Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-07-15
MiscEllaneoms.
POst-mOrfcm Love.

why Is is Lnat some people Keep all
their pleasant thoughts and kind words
abouta man bottled and sealed until
he is dead, when they come and break
the bottle over his coffin, and bathe his
shrond in fragrance? Many man
goes through life with scarcely one
bright, cheering, encouraging, hopeful
word. He tolls hard and in lowly OBJ
scurity. He gives out his life freely
and unstintedly for others. 1 remem-
Der such man. He was not brilliant;
he was not great; but he was faithful.
He had many things to discourage
him. Troubles thickened about his
life. He was MISREPRESENTATION mis-
understood. Everybody believed that
he was good man, but no one ever
said kindly word or pleasant thing
to him. He never heard a compliment,
scarcely ever good wish. No one ev-
er 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.
I stood at bis coffin, and then there
were many tongues to speak his praise.
There was not breath of aspersion in
the air. Men spoke of self-denials-
Of his work among the pool, of his good
qualities, of his quietneSs, his modesty,
his humility, his pureness of heart, his
faith and prayer.
There were many who spoke indig-
nantly of the charges that falsehood
had forged against him in past years,
and of the treatment he had received.
There were enough kind things said
during the two or three days that he
lay in bis coffin, and while the compa-
ny stood around his open grave, to
have blessed him and made him hap
py all his fifty years, and to have
thrown sweetness and joy about his
soul during all his painful and weary
journey. There was enough sunshine
wasted about the black coffin and dark
grave to have made his whole life-path
bright as clearest day.
But his ears were closed then, and
could not hear a 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 fow-
ers that were piled upon his coffin.
The love blossomed out too late. The
kindness came when the life could not
receive its blessings.
And said then that I would not
keep all my kind words, and all my
pleasant thoughts and feelings, about
my neighbor, locked up in my breast
till he is dead. They will do him no
good then. His dead hand cannot feel
the warm pressure. Gentle words will
not make his pale, cold face glow. 1t
will be too late, when he lies in the cof-
fin, to seek to make him happy, to lift
the shadows off his life, or to brighton
his path.
1t was beautiful thing that the
country did the other day. The gar
dens were stripped of their flowers.
Hundreds of thousands of graves were
strewn with the richest sweetness and
fragrance of earth. Many words were
spoken of the dead. Their valor was
praised; their heroism was lauded; their
brave and gallant deeds were recount
ed. Orators exhausted the resources
of language to fiud words strong
enough and beautiful enough to weave
into garlands for their brows.
And it was well; it was a fine and
noble thing to do. 1t is well, too, to
build manumeuts to mark the spots
where our dear dead sleep, and to in
scribe upon them the sacred names.
The memory of a sweet and beautiful
life should be kept ever green and fresh
tribute 10 life than the sincere wit
ness of sorrowing friends around the
coffin and the grave. 1t is well that
even earth has power to stop the
tongue Of detraction: to subdue enmi-
ties, jealOusies and animosities; to re-
veal all the beauties and eXcellences
of a mans character; to hide his blem-
ishes and defects; and to thaw out the
tender thoughts and kindly feelings
of his neighbors' hearts.
But meantime there is a great host
of weary men and women toiling
through life toward the grave, who
need cheering words and helpful min
istries. The incense is gathering to
scatter about their coffins; but why
should it not be scattered in their paths
to-day? The kind words Gre lying in
mems hearts and trembling on their
tongues, which will be spoken by-and-
by when these weary ones are sleeping;
but why should they not be spoken
now, when they need them so much,
and when their accents would be SO
pleasing and grateful?
1t costs but little to give men great
deal of joy and help. One brought a
bunch of flowers to my table, and for
whole week they filled my roo.n with
fragrance. One wrote me cheering
letter, breathing a spirit of gratitude
and love. 1t came when l was weary
and depressed, and was like the meal
prepared by the angel for the old proph-
ct. Invent on: its blessed strength for
many days. One met me on the
street and spoke an encouraging word
and grasped me warmly by the hand;
and for hours / felt the warm grasp
and heard that word echoing through
my soul.
A little child may brighten scores Of
lives dvery day. There is not one Of
US who may not gladden. and strength