The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1873-05-17
2Hiscel[aneoue.
LiVing and Dreaming.

| I doubt not that the noble aspirations to be
and do good, influence, at times, every heart
and thrill every human being. We hear or
read of those who have done some heroic act,
which has called forth the gratitude, admira-
| tion and praise of an enthusiastic multitude,
and our hearts long for like fame.
| We love the worlds applause, and wish that
we could have such an opportunity to distin-
| guish ourselves, and show to the world, who do
not seem to recognize our existence, that we,
too, are brave, noble, and strong to do and dare
And thus we sit and dream, feeding our hungry
| souls upon the husks of what we would do, had
we the opportunity.
Shame oh, shame that we, with hearts so
strong, with impulses so great, with opportuni-
ties thronging upon every hand, and meeting
us at every turn, should thus sit and dream our
lives away
In looking afar off, and scanning the future
horizon for these great opportunities, we look
over q vast, rich valley, abounding in fertile
| fields, in which we might labor with eminent
success. There is work upon every hand.
If we wish to accomplish any good, we must
"act in the living present" despising not small
| things, but seeking earnestly and striving dill
gently that at the close of each day we may be
comforted with the sweet reflection that we
have tried to make the world little better !;
tried to make some soul little happier; and,
though the world may mover seem to ro-s
cognize us, though our names may never be
heralded abroad for the great deeds we have
done, and though the multitude may even shun
US, and construe our dsinterestedness into sell
fish motives, and call us hypocritical and false
hearted yet, if we are faithful, and persevere
unto the end, eternity alone can reveal the
amount of good which we in our quiet walk of
love and self-sacrifce may accomplish.
While we are dreaming, and resolving, and
wishing, golden opportunities are passing swift
ly by. five would catch them we must beup and
doing. The great fountain of love, implanted
within our hearts, must be kept open and al
lowed to flow forth freely if we would keep its
waters pure and sweet. Though we have not
the riches of earth with which to contribute to
the worlds evangelization, to relieve the
wants of the poor and needy, yet we can give
that which is far better and more enduring to
many hearts-precious words OF loving sympa-
thy. We can extend the warm and friendly
hand clasp, we can give the encouraging and
cheering smile, which shall make glad and in
spire new hope in many an aching, suffering
heart.
Oh, it may be you do not know what terri
BILE thing it is to feel all alone and uncared for;
to hunger sympathy and love; to crave kind
word, an approving look, an encouraging smile
1t may be you do not know what il is not to be
understood to have all your efforts to do good,
all your sacrifices for the welfare of others, all
your good and noble impulses misconstrued.-
If you do not know, if you have never expe-
rienced any of this, at least let pity possess you
for all such lonely, wandering ones. All around
you are weary, aching, heavy hearts. Some
times their burdens seem to them too heavy to
be longer borne alone, and for the very lack of
the work which you and might do of the aid
and encouragement which we might give-sui-
eide, vice, misery and crime, are multiplying
upon every hand.
Say no more, there is nothing for you to do
wait no longer for great opportunities to cross
your pathway; dream away no more of the pre-
cious hours of life; but act-act noao, and act
earnestly, patiently. and well; and in the great
future God shall make up for you rich reward.