The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-08-01
P0ST.MORTEM LOVE.

i why Is IL that 30 many people Keep
Q their pleasant thoughts and kind words abor
. man bottled and sealed up until he is dead
| when they come and break the bottle owe
' his coffin, and battle his shroud in fragrance
. Many man goes through life with scarcel
, one bright, cheering. encouraging, helpful
word. He tolls hard and in lowly obscurity
f He gives out his life freely and unstintedl
for others. / remember such man. ID
, was not BRILLIANT he was not great; but he wa
faithful
, He had many things to discourage him
Troubles thickened about his life. He wa.
misrepresented and misunderstood. Every
body believed that he was good man, but ne
one ever said kindly or pleasant thing tt
him. He never heard compliment, scarcely
ever good wish. No one ever took any
pains to encourage him, to strengthen his
feeble knees, to tighten his burdens, or to lift
up his heart by gentle deed of love, or by a
cheerful word. He was neglected. Unkind
things were often said of him.
| | stood at the coffin, and then there were
many tongues to speak his praise. There
was not breath of aspersion in the air.
Man spoke of self-denials-of his work among
the poor, of his good qualities, of his quiet
ness, his modesty, his humility, of his pure
ness of heart, his faith and prayer. There
were many who spoke indignantly of the
charges that falsehood had forged against him
in past years, and the treatment he had re-
csived. There were enough kind things
said during the two or three days that he
lay in the coffin, and while the company stood
around his open grave, to have blessed
him and made him happy all his fifty years,
and to have thrown sweetness and joy about
his soul during all his painful and weary jour
ney. There was enough sunshine wasted
about the black coffin and dark grave to ha re
made his whole life-path brig hit as clearest day
But his ears were closed then and could not
hear word that was spoken. His heart was
still then and could not be thrilled by the
grateful sounds. He cared nothing then for
the sweet flowers that were piled upon his
coffin. The love blossomed out too late The
kindness came when the life could not receive
its blessings.
And I said then that would not keep all
my kind words, and all my pleasant thoughts
and feeling about my neighbor locked up in
my breast till he is dead. They will do him
no good then. His dead hand can not feel
the warm pressure Gentle words will not
make his pale, cold face glow. 1t will be too
late, when he lies in the coffin, to seek to
make him happy, to lift the shadows off his
life, or to brighten his path.
It was a beautiful thing that the country
did the other day. The gardens were strip
of graves were sire WI with the richest sweet
ness and fragrance of the earth. Many words
were spoken of the dead. Their vaIor was
praised. Their heroism was lauded. Their
brave and gallant deeds were recounted. Ora |
tors exhausted the resources of language to
find words strong enough and beautiful |
enough to weave into garlan0s for their brows |
And Il was we'll. 1t was fit and noble thing |
10 do. It is we'll, too, to build monuments, |
% mark the spots where our dear dead sleept |
md to inscribe upon them the sacred names. |
The memory of sweet and beautiful life |
Ihould be kept ever green and fresh in our |
hearts, and there is no richer tribute to life |
han the sincere witness of sorrowing friends
round the coffin and the grave. 1t is we'll |
hat even death has power to stop the tongue
# detraction; to u0due enmities, jealousles
nd anmOsities; to reveal all the beauties
nd excellencies of mans character; to hide
lis blemishes and defects; and to thaw out
he tender thoughts and kindly feelings of his
leighbor's hearts.
But meantime there is great host of weary
men and women toiling through life toward
he grave, who need cheering words and help
al ministries. The incense is gathering to |
cater about their collins; but why should it
ot be scattered in their paths to-day? The
ind words are lying in mems hearts and
poken by and by when these weary ones are
Ieeping but why should they not be spoken
ow, when they need them SO much, and
hen their accents would be so pleasing and
rateful?
1t costs but little to give men a great deal of
~ and help. One brought bunch of flow
rs to my table, and for whole week they
He'd my room with fragrance. One wrote
le cheering letter, breathing a spirit of
ratitude and love. Il came when 1 was
cary and depressed, and was like the meal
repaired by the angel for the old prophet.
ent on it's blessed strength for many days
ouraging word and grasped me warmly by
le hand; and for hours I felt that warm
rasp and heard that word echoing through
" soul. A child may brighten scores OF
yes every day. .,.,. -.i. -;,f
There is not one of US who may not glad
en- and strengthen many heart between
very rising and setting sun. Why should
9 not live to bless the living, to cheer the
isheartened, to sweeten the cups that are
liter, to hold up the heads that hang down,
comfort those that mourn, to bear JOY into ]
yless homes? Kind words will not spoil
an. Ii a sermon helps you, it Will do the
reacher no harm to tell him SO. Ii the edi-
r writes an article that does you good he :
N write still better one if you send him :
ord of thanks -5f --.-
If a book blesses you, do you not owe::it to
o author to write grateful acknowledge
ent? If you know weary or neglected
lie, would it not be such work as angels do,
ould it not be Christ like work, to seek
cry opportunity to brighten and bless that
e? Do not wait till the eyes are closed,
Q ears deaf, and the heart stilled. Do it
w. Post norton kindnesses do not cheer =
overs on, the cefin cast no fragrance back
lrd over the weary days.-Reu. j. r. Miller,
S. s. Times.
With summer heats comes dyspepsia and