Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-22
Wise 10 Give Comfort.


How few understand the Office Of Consolerl
What weary platitudes irritate the spirit
smarting under the rod Of affection, and
sickon tbs broken in heart Not so the
Hope Of Israel walked The Galieau streets.
HIS was an active and remedial sympathy
very different from the humjIiating pity and
advice which is. too often the wormwood
and gall" in the cup Of sorrow which is given
us to drink.
When the FIRST great trial Of my life came
and stripped me Of the wealth which, for a
short time, had enjoyed so keenly, remem-
Der feeling thankful that the Pharsee and
the Priest did pass me by. ! knew that the
one would say, A" Why were you not more
prudont2 You must have heard that this
road was ever the resort q thieves | while
the other would have told me, " That it was
not mans doing at all, and that | must sub
NIT for the Lord had taken away Now,
young as | was, knew the value of wealth,
and realized what the loss Of it meant.
Had | not seen how easily society excuses the
empty head and heart, and how pitiless it is
TO the empty purse2 So ! was glad in the
first hours Of my deaolation to be Jet alone.
jobs three comloricrs gave him seven days
Of silence, but my dear five hundred
friends could' not restrain their curiosity
and advice and pity so long in less than a
week had heard il all. But late one after.
noon | had different visitor. She had a
bright, cheerful face, though an old one and
She came smiling into my parlor and kissed
me with hopeful confidence that was in it.
self infectious We won't talk about your
little trouble, my dear" she said, that Is
all over now came 70 speak about th'
/ future"
Al 3" | said that is SO dark"
/ Nonsense II never was so bright
Why, | should think you would enjoy hayinl
fortune to make My working days wer'
by long odds my bappest ones. Now if
was you [ should take of that unbecominl
dres. and make myself bright and pretty
when Archie comes home coax him 10 60 q
the United States and make twice as much q
you have lost"
Go to America What arc you think
ing Off"
Il know all about it, dear. I've got son
and ncphews there it is glorious country
and let me tell you poverty is not quite tn
objectionable sin as it is here. wish
was young, would 60 myself in my opinion
you cannot 20 too soon"
As she talked caught her enthusiasm;
became hopeful, then merry, and 1 sent he
away promising all she asked of me- Thi
was the sympathy | needed In any troubl
or perpexity the friend who can show yol
he road ant Of il is the truest, and gives tn
kindest comfort
Not many weeks after this conversation
stood on the deck of the steamer Atlantic
sobbing out my last farewell to a mothe
whom loved with passionate devotion, an
a father who had been far more TO me tha
that tender relation usually implies. sal
her lifted iainting into a returning steamer
and watched him standing bareheaded pray
ing for the child and companion he was neve
more to see. And thus he lives forever i
my heart, the summer wind lifting his Ion
white hair, standing with bare head and pray
ing as he stood, When l had looked my las
felt as if now the bitterness Of death wa
past. If any one then had spoken to me tn
maxims common on such occasions, they woul
have received but scant courtesy and less al
tention. Bat a shrcwder comforter foun
me found me when | had become calm wit
the weariness Of weeping, and crushed into
kind Of submission by a sense Of the hOpelcs.
ness Of resistance,
With what wonderful tact she led me on {
talk Of my home how patiently she Dor
with all the selfish garrulousness of my grief
how quickly she found out my pet vanity an
humored it by praising that "n noble lookin
|f.l1 g.. .11 G.
her goodness and sagacity which | did nc
analyze at the time. BY and by she told m
how she had sons in Geneva at school, an
Z how often she went TO visit them and th
thousand leagues which had looked so formids
bic was bridged by Hope; aud the partin
which had seemed irrevocable, disannulled b
Love. | have never forgotten the light o
her face, the ring Of faith and courage in he
voice. Small service is true service Will
it lasts" and these little nameless, unremen
bered acts Of Kindness are the best portion {
life. Prayer and praise are always imperte'
Offices but " Charity coyereth the multitud
of sins"
Can ever forget the sad, dark day
nothingness," when my first son " left the SUI
shine for the sunless land ?" 1t was in h
2 weary war time, and his loss was embittere
by the cruel thought that perhaps he had pc
, ished for want of the proper medicines or ii
. necessary skill For eight long weeks | ha
striyen so hard to keep him, fighting disea'
at every step, day by day redeeming him fro
{ the grave by a never ceasing watchfulnes
| praying humbly as | went in all my hous
hold ways, for his life and now he had it.
. Lo Eternal Life 3" opened not my moutl
, because God did it, but still was conscior
of dumb rebellion and let no one judl
: me hardly when say that my sorrow was a
the bitterer because it was quite impossible
procure the white shrond and the decent co
I fin to inurn the precious dust. There wei
! many to weep with me, but this one want kel
! me blind and deaf to all comforts. Towar'
evening lady with whom i had but a sligl
acquaintance sent me a basket of beautiii
9 white flowers and small parcel containing
7 piece Of white cashmere for shroud al
! enough velvet to cover and line the cedar CO
. fin. Oh mothers who have clasped the ros
buds in hands whose little work was done a
u u too soon, | need not tell you what passit
! of gratitude filed my heart for the giver
4 with trembling fingers and quick droppil
Y tears (which had not flowed till now) fas
|, ioned the last garment for this beloved chill
n Thus anointed him for his burial with Il
tears of love and thanksgiving and the incen
- of resignation. Miserable comiorters" hi
reason and even revelation proved until th
woman, with an angels instinct, brought Il
strength aud faith even out Of my weaknei
~sS.H