Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1871-12-02

1t can be appropriated by all ages and
conditions of mankind. The high and the
low, the rich and the poor, the, good and
the bad, the happy and the miserable are
susceptible of its influence, and benefited
by it. Humanity is actuated by many con-
| tlicting influences which accomplish differ
ent results"
In the "battle of life" many faint or be-
come way-worn and weary, while others
grow proud, cold hard, and defiant.
Then kindness has n work to do. What
the gentle shower is to the dropping verdure
kindness is to the desponding heart. 1t
lifts it up to the higher regions of cheerful
ness ard duty it wins it back from gloom
and despair it imparts new life and vigor
to its impulses, and encourages it to edo
and bear'' yet little while longer. But
there are even greater works to be accom-
plished than this. More to be pitied than
those who realize that they suffer are those
who have been made callous by suffering,
those who have shut kindly impul-
ses from their hearts, who have become in
different to the wants and woes of others,
having no sympathy with their joys nor
balm of their sorrows. Life must of had
some experience for them to produce such
results. O, kindness, thine be the work 20
make the barren waste and Wilderness of
their nature to blossom like the rose Thou
alone canst uproot the noxious weeds and
poisonous vines of distrust, jealousy, and
suspicion, and implant confidence, tender
ness, and benevOlcnce. What q horrible
sensation it would be to feel ones self
gradually petrifying-to realize that the
fingers that were so rimble yesterday were
stiff and clumsy today, and that in the
near future they would be cold and impress
sonless as marble--to know that the eyes
that now sparkle with life and
feeling would soon emit but a CLASSY glare?
Yet more terrible in its results is the petri-
lication of the soul all kindly emotions
and tender sympathics bound up in stony
letters. a difficult task is thine, o, kind
ness to unloose them but thou alone art
able. Kindness, as exhibited by human
agencies, has frequently been instrumental
in winning back those who were fast plung-
ing into the abysses of sin and shame, and
assisted them to the heights on which stand
the fair temples of honor and uprightncss.
Anathemas and scorn will not restore
any one to the path of safety who has wan
dcred from it. They will only drive them
down deeper make them harder, and will
ling to dare and defy those who denounce
them. But kind word, II tender interest,
will often awaken emotions to which even
y
Visit the poor criminal in his cell. Does
the blush of shame stain his check and dye
his forehead when You tell him his name is
n by-word and reproach to his race ? Docs
he show any symptoms Of sorrow or re-
pentance when you rcproach and rcvile
him 2 Does he not rather brave and scorn
you But when you tel him that even
now, when most of the world forsakes some
still cling to him and would administer
comfort by their presence or by loving
messages when you let him see that you
do not utterly loathc him as q foul blot on
this fair creation. do not the hot tears well
up to his eyes and his heart throb with
tender and grateful, yet painful emotions :?
Would he not willingly undo the evil ofhs
past career, make his failures from duty
successes, for .hc sake of those who think
of him So kindly? Not only is kindness
the most powerful and ellicacious in saving
the lost, but it is guard and shield to in
nocence. How many that are honorable,
pure and good to-day that would have fall
len save for its power The kindness and
love ola mother have been the shield and
buckler of many brave son, the strong
tower in which he has been safe when the
tcmpter was nigh. But, though the work
OF this hoaven-born power is great one,
it docs not dcspise the day Of small things,
If such there be. The little child's heart
opens and expands to receive it the path
of the aged is cheered by its presence the
poor forget half their sorrows when kind
hearts show their sympathy. Then be
kind act kindly, speak kindly. The cir
clcs from tiny pebble widen and widen
until they reach the farther shore. SO the
influence ofwords and acts ofyours extends
through all the future ages.
''Thcre is then no death for n word one spoken.
There was never II deed but left its token
Written on tables never broken"
BE kind to the little ones, the cares Of
life will come soon be kind to the aged,
they have not long to stay be kind to the
poor, they have enough to bear without
your adding to their burdens be kind to
the happy, damp not their innocent mirth
DC kind to yourselves, lives, SO remorse
may never be your companion live SO you
may have an approving conscience live
SO you may ut last hear the welcome
plaudit, "Wel done ~ |VHylc Gazette.