask her. replied his friend, Mr.
L., with smile, and pausing as he spoke
to shake hands with young and delicate looking
girl, plainly attired and carrying in her hand a
nosegay of flowers.
Are they not beautifuli' asked she holding
them up. Widow Green gave them to me, and
she has plenty more. was sure they would grow
if she only tried You cannot imagine how pretty
they make her garden look
She had no garden, think, when first you
knew her. said Mr.. -.
No, | believe not. do not know what she
would do without one now;she was saying so her
self this morning; and that it was her greatest
comfort
MY friend is very anxious to understand how
you nave managed 10 introduce so many gardens
into the village, and to keep them in such good
order. He thinks that it must be "a great deal of
trouble for one person.
1t is no trouble to me, replied Lucy, simply,
and with modest blush. 4 have nothing to do
but to appear pleased, and to speak a word of
praise now and then, and to accept all their little
flower offerings. was always fond of flowers
But how did you contrve at first:
i almost forget. | do not think | did much.
/ only admired Mrs. Browns flowers, and then
she planted more to please me; and by and by
others began to notice how pretty her garden
looked, and to long to plant some also, and to
come to me for some seeds and cuttings. do
not think did much besides telling them the
proper season for planting and where l thought
they would thrive the best. The little school
children weed, hoping shall be pleased to see
the garden look neat and nice and so am. The
gardens of the poor are great comfort to them
Yes, said Mr.. L., lit keeps them out Of
mischief. Many poor ma2 may now be
working in his little garden, with his children
around him. and his wife sewing peacefully in the
cottage porch, who used to go to the public house
Many happy home has sprung from the love Of
flowers
Just then old man came lettering towards
us, holding stick in one hand, and iowerpot
in the other.
1 have been looking out for you all day, said
he to Lucy. If you could spare moment, have
so many things to ask and show YOU.
10 be sure cam replied the girl, with kind
bmllej ana cropping modest courtesy, She went
away with the old man, and left the two friends
together.
| We'll, said Mr.. L----, after pause, what do
| you think Of our Lucy 4"
she appears to be very young, and does not
look strong; but was thinking Of the power one
individual may exert for good over those around
| her
| But Lucy not only teaches and encourages the
poor people and the little children to love flowers,
continued Mr.. IL. but tries to win them TO
| Christ, and to make them love him. Many sim
pie homily have l heard her preach from the lily
Of the valley, or the flowers Of the field. Her in
fuence is not only exerted for good-it is exerted
for God, who has deignedto bless it in more than
one instance M
Lucy D. is neither gifted nor beautiful Few
know her even by name. 1t only be said Of
her that she loves God and loves flowers. Con
tented and cheerful she passes through life, max
ing II seem all the brighter and better for her
brief soiourning. IL has been well said Of a kind.
red spirit that, looking 10 heaven her rest and
to Christ az her Saviour, she seemed TO have
caught something the calm serenity of her great
Master-somethng of his purity and love. In tho
world, but not oft, she was like one going cheer
fully homeward, and singing as she went; while
she scattered around her, in passing, holy coun-
sells and instructions-kind words and actions
the bright sunshine Of lowly and loving spirit
There are some who assert that, in their isoat-
ed position, they have influence on none But
there Is no such thing as a thoroughly detached
and isolated individual; we are all inextricably
tied up and interlaced with each other, SO that
no man can live or act without affecting others in
some degree or to some purpose. II they have no
power TO do good, we would say that y - because
| they seek Il not, and would beseech them TO
arouse their dormant energies in that search which
alone can bring happiness.