Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-10-06
P0st.MOrten Love.

Why is it that so many people keep
all their pleasant thoughts and kind
words about man bottled and sealed
up until he is dead, when they come and
break the bottle over his coffin, and
bathe his shroud in fragrance? Many
a man goes through life with scarcely
one bright, cheering, encouraging, hope
ful word. He tolls hard and i'm lowly
obscurity. He gives out his life freely
and unstintedly for others. / remember
such a 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 misrepresented and misunderstood.
Everybody believed that he was good
man, but no one ever said kindly word
or pleasant thing to him. He never
heard compliment, scarcely ever a
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 his coffin, and then there
were many tongues 10 speak his praise.
There was not breath of aspersion in
the air. Men spoke of self-denials-Of
his work among the poor, of his good
qualities, of his quietness, his modesty,
his humility, his pureness 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 of the treatment he
had received. There were enough kind
things said during the two or three days
that he lay i'm his coffin, and while the
company stood around his open grave,
to have blessed and made him happy 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 as bright as the
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 with the CRATE
full 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 the blessings.
And / said then that / would not keep
all my kind words, and all my pleasant
thoughts and feelings about my neigh
Dor 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 his coffin, to seek
10 make him happy, to lift the shadows
off his life, or TO brighten his path.
1t costs but little 10 give men a great
deal of joy and help. One brought a
bunch of flowers to my table, and for a
whole week they filled my room with
fragrance. One wrote me a cheering
letter, breathing 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
prophet. Invent on its blessed strength
for many days. One met me son the
street and spoke an encouraging word
and grasped me warmly by the hand;
and for hours | felt that warm grasp
and heard that word echoing through
my soul. A little child may brighten
scores of lives every day. There is not
one of us who may not gladden. and
strengthen many heart between every
rising and setting sun. Why should we
not live TO bless the living, to cheer the
disheartened, to sweeten cups that are
bitter, to hold up the hands that hang
down, to comfort those that mourn, TO
bear joy into joyless homes? Kind
words will not spoil man. If sermon
helps you, it will do the preacher no
harm TO tell him so. If the editor writes
an article that does you good, he can
write still better one if you send him
a word of thanks. If book blesses
you, do you not owe it to the author to
write a grateful acknowledgment? If
you know weary or neglected one,
would it not be such work as angels do,
would it not be Christ-like work, to
seek every opportunity TO brighten and
bless that life? Do not wait till the
eyes are closed, the ears deaf, and the
heart stilled. Do it now. Post mortem
do not cheer. Flowers on
the coffin cast no fragrance backward
over the weary days.