The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-12-06
SELECT TALES.
From 1rthur's Home Gazette.
TRUE WORDS BETTER THAN
.. TEARS.
BY KATE SUTHERLAND.

lation would have been waste of word
Nothing was lef. for me but to Weep wit
my poor friend
Nothing 2 was the calmly spoken CT
quiry.
There are griefs 20 deep as 10, ,dcnau
only. our tears was replied.
Yet the physician, no matter how viru
lent tho disease, will tell you TINT Will
there is life there is hope Is it not tn
came in mental diseases z
What mendicament can reach tli
ca e Z was asked.
There is only one remedy to be ap
piled in all cases OF mental pain
'Wha. il that 7
The truth
The first speaker, ladr, 10 .ked doub
tingy into the face of her friend
10 sit down aud weep with those who
are in trouble or affiiction, may do for q
brief season; but to make tears sutSt
tute for consoling words, is to SAY thai
earth has "sorrow that heaven cannot
heal
But what could I say that her own
heart would not suggest 2
Much. There is usually selfi,hness
IN sorrow that obscures the perception of
truth. The grieving one uarrows down
all things toa little circle, in the centre of
which she sits weeping. Darkness OBJ
s:urs her mind. She forgcts the great
truth that all sorrow is for puritication ;
and that, while she IS in the furnace OF
aiiiirtion, the Reincr and Purifier is sit.
ting near, and will see that only the dross
OF seli-iove is consumed. Far better
would il be 10 say, 1t is good for us To
be afflicted : thus throwing a truth into
the mind-than merely to mingIc tears
with the child of sorrow =
In her state, she would reject the sen
tmenl,' sail the lady friend.
~ marked symptom OF diseased men
tal action was answered, that impera-
lively calls for sxIful treatment.
But, il she reject the truth, h Nv en-
she be he led Z
A wise physician will use his utmost
skill III the selection Of remedy that will
not be rejccrd.'
4 a;n neither wise Nor ski'fu', SO Gar II,
my unhappy friend is concerned
men,s oil goo'l, lie, who j. seeking the
god "f al Ills creatures, will show nS
the way Of accomplishment. Do ynu
not think tliat some m,irly selfish con-
sIleration~ are seriously ag ;rtvating tbs
troubl- uf Mrs. Edwards
Il aru sare of il. ID arly ch .rishcl
ends Vt her own have hrru utrc'Iy dc
stroyel. Blending with her fears tnr her
child are rnurtiiicalr"n an | w"nnlei love.
While she secs no promise of Ii. pimc>s
fpr Lucy, in the future, her sympathy tor
the erring one is swallowed up in an al.
most naddening sense Of tilial disohedi-
encp.'
why not seek to awaken her mind to
tl,i' perception Until she sees her err
ror, she cannot rise ssove it,
But how is this possihlel She will
not bear to have Lucy's name mention.
ell
'Another marked symptom Of a mala.
dy that calls for better remedies than
sympathetic tears. She must be told the
truth
who will speak the wor,ls =
You, IL you are sincerely her friend,
was the firm answer.
She vail he offend d.
NO matter The truth will he seen
after the binding excitement of anger ha.
dep ,rtei. Ii yon truly love her, You will
brave even the risk Of otfenling for the
sake Of doing her good"
The laiy who was thus reninled o
her duty in the case Of a friend in great
trouble--a friend with whom she had
mingled her tears, but Eliled to speak
words OF consolation in which was heal.
ing vitality went thoughtfulIy to heI
home, broodIng over what she had heard.
II was an easy thing 10 weep with the
weeper; but 70 speak words IL truth that
wouldhurt, and might offend, was duty
from which she shrunk with instructive
relpctance. But shsnow saw the case IN
clearer light, and genuine regar,l fol
Mrs. Eiwar,ls led her to act the part Of 4
wise rather than weak friend.
An hour for calm reflection was Ter
mitted to elapsc, and then the lady wen
to the suffering one, with her mind clea
and her purpose strong. Reflections hat
thIown y ligdt upon her way, an sh'
saw the true path in which she must walk
Clearly.
The pale weepcr was still sitting un
der the shadow Of hcr great life sorrow
when her frien came back 70 her dsrken
Ell chamber, in wbicb reigned an almos
deAth-Iike stiffness A hand was laid il
thit Of Mrs. Elwards'--only feeble
pressure WAS returned, sud the tears o
the griesing one Aowei afrrsh. Du tn,
friend gave no answering tears. She ha,
not come 70 weep with her sorrowing sis
ter. but 10 offer words Of 6Jpsolation Il
which lay the power Of healiag.