Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-09-28
BE Kind to Strangers.

A good custom prevails in many towns
and villages in our country, of showing
courtesy to strangers. The neighbors feel
bound in common civility to call on them
and give them cordial greeting. In large
cities people may live for years in utter
ignorance of their next door neighbors, but
in the country nature is stronger than fash
ions arbitrary laws. The Ohio Farmer
has good story illustrating the value of
the smallest attentions to one who has a
sense of desolation in strange house:
The next morning, after taking possess
ion of sour own hired house" in Carbondale,
/ arose rather dispirited, half inclined to the
blues, and did not see any way in particular
TO rub off the dolorous color Everything was
at skies, sevens--boxes and bureaus and
barrels and bedsteads stood around in ghast-
ly and gaunt array while cases, cup boards,
chairs, aud carpets male confusion worse
confounded. Everything was wanted and
nothing 10 be found, and vet everything was
exactly in the way. The rooms of the
house were in the best possible condition
to fret ones nerves into tremor. and the
elbows began to twingle with excitement as
the eye took in the view of soiled paint,
CREASED floors, stained glass, and windows
made without paint, broken and bedaubed ;
and plastering that nothing but paper would
render decent. The sight was anything but
refreshing, although at another time might
have smiled at the dogs and horses on the
wall (not made by Rosa Bonheur) that look
ed complacently down upon me in all the
glory of red keel and charcoal
I u,os q, ,,,,..<.a III r -.
doubt if Joseph when his brethren sold him
into Egypt, felt more strongly depressed
The tired family did not rise as early as
usual, so had the gloom all TO myself.
Did the sun rise that morning? It might
have penetrated those uncurtained windows.
But it did not send beam down into these
gloomy depths where lay the hangings for
the old home and its roses and honeysuckles
Did the sky glow with the upspringing NOR
ningf 1t might, for there was a visible
cloud in all the visible sky. But there
were shadows, shadows, shadows every
where. They fell on the doors, on the wall,
on the stairway, in every nook and Granny,
and the ghosts of treasured memories seem
ed to mock me, fitting about among band
boxes and bundles, and gibbering at me
with saucy--tauntiug tongues
sailed ont into my new kitchen-un-
painted, upholstered, unlathed, unsealed.-
Oh, how desolate / dropped down on a
box, covered my face with my apron, and
was just going to do-as silly women are
apt to do won't tall what
Rap, rap, rap, came at the door. wiped
my eyes, smoothed out my apron and open
ed it, expecting to meet Poe's visitor--a
stately ghost or raven
Only this and nothing more"
But there stood beautiful child, boy
of some six or eight summers. radiant as
May morning, and in his hand small bou.
quet of spring roses.
"My mother sent these to you," said he
in soft toned voice, looking up brightly
into my eyes.
"lndeed," | exclaimed as took then
from his chubby fist ''and where does your
mother live ?"
Cover there was the laeonic answer, a:
he pointed with his finger to a cottage
among the trees.
"Oh. thank you, my little man, and tel
your mother / thank her more than | car
tell-for love the flowers" was my answer
as he turned and bounded away.
l held the beautiful things in my hand ant
looked into their eyes, and they seemed tt
find tongues to talk 10 me and comfort me
They told me of a kind and genial hear
near by that knew of stranger, and sen
this message of love and good cheer, to lif
the veil from her eyes and speak hope TO th'
sinking spirit and there came a glow from
the center and spread out over all the earth
| looked up, and the sunlight gilded the for.
est the house tops, the church spire, the dus.
| ty railroad track and the brown, bare fields
The rooms were changed The broken plas
tering and bare walls were blooming with
fresh roses. | clasped them in my hands
and pressed them TO my lips, and drops o
! gratitude fell INTO their pure corollas. as
flew with them to the children, crying,
"See-we are not alone"
There was one heart in tho neiglborhood
at least, that knew the feelings Of stranger
! There was one that knew there was gloom
even at sunrise on a May morning, In q
strange land, in new home, and she had
sent flowers most beautiful and cheerful OF
all Gods handiworh Of the forest, or wood
and by the hand of little child, "type OF
/ kingdom OF heaven" TO link the past with
the present, and TO gild with brig shtness the
! portals of the future with hope and light
Heaven bless her for that thought, she had
swept away in moment the clouds oi
doubt aud sadness.
Who, but wom4n, gentle and loving
could have thought Of such a delicate com
pliment? In the d-pihs Of her own soul
she knew my need, and answered to il.
| went back TO my duty. Day follows
day and night answereth to night, and nc
such gloomy hour has since come TO drape
the world in mourning. Rose-buds are
opening everywhere, and my eyes see them
That one kind act win gild all coming time
and an eternity viii not, cannot destroy its
] effect.