The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-01-05
True Words Better than Tears.
BY KATE SUTHERLAND.

was left for NE but 10 weep with my poor friend
| sNothing! :! was the calmly spoken enquiry.
| There are grefs so deep to demand only
our tears was replied.
| Yet the physician, matter how virulent
the disease, will tell you that while there is life,
there is hope. Is it not the same in mental dis.
eases?
What medlcament can reach this case p was
| asked
There is only one remedy 10 be applied in all
cases of mental pain
What is that?
| The truth
The first speaker, lady, looked doubtingly into
| the face of her friend
To sit down and weep with those who are in
| trouble or af1ction, may DO for brief season:
| but TO make tears substitute for consoIng words
| is TO say that earth has sorrow thai heaven
! cannot heal
| But what could say that her own heart would
not suggest 2
Much. There is usually sefshness in sor-
row that obscures the perception Of truth. The
greVing one narrows down all things TO a little
circle, Iu the centre of which she sits weeping
Darkness obscures her mind. She forges the
great truth that all sorrow is for publication and
that while she is in the furnace OF aff1icon, the
| Refner and Purifier is sitting near, and will
that only the dross o. seli-love is consumed. Far
better would it be to say, 1t is good for US to be
afflicted 5; thus throwing truth into the mind
than merely to minge tears with the child of sor.
! rowr
In her state, she would reject the sentiment
said the lady friend.
a marked symptom Of diseased mental action
was answered, that mperativey calls for skillfuI
treatment
But, if she reject The truth, how she be
healed 2
"a wise physician will use his utmost skill
in thu Of ooI1 n, he
jec,ed'
Il am neither wise nor skilful, so far as my
unhappy friend is concerned
Say not 1t we desire 10 be instruments of
good, He, who is seeking the good OF all His crea-
lures, will show US the way of accomplishments
Do you not think that some merely selfish consid.
eraIons are seriously aggravaIng this trouble of
Mrs. Edwards 2
Il am sure of it. Dearly cherished ends Of her
own have been utterly destroyed. Blending with
her fears Of her child are modification and woun-
ded love. While she sees no promise of happi.
ness for Lucy, in the future, her sympathy for The
errlng one is swallowed up in almost madden
ing sense of flial disobedenee.'
Why not seek TO awaken her mind to this per-
cepton! Until she sees her error, she cannot
above it,
But how is this possible? She will not bear to
have Lucy's name mentioned =
Another marked symptom of malady that
calls for better remedies than sympathetic tears
She must be told the truth
WI no will speak the words =
You if you are sincerely her friend, was the
firm answer.
'She will be oflinded.'
No matter. The truth will be seen after the !
binding excitement of anger has departed. If you
truly love her, you will brave even the risk of OF. !
lending for the sake Of doing her good
The lady who was thus reminded of her duty
IN The case of a friend in great troubIe-a friend
with whom she had mingled her tears but failed to
speak words of consolation in which was healing
vtaIlty-wcnt thoughtfuy to her home, brooding
over what she had heard. 1t was an easy thing
to weep with The weeper; but to speak words Of
truth that would hurt, and might offend was a
d1ty from which she shrunk with instructive reuc.
'anc". But she now saw the case in clearer light
and genuine regard for Mrs. Edwards led her
TO act the part of a wise rather than a weak
friend.
An hour for calm reflection was permitted to
-lapSe, and then the lady went to the suffering one
Slh her mind clear and her purpose strong
k Election had thrown a light upon her way, and
he saw the true path in which she must walk, {
:Iearly. {
The pale weeper was still sitting under the
hadd0w OF her great liies sorrow, when her friend
anne back TO her darkened chamber, in which t
eigned an almost dealhke stiffness. A hand t
vas laid in that of Mrs. EGwards'-only feeble
resSure was returned and the tears of the griev.
ng one flowed afresh But the friend gave no a
nswerng tears. She had not came to weep with C
Ter Sorrowng sIser, but 10 offer words of cobsoIa. S
ion in which lay the power of healing.
| am going 10 speak 10 you about Lucy she il
aid o
If you love me, name her not replied Mrs b
edwards. almost sIernly. Il
: 1t is because love you that speak Of her., e
nswered the friend, with as much frmness as she "
ouId assume. Lucy is not all to blame for the f;
nwise step she has taken.
WHO is, then p was the natural inquiry s.
: You and her father may be quite as much to {
lame as your unhappy child a
sudden flush came into the pale face of Mrs
EDWARDS. There were few who did not think Just
S the friend had spoken; but she alone had ven
Ired to utter the truth where, of all things, its ut
rance was most needed. y
Who to blame y "
curve of indignation was on the lip of Mrs y, -
dwards. ~ ~
Ii you we're sure this were the case, would il -
OF greatly soften your feelings towards Lucy p - "
But | am not sure OF it, said the lady, whose -
ars had already ceased 10 flow.
fou are not the only sufferer in this case'
Who else suffers p st
{ Your unhappy child ia
She deserves 10 suffer. What else could she
;Pect, in such a union, but life Of suffering 2
RS. Ed dWards spoke severely ST